Tahanan Outreach Projects & Services, Inc. (TOPS) believes in the limitless potential of the youth and their significant role in the future of our world.
In September 1969, Justice Corazon Juliano Agrava, the then presiding Judge of the newly-created Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of Manila, Philippines, found a practical solution to the growing and nagging problem of juvenile delinquency.
Justice Agrava realized that the simple adjudication of cases was ineffective, especially after the minors had undergone “rehabilitation”, the young offenders continued to be exposed to the same experiences and attitudes both in the home and in the community. The justice perceived the urgent need to identify the root causes and strategies to help prevent, control and treat juvenile delinquency. Thus TOPS was born.
Initially, TOPS was the extra-judicial arm of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court (JDRC) of Manila, and later it became a well-established and highly respected non-government (NGO) agency. It has a track record which attends not only to the needs of children, to the development of the whole family with a special emphasis on promoting the economic advancement of the women in the family, as well.
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After six (6) years of being a supplementary arm of the JDRC, TOPS was incorporated on September 9, 1974 as the only private, non-profit organization dedicated to the specific task of assisting street children, youth offenders and other disadvantages and endangered youth and their families.
TOPS found a permanent home site in Santa Ana in February 8, 1978 when the City of Manila donated 980 square meters of land along Santa Clara, Leiva and Syquia Streets where the TOPS center, a 2-storey concrete building was constructed in 1982 with the support of concerned and committed individuals and agencies.
📷Since its incorporation, TOPS has affiliated with several agencies that share the goal of providing helod and services to the disadvantaged, including the Christian Children’s Fund. On November 25, 1988, TOPS became one of the partners of UNICEF and assisted with implementing the Urban Basic Services in Manila, a 5-year program for depressed families. TOPS was assigned to implement the program’s livelihood component. Annually, TOPS raises funds for the maintenance of its buildings as well as for operational expenses.
To sustain positive attitudes and heighten interest in learning, TOPS operates special educational facilities that offers a progression scheme so that out-of-school youths and drop-outs can eventually integrate into regular government or private schools. Also, TOPS offers a program where 3 to 6 years old boys and girls are cared for through the critical period of growth and development to prevent juvenile delinquency.
The administrators of TOPS believe that the youth can best be helped through normalization within the home and community. TOPS involve the public and private sectors in serving the welfare of the children and their families. It harnesses the services of social workers, psychologists, police, teachers, judges, and fiscals. TOPS explores all avenues as it implements its programs of prevention and rehabilitation.
In 2000, Ms. Valerie Agrava the grandniece of TOPS founder joined TOPS as one of its Board of Trustees. A well-accomplished sales manager of Reader’s Digest, regional manager of World Executive’s Digest, publisher of Asian Investor, and general manager of IT-based service companies, Agrava was able to lend her managerial skills and gather funds for the TOPS’ various programs while working abroad. She went back to the Philippines and formally took the reins as TOPS’ new President in 2017. She finally realized that she should concentrate her efforts in helping children because she has already been helping other foundations and social organizations.
In 2018, Atty. Teresita Cruz Sison, one of the original board members of TOPS and a very good friend of the late Justice Corazon Agrava has recently retired as its treasurer at the age of 92. Still, attends board meeting and other special occasion like the recent, celebration of TOPS 50thyear anniversary, last September 2019.
In its 50th year, TOPS has renewed their efforts to bring education, shelter and more to the underprivileged children and youth with their families. As Atty. Sison said, “Justice Agrava put her heart and soul to have TOPS going and now, on its golden year, TOPS is turning new leaf as it vows to continue its legacy of providing service to Filipino children under the helm of Justice Agrava’s grandniece, Ms. Valerie G, Agrava”.
📷In response, TOPS president Valerie Agrava shares in her speech her commitment in embracing the challenge and responsibility of leading the TOPS for its next 50 years. A legacy she intends to continue from her late grandmother. She said, “I have seen many success stories of TOPS. It was instrumental and a witness as to how the Sta. Ana area transformed from a depressed area to a vibrant community. As we celebrate our 50th year, and in memory of my late grandmother, Justice Corazon Agrava, we move on to meet new challenges. We would like to reintroduce TOPS now as a new learning center, and to implement new programs to be of better service to the community,” she further stated.
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