For children, Christmas is more than a season of lights and carols; it is a wellspring of memories that shape their sense of joy, warmth, and belonging.

And in the laughter that fills the air, in the glow of lanterns, and the embrace of people who care, the season creates moments that stay with them long after the holidays fade.

At the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office (FO) 8 – Eastern Visayas, Christmas is a time when hope becomes more tangible for the children sheltered at the RSCC.

A child under its care is Astrid, a young girl who has learned to find strength in the warmth of others. For her, the words of a popular Christmas song echo not just melody, but longing.

“Sa init ng mga yakap, mag hihilom ang lahat ng sugat,” Astrid sings a line from a Christmas song. And as the lyrics leave her lips, she looks up with bright, eager eyes.

The RSCC, one of the DSWD’s Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCF), provides protection and rehabilitation to neglected, abandoned, abused, and exploited children, including those with special needs and those in need of alternative family care.

But on this special day, the Center is alive with celebration.

There is singing, dancing, gifts, and games. A magician captures the children’s imaginations, and Astrid’s voice rises with excitement as a rabbit suddenly appears from a hat — she runs, giggles, and joins her peers in a flurry of activity.

The promise of snacks delights her even more: hotdog-on-a-stick, ice cream, popcorn, cotton candy, cheese fries, and other treats that make the afternoon unforgettable.

And as the festivities wind down, Astrid grows quiet for a moment. It is Christmas, the best time to make a wish.

She closes her eyes and prays silently: someday she hopes to be adopted by a loving family. Someday, she says, she will have a home to call her own.

Then she embraces her social worker—her Angel in Red Vest—finding comfort in the assurance that she is loved and cared for, and that DSWD is committed to helping her dreams come true.

“As long as we create spaces where children feel safe, valued, and joyful, we are giving them more than a celebration. We are giving them hope,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said as she emphasized the Department’s continued dedication to child protection and welfare.

“Every child deserves a nurturing environment. DSWD will never tire of working for that reality. Our efforts continue because every child’s story matters.” Asst. Secretary Dumlao noted.

And as the day ends, Astrid hums the final line of the song, a promise she holds close: “muling magkakakulay ang Pasko.” (KI)