RoNACO appreciate the dedication, love, compassion and hard work of all our volunteers. They provide practical assistance, counselling and spiritual guidance. In pairs, they visit our AIDS clients and their families in hospital or their homes twice a week for about two hours each visit. Small gestures done in love have a big impact on discouraged hearts!

The world sees what they do . . . God sees why they do it!

Maggie, Mang Nestor (please see his letter below*),
Imelda, Di, Tess and Helen

When your world has become so small that all your earthly possessions are within arms' reach from your bed, the feeling of loneliness and despair are overwhelming. When you no longer have control of the simple things and your activity has been reduced to a series of doctors' appointments, answering questions, short walks for those who are still able, it is comforting to know that there are people who care enough to break the monotony. RoNACO volunteers are a precious sight to an otherwise dreary day and a welcome relief for a tired caregiver, usually a family member, a relative or friend. However, many of these sick and lonely people have been abandoned by family and the only visits they get are from our volunteers.

In a world where commitment is restricted by time which itself is a precious commodity, the volunteers are giving their time to better and brighten the lives of those living with AIDS. They do make a difference, providing hope and help to those on the roller coaster of infections and emotions . . . and facing death.

Quote from Maggie:

Last week I was able to talk with some hospital staff and asked them why the patients at H4 have to buy their own medications. The answer I got was "the hospital don't have enough funds to provide them".

We would like to help and I know through prayer God will touch some people to donate some medications or to provide financial assistance for this purpose. Please include us in your prayers.

Quotes from Other Volunteers:

Tess: "Alice was aloof the first time I visited her. After a month we had more openness and attachment. It was hard to think they will leave you soon; however it must be because of God's love that I am able to minister to her."

Josie: "These people need support because a lot of people do not understand them. They need love and care and I am happy visiting them. This is the last moment of their lives, they need somebody to talk to, sometimes to unload their burdens. I learned to love them because of the love of Jesus Christ."

Babes: "The first time I visited Mila she was irritable and just ignored me. On one of my next visits she requested used clothing and I told her I will gladly get some for her. When I saw her again and brought the clothes, she was so happy and apologized that she couldn't hug me because she had a fever at that time."

Helen: "I can honestly say because of the love of God in us and through us, we can minister to these PLWAs."

Wilma: "I've been with RoNACO for almost four years now and being part of the ministry has taught me a lot - to draw closer to people and have more compassion to the afflicted. If it were not for the love of God , I could not reach out to these people. It is discouraging sometimes knowing the stigma within society, and sad to say even among Christians, but I believe this is the ministry where you can see the merciful heart of God manifested. We have struggles; but seeing these PLWAs and their burdens will just move your heart. Right now, God is enlarging our tent, extending especially to the kids left by parents who died of AIDS. My heart is crying seeing these innocent children. I'm still single, yet God gave me kids to look after and nurture through unconditional love."

Monique: "It is a privilege being a volunteer of RoNACO as a social worker. My job is to assess, monitor and prepare records for some of the patients RoNACO is helping."
NOTE: Monique is no longer with RoNACO because she moved to Canada. Before leaving the Philippines, she set up the Children's Sponsorship Program.

Sa inyong lahat, isamg magandang gabi po. Bago ang lahat nagpapasalamat po ako sa RONaCO, Rodel Naval Care Outreach, upang makibahagi sa napakahalagang gawaing ito, tungkol sa Care & Support ng people living with HIV/AIDS, children and affected family, at makipagshare tungkol sa AIDS experience. Ako po si Mang Nestor, volunteer ng RONACO at dating beneficiary noon nabubuhay pa ng aking anak na si Mary Grace.

Ang bawat isa sa atin ay nangangarap ng simple, maayos at desenteng pamumuhay. Ngunit sadya yatang napakaraming pagsubok ang dapat harapin bago makamtan ang pangarap na ito. Maging ito man ay ikawawala ng iyong mahal sa buhay. Ako at ang aking mahal na asawa ay nagsisikap upang mabigyan ng magandang edukasyon, wastong pagkain at kalusugan ang aming mga anak. Kaya lahat ng klaseng maayos na paraan ay inisp namin at ginawa. Isa na dito ang pangingibang bansa. Nag-apply kami sa Agency patungong Middle East upang matugunan ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng pamilya. At mapalad ngang tinawagan ng kompanya ang misis ko.

Dahil sa malaking halaga kakailanganin para sa placement fee, napilitan kaming ipagbili ang aming lupa't bahay. Umalis siya ng Pilipinas noon February 5, 1989 patunong U.A.E., na may kontrantang dalawang taon. Subalit sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, ang kanilang employer ay hindi tumupad sa mga alintuntuning nakasaad sa kontrata. Narito ang hindi tamang pasahod at hindi magandang pamamalakad sa lugar na kanyang pinagtratrabahuhan. Wala akong magawa kung hindi ang manalanging sa Panginoon na sana ay maging maganda ang kanyang kalagayan doon. Pagkaraan ng dalawang taon, dahil sa liit ng kanyang suweldo, pinili niyang maging TNT (Tago Ng Tago) para maipagpatuloy ang mga pangarap na iniwan dito sa Pilipinas. Subalit sa kabila ng pagsisikap niyang kumita ng malaking halaga para matugunan ang kahirapan, naging mailap sa kanya ang pagkakataon hanggang sa makatagpo siya ng employer na may karamdamang AIDS, at sapilitan siyang inabuso at ito nga at nagbunga ng isang magandang batang babae. Sa kabila ng mga pangyayari nagpapasalamat kami sa Panginoon dahil nakauwi pa rin siyang ng buhay dito sa Pilipinas.

Pagkaraan pa lang ng ilang araw ng pananatili niya dito, kabi-kabila na ang balita sa mga pahayagan na may mga OFS mula sa U.A.E. ang narito na ngayon sa Pilipinas. Kabilang nga dito ang aking asawa. Isang buwang pinagpiestahan ng mga tabloid ang kaawa-awang kalagayan ng aming pamilya. Isolation at diskriminasyon sa mga kapitbahay at kakilala ang aming nakuha at higit sa lahat, ang pinakamasakit ay layuan ka mismo ng iyong kamag-anakan at kaibigan. Halos gusto ko ng mawala sa mga panahong iyon, subalit nanaig pa rin ang lakas ng loob at pagmamahal sa akin ng Panginoon. Pinilit ko at ng aking mga anak na tumayo at maglakad ng taas noo sa mga taong umaapi at lumalayo sa amin. At sa tulong pa ng ilang taong may mabubuting kalooban, katulad ng RONACO, CARITAS, P.J.M., PAFPI, PINOY PLUS, at sa walang sawang pagtawag sa Panginnon, naging matatag and bawat isa sa amin at sama-samang hinarap ang pagsubok na ito.

Sa ngayan, walong taon na ang nakalipas mula ng pumanaw ang aking maybahay ay madalas ko pa rin naalala ang paghihirap na dinanas niya dahil sa pagkakaroon ng karamdamang AIDS. Katuwang nito ang nakita kong lakas at tapang na ipinakita niya para labanan ang sakit na ito at sa kahuli-hulihang sandali hindi siya nawalan ng pag-asa na balang araw ang magandang bukas na pinapangarap niya sa kanying pamilya ay makakamtan din kahit na siya ay pumanaw pa.

Ang munting anghel na naiwan niya ay ang aking bunsong anak na si Mary Grace. Patuloy siyang lumalaban at hinarap ang tunay na hamon ng buhay. Walang humpay sa pakikibaka at pakikipaglaban sa sakit na HIV/AIDS. Napakahirap sa isang bata ang dumanas ng ganitong karamdaman at napakalungkot sa isang pamilya at magulang. Naalala ko si Grace na minsan ay nangarap maging doctor para gamutin ang karamdaman ng kanyang ina. Napakabata at inosente sa mga pangyayaring ito. Siya po ay binawian ng buhay noon November 19, 2003, isa't kalahating taon na po ang nakaraan sa sakit na Severe Pneumonia dahilan ng HIV/AIDS sa edad na 11-1/2 years old.

Ang kanilang diwa at ala-ala at di mawawala sa amin isipan. Maiksi lamang ang ating buhay kaya habang narito tayo sa mundo, gawin natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya upang maging mabuting Kristiano, gaano mang ang kahirap ang pagsubok na dumating sa ating buhay.Dahil sa kabila ng lahat na ito may magandang buhay na naghihintay sa atin.

At muli pinasasalamatan namin ang RONACO, sa inyong lahat at sa mga taong walang sawang sumusubaybay at sumusuporta sa atin, at sa indibidwal na may mabuting kalooban.

Pagpalain nawa kayo ng Poong Maykapal.

Salamat po,

Original Signed by:
NESTOR E. ESPREZ
Volunteer, RONACO

To all of you, a good evening. First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude to RoNaCO for allowing me the privilege to be part of this very important cause - caring and supporting children, people living with HIV/AIDS, and affected family members and to be able to share my experience about AIDS. I am Mang Nestor, a volunteer with RoNACO and father of Mary Grace, former beneficiary of their care,

Each of us desires to have a simple, good and decent life for ourselves and families. However, it seems that there are many trials we have to face before we fulfil our dreams. The trials might even be losing your loved ones. My wife and I tried our best to provide the basic needs and good education for our children. We tried all the possibilities in good ways to improve our life. One of them was the opportunity to work outside the Philippines and my wife was fortunate enough to be hired to work in the Middle East.

Only after a few days in the Philippines, the tabloid papers published defamation sensational news on her unfortunate, pitiful fate. We sufffered isolation and discrimination from our neighbours and acquaintances; the most painful was when our own relatives and friends have ran away from us. Almost I wish to have disappeared (or be dead) at that time but my love to the Lord gave me strength to face these tribulations. I encouraged my children to stand up and walk with heads up among these people who were ostracizing us. With the help of a few compassionate people, like volunteers from RoNACO, CARITAS, P.J.M., PAFPI, PINOY PLUS, and for praying without ceasing to the Lord, I and my kids were able to be strong and together we faced the discrimination.

Now, it has been eight years since my wife passed away and I still remember the excruciating pain she suffered due to AIDS. Though she was suffering, I could still see her strong will and courage to fight this illness. Up to her last breath, she never lost hope that someday her family would attain her dream though she would be gone.

The little angel that my wife left to us was Mary Grace. Mary Grace continuously fought and faced the real challenge of life. There was no end on her fight with HIV/AIDS. It was hard for a child to suffer with this kind of disease and it was very sad for our family. I remember Grace one time when she dreamed to become a doctor so she could treat her sick Mom. She was so young and innocent to what was happening. She passed away on November 19, 2003, already a year and a half past. She died of Severe Pneumonia, a complication of AIDS, at the age of 11-1/2 years old.

Their spirit and memory will always be remembered. Our life is so short that while we are here in this world, let us do our best to be good Christians no matter how hard the trials that come to our life because in spite of these hardships, a beautiful life is awaiting us.

Again, we are thankful with RoNACO, to all of you who endlessly guide and support us, and to individuals with kind heart.

May God bless you all.

Thank you,

Original Signed by:
NESTOR E. ESPREZ
Volunteer, RoNACO