Here’s some really good news. 534 sheltered children were recognized in simple rites by the Cebu City government as having graduated from various educational levels namely, elementary, secondary and college.

These children are former street children, children in conflict with the law, abused and disadvantaged children taken into shelter by various non-government agencies recognized by the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children which is headed by Mayor Tommy Osmeña’s wife, Margot.

Of the 534 graduates, 255 graduated from elementary, 184 graduated from high school, 90 from college and five others finished vocational and short-term courses. Among those recognized were 22 honor students, three of them valedictorians, a salutatorian and 18 other students with honors.

Speaking before the graduates and their house parents during the recognition ceremony, Mrs. Osmeñ said, "Before, our only purpose was to keep you safe. I did not imagine there would come a time that we would see 90 of you graduating from college. This is a source of so much pride for us".

Indeed, the recognition rites is a glowing testament of a community working together to give once hopeless children a bright and hopeful future.