ADOPTION STORY: Meet Marco and his Forever Family

Marco was two years old when his adoptive family traveled from the city of Trondheim in Norway to Manila to become a family of three. Although he cried when they left Concordia, only a few hours later he felt safe and confident, and began saying his very first words in Norwegian. That first evening in their hotel in Manila he said: “Papa” (daddy) and “Baill” (ball), and the morning after he said, “Mama” (mommy). From the very first moment, his family saw the photo of Marco, they wanted to become his forever family. His parents tell everyone that “Marco had been surrounded by loving, caring people at Concordia, otherwise he would not have been the happy, confident and outgoing young man he was – and still is”.

Since Marco moved to Norway in 2008, they returned to the Philippines five times; three of them to Manila. They are grateful that the staff at Concordia find time to meet with them every time they go back to Manila. Staying in touch with Marco’s former caretakers means the world to Marco and his parents. They have always been honest and open to Marco about his heritage, and he is very proud of his land of birth.

Marco now is in grade 8 and he likes school. He is a very active teenager; he loves playing handball and spending time with his friends. Marco has turned out to be a bit of a thrill-seeker; loving downhill skiing and biking, river rafting, climbing, and ziplining. His parents are proud of their son; he is kind, smart, handsome, and full of fun. Most of all they are thankful for Marco and they regard themselves as part of the Concordia Family.