Read the first three parts of Our Adoption Story here:
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We planned to go to the DSWD
office in Sta. Cruz, Laguna where our social worker is assigned to submit a Letter of Acceptance. She then told us
that we would be required to visit Mateo for two whole days and then be able to
take him home on the third day. We were both excited! In two days, we will
finally meet the child God had chosen for us! Our child.
I forced myself to sleep
early the night before our first day. We had to get up at 4 am and leave at
5:30am so we could be at the children’s home by 7:00 am. Ha! Who was I kidding
I was too excited to sleep and got up at 3:30 am!
It was a pleasant drive with
Noli. After saying the rosary, we talked about Mateo mostly; and about how God’s
hand was in everything that had happened. We brought books and a stuffed bear
for Mateo.
As we entered the home, we
saw Mateo riding a toy car, playing with the other children. I called out to
him and waved, he came closer and waved back. The other children came close too
while the older ones asked, “Are you Mateo’s mommy and daddy?” Oh that was the
sweetest thing I have ever heard!
I did not hesitate to pick
him up and cuddle him. He willingly let me hold him. It took him a while to
warm up to Noli but after his nap, he was playing with him. Noli and I too
turns playing and reading books with Mateo and his friends. The caregivers
offered me to change his diapers and dress him after I watch Mateo get bathed.
We bonded and played with Mateo and the other kids until it was time to go
home. We will be back the day after tomorrow.
The second day of our
adoption birth, Mateo had already ‘taken ownership’ of us. I noticed when other
kids tried to sit on my lap, Mateo tried to squeeze himself into my lap and
claim his territory. I felt sad for the other kids but I also felt ‘kilig’ (romantic excitement according
to Google but it really isn’t near that feeling) deep down. We went home after
Mateo was put to bed that day.
The two and a half hour
drive to the home and the three hour drive back to our place was all worth it.
The waking up early in the morning, the lack of sleep and the traffic was nothing
compared to what happened on our third day.
In order to be able to take
Mateo home, we would need to have the PAPA or Pre-Adoption Placement Authority
and the ACA ot the Affidavit of Consent to Adoption. So we had to drop by the
DSWD Region 4 field office to pick up those documents. We were there a few
minutes before our social worker arrived but as excited as I was, I had the
patience of a cow. We had waited for this moment for such a long time, a few
minutes was a piece of cake.
After we got all the
documents, we headed to the children’s home. Since we calculated that we would
arrive there after lunch, we decided to get drive through so we can take our
lunch on the road. But first, we should have the documents notarized! It was
such a blessing to have a Notary Public beside the most famous fast food chain
in the Philippines on the way to the children’s home! So while we waited for
our order, we had our documents notarized. How good is our God?
When we arrived at the
children’s home we had to do our despedida
party at once so the other children could take a nap.
It was such an emotional despedida! After we signed and exchanged
documents, we worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord for his goodness. All the caregivers present gave a message to
Mateo and after all the hugs and well wishes, it was time to leave.
We had practiced riding the
car with Mateo on the second day so he was not reluctant to ride the car on
that day. We sat at the back of the car. I let him nap in the car since it was
really his naptime, and relished the feeling of holding my child as long as I
can. And again, my heart beat 100 Thank
you, Lords per minute.
If you would like to know more about local adoption, please visit http://www.dswd.gov.ph/faqs/local-adoption-requirements-and-procedures/
