Heart of Mary Villa – Hope for Pregnant Women in Distress
It does happen… an unmarried girl or woman will find herself pregnant without a man answering for her condition or worse be brought to such a condition under shameful circumstances forced on her. Rape, incest, extramarital relationships, teenage hormones gone wild, or sexual intimacy with a married man who presents himself otherwise can all lead to unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. For women who desire to give themselves and the life they are carrying in their wombs a chance – the Heart of Mary Villa can provide a temporary refuge for the seemingly unrelenting pressure coming from society during their most vulnerable stage.
The Heart of Mary Villa
The Heart of Mary Villa (HMV) is a place where pregnant women in distress can seek temporary shelter until such time that they are again ready to face the world on their own. It is run by the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) which was founded by St. Mary Euphrasia in France. In this place, pregnant women who fear rejection from their own family or being ostracized by society will find compassion, healing, as well as the freedom to decide the fate of her child and herself.
For fifty-three years, HMV’s home was in Maysilo, Malabon City. The place suffered severe damage though during typhoon Ondoy which prompted the decision to transfer. It continues to provide the assistance it has been known for in its new home in 1043 Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City, just a few meters from LRT Katipunan Station.
What Heart of Mary Villa Offers
The RGS Congregation is an international congregation of religious women with a mission to serve the most neglected and marginalized in society. The members of the congregation first came to the Philippines in 1912. Eventually, a specific mission became clear which is to embrace girls and women in need of protection from moral danger. Heart of Mary Villa became a place of refuge for women in all sorts of circumstances including unwed mothers, prostituted women, battered women, slum dwellers, landless farmers, indigenous groups, overseas contract workers and their families, street children, as well as the most neglected and oppressed.
In all its years of existence here in the Philippines, HMV played its greatest role in the lives of pregnant women in distress. This is not simply a place where hiding pregnant women go to. In the company of other women who are more or less in the same condition, each is given a chance to think, to heal, to learn skills, and to make decisions whether to give up their child for adoption without duress. Families of women who have the capacity are encouraged to provide financial support while all the needs of the those who have none are shouldered by HMV.
Mothers will have to breastfeed their children for at least a month regardless of whether they are keeping the baby or not. A number of women who previously made up their minds toward adoption change their mind during this time. Women receive counseling to guide them through the process regardless of what decision they choose to take. They are still given ample time to change their minds. Since HMV is a recognized Child Caring Agency, it follows strict adoption procedures.
Heart of Mary Villa for OFWs
The Congregation also runs a separate center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This is in answer to the more recent issues arising from OFWs getting pregnant abroad either by consent or by force. Consensual intimacy becomes a problem when a married OFW is involved because of the obvious complications.
The sisters of HMV are always happy when a pregnant woman knocks on their door to request to be taken in. They see it as a chance for both the mother and the child against the more morbid option of terminating the pregnancy. Any pregnant woman in distress who voluntarily asks for help is accepted except for those who have communicable diseases since facilities are shared.
My Say
A long time ago, I personally brought someone to the doors of Heart of Mary Villa. She was definitely a pregnant woman in distress and I didn’t know of any other place where she would be safer. Looking at her and her child now, I believe I made the right decision.
I have recently come across online forums where women who previously stayed in HMV are trying to communicate with their former room mates or are trying to help grown up children looking for their real mothers who are believed to have stayed in HMV. It would appear that most of these women have moved on and made good of their lives after their stay in HMV. Today, there are not as many occupants in HMV probably because unplanned pregnancies are more widely accepted by society. Still, the Heart of Mary Villa continues to be a place for hope and healing where women can regain strength and confidence after being knocked down by deceit or unwise decisions.
It may be so that some women choose to “hide” in HMV but it is definitely not a secret place of shame. It is a place for broken spirits to heal. It is a place where mother and child will have that all-important chance to rethink things over before hard decisions are made.
Image Credit: www.goodshepherdsisters.org.ph & www.buonpastoreint.org
jewel janiola
Wala bang ganito sa davao city? Please send me a feedback, i need shelter from my curren situation.
Laura
Hi. May i ask the contact number please?
Shiela Marie Q. Apinado
hi laura, have you got their number? my situation is one of their example up here and im badly seeking for help. im physically and mentally exhausted.
Teresa Martinez
I have been receiving a lot of queries about this institution. I am sorry that I haven’t had the chance to answer some as I still need to find the right info. I will be researching more on institutions like Heart of Mary Villa and publish them in this blog as soon as they are available to help pregnant women who are looking for a place to stay when they are left by their partners and/or denied by their families. My message to these women is to remain strong even in this most difficult times. I can assure you, this too shall pass.
Princess
I’m an unwed mother po and the problem is I’m about to have my third baby with the same man. My family already turned their backs at me and my kids because I chose their father over my family. I’m all broken now to know that my choice is wrong for he left us too. I’m still working po as a call center agent but got nowhere else to go since I know that my family doesn’t want us. It hurts every moment we stay.
Teresa Martinez
Thine, I think it’s better if I don’t publish your comment here as it is too personal. I can provide you some information you need so please send me your email address. I hope you read this.
Teresa Martinez
I emailed you my response.
cherry cuales
Gusto po naming mag adopt ng newborn baby girl anu po dpat nming gawin? Masyado daw kasing mtagal ang processing qng s dswd kmi mghhanap ng maaampon! Pls help us thnx
Teresa Martinez
I’m sorry Cherry, wala po akong alam na madaling paraan dahil ang legal adoption process ay sadyang hindi mabilis maliban na lang siguro kung may kakilala kayo na nais ipaampon ang kanilang anak sa inyo.
Your intention to adopt a child is commendable and I hope you will find the one meant for you.
Sydney
Hi did u adopt a baby already?
Chubskulit Rose
It’s great that there are organization such as Mary Villa who can temporarily help pregnant women in distress.
Teresa Martinez
It really is a great help to have an institution like this.
traveling morion
heart-warming indeed! This is a home – giving second chance, hope and courage to distress woman and the little angel in her womb
Teresa Martinez
That is true and this is without pretense that everything will be made easy which is impossible, bearable maybe.
jennyL
It’s really good to know that there’s a safe haven for pregnant women who have no place to stay. Their caring hearts and compassion will give these women more courage to be positive, hope and continue to live.
Teresa Martinez
Having people ready to give support in the midst of a confusing situation is really important.
papaleng
A refuge, a haven or whatever you may call it, but this Heart of Mary Villa gives comfort to distress pregnant woman and giving live to precious angels.
Teresa Martinez
Yes they can be called by many names but one thing is sure, they are able to help pregnant women in distress.
Raya
God bless this wonderful ministry run by such generous and compassionate people. Those pregnant women and the babies they will soon have need all the love in the world!
Teresa Martinez
The one thing that touched me in a recent forum I read between former residents of HMV and grown-up children previously given up for adoption now looking for their biological mothers is the lack of bitterness. It would seem that there is only the desire to connect and to know each other.
Tingting R.
Faith makes it easy to handle problems in life. Faith is hope.
Teresa Martinez
Faith is that one thing that can make us hold on even against all odds.
JessicaWCassidy
Unwanted pregnancy especially when you are a teen is shameful 🙁 It happened to my three sisters and give me lessons while growing up. I am glad that there is a place like Heart Of Mary Villa that are open and help young girls. Some of these girls I bet got pregnant by force and feel so sorry for them 🙁
Teresa Martinez
Teen pregnancy may be embarrassing but not necessarily shameful but I commend you for knowing better when your time came by waiting for the right time and situation to have children.
Verns
Glad to know that we have religious groups in our society that goes beyond their call of duty to put up this kind of institution and help pregnant women in times of distress. Kudos to the generous souls behind saving other souls especially the unborn 🙂
Teresa Martinez
I hope they can continue helping women who are in this difficult situation. Sometimes, all one needs to survive a difficult ordeal is support from those who care.
kulasa
God bless the good hearts of the people of HMV.
Teresa Martinez
I second that.
kulasa
So glad to know there is a place that offers hope for pregnant women in distress. Glad to have learned about this through you, bookmarking this page to share to women in need of the care HMV ofers.
Teresa Martinez
The information can help save women who are temporarily confused with their sensitive situation.
msculitRia C
I liked what you wrote about HMV that it is not a place to hide but a sacred place to heal. I think and feel that society has become very lenient with their own moral compass. It’s high time we teach the younger generation of the ill effects of getting pregnant out of wed lock. The younger ones are very impulsive and their hormones are raging and the media just fan that amber more by showing lewd acts done in public.
I feel sad to what the society has become. What will the future generation be?
Teresa Martinez
Pregnancy for unmarried women still holds a certain stigma in spite of the modern times. Women who are in this situation, no matter hope strong they appear will always need some form of support.
Franc Ramon
This place actually saves a lot of life from pregnant women to their children as they can find guidance here.
Teresa Martinez
Pregnant women in distress should know that there is a place like this which can help them get through with their situation.
#TownExplorer | @edmaration.com
What a heart-warming post! Just shown that everyone deserves a second chance, and, we should not cast all our bad judgement to them. May God bless these people who are helping the unfortunate 🙂
Teresa Martinez
Everyone deserves a chance especially the unborn.