The Makings of a Hero: International Children’s Peace Prize Awardee Cris Kesz Valdez

At 16 years old, Cris Kesz Valdez is an inspiration to many young children in the Philippines.

In 2012, he received the International Children’s Peace Prize (considered the equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize and the highest honor given to any child) for his work and foundation, Championing Community Children, which he established at 7 years old.

At the Hague, where he was awarded, he stood by other inspiring young adults including Malala Yousafzai, the brave young lady who stood up against the Taliban and fought for her right to education.

Through Championing Community Children, Kesz has helped over 10,000 street children in Cavite, teaching them  about hygiene, food, and children’s rights.

Today, he is happy young man who has found purpose in his work.

But, this was not the case just a few years ago.

When he was just 2 years old, Kesz, who was barely tall enough to reach the door knob, was already well adept to life on the streets. Though he had family, he had to fend for himself.

He had a mother and father, as well as siblings, but he clarifies, “I was never part of a family.”

While for others, home meant a safe sanctuary, for him, its was a place he never wanted to return to. He was verbally abused and beaten by his father,and was neglected by his mother, who was also too busy taking care of her other children.

“They said I was ‘malas’ (bad luck) and a burden to them,” he shares with theAsianParent Philippines.

And so Kesz, at 4 years old, ran away and lived on the streets, begging for food and rummaging through the “smokey mountain” of Cavite. At night, he would creep into the cemetery and would sleep in one of the open tombs.

The streets were undoubtedly a dangerous place for a small child like Kesz, and one day, while scavenging for scraps he could, Kesz accidentally fell into a pile of burning tires. He suffered third-degree burns.

His family, instead of rushing him to hospital and taking care of him, was more frustrated that Kesz had gotten himself into trouble.

Fortunately, Harnin ‘KB’ Manalysay, founder of the non-profit organization Club 8586 and friend, tended to Kesz’ wounds and got him proper medical care.

In time, Harnin, more fondly called “Tatz” (short for “Tatay” or father) became Kesz’ mentor.

Kesz was taken under Tatz’ care and joined the other kids of Club 8586, who were all rescued from abusive situations: rape, molestation, child labor and such.

Eventually, Tatz adopted the young boy and gave him what he had always prayed for, a family.

Here, Kesz shares how his definition of love and family had changed thanks to his adoptive father, and how he hopes more parents can be loving role models to their children.

NEXT PAGE: Defining family

Before you met Tatz, what was your definition of family and your idea of love?

Before, family simply meant that you had a mother, a father, and other siblings living under one roof. I never knew that love was part of the equation.

I thought that it was normal to be verbally abused and to be physically beaten by your parents because even my friends, who I played with when I was younger, that’s what they experienced in their own homes.

I thought it was normal for a father to beat a child until he bled, and it was normal that he beat your mother and siblings. I thought that’s how all families were.

How did your definition of family change when you met Tatz?

What I grew up knowing about love and family was totally different when I met Tatz. He never beat me, and never said a bad word about me. And when I was hurt, he even took me to the hospital.

Along with the other kids at the foundation, he took care of us, feeding us and taking us out. And it was Tatz who called me “anak,” which was the very first time I had ever been called that and had ever felt wanted.

It was also Tatz who taught me how to write my name, even my mother and father didn’t teach me that.

Tatz’ mother, Lola, also became my family. She’d ask me what I’d like to eat, she’d take care of me if I was sick, and she taught me to pray with Tatz. She taught me how to forgive my family and to love others.

Didn’t you have a hard time trusting Tatz?

I didn’t, because I was friends with Kuya Ef (Efren Penaflorida, another street child ) who was also being taken cared of by Tatz. Even when I was still living on the streets, I knew them. When I was young, I would often go to the foundation (Club 8586,), and that’s where I’d ask for food.

They were so good to me. I had always prayed that Tatz would adopt me as well as my other friend. I completely trusted Tatz because he was the first person who ever made me feel that I was somebody worthy to be loved, and he believed in me.

NEXT PAGE: The secret to raising heroes

Aside from you, Tatz also mentored Efren Penaflorida, who later became CNN Hero of the Year in 2009, and Emanuel Bagual, who was nominated for the Children’s Peace Prize.

What do you think Tatz did differently that made you into such successful people?

I know there are many stories of kids who come from abusive homes, and who go into drugs and other illegal stuff. But I’m proud to say that because of Tatz, he helped us get out of that trap.

Tatz’ principle is that all children and individuals are like a plant. You need to tend it, take care of it by providing for all its needs. And if it is well taken cared of, it will bloom. That’s what he did for us. He listened to each one of us – what our dreams were, what made us happy, and how we wanted to help others. He supported us in that way.

But more importantly, he taught us to overcome our painful past and to use our experiences to become better people. He taught us to find hope and faith in God.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from Tatz?

I’ve learned so many things from him, but I think the most important is “When you see a need, do something to help.” I realized that we are all instruments of change.

Be of help to somebody.

You can help in the smallest of ways. If you see a child who’s crying, ask him why he’s crying and how you can help. If I have a classmate who’s not doing well in school, we ask him to join our group study.

If one of our friends needs to go to the hospital, we find ways to raise funds to help him. We should be compassionate and care for others.

Also, even though I’m not the smartest at school and have difficulty with other subjects, Tatz has never made me feel dumb. Instead, he has always shown that he has faith in me. He often tells me it’s not the grades that matter, rather: my character.

What would you like to ask Tatz?

Perhaps, why he had opened up his life to me. But then again, I had always prayed to God, and I guess Tatz was the answered prayer. For everything he has given me, I’ve always tried to make him proud and repay his kindness.

Actually, his only request from all of us kids – if we really want to pay him back – is to help and love others.

For me, I honor Tatz by living the principles he has taught me since I was 4 years old. I’m now 16, and I’m happy to share that I’ve done that faithfully.

As an awardee, I’m able to do more on a larger scale, because I’m able to share my story with other kids and other countries.

NEXT PAGE: The fears of an adopted child

After overcoming so much, what’s your biggest fear now?

I came from nothing, now I have everything I’ve ever wanted – an education, friends, and most especially family. I’m afraid that one day and won’t have family.

That’s why when Tatz was taken to the hospital recently, I offered all my savings for the hospitalization. Of course, he refused, but all of us kids pitched in for his medicine and took care of him while he was confined at the Philippine General Hospital.

I still want him to be with us, kahit konting panahon pa.

What are you most proud of?

That in my own little way, I can help other kids like me, and that I’ve found family.

What’s your advice to other kids and adults?

One is never too young to to do something to help and to meet a need.