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St. Martin de Porres, Bustos, Bulacan, Philippines, March 2006:
On February 20, 2006, ground was broken on the St. Martin de Porres (SMDP) Children's Village in a celebration that brought together many of the people who are helping to make expand the current St. Martin residence for street children. Dr. Vicente Salvador and his wife, Sally, the parents of John D.V. Salvador, traveled from the U.S. to take part in and help sponsor the momentous occasion, which brothers from St. Martin's sister mission, the Galilee Home for drug dependents and the elderly, helped facilitate. They were joined by the children themselves and their surrogate mother, Myrna del Rosario, and in light of the event's importance, Fr. Edgardo Panlilio, Fr. Joshua Panganiban, Fr. Ricardo Moraga, and Bustos' parish priest Fr. Adalberto Vergara joined Father Boyet in the concelebration of the mass. Mayor Carlito "Toti" Reyes of Bustos was also there, offering his thanks to Father Boyet for "his many accomplishments in giving help and hope to less fortunate children and the poor," as was Mrs. Cynthia Perez, who donated 7,000 square meters of the 2.7 hectares of land upon which the new residence will sit.
After the mass, these and SMDP's many more local patrons, including John D.V. Salvador Foundation (JDVSF) Founding Director and Vice Chair Carmelita Salvador and Assistant Director of Development Eunice Cheng-Chua, received Dr. Salvador's thanks for their efforts on behalf of the children, to whom he offered these reassurances: "You have the backing and love of all good people of this world." In return for the efforts many are making on their behalf, Dr. Salvador, whose daughter Lizelle Salvador is the JDVSF's Founding Chair, asked only this of St. Martin's young residents: "When you become successful, do not forget this Foundation. Give back your talent and wealth so that the JDVSF can continue to grow and pursue good deeds."
Meanwhile the progress already made on the St. Martin Children's Village ensures that the children's bleak past is becoming an ever more distant memory. A landfill operation has transformed the property's surrounding rice paddies into a firm foundation for the boys' dormitory, construction of which is set to begin later this year. Just as the physical transformation of the site gathers momentum so has the metamorphosis of the 52 children who are now happily grounded in their new lives. Their progress The warm hospitality they showed their guests spoke volumes of their progress as did the charming entertainment they planned, which included a concert by 13 of the mission's rondalla players and the traditional Sta Clara, Limbad, Paru-Parong Bukid, Carinosa, and "Fish" dances performed by the children and their instructors.
Though the day was quite overcast, it was extraordinarily hot. But during the mass, a light drizzle fell and the air cooled, offering a respite many took as a smile from the heavens. The sight of so many children thriving drew everyone's thoughts to another young man, who was not to enjoy life's blessings past his 15th year. Though born into a life of opportunity, John Salvador, in whose name the JDVSF was formed, was denied the chance to fulfill its promise by a drunk driver. In his tribute to him, Father Boyet said, "John departed this world 23 years ago on this day, but he is resurrected in the many happy new lives of the children you see before you today."
Learn more about the ceremony and the children at the SMDP website.
Members of the JDVSF join in the ceremonial breaking of the ground
John D.V. Salvador's mother, Sally, joins with Fr. Boyet in the ceremony
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