The Crisis Intervention Center-Balay Dangupan celebrated its 31st anniversary this week, marking more than three decades of providing sanctuary and comprehensive care to young girls who were victims of physical and sexual abuse.
Since its establishment in 1994, the center has been a critical refuge, offering more than just shelter. It provides psychosocial intervention, basic necessities, and a dedicated pathway to recovery for its residents. The facility currently houses 46 children, its youngest residents being two three-year-olds.
During the anniversary ceremony, center overseer Rizza Grace Naive emphasized the center’s role as a temporary shelter and family. She described Balay Dangupan as a place that has borne witness to the tears and struggles of countless children, but more importantly, to their remarkable courage and transformation.
Nenita Lim, Center Coordinator of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), assured the children of the local government’s unwavering support.
“Anaa kami kanuna’y nagasuporta kaninyo, nagapaluyo, aron makab-ot ang hustisya, kausaban ug kalambuan sa kinabuhi (We are here to support you, to back you, to ensure that you get the justice, change and growth in your lives),” she said.
“Ang inyo’ng nasinati sa kinabuhi wala kini nagsulti og unsa ug kinsa kamo, kun’ dili nagsulti kini how you rise after the painful experience (What you experienced do not define you as a person, rather it speaks of how you overcame that painful experience),” Lim added.
“Remember, God sees you individually, and He is not just a God of love, but also a God of justice,” she added.
The event also featured an inspiring testimony from Merilyn Macias-Aroy, a former resident who lived at the center in 2008 and is now a public school teacher. She shared how Balay Dangupan became her anchor during her darkest time.
“Ang Balay Dangupan ang nitindog, ang nihatag og shelter, nagprotekta, nahimo’ng tingog para sa akoa nga usa ka biktima (Balay Dangupan stood up for me, it provided us with a shelter, protection, and served as the voice of the victims),” she said.
She also expressed her hopes for the children to receive the justice they deserve, and to continue dreaming and keep going.
“I hope that my story, mga bata, will become yours in the future. Nga dili mo muhunong paggawas ninyo sa balay dangupan, dili mo muhunong sa inyong damgo, kung gusto mo mahimong propesyonal, kung gusto mo mahimong artista, padayon sa pagdamgo (I hope that my story will also become yours in the future, that you will not stop dreaming. Whether you want to be professional or artists, keep dreaming),” Macias-Aroy said.
For over three decades now, Balay Dangupan has stood as a beacon of hope, dedicated to restoring the sense of safety and dignity stolen from its young residents. CIO
