Family Is The Answer

Future adoptive parents have their own preferences on who they plan to welcome home through adoption, but from this arises a group of children who are considered “unadoptable” — boys, children above the age of 3, sibling groups, and children with special needs.   Jossell Malonzo, ROHEI Foundation’s Manager of Family Services, shares her previous experiences of working in a children’s home and...

Adoption is actually common in Philippine culture, but one significant step that families still need to take is to formalize the process. Sam Quibot, ROHEI Foundation's Director of Adoption and Foster Care Services, guides us through the processes, legal benefits, and social benefits of legalizing adoptions that are considered "special cases". Special cases include adopting relatives, stepchildren...

Orphan Sunday is a day each year when churches and organizations intentionally share God's heart for the orphan. It's a global movement that aims to ensure all children grow up in loving families.   Its Global Director, Alex Caceres, tells stories of how church leaders and advocates from all around the world observe Orphan Sunday. He also explains how everyone can take part on any day of the...

Journeying alone isn’t easy, and having a community to walk alongside you makes all the difference! Let’s talk about why communities matter together with our Managing Director, Chrina Henson, and our Manager of Community and Events, Tanya Paraso. In this episode, we also list down the different communities we’re building together with adoptive families, foster families, and advocates!  This i...

"While foster care might be temporary, the impact that it has on a child is permanent." In this episode, we talk a little bit more about foster care in the Philippine context. We share basic information about the process, address common concerns from parents, and explain why fostering exists for the best interest of the children involved.  This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster...

Perhaps one of the best ways to be an advocate is to live by the cause. Mike and Malen Papadopoulos took a leap of faith when they moved to the Philippines to fulfill their mission as advocates through the Philippines Without Orphans. In this episode, Mike and Malen share how they answered God’s call by opening their hearts and home to adoption and foster care. This is Family is the Answer: An Ado...

What is it like being a “third culture kid”?  Becky Ramos is a full-blooded Filipino who was adopted into an American missionary family living in the Philippines. Though the road to coming to terms with her identity wasn’t easy, her family’s love and faith carried her through every struggle. In this episode, Becky shares how important her family’s healthy communication about adoption had been...

Adoption was never a plan B for the Carangues. Ken had always considered adoption before meeting his wife, Mafe. Fortunately, Mafe was very open to the idea of adoption too. Through communication and intuition, the couple had been in sync with each other throughout their adoption process. In this episode, they’ll be sharing how a series of miracles had given them their first son, Lucas. This is Fa...

Did you know OFWs can start their adoption journeys from abroad? Since the start of their adoption process, Neil and Kristel Garingan have endured distance, natural disasters, and a global pandemic just to reach their son, Toviel. In this episode, the Garingans will be sharing the ups and downs of their adoption journey, and how their resilience and faith helped their family through trying times.&...

"There is such a big gap between the church and the orphanages and children's homes of the world." Pastor Sol Huang, who is the new Executive Director of Kids With Purpose International, shares his realizations as a man of faith who is now heavily involved in the field of orphan care. He explains how churches should step up to partner with children's homes in order to provide support and guidance....

What are the realities inside a children's home? In this episode, we have the gracious opportunity to listen to stories from Kids With Purpose International — what we believe is one of the most intentional and nurturing children's homes in the Philippines. Their Executive Director, Pastor Sol Huang, starts off with an introduction about their institution. This is followed by the testimonies of Kri...

"Orphanhood was our spiritual condition and experience. For others, it is not just spiritual. It is their physical and tangible experience." This is what Pastor Edrei Canda from the church of Victory Las Piñas points out about orphanhood. In this episode, he shares more about God's heart for orphans and how the entire concept of the gospel is a concept of adoption. This is Family is the Answer: An...

Everybody can be involved in orphan care. In this episode, we dive into why and how the Christian church should respond to the orphan crisis. Let's listen to this message by Calvin Houser — an adoptive father, pastor at City Baptist Church of Lagro, and co-founder of the children's home Bahay Sibol. This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster Care podcast. Know more about us at roheifound...

Pastor Mark Cabag always knew the importance of adoption, but he never thought he'd eventually be both a foster and adoptive father. In this episode, he shares how his faith softened his heart to welcome children into his home. Eventually, his realization of how Filipinos are yet to be open to adoption led him to la unch nomoreorpha ns.ph . Listen as he shares how individuals, families, and church...

If there's anyone we can learn about fatherhood from, it's Mike Papadopoulos! He and his wife Malen moved to the Philippines to advocate for the orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children of the country. Mike shares his experience as a foster parent, adoptive parent, and officer of Philippines Without Orphans —  a national broad-scale and collaborative movement. This is Family is the Answer:...

Meet Len's blended family! She was the mother of four children – three adults and her young son with special needs – when her family welcomed Ayla home through adoption. Len shares her unconventional yet beautiful journey as a mother of sons and daughters who are of different ages and have their own unique stories. This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster Care podcast. Know more about...

Did you know you can adopt as a solo parent? In this episode, Amor Rebibis shares the story of starting her adoption journey as a single mother at the age of 24. She talks about the challenges, joys, and milestones of being the solo parent to her son Moses, who she adopted when he was a baby. This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster Care podcast. Know more about us at roheifoundation.o...

How else should we talk about adoption? In our last episode, Rachel and Nate unpacked the word "ampon" together. Here, they share more about their experiences related to other Filipino and English terms. Listen as they share how they think people should talk about adoption, foster care, and orphanhood! This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster Care podcast. Know more about us at roheifo...

Is it okay to ask someone if they're adopted? Because adoption and foster care are taboo topics in the Philippines, many of us aren't sure how to talk about them. In this episode, adoptees Rachel Escosar-Arellano and Nate Pante share how they feel about vocabulary related to the local orphan crisis. Listen as they help us understand why words are important in creating a culture that celebrates ado...

The Philippines has an orphan crisis. Around 6 million orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children are part of a generational cycle of poverty, abuse, and illegitimacy. This cycle includes pregnant women in crisis who — because of desperation and shame — are pushed to abandon, neglect, illegally abort, or traffic their children. Despite how overwhelming the facts are, Jon and Chrina talk about how...

Start your adoption and foster care journey with us! As a licensed Child Placement Agency, the ROHEI Foundation can facilitate adoptions, license foster families, and do foster placements in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. Listen to this episode to learn about the requirements and procedures to become an adoptive parent or foster parent if you apply through ROHEI Foundation. This i...

Did you know children have the right to feel happy, loved, and understood by their families?  It's important to be aware of laws about adoption and foster care because they're meant to protect children and families, but it can be intimidating to learn about the legal aspects of people's identity, dignity, and rights.  That's why in this episode, Jam Buen — ROHEI Foundation’s Director of...

The ROHEI Foundation is now a Child Placement Agency (CPA)! After being licensced by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, we can now facilitate adoptions, license foster families, and do foster placements in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. In this episode, our Managing Director Chrina, Director of Advocacy Jam, and Director of Child Placement Agency and resident social...

Family is the Answer is back! To start our first episode of the year, we wanted to share the recording of Night of Gratitude — an event that was live-streamed by the ROHEI Foundation in our social media platforms.  It was an evening filled with prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration because of the miracles that welcomed us this year, including ROHEI Foundation's Child Placement Agency license...

As we close the year, we think of the many ways 2021 transformed us. For Dennis, Thammie, and the entire Sy family, one of the shifts that happened in their hearts came through foster care. The privilege of pouring out love to a child. The grief that comes with saying goodbye. And the profound hope for justice they now carry with them as they continue their journey of faith as a family. Don't miss...