On May 28, 2025, the Home for Girls (HFG) brought the month-long celebration of Flores de Mayo to a joyful close with their rendition of the Santacruzan. Girl children residents paraded around the center in a tribute to these cultural and religious traditions.

Operated by DSWD Field Office 7, the HFG provides temporary shelter and rehabilitation for abused and at-risk girls. It offers a range of interventions designed to support healing, growth, and reintegration. Among these is the annual observance of Flores de Mayo and Santacruzan— as part of the center’s thematic activities every May.

Flores de Mayo is a beloved Catholic devotion in the Philippines held in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Throughout the month, communities gather to pray the rosary and offer flowers as expressions of faith and reverence. The highlight of this tradition is the Santacruzan—a religious-historical procession that retells the discovery of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena and her son, Constantine.

At HFG, these meaningful traditions not only reinforce spiritual values but also provide the girls with opportunities for socialization and immersion in Filipino traditions.

Center Head Jennifer S. Abastillas shared that the children had been offering prayers and flowers to Mary throughout the month, which helped them draw hope and spiritual strength from the devotion.

“These Catholic traditions have long been part of the center. We continue them so the girls can participate in experiences they may not have had the chance to do outside the center,” she said.

This year’s Santacruzan featured traditional ‘sagalas’—with residents portraying Marian titles, biblical characters, and virtues. Dressed in their colorful gowns made from recycled materials, the girls walked under self-made decorative arches and creative umbrellas, accompanied by house parents and staff.

Children from the neighboring Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC)—a DSWD-7 facility caring for abandoned, neglected, and surrendered children aged 0 to 6—also joined the celebration. Adorned as little angels, they ushered the girl residents in carrying the letters spelled “AVE MARIA” while offering flowers to the image of the Virgin Mary.

These activities are more than just festive observances; they are vital tools for building the children’s self-confidence, sense of belonging, and spiritual grounding—key components of the center’s holistic rehabilitative approach. ###