Work hard. Give back. Have fun. The mantra that inspires so much of what we do here at ECLARO is more than just a collection of words—it is a constant reminder of our place in the communities in which we work and live, and it is tangible in the air on a beautiful Sunday morning among the volunteers for ECLARO’s most recent Project E-Care outing in the Philippines.
Excitement lights up every face as the team prepares to visit Tahanan ng Pagmamahal Children’s Home in Pasig City. This is Project E-Care’s second visit to the home—its name literally translates to “House of Love” in English—but every experience is unique in this place where orphaned babies and young children find care and community. From the outset, the journey is wrapped in a quiet anticipation, a familiar, peaceful stillness before a day full of heart.
Warm greetings from the home’s staff and volunteers—lovingly called “parents," whose smiles carry gratitude and a shared sense of purpose—give way to an opening orientation led by ECLARO's Alicia Arcaya-Salazar. Standing before the volunteers and the parents, she greets them with sincerity and resolve. “We’ve all come here for a reason,” she begins, her tone both heartfelt and grounded. “As we spend the day in this special place, let’s keep that purpose close—so we can give of ourselves freely and genuinely.” Her words reflect a deep appreciation for the opportunity to support the home’s mission of caring for children from infancy to age five.
Connecting with the children is an essential aspect of the visit, beginning with a storytelling session kicked off by ECLARO’s Kathy Adriano, reading “Ang Magkaibigan” (The Friends), a tale of friendship by local authors JR Joson and Randy Torres. The children, initially shy, sit attentively, their eyes bright with curiosity as the story unfolds. The room feels alive with the soft rustle of pages and the gentle cadence of the storyteller’s voice.
The book closes and suddenly the energy pops with a game of “stop-dance,” set to familiar tunes from the local pop-group BINI. Laughter fills the air as the children twirl and sway, their shyness melting away. The ECLARO volunteers notice something special: the kids cheering each other on, helping one another in the game. It is a small but powerful sign of the home’s nurturing environment, where even the youngest learns to lift up another.
A second story, “Ang Ngipin ni Katkat” (Katkat’s Tooth) by Ofelia Concepcion and Tina Francisco, is enthusiastically read by ECLARO’s Cherry Gumasing, whose engaging delivery of the lesson on proper oral hygiene captivates the children, who eagerly mimick her actions of self-care. Now more at ease after dancing, they lean in closer, their attention sharper, smiles wider. The morning’s activities have built a bridge, connecting the team and the children through shared moments of joy.
A deeper level of comfort now pervading the room, the kids welcome the chance to splash their feelings onto paper during watercolor painting. Colors swirl—bright reds, sunny yellows, deep blues—as the children giggle and experiment. They tug at the volunteers’ sleeves, asking for help with a brushstroke or a new shape. The ECLARO team leans in, guiding tiny hands, with their own hearts full from the simple act of creating together.
For the volunteers, the day isn’t just a group event—it is personal. “Many of us are parents,” shares one volunteer who brought their family along. “Volunteering comes from a place of gratitude and experience. We want our kids to see the value of family—and for the children of Tahanan to feel that, too.”
Even the younger volunteers, who didn’t yet have families of their own, express feelings of deep connection. “It’s about showing them they’re loved,” one says softly but with certainty.
As a farewell gift, the Project E-Care team presents the children stationery kits filled with drawing materials and paper for writing and painting. The kids’ faces light up, their hands eagerly exploring the new supplies. As the children joyfully unpack their gifts, the emotional resonance of the day becomes clear.
“Every time we leave, I feel this quiet hope,” says ECLARO’s Jhoana Fragada. “It’s like we’re planting something that stays with them, and with us.”
READ MORE HERE ABOUT ECLARO’S PROJECT E-CARE.
Photos Copyright ECLARO 2025