Tearful reunions for 107 who complete rehab in La Union

By Erwin G. Beleo

SAN FERNANDO CITY -- It was tear-jerking to behold. Fathers, moms, sons and daughters separated from their families as drug dependents and then reunited with a new outlook in life away from the clutches of the drug menace.

A 17-year-old boy hugged his father, who is now called a “drug recovery champion” after completing a three-day rehabilitation treatment program dubbed “Lakas ng Pagbabago” Community of Drug Recovery Champions boot camp at the South Central Elementary School, Barangay Tanqui, here.

“Papa, ito na yung pinakahihintay kung unti-unting pagbabago sa iyong buhay (Dad, this is the change in you I’ve been waiting for),” the boy uttered.

There were scenes of husbands kneeling before their wives, asking for a second chance beside sons wanting to return home – all of them promising to do away with a life of drug addiction.

Reynaldo Gajo, president of Kroo Solucion-Gawad Kalinga’s social enterprise and one of the lecturers in the program, said that aside from social-intervention and spiritual guidance, lectures on skills, health and attitude were given to the drug dependents.

The activity was funded and program of the city government under City Mayor Hermenegildo Gualberto approved of Dept. of Interior and Local Government city officer Lily Ann Colisao.