Even at DARE, Christmas is filled with magic. The patients believe that generous and loving parents will take them back after they wash away the shabu from their system, which is their wish for Christmas day. And because people’s hearts are filled with affection for them and are willing to share and forgive, their rehab encourages them to "resist" and like themselves again.
Oh, they do miss the Christmas season’s customs like walking through carnival grounds buying bibingka and some attending Misa de Gallo. But their spirits are warmed by the few twinkling lanterns they see to guide the Magi to His holy crib. No kumbacheros there who shout their songs to outdo their tansans, drums, tambourines and marakas. Well, neither do we see nor hear them "outside" nowadays. Better too that bamboo cannons no longer wake folks from their sleep. Otherwise, barrio folks might think they’re under siege.
He was a typical grown-up kid with great ambitions. Because of ambitions, he went against his parents’ wishes, quit his third-year architectural course in Cebu and searched for his destiny in Manila. The decision paid off at the start. He was discovered by Pitoy Moreno, went on to become one of Manila’s top male ramp models and landed dozens and dozens of commercial endorsements, hosted various and beauty and fashion competitions, became a disc jockey in an FM station. The list can just go on.
Let’s hear it from him: "With the world aware of my existence, TV and movie exposures came my way. Yes, you may say I achieved a certain degree of popularity. It was fun and financially rewarding. I was popular, earned good money, traveled and to top it all, my family was proud of me. But then again, as all successes come, they come with prices to pay. Because of the sheer fatigue of trying to accomplish so many things in such little time, and out of curiosity, shabu reared its ugly head and came into the picture taking over my life. Now it had the lead role.
"Gone was the man people would be proud to be associated with. Here was the man they loathed and laughed at. I was homeless, penniless, hopeless. I drifted from one place to the other, not knowing where I would get shelter nor when the next meal would come. I borrowed money, lied so I could buy more drugs. I fooled people, sold things not belonging to me, shoplifted, the ‘whole’ works until I realized that I was even spending money intended for my sick mother’s medication. That woke me up and I made the biggest decision in my 16 years of drug life. I needed to go to DARE and accept that I couldn’t win against drugs. I had now lost and lost all element of time. I even missed my partner’s cremation because I was out getting high. During my pre-drug years, Christmas was one of the happiest moments I would look forward to. It meant a joyful reunion of my whole family together.
"But God is merciful. I entered DARE in 2000, first as a patient and then as a member of the staff, I am approaching my second drug-free Christmas. This has been a revelation for me. With rehabilitation comes another chance for a new life this Christmas.
"I’ve learned, as each day passes, all the wrong things I’ve done and vow never to do them again. I’ve learned that the evil of drugs chooses no age, race, religion, nor social standing, nor fame. I’ve learned humility and acceptance, and now I can live with myself.
"I wish I could turn back time and savor those very precious moments with my family, when we were complete and intact. My father and eldest brother have passed away, my mother is still terminally ill and my other brothers and sisters live in different countries now.
"I have a new family to share my Christmas with for the past two years. My family is in DARE where I have chosen to stay on to continue learning and sharing what I have learned. I see a little of me in every single member of the family. I know they see a little of themselves in me rehabilitated.