Bahay Pag-asa (“House of Hope”) is a ministry dedicated to providing sanctuary to youth law offenders by housing and educating them in a youth center and thereby preventing them from being imprisoned with hardened adult criminals in overcrowded jails where they could be subject to wrong influence and worse, abuse. Operated under guidelines set by the Philippine judicial system, Bahay Pag-Asa provides residential and recreational facilities, education, spiritual formation, skills training, and a critical follow-up program after release of their residents. Originally established in Bacolod, Bahay Pag-asa now has another youth center in Dasmarinas, Cavite. In Bacolod, Br. Gus Boquer, FSC, then president of St. La Salle University, took the initiative in establishing Bahay Pag-Asa after observing the unfortunate circumstances of many juvenile prisoners. When Br. Gus was re-assigned as President of De La Salle Dasmarinas, he replicated the Bahay Pag-Asa program in his new campus, this time to rehabilitate misguided Luzon youth. Both facilities basically have the same floorplan and facilities. Aside from the classrooms and dormitories, Bahay Pag-Asa has a chapel, library, dental/medical clinic, basketball court, among others. The residents Bahay Pag-Asa undergo structured educational and vocational programs. Visiting overseas and domestic Christian Brothers and Lasallian alumni also give guest lectures to the Bahay Pag-Asa residents.
The De La Salle Alumni Association of Northern California has been one of the earliest supporters of Bahay Pag-Asa. The St. Baptist de la Salle statue in front of the Bacolod facility was donated by the chapter. The DLSAANC also contributes an annual donation to both Bacolod and Dasmarinas facilities based on money it raises from its annual fundraisers.
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Related articles: http://www.delasalle.org/house_of_hope.shtml
