Inspirational Spotlight: The Desabeila Siblings Story

The Desabeila Siblings (Photo Courtesy of Maria Tuazon)

In 2020, the Desabaila family moved to Santa Maria, Matalingting, Laguna, to work as caretakers. After enduring years of verbal abuse from their employer, they bravely decided to quit and find a temporary home within the community (Barangay Matalingting) until their children could finish school.

Two of their children, Jona and Joma, were under YDA scholarship. They graduated from senior high school with honors. Their father worked hard as a construction worker, while their mother took on various side jobs to make ends meet. Despite their efforts, the family struggled under a heavy burden of debt. Eventually, the parents and their youngest brother chose to return to Santa Rosa, Laguna, where they could stay with relatives and resume washing bottles in a factory.

Last July, Jona, Joma, and Justine enrolled in school—one in Grade 11 and two in their first year of college. They plan to stay in Barangay Matalingting, Santa Maria until they graduate. However, after just one month, their parents began urging them to drop out due to a lack of food and transportation allowance. They also struggled to pay for basic utilities—300 pesos for electricity and 200 pesos for water each month.

Seeing their struggle broke my heart. My husband and I felt compelled to help. We found someone who could assist with transportation costs, and God provided the travel allowance for the siblings. While they studied, they lived in a small house made of worn materials, bamboo, and woven patchwork sacks. The soil served as their floor, and they shared one small dirty bamboo bed where they huddled together for warmth. They have no doors, and the back part of the house is wide open. There is no comfort room and the “house” is full of cobwebs and termites. Dirt is everywhere and the odor reeks.

In the place where they were living, Jona faced the terrible experience of sexual harassment three times. In the first two incidents, the man who owned the lot and was related to the owner of the abandoned house would massage her shoulders and hands, but then he crossed a line and touched her chest. The third time was much worse; he forced her to lie down, but Jona fought back with all her strength until she broke free and ran away. At first, she didn’t tell me what happened because she was scared. It was only after this last incident that she found the courage to share it with me.

I have known Jona for four years and have seen how vulnerable she is. She had shared other frightening experiences with me, which made me worry about her safety long before she opened up. When the perpetrator’s wife told the kids that the house owner was coming back, their parents felt they had no choice but to force them to drop out of school and return to Santa Rosa, Laguna immediately.

One day, two kids came to our house in tears, sharing their heartbreaking situation. They didn’t want to leave school or give up on their dreams. These children are not just determined; they are dedicated students who work hard and achieve high grades. They graduated from senior high school with honors, certificates, and awards. They are also devoted to attending youth services and are active in our community. God put a burden on my husband, daughter, and my heart to help them. We talked about how we could make a difference in their lives. We decided to turn our unused basement into a safe space where they could stay and continue their education without fear. We wanted to give them hope and support as they chase their dreams for a brighter future.

The youth in our community worked together in the spirit of “Bayanihan”. They hauled sand, mixed cement, and plastered the walls, all working side by side to create a safe place for the children to stay. We borrowed 18,000 pesos just to finish the basement room.

Last November 10, 2024, we held a room dedication with the youth members of YDA. Justine was happy and he appreciated the beauty of the room. Joma felt glad that he could now study better. Jona expressed her gratitude for the people willing to help them, saying, “Hindi naman kami deserving pero kami ang napili,” which means, “We don’t deserve it yet we were chosen.”

We provided bedding, a computer table with a desktop set, a bed, beddings, mattress, blankets, pillows, pillow case a cabinet, drawers, desks, chairs, kitchen materials, and other essentials. They will not pay anything. The water, electricity, their stay, etc. We adopted them and taught them how to take care of themselves, maintain cleanliness, and orderliness, and be organized.

Their determination to succeed despite these hardships is truly inspiring. Jona, Joma, and Justine are not just students; they are warriors fighting for a better future. They deserve every opportunity to thrive. Together, we can create a brighter future for these deserving children who are eager to learn and grow.

In Christ,

Maria Elizabeth H. Tuazon, RSW

YDA Go Viral Adviser

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