By I. Inojales | 03:36 PM March 23, 2026
For years, Helen Castaño-Alagadmo worked tirelessly as a domestic helper in Hong Kong, sacrificing time away from her family to provide for their daily needs.
When she returned to the Philippines in 2016, she continued striving to help make ends meet by working as a newsperson for an online news platform.
Her husband, Lito, took on whatever work he could find as an occasional messenger, accepting short-term and on-call jobs to add to the family’s modest income. Their eldest son, Janrel, 26, now works at a convenience store to help support the household, while their younger son, John Rey, who is a child with special needs, requires extra care and attention at home.
Life has never been easy for the family. For many years, they moved from one rented house to another, never having a place they could truly call their own.
Eventually, they were allowed to stay on a relative’s lot in Booy, where they built a small makeshift shelter. But the structure was fragile and worn down — older than a pigpen, as they described it. The roof leaked whenever it rained, soaking their belongings and making sleepless nights a common experience during heavy downpours.
Despite these hardships, the family persevered. They worked quietly, endured silently, and held firmly to their faith and hope that one day their situation would improve.
That long-awaited breakthrough came when they were chosen as beneficiaries of the “Libreng Balay” housing program of the Bohol Police Provincial Office and Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Congresswoman Vanessa Aumentado.
When they received the news, they were overwhelmed with gratitude and disbelief.
” I’m deeply grateful for God’s countless blessings. After many years, my family finally has a new home—made possible through the Bohol Police Provincial Office’s (BPPO) Project LAB (Libreng Alagad ug Balay), a community service initiative of the Bohol Police Provincial Office, with the strong support of Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and CongW. Vanessa Aumentado, ” she tearfully shared during the turnover ceremony on Sunday, March 22.
She added,” This blessing is something we will always cherish as we begin a new chapter in a place we can finally call home.”
For the Alagadmo family, the new house represents more than just walls and a roof — it symbolizes security, dignity, and a renewed sense of stability.
With a safe and sturdy home now standing in place of their old shelter, the family sees a new chapter unfolding before them. No longer worrying about leaking roofs or unsafe living conditions, they can focus on caring for John Rey, supporting Janrel’s aspirations, and rebuilding their lives with greater confidence.
For Helen and her family, the new house is not just a structure — it is hope made tangible, and a foundation for a better tomorrow.
