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 launch nomoreorphans.ph. Listen as he shares how individuals, families, and churches can respond to the orphan crisis and turn the Philippines into a nation with no more orphans.

This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster Care podcast. Know more about us at roheifoundation.org

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: An Adoption and Foster Care podcast. Know more about us at roheifoundation.org

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 us at roheifoundation.org

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.org

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!

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 adoption and foster care.

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 everybody has the power to respond to this issue. They specifically share ROHEI Foundation's orphan prevention and orphan care programs that demonstrate that family is the answer to the orphan crisis.

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.

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 Advocacy and a graduating law student from the University of the Philippines — joins Chrina in simplifying and explaining international and local laws related to adoption and foster care. 

This is Family is the Answer: An Adoption and Foster Care Podcast. Know more about us at roheifoundation.org 

TIMESTAMPS

00:45 INTRODUCTION

04:15 INTERNATIONAL LAWS

09:20 PHILIPPINE LAWS

24:29 THE NEW ADOPTION LAW IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care Act or RA 11642

29:47 WHY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO KNOW

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 worker Sam talk about our journey to becoming a CPA and how our license allows us to respond to the Philippine orphan crisis in a larger capacity.