“Nangako ako sa sarili ko, sa pamilya ko, sa partner ko at sa ating Panginoon na magbabago na ako at papahalagahan ko na ang sarli ko,” Lovelyn Rafanan Asuncion, 33 years old from Gonzaga, Cagayan, a former child in conflict with the law (CICL), said.
Deciding to take full responsibility for wrong choices in life, using the pain to look forward to better days ahead, and making the best use of the support of the community and the local government, Lovelyn is now experiencing the best days of her life.
But before all this, she came to a point in her life where she was lost and made numerous misbehaviors. It all began when his father died in a vehicular accident and her mother continued working abroad, leaving her and her sibling to whoever relatives are available to take good care of them.
This led to early pregnancy and then the alleged use of illegal drugs and involvement in the illegal trade.
Until she decided to rewrite her story, she underwent community-based intervention program. The local government unit provided her with counseling sessions, monitoring and home visitations and the Rural Health Unit (RHU) also provided her with needed vitamins. Fortunately, she was able to continue her studies through Alternative Learning System and involved herself in various activities in her barangay.
“Malaking tulong ang ipinakitang pagsuporta ng komunidad sa aking pagbabago, hinayaan nila akong maging kabahagi ng mga seminar at training para mapalawak ang aking kaalaman. Ginabayan din ako ng mga pastor at religious groups. Ang kanilang malasakit at tiwala ang nagpalakas sa akin ng loob para gawin ang tama,” she added.
Today, she is a teacher at Callao Primary School and is studying Master of Arts in Education, Major in Educational Administration. She is also an advocate of Gender and Development (GAD) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and oftentimes invited as resource person on Anti-Drugs Seminars.
For Lovelyn, sa Juvenile Justice Law, kaisa siya sa pagkamit ng pagbabago.
