Christmas in Filipino communities is a season of light, warmth, and renewal.

In one neighborhood visited by the Pag-abot Program, a different kind of illumination emerged—a story of a young boy named Dion and his mother, Angie Bangate, whose lives have shifted from the uncertainty of street living to the promise of a safer and more hopeful future.

Their journey reflects the growing impact of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) efforts to reach vulnerable families and guide them toward stability.

For years, Angie sustained her household through Sampaguita vending. Economic strain once forced her to bring along Dion in the crowded streets—an act driven not by choice, but by necessity.

“Nagtitinda po kami ng Sampaguita, isang beses ko lang po talaga sinama yan, yun po yung na reach out siya sa Greenhills, dala ng kagipitan kaya ko nagawa. Kaya sinama ko siya. Pambaon nila araw-araw. Pambayad ng bahay, tubig at ilaw. Takot na takot kasi hindi namin alam kung DSWD ang nakahuli,” Angie explained.

Young and eager to help, Dion simply wanted to ease the burden. “Gusto ko lang po sumama, para makatulong. Pangkain po, tska pambili ng gatas ng kapatid ko,” he said.

It was his first time to help his mother that way, unaware that the moment would lead to his rescue and assessment under the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program.

Through the intervention of the Pag-abot Team, Angie and Dion learned about the dangers of having children work or stay on the streets. The program ensured Dion’s continued education and safety while supporting Angie in rebuilding their livelihood.

“Kasi ang paliwanag po sa amin, yun nga po bawal nga po talaga pag tindahin yung mga bata. Ayon po patuloy po siyang nag aaral sa ngayon,” Angie said.

Dion now performs well in school and enjoys playing volleyball, a newly found passion that reflects the normalcy restored in his daily life.

Angie later received cash assistance to establish a small sari-sari store—an opportunity that marked a turning point for the family. “Eto po sari-sari store, tingin ko na medyo a-angat ng konti… Kahit papaano po nakakaluwag na, may pinagkukunan na kami kumpara noon,” she noted.

The improvements in their life brought relief and dignity, while giving Dion space to simply be a child again.

With Christmas approaching, the family now looks forward to celebrating in a way which was once out of reach. “Happy lang araw-araw, walang sakit yung mga anak ko, okay na ako, makakain lang kami sa araw-araw,” Angie said as she described her simple yet meaningful wish.

Angie also shared a message for parents and children still struggling on the streets:“Kung ano yung binigay sa kanilang tulong bigyan nila ng halaga. Isipin ang kapakanan ng mga anak namin na nasa lansangan na wag na sila basta bastang pag hanap-buhayin.”

To help more families and individuals in street situations (FISS), the DSWD continues to enhance and expand its Pag-abot Program implementation.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian recently inaugurated the Pag-abot Processing Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The facility serves as a temporary shelter for individuals and families rescued from the streets across Pampanga and nearby provinces.

The DSWD’s new processing center also represents a strengthened cooperation between national and local government units (LGUs) to deliver faster and more accessible social services to more Filipinos in need like Dion and Angie.

The story of Dion and Angie reflects what becomes possible when assistance meets determination– through the Pag-abot Program, a future once overshadowed by hardship now glows with hope, learning, and safety.

This Christmas marks not just a festive season for their family, but a new beginning—one shaped by compassion, opportunity, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves protection and a chance to a better life. (KI)