Article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Purely Personal
Shelter welcomes unwed mothers, abandoned babies
By Josephine Darang
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:34:00 05/30/2009

MANILA, Philippines – Hospitals saddled with abandoned newly born babies in their nurseries can now call Grace to be Born Ministry in Pasig through Rey Ortega at 0917-816-4700 or Myrna Ortega at 0917-803-9139. The shelter on 53 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue in Kapasigan, Pasig, was blessed last May 8 by Father Roy Rosales, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Unwed pregnant women also now have a place to take refuge – with no questions asked, no deposit required for board and lodging. They are just asked not to abort their babies

This shelter was made possible by the couple Basti and Betty Roxas Chua, who own the building and were giving the place for use rent-free. The couple spent P2 million to renovate the place and build rooms. This setting up of the shelter is a dream come true for Rey Ortega and Bo Sanchez of the Light of Jesus Community. Betty and Basti Roxas Chua founded Rosary for Life Philippines that opposes abortion by praying all four Mysteries of the Holy Rosary for one hour a week.

How it came about

Mr. and Mrs. Roxas Chua came to know about the need for the shelter when Rey Ortega acted as proxy for Bo Sanchez as guest speaker during the third Wednesday Mass of the Rosary for Life last November. Rey cited statistics revealing that there are at least 300,000 abortions in the Philippines in a year. Then, he mentioned the need for a shelter for unwed mothers and their babies who will be taken care of by volunteer ob-gyne and pedia doctors.

The following day, Betty Chua called Rey to lunch and discussed with him the possibilities of putting up a shelter. Rey, by the way, also runs the Tahanan ng Pagmamahal Children’s Home (an orphanage), so he has experience dealing with the problem of abandoned babies.

Last January, the Chuas met with Sanchez and Ortega, and they decided to put up the shelter.

Those who wish to help in this cause can donate in cash or in kind; diapers, milk, baby clothes, medicines and money to pay for water and electricity. For more info, please e-mail reylindo.ortega@gmail.com or myrna.ortega@gmail.com.

If you urgently need to talk to someone who can help an unwed mother, please call Light of Jesus office at 725-9999.