He was one of the “hopefuls,” waiting for his turn for a compassionate soul to “cuddle” him. Tommy (not his real name), seven years old, is among the innocent “angels” who helplessly had no choice but to grow up in a structured setting, where houseparents and social workers provide substitute parental care.

This charming and good-natured boy is not without a mother, nor a father. His mother, then 16 years old and working in a factory in Manila, met a young taxi driver whom the former had a live-in arrangement. The product of the relationship – Tommy!

A few days old after the baby came out into this world, he became an unwanted child. Perhaps because of tenderness of age, the couple easily gave up on each other and separated. Tommy’s mother became powerless, and poor Tommy was left to the care of a non-governmental organization – run orphanage in San Jose District in Tacloban City.

So sad, indeed, for the innocent boy! Things did not turn out right for Tommy – to be with his own family and home where he could find unconditional love.

At age 5, Tommy was passed on to the custody of the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Eight. It was fate that led him to be in the government – operated institution for abandoned, neglected, orphaned, exploited, abused and surrendered children who are seven years old and below. The La Victoria Baptist Orphanage shut down for some reasons.

Beyond mountains and across many seas, French – born nursing assistant, Edith Reeves, 50, and husband Michael, 60, a French and British psychotherapist who is now into catering business in France, took a step at what seems to be the next best thing to do.   Both of them have accepted that no way can they have their own child, and the alternative – adoption!

On August 4, 2008, the Reeves applied for inter-country adoption for a child from across the Philippines. It took rather a long time to exchange notes between two countries, with one, a predominantly French – speaking country, and our very own which is primarily an English – speaking one.

Social Worker Agnes Bugal of the RSCC, who attended the case of Tommy, stated that documents submitted to the other country were probably translated into the French language. The other way was done (translation from French to English) before papers were relayed to the Philippines!

Said Michael, he knows about how loving Filipinos are, and the one – time visit requirement only. “In other countries, you have to see the child not just once, before you finally have the child,” he further explained.

It doesn’t mean, however, that the adoption process is lax here. The Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB) had exhausted all means to find an appropriate placement for Tommy, for a period of four years!

Regional Director Leticia Diokno said, inter-country adoption refers to the socio-legal process of adopting a Filipino child by a foreigner or a Filipino citizen permanently residing abroad where the petition is filed, the supervised trial custody is undertaken, and the decree of adoption is issued outside the Philippines. “

She added that “ our law recognizes inter-country adoption to allow aliens to adopt, provided it shall be beneficial to the child’s best interests, and shall serve and protect his/her fundamental rights. Thus, inter-country adoption shall be the last resort only if all possibilities under the Family Code have been exhausted.”

“The Inter-Country Adoption Board is the central authority in matters relating to inter-country adoption. It shall act as the policy-making body.
The Board is composed of the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as ex-officio Chairman, and six (6) other members to be appointed by the President for a non-renewable term of six (6) years.”

Tommy’s adoptive father revealed that one of the reasons why the adoption process took long because “there was a long list of applicants … till our application reached to the top!” Daddy Reeves also bared that he and his wife had four looooong interviews with social workers and two, with psychologists.

In Tommy’s farewell party tendered by the couple held late August of 2012 at McDonald’s – Tacloban, Daddy and Mommy Reeves and Tommy presented a picture of a happy family. They seemed to be so familiar with each other; it didn’t show that in that setting, the three just met a day ago.

Tommy would cling to her newfound mommy and daddy and whisper something, as if language was not a barrier. They tried to understand each other; Tommy had a previous tutoring in English while at the RSCC and at the La Victoria Baptist Orphanage.

Mommy Reeves knows nothing of the English language, but Daddy Reeves instantly would come to the rescue by interpreting English to French.

There was a moment when Tommy tenderly asked for her mom’s digital camera for the former to be able to take pictures of his peers at the RSCC, they, who were also having their fun of a lifetime. The other kids forget momentarily that it would be Tommy’s last day with them, as they enjoyed the party.

A little later, Mommy Reeves approached the child and signaled to him to join the kids with the mascot, while she took the photo documentation instead. Tommy had no resistance, as he showed gestures of being an obedient child.

Nida Jusay, the Officer-In-Charge of the Center, described the boy as a happy child who enjoys every single moment at the RSCC, despite the routine. During sessions, Jusay revealed that Tommy would “freely ask questions and shares his thoughts and feeling about his eventual adoption.” She observed that “he has positive feelings and excited to be with his new family!”

“He is toilet-trained; has no health concerns,” Jusay reported. He has an average level of social competence, physically active, and of good mental condition, as stated in the Psychological Report of the Philippine Mental Association, as Tommy was brought to Manila for said examination.

Since the Association recommended that Tommy be first placed in a foster home for the boy to be “accustomed with the concept of being in a family,” he was then put under foster care ` For two months, he lived with the family of volunteer – foster mother, Isabel Leuterio, in San Jose, Tacloban City.

When the Reeves came, it became easy for him to adjust to having a family of his own. Tommy slept for a night at the five – star The Leyte Oriental Hotel, proudly narrating that he positioned himself between his mom and dad in bed.

Daddy Reeves narrated that on their first day, the little boy was brought to shopping at Robinson’s Place – Tacloban. He, however, pointed to the things bought which Tommy was wearing during the kiddie party – from shoes to watch, shorts, and cap.

Tommy’s dad, however, emphasized that all were shopped in the city except the boy’s shirt which came all the way from France. “We did not brought much gifts to the Philippines, but there are lot of things waiting in his bedroom!   he remarked.

The new family left for France, almost a week after their meeting in the Philippines. They stayed in Manila to settle matters with the ICAB after a few days’ stay of the couple in Tacloban.

The long wait is over. The welcome album of the Reeves sent to Tommy before the Reeves came, and the snow and wonderful scenes in foreign films that Tommy had kept seeing on television, contributed to the eagerness and excitement of the little boy to have a family of his own.

It only shows that even from way afar, there are kindhearted folks willing to give a permanent home to a child . . . of whatever race and color.

Indeed, love is everywhere, and in everyone’s hearts!