I am Eduardo M. Banca. I grew up in Longos, Malabon. ERDA supported my education from Grade 6 until college.

            My first ERDA Social Worker was Ms Jocelyn “Joy” Duque. She encouraged me to be a Child Rights Advocate.

            There were a lot of activities initiated by ERDA that helped me. The most meaningful for me was being taught not only by ERDA but by its partner organizations as well. ERDA has allowed its child leaders to be shaped by experiences even outside ERDA.

            I was able to attend sessions on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), child abuse and child labor. These opened my eyes on the needs of children like me during that time.

            ERDA also gave me opportunities to know myself more; and to befriend fellow children across the country. As of writing, we are all grown-ups, and I am still connected with them.

I am Rachel Nigado. I am from Malabon.

            ERDA sponsored my education from Grade 3 until I graduated from college. That was from 2002 to 2013!

            I found all activities in ERDA meaningful – meetings of the Samahan ng mga Bata in each area, dance contests, youth seminars and trainings and even catechism. Through these, I was able to meet many children and youth, gained friends and learned from them.

            I had a wonderful youth because of ERDA.

            The ERDA Social Workers were approachable, friendly and dedicated to the ERDA children. They left a remarkable memory in my life. I was also closest with Ms Jocelyn Duque and Ms Lynn Rivera.

            I feel honored and will be forever thankful to be a batang ERDA.

#ERDA@50