CHILDREN'S GARDEN

In Taytay, Rizal, is a wonderful orphanage called Children's Garden, begun in late 1954 through the joint efforts of The Methodist Church in the Philippines and the Christian Children's Fund, Inc., of Richmond, Virginia. The Christian Children's Fund, Inc., mountains orphanages throughout the world for destitute, abandoned and orphaned children. When it looked to the Philippines as a place for furthering its humanitarian work, the Philippines Annual Conference gladly accepted local sponsorship of the project, and Dr. Asuncion Perez became president of the Board of Directors.

The orphanage was called Children's Garden to symbolize its being a place of beauty and peace.* "The Garden" officially opened its doors on January 2, 1956, for six children; and by 1964 it had 3:50 children under its care. The children live as families in cottages, each cottage being under the direction of a "mommy," a Christian woman, who in cooperation with the able director, Mrs. Ester Pangindian, director of the Garden since its beginning, seeks to provide Christian love and family-like closeness for the children. Such an atmosphere helps the children rise above their backgrounds and become integrated, useful members of society.

Children’s Garden is the most modern child-caring institution in the Philippines. The children are provided with both primary and secondary education in the near- by town; their spiritual growth is fostered not only by the staff but by a pastor and deaconesses who are as- signed to the institution. A clinic on the grounds provides dental and medical care. The children's diet is supplemented through donations from UNICEF, Meals for Millions and Church World Service. Increasingly, local groups and associations are helping in the support of the orphanage. In addition, the property of the Garden itself is being cultivated by the children. This work helps in the support of the Garden through the raising of fruits and vegetables. Local and international work camp groups have also made significant contributions to the ongoing program and development of Children's Garden.¹²⁸

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* Each building of the Home is named after a native flower, such ii as sampaguita, banaba and cadena de amor, and is painted the color of the flower whose name it bears.

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