ANGELICA: THE JOYS AND MARVELS OF FOSTERING CHILDREN

(Updated Sunday, January 8, 2017)

by: Norberto Betita

Angelica

When my wife became barren by age, God sent for us another trust to care for His spirit child, an angel that came surprisingly at a time when our fifth child and last born was already past eight years old and my wife was aged 49. We have passed the time of waking in the middle of the night changing infant diapers and preparing milk for feeding. Then one day in May 1999 my wife’s niece Annabelle, who once lived with us as a foster daughter, came with an infant of five months---a daughter of another niece. We were informed that her mother was very sick and the family was experiencing a very distressing circumstance. But the child was found to be in good condition. She was the fifth child and was conceived while her mother was long since suffering from an enlargement of the thyroid gland. We were informed that she was named and registered as ANGELICA ORQUIA ORILLAN. By blood the infant was a first degree grandniece of my wife.

While at home with her aunt we supported the infant with her needs. We bought all that is necessary to make her more comfortable. Our children enjoyed her presence. We were all the while thinking that she will be brought back by her aunt to her biological family or to carry with her to Manila where she permanently resides. Then in a week’s time her aunt clandestinely departed leaving behind the child for us to care for. My wife Letty was first enraged at the irresponsible act of her niece, but she was subdued by the realization that before us was a spirit child of God, and she could not do otherwise than to again return to the role of mothering an infant. At night we shared responsibilities of caring for the little child. After a time Letty planned to return the child to her biological parents. It was very difficult for her to care for the child considering that she was a working mother. She thought that perhaps the mother had already recovered from her afflictions. However, considering our knowledge of the family’s difficult situation, I thought otherwise and instead proposed to let the child stay with us. We hired a nanny to care for her during the day while the children were at school and we were at work.

With cousins and the writer

While at times we would communicate with her parents to get the child back if they wanted to, yet they were hesitant perhaps knowing that the child is in good hands. We had been previously fostering two sisters from the child’s maternal family. The first was her twelve year old aunt Rebecca whom we take home immediately after their mother, my wife’s elder sister died of cancer. We cared for her until she graduated from college and served a full-time mission in the Church. She is now a public school teacher and had her own family. Such was to us an accomplishment and a joy beyond measure. The other sister Annabelle also came to us when she was to enter high school. We have plans to send her through college while our own children were still young. But immediately after her high school graduation she instead left for Manila. She was the aunt who left Angelica to us.

In time we intended to file a legal adoption for Angelica. However, when I consulted with a friend who is in-charge for adoption I was informed that it would be difficult for us to qualify because our combined income is small as to merit adding an adopted child to our already large family of five children. Hence, she remained with us as a foster daughter. As she grows older she was ever yearning to be sealed to us as a permanent part of the family for she felt that she really is no different from being a real daughter to us and a true sibling to her foster brother and sisters.

Her Young Womanhood Recognition certificate,
Medallion and chain

Except for conception and child delivery we gave her the experience equal to the way we cared for our own children. As an infant she slept with us at night and we gave her the same love and affection she deserved as a child of God. To all our children she is tenderly and most lovingly considered as their own younger sister. They were all concerned of her welfare and her future. The whole family was truly joyful of her presence. She was a miracle for adding joy and gladness in the family. But like our children, she has her own weaknesses and frailties, yet she is such an obedient child.

She might not have gotten honors at school but I trust that her grade point average of 1.7 (87%) for the first semester of her second year in college was deserving of her honest efforts. She has talents that project a brighter future should she endeavor to honestly work to attain her spiritual and secular goals. As a young woman she is trying her best to be at par with the standards of the church. She is apt at attending church activities. She tried to be qualified for a Young Womanhood Recognition. And she did. She is a good student of the gospel and I found her to have deeper understanding of the scriptures. She has the ability to expound scriptural passages and gospel doctrines. She has been a good student of the Seminary.

With the foster family

Born on January 8, 1999, today is her eighteenth birthday. We may not be able to afford a beautiful debut gown and sumptous celebration for this eventful transition from her youth to an acceptable legal age, but she knows that more than anything else family love and affection is always the best menu that can be served on the celebration table.

She is now in her second year of college. She graduated from the Seminary and is presently in the second year of the Institute program, As a second generation foster daughter we expect her to attain success. As a family we are bound to support her in her journey to the future until she finds the road to victory. She still has a long way to go but with consistency of purpose and with loyalty and total devotion to God we feel confident that she will be able to attain her desired success. Her eighteen years stay with us and our prior experiences of raising and nurturing her two aunts allowed us to really feel the joy and marvel of fostering children.

As she celebrates her birthday today, we express our love and gratitude for having her as part of our family life with hopes and prayers that she will continually be loyal to her commitments, covenants and promises to do good always and to live a life of righteousness.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELICA WITH BEST WISHES FOR AN UP-AND-COMING FUTURE! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!