Elena Sison
Graduate of Batch 1 of the Diocese of Novaliches’  KKDK program

Elena Sison stopped using drugs two years ago, but she’ll never forget the night that pushed her to give it up.

It was a typical evening at home. The television was on, when her son asked her a question.

“Hanggang kalian ka diyan, ma [Until when will you continue that, mom]?” her seventh grade son asked his mother.  “Anong hanggang kailan [What do you mean how long]?” she replied in bewilderment.

Her son gestured towards the tv, which  had just aired news of police apprehending drug addicts.

“Ayan o, panuorin mo [Look, watch].”

The coming weeks went by swiftly for the mother of six.

Prior to the government’s ruthless crackdown on illegal substances, Elena had been using drugs for twelve years.

She had started due to depression after she was separated from her first family.  Drugs were her attempt to get away from it all— to steer her mind towards work  instead of the pains of life.

“Nung sinubukan ko po mag drugs… Wala akong iniisip, para akong walang problema,” Elena recalls. “Di ko po naisip na nakakasama na, unti-unti kasing naaapektohan na sarili ko, yung relasyon ko sa pamilya ko, yung relasyon ko sa kaibigan ko.”

I didn’t realize it was bad for me, that it affected myself, my relationships with my family and friends.]

But in no time, police had started knocking on doors in their community like they did on tv.

It was a wake up call for the decade-long drug user, who had to reassess her choices for the sake of her and family’s futures.

As soon as their barangay captain messaged Elena to turn herself into authorities, she knew what to do. “Parang natauhan na po ako siguro, katok na po ng nasa itaas,” she says.

‘Inakap nila kami’

When the community started rounding up surrenderees, Elena and her sister were among those who turned themselves in.

What ensued was the beginning of a slow and steady process towards recovering from addiction.

At first, Elena doubted she‘d get better— after all, could a tiger change its stripes?

However, with the support from the barangay and local officials, she and her fellow recoverees found the strength to fight for themselves.

As the city finalized its drug rehabilitation modules, Elena and her batchmates kept themselves busy with diversion activities, including playing sports and cleaning the community.

“Sa tulong po nila, sa tulong namin sa mga sarili namin, nakuha naming magbago unti unti. Kasi po napakaganda ng ipinakita samin dito. Inakap kami,” she says.

When the municipality and Diocese of Novaliches finally started Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK), its community rehabilitation program, Elena and her fellow recoverees attended sessions once a week for six months, while her family attended three modules to help her recovery.

Soon after, she was inviting her neighbors to join her.

Paying it forward

Now, Elena heads the local network of surrenderees, the Community Volunteers Organization of Novaliches (CVON) and works as a volunteer desk officer for the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council.

Elena acts as a bridge and supporter for surrenderees, and goes as far as counseling them when they have small problems.

“Basta po pag usapin ng surrenderees… di ko po pinababayaan [When it comes to surrenderees… I don’t leave anyone behind],” she says.

She says despite bullying from doubters, it was the strength from her KKDK batchmates and her family that helped her recover.

Now, she wants to give back to the program that changed her life.

“Buhay ko na po yung bahay, barangay… Kasi po, dito po ako gumaling eh,” she says. “Kahit wala akong sabihing sweldo, masaya na po ako sa ginagawa ko kasi di ko na po inisip sa buhay ko na magbabago pa ako.”

Even if I don’t get paid, I’m happy doing what I do because I never, in my life, thought I’d be able to change.]

She says recovering from addiction allowed her to find confidence in herself.

“Hindi na ako nahihiyang humarap sa tao… Masasabi ko ho na kahit sino po yung kaharap ko, okay na,” she said.