Children ACT Now!

Children ACT Now!
(Children Against Corruption and Tyranny Now!)

A Network of Child Rights Advocates against Corruption and Tyranny

E-mail address: salinlahiphilippines@yahoo.com.ph Telefax: 439 3104

Children ACT Now is a growing network of child rights advocates uniting under the goal of educating children and child rights advocates on the issue of corruption and good governance , specifically relating to its impact on child rights advocacy. To date, this has grown to 24 child-focused NGOs and People’s organizations, including groups from Mindanao and the Visayas.

The Children ACT Now network held its first major activity last February 25, 2008 at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani grounds with the theme Wright or Rong? Children Speak Out Against Corruption. This activity focused on allowing children to express their views and opinions on the corruption-ridden Arroyo administration. 90 children aged 14 to 18 years old, and 200+ children aged 5 to 13 years old participated in the event. The younger children participated in a play-discussion activity while the older children participated in a workshop-discussion activity before regrouping for a cultural program where songs, dances, short plays and story telling on positive values and the issue of corruption were the fare.

A children’s walkathon against corruption entitled Arangkadang-kadang ng mga Bata at Kababaihan laban sa Magnanakaw sa Malakanyang was likewise held on March 2, 2008 at the UP Diliman campus grounds. It was participated in by more than 200 children, who reportedly enjoyed the activity as for most of these children, it was a first experience to “race” and “run” using the kadang-kadang (coconut shells as stilts), while running after a Gloria Arroyo-look-alike with a bagful of money.

The Kadang-kadang event, which portrays a kind of unity walk for children, was covered extensively in the media for 3 days and Malacañang issued a statement that organizers violated some law because it is forbidden for children to join rallies. Eventually however, Children ACT Now was able to assert the participation rights of children taking in consideration children’s evolving capacities, even in national issues such as the ZTE scandal, as this directly affects children’s lives. This was affirmed by DSWD Secretary Cabral who stated on television that: 1) there was no violation of a law in this particular case; 2) involving children in rallies is a venue for them to learn more about broader social issues; and 3) this is not the first time children have participated in rallies, and it will not be the last so long as social conditions warrant dissent among people.

Amidst the continuing unfolding of events related to the expose of the ZTE corruption scandal, there is a need to convince a growing number of child rights advocates to make a stand against corruption and contribute to the clamour for good governance and a social system that truly respects the rights of children. We also need to develop creative ways to provide children access to information related to this issue and venues to express their views and opinions. Further, we need to develop among ourselves, child rights advocates, the qualities of dynamism and activism vis-à-vis social issues, if we want to effectively teach our children the value of active citizenship.

There is a proposal for the next major activity that the Children ACT Now network can take on. It is a story-telling session for children aged 4 to 13 years old, tentatively slated on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. This story-telling activity could be held in conjunction with a modified “easter egg hunt” dubbed the “easter truth hunt.” A tentative venue for this event is the Philippine Educational Theater Association auditorium near E. Rodriguez / St. Joseph’s College.

Many among us believe this is only the first step for us child rights advocates to work together beyond sectoral and programmatic issues on child rights advocacy, as what we need to work on further is the building of a society that is governed by principles of equity and social justice, and that is respectful of children and their rights. We hope that this multiplies and we successfully contribute to the building of a future generation that has the capacity to responsibly exercise its civil and political rights.

Sincerely,

Alphonse Rivera
OIC, Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns
and Co-Convenor, Children ACT Now

Sophia P. Garduce
Executive Director, ARCSEA
and Co-Convenor, Children ACT Now

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PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

ASSOCIATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA • CHILDREN’S NETWORK AGAINST CORRUPTION AND DECEIT • CHILDREN’S REHABILITATION CENTER-NATIONAL OFFICE • CHILDREN’S REHABILITATION CENTER-PANAY • CITIZEN’S DISASTER AND RELIEF CENTER • CITIZEN’S NETWORK FOR JAPANESE-FILIPINO CHILDREN • CPCD • FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FOR EMPOWERMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, INC. • KABIBA MINDANAO ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN’S CONCERNS • KALAYAG-BICOL • KONKOKYO PEACE ADVOCACY CENTER INFORMATION OFFICE • MAPALAD-KA FOUNDATION • NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES-PROGRAM FOR EDUCATION AND NURTURE • OPEN HEART FOUNDATION, INC. • PARENTS’ ALTERNATIVE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT • PEACE FOR LIFE FOUNDATION, INC. • PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL THEATER ASSOCIATION • SALINLAHI ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN’S CONCERNS, INC. • SAMAHAN NG MAAGANG PAGKATUTO NG BATA • SAMAHAN NG MARALITANG KABABAIHANG NAGKAKAISA • TASK FORCE ON URBAN CONSCIENTIZATION-AMRSP • TRI-FARMERS’ PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, INC • TUASON COMMUNITY CENTER FOUNDATION, INC. • VIRLANIE FOUNDATION, INC. • and many others

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PHOTO GALLERY

1: Wright or Rong – Children Speak Out Against Corruption - February 25, 2008; Bantayog ng mga Bayani grounds, Quezon City. (The anniversary of People Power One, The fall of President Marcos)

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2: Arangkadang-kadang ng mga bata at kababaihan laban sa magnanakaw sa Malacanang (Walkathon Against Corruption) - March 2, 2008; UP Diliman Oval, Quezon City.

Photos by Rainbow