THE HARVEST OF HOPE FOUNDATION

By: Engr. Rafael Peter J.R. Villadiego

 

 

      It’s December of nineteen-ninety nine,

      With autism, a meeting’s held in line,

      Mrs. Ong thought that her son was not fine

     So she talked with guests after they did dine.

 

      So, Joshua, in March of the next year

      Was diagnosed – and he’s with his mom dear—

      Doc. Joel told her, “Just don’t shed a tear,

      For there is always a reason to cheer.”

 

     The doc added, “We’re only trained on ‘why’,

      And the ‘how’ to teacher we’ve to rely,”

      To build school, was what Doc liked to imply,

      Sensing that Mrs. Ong’s zeal was so high.

 

      There’s already the Lucena West One

      Which offers SPED but maybe just for fun,

      Other schools are far and their fees, you’d shun

      So a school, near and cheap, someone should run.

 

     At first, twelve moms joined Mrs. Vangie Ong

      But only ten felt her vision so strong.

      Five others knew that she could not be wrong,

      So the Harvest of Hope was born not long.

 

    In Lourdes Subdivision at Iyam’s ground

      At a cul-de-sac, this school can be found.

      The former g’rage has few neighbors around

      So kids could hear not so many a sound.

 

      Teacher Aulyn came… offered help for free,

      Then trained the would-be teachers who were three.

      Adel Martinez, mom who did agree

      To give up job, so school, she’d oversee.

      

In summer tri’l class, the kids were seven,

      Fifteen followed when school year did open (year 2000)

      Early intervention’s its forte then

      But even teens could go here—their haven.

 

     Members chipped in to renovate the place

      And to buy things for children’s many plays.

      More enrolles have come and bigger space

      They need while building rooms comes from God’s grace.

 

      The school is off’ring therapies like speech,

      Occupational, and others.. does teach

      Parents and nannies how to handle each

      Case and stages summer camp as outreach.

 

      The school has helped parents how to endure

      With autism, though, to it, there’s no cure.

      Kids come and go yet the Harvest could lure

      More due to its service with love for sure.

 

      The Harvest aims to purchase nearby plot,

      Or to move into a much larger spot.

      But at present, to buy such, it cannot…

      In time, it could, for God’s blest it a lot.