Reynaldo Ricacho was born on May 1, 1978 in Leyte, the 6th of nine children. Since his father was sent to prison on false charges, only his mother struggled to enable the family to survive. Reynaldo had to stop going to school after grade 6, and in their extreme poverty sometimes thought that it would have been better if he disappeared from the face of the earth. Only the thought of his mother, who was already sickly, and his younger brothers and sisters made him wait for a better tomorrow.

He sold chickens in the morning, and in the evening helped clean the market. When his father was finally set free from prison, they came to Manila. Reynaldo always dreamed of finishing high school. When he learned of the "Alternative Learning System" in the SMOKEY MOUNTAIN Sandiwaan Center for Learning (SCL), he did not waste a moment and immediately enrolled. After one year, he passed 3rd year in the "Levelized Examinations". He enrolled again in the Computer Technician course at the Open University Program of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays.

From Mondays to Fridays, Reynaldo works as a Data Encoder at the data-encoding division of the SMOKEY MOUNTAIN COMPUTER CENTER (SMCC), which provides on-the-job training for graduates of the vocational courses of the SCL and additional income for the students. Data-encoding contracts have been awarded by the Hong Kong Legislature. Presently, there are about 20 young people of the Smokey Mountain community working at the SMCC, which BEing human Foundation constructed and air-conditioned. The SMCC consists of a 160 sqm. area with 80 computer stations.

If you wish to know more about us, please contact us or visit us in Manila. Reynaldo would be delighted! If you wish to do more for Reynaldo and his young friends, give us referrals for data-encoding requirements. Reynaldo and his friends would be delighted indeed to handle these in an efficient, confidential and most price competitive manner. Thank you!

The blessing of God be upon the healers of children,
upon those, who with patience and sensitivity,
reach into the deep and bloody wounds of those young humans,
to touch the pain, the anger, the darkness,
and restore life.