“Gusto ko na lang ulit maging bata” (“I just want to be a child again”).
Sara* (not her real name), 16, promised her father that she would finish school, honoring his commitment to support her education for as long as he lived. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her father dreamed of seeing her become a police officer or a professional who works in a bank.
Sara still remembers those hopes until life took an unexpected turn. At 16, Sara was with child.
Sara and her boyfriend, John* (not his real name), 17, tried to hide the pregnancy as they figure out their situation. She was already five months pregnant when Ruth, John’s mother, knew. “At first, we were shocked, angry, but eventually, we slowly accepted the situation,” Ruth, 42, said.
Ruth spoke with Sara and insisted that they visit their local health center every month for her routine checkups and necessary laboratory tests. They would join free counselling sessions for adolescent mothers where they learned about proper diet and how to prevent another pregnancy at an early age.
Save the Children partnered with the Adolescent Health Council of Malabon City to establish “Malabon Konek (Connect),” an integrated service delivery network that helps adolescents, including Sara, and their families easily access services and information that support their health and nutrition, education, and protection.
Ruth said it is important for families to know these, so they know where to go and which offices or institutions to approach. “Some of the other children don’t have anyone to guide them, which is why health centers and programs are such a big help, especially for those who are still learning how to properly care for a child,” she added.
In her seventh month, Sara decided to tell her father. She was scared, remembering how her sister had been asked to leave home after becoming a young mother. John and Ruth accompanied Sara when she spoke with him.
“He was shocked. He looked at me and was about to cry. No tears fell, but I could see them pooling in his eyes,” she said.
To her relief, her father did not ask her to leave. Instead, he offered advice and thanked Ruth for taking care of his daughter.
Sara stayed with John’s family so she could continue her studies while receiving a small allowance for school expenses. By her last trimester, Sara shifted to online classes and modular learning. Her teachers were aware of her situation and supported her decision to continue studying.
Sara gave birth on the day she was scheduled for another checkup. When her daughter was born, the doctor gently rubbed and patted the baby until they heard her cry, a sound that eased Sara’s worries.
“I hope we can finish our studies, so we won’t have to struggle anymore and provide everything our daughter needs,” said John. The young couple are now in Grade 11.
Sara, now caring for her baby, dreams of giving her daughter a good life and continues to pursue her studies, carrying on her father’s hope that she will finish school.