‘Kariton Girl’ Melinda De Vera: A True Story
March 7, 2003 | 12:00am
For the first 18 years of her life, Melinda de Vera lived in a wooden box  literally. Together with her mother Liwayway and niece Mona Lisa, they lived in a kariton home made of wooden tomato crates, on the corner of Paco and Gen. Luna Streets in Quiapo, Manila.
Melinda lost her father to tuberculosis when she was only two years old. In order to feed her daughter, Liwayway sold candy and cigarettes on the same spot where they lived, right in front of a Greenwich Pizza station. On a good day, she could earn P100. On a slow day, she’d be lucky to earn P30, enough for a few pieces of bread and Star Margarine, but barely enough to escape the hunger pangs that haunt the millions of homeless that roam and live on the streets of Manila.
Life was hard and for almost two decades it was the only life they knew. Nevertheless, Melinda considered herself blessed for she had a family. During Christmas, the three of them would stroll along Luneta Park, with the usual baon of pandesal and Star Margarine.
However, Melinda was not content to live this way forever. She was determined to get her family off the streets and build them a real house, someday. How was a street kid supposed to do that? Through education.
Melinda was wise beyond her years. She was also filled with hope. A smart girl, she was accelerated from Grade 4 to 6 and finished grade school at Silahis ng Katarungan Elementary School. In high school, she attended classes in the morning and helped her mother sell candies in the afternoon. In the evening, Melinda studied diligently under the neon lights of Greenwich Pizza. Nobody could convince Melinda that she was not good enough to fulfill her dreams.
In July 1995, ABS-CBN’s The Inside Story did a feature on street children. As fate would have it, the show’s host, now Senator Loren Legarda interviewed Melinda, arranged by a social worker of the NGO Sun for all Children, to exemplify hopeful street kids. After the interview, Melinda was inspired by Loren’s kindness and Loren was moved by Melinda’s courage. They developed a special friendship that continues to this day.
A couple of months before Melinda was to graduate from high school, her mother Liwayway was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs. She spent three months in a hospital bed, before succumbing to her illness. Melinda was left to fend for herself and her nine-year-old niece. It was the scariest time in her life.
She turned to one person in her time of grief  her friend Loren, who helped with the burial expenses and encouraged Melinda to finish her studies.
"During my mother’s final days, she kept reminding me to finish what I started," Melinda recalls. Through the auspices of Violet de Borja, she lived with the sisters of the Missionaries of the Child Jesus Convent in Makati. Melinda graduated with honors from Ramon Avanceña High School and later enrolled at the Trace Computer and Business College where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in March 2002.
Now 23, Melinda has come a long way from the streets. She now works as a staff member of Senator Legarda, where her responsibilities include filing records and clippings. She also lives at the Senator’s residence.
Melinda still dreams of a house she can call her own, where she can take care of her niece Mona Lisa, now 14 years old. She also hopes to help other street kids get a chance to have a brighter future, the best way she knows how  by helping them get an education.
Melinda has not stopped dreaming and hoping, but not without hard work. She is currently studying for the civil service exam, which would give her the tenure of a government employee. She does not ask a whole lot from life  she simply wants to be able to help others who are not as fortunate.
"I know how it feels to be hungry, to be in despair, to lose everything when you do not have much to begin with. My friends who still live in the streets feel this way, everyday. I want to help them," she says.
I was embarrassed for myself when Melinda uttered these words. This little girl, with her frail, 4’9" frame had a mammoth heart. She had no trace of bitterness despite losing her mother. She wanted to keep on giving, despite the little she had. Perhaps in her lies the secret to happiness, for there was only joy in her eyes.
Her life may not be a fairy tale, but it is a story of survival, hope and love. If it sounds perfect for a movie script, perhaps it is. In fact, Regal Films matriarch Mother Lilly Monteverde, has talked to Melinda about the possibility of producing a movie based on her life, with no less than her idol Jolina Magdangal in the lead role.
I hope, not only for Melinda, but for all the street children she represents, that their struggles be known to the entire nation. Perhaps, we will realize how truly blessed we are and like Melinda, feel the need to share our blessings.
Melinda lost her father to tuberculosis when she was only two years old. In order to feed her daughter, Liwayway sold candy and cigarettes on the same spot where they lived, right in front of a Greenwich Pizza station. On a good day, she could earn P100. On a slow day, she’d be lucky to earn P30, enough for a few pieces of bread and Star Margarine, but barely enough to escape the hunger pangs that haunt the millions of homeless that roam and live on the streets of Manila.
Life was hard and for almost two decades it was the only life they knew. Nevertheless, Melinda considered herself blessed for she had a family. During Christmas, the three of them would stroll along Luneta Park, with the usual baon of pandesal and Star Margarine.
However, Melinda was not content to live this way forever. She was determined to get her family off the streets and build them a real house, someday. How was a street kid supposed to do that? Through education.
Melinda was wise beyond her years. She was also filled with hope. A smart girl, she was accelerated from Grade 4 to 6 and finished grade school at Silahis ng Katarungan Elementary School. In high school, she attended classes in the morning and helped her mother sell candies in the afternoon. In the evening, Melinda studied diligently under the neon lights of Greenwich Pizza. Nobody could convince Melinda that she was not good enough to fulfill her dreams.
In July 1995, ABS-CBN’s The Inside Story did a feature on street children. As fate would have it, the show’s host, now Senator Loren Legarda interviewed Melinda, arranged by a social worker of the NGO Sun for all Children, to exemplify hopeful street kids. After the interview, Melinda was inspired by Loren’s kindness and Loren was moved by Melinda’s courage. They developed a special friendship that continues to this day.
A couple of months before Melinda was to graduate from high school, her mother Liwayway was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs. She spent three months in a hospital bed, before succumbing to her illness. Melinda was left to fend for herself and her nine-year-old niece. It was the scariest time in her life.
She turned to one person in her time of grief  her friend Loren, who helped with the burial expenses and encouraged Melinda to finish her studies.
"During my mother’s final days, she kept reminding me to finish what I started," Melinda recalls. Through the auspices of Violet de Borja, she lived with the sisters of the Missionaries of the Child Jesus Convent in Makati. Melinda graduated with honors from Ramon Avanceña High School and later enrolled at the Trace Computer and Business College where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in March 2002.
Now 23, Melinda has come a long way from the streets. She now works as a staff member of Senator Legarda, where her responsibilities include filing records and clippings. She also lives at the Senator’s residence.
Melinda still dreams of a house she can call her own, where she can take care of her niece Mona Lisa, now 14 years old. She also hopes to help other street kids get a chance to have a brighter future, the best way she knows how  by helping them get an education.
Melinda has not stopped dreaming and hoping, but not without hard work. She is currently studying for the civil service exam, which would give her the tenure of a government employee. She does not ask a whole lot from life  she simply wants to be able to help others who are not as fortunate.
"I know how it feels to be hungry, to be in despair, to lose everything when you do not have much to begin with. My friends who still live in the streets feel this way, everyday. I want to help them," she says.
I was embarrassed for myself when Melinda uttered these words. This little girl, with her frail, 4’9" frame had a mammoth heart. She had no trace of bitterness despite losing her mother. She wanted to keep on giving, despite the little she had. Perhaps in her lies the secret to happiness, for there was only joy in her eyes.
Her life may not be a fairy tale, but it is a story of survival, hope and love. If it sounds perfect for a movie script, perhaps it is. In fact, Regal Films matriarch Mother Lilly Monteverde, has talked to Melinda about the possibility of producing a movie based on her life, with no less than her idol Jolina Magdangal in the lead role.
I hope, not only for Melinda, but for all the street children she represents, that their struggles be known to the entire nation. Perhaps, we will realize how truly blessed we are and like Melinda, feel the need to share our blessings.
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