Hear us, young people!
By Saleema Devi Refran, 2bU! correspondent
Inquirer News Service







WISDOM comes with age. In this year's "Generation Why 3: Linking the Barangay to the Global Village" seminar, 2bU! asked these men and women what they would like to impart to today's youth.

I want to encourage the youth to find themselves, because identity and self-knowledge makes life worth living.-Grace Nono, singer and producer

Don't lose hope. Dapat makita nila na may pag-asa pa. Ang dami pa nilang pwedeng gawin. Sayang kasi (if ever, since) the youth can change society.-Ivan Mayrina, broadcast journalist

It's one thing to get independence, it's another thing to know what to do with that independence.-Ambeth Ocampo, National Historic Institute, chairperson

Mahalin ninyo ang sarili niyo, mahalin ninyo ang bansa niyo, mahalin ninyo ang dugo niyo, ang pagiging Pilipino. Kung hindi niyo mamahalin ang inyong identity o kultura, wala nang magmamahal diyan.-Kara David, broadcast journalist

The youth of today can right the wrongs and undo the mess we're facing now. This is a golden opportunity to be the best generation this country has ever seen.-Francis Pangilinan, senator and founder, Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations

Spirituality. When we have the strength from a higher power, we will not be discouraged, no matter what the odds are.-Francis M, performer

You may have a lot of it, now but you must think about how you use your time. If you can value your time, you will probably enjoy your life more.-Mon Isberto, Smart Communications

Drive. Yung mentality of not following the normal career path, and using the opportunities brought about by technologies.-Niel Dagondon, director and producer, Anino Entertainment

Take on the responsibility of bringing things to new heights. Because if you don't, nobody will.-Mon Lizardo, INQ7.net

To be passionate about the things they do, to know the issues around them, to read about the issues, to empower themselves and not just sit on the sidelines, but to go out there and make a difference.-Celine Madamba, Strategic Marketing, Philippine Daily Inquirer

BATA-BATA ANO ANG IYONG GINAGAWA?

(Kid, kid… What’s up?)

Child Rights, Issues and Advocacy

LKTKR EPISODE


VOICE OUT:


November 20, 2004 is the 15th anniversary of the international adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child or CRC. It’s just the perfect time to talk about Children’s Rights, Issues and Advocacy. And the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the pioneer of child advocacy and international watchdog of the protection of kids’ rights, is just about the perfect organization to help us with the discussion.


UNICEF


Mr. Dale Rutstein, Communications Officer of UNICEF in Manila graced us with a phone interview although in such short notice. According to Dale, UNICEF started working here in the Philippines in 1947, after World War II, as a temporary program to meet the needs of children who were affected by the war. UNICEF became permanent quickly because the United Nations realized the need for an organization to protect the rights of children and help their development all over the world. He assures that UNICEF will stay in the country for a long time, working in health, education, child protection and advocacy.

UNICEF is only working on so-called third worlds countries; their funds and programs are dedicated towards the countries where there are no public resources to meet and protect all these rights. The organization collaborates closely with the government. Dale says that UNICEF exists at the good gracious of the government as they continue to work with NGO’s and different sectors.


Child Rights


The rights of children could be categorized in four principles, mainly Survival, Protection, Development and Participation. Dale explains that Survival basically means that children should not die, being at the most vulnerable time or stage of life. There is a need to look very carefully and provide all the services, and support to keep children healthy before and after birth, in their first vulnerable months and years. Development refers to education, growth and all the things that help them develop. The child should receive access to a family, shelter, good food and education. Protection refers to all the things needed to shield children from abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination. Dale laments that millions of children in the world are still not given protection from all of these.


Media Impact


UNICEF is the only UN agency that has a dedicated staff working with the media and communication in every country. Dale says that UNICEF takes media work seriously because "people need to be reminded often and loudly that children are here, children need support and special care". Although we all love children, we often forget that, we have to go beyond and do more to protect the child. Even in your own family, it could be a burden because we tend to take care of yourself first. "We need many voices, speaking up and reminding people about that."

Realizing the importance of media, TV, radio and the broadcast industry, UNICEF for many years has been training kids to develop skills in broadcasting, in doing radio and video programs. However, Dale finds that although the training is great and is developing skills to kids, there is no outlet for them and no one sees what they do. Mr. Dale Rutstein, along with the people of UNICEF decided to produce a TV program made by kids for kids. It is Kabataan News Network (KNN), which is shown every Saturday, 10AM at ABC 5 with replays at Tuesdays 4PM and over NBN (Sundays, 4PM) and Nickelodeon, the first Filipino – produced kids show on the Cable TV channel. KNN has a bureau of kids from all over the country from Sagada to Saranggani. Dale says that they really wanted to show the lives of ordinary kids because as children look on the media, they see their own lives and realize what they could become. "It’s helping kids to think big." Several of the kids are taking mass communications in universities, some wants to become lawyers while others look at it as a way of getting involved in more social causes.

"It’s inevitable that when kids have a powerful experience at a young age, it does tend to mold them".


PRESSING CHALLENGE


In the Philippines, the most serious and most alarming problem Children’s Rights Violation is the lack of comprehensive juvenile justice system. "It’s hard to believe that in the country, there is no distinct system of legal justice that looks at child offenders." Children who commit a crime or accused of committing a crime are treated like adults. Kids today who are arrested for a crime are detained with adults and tried like adults, which is a violation of the International Convention on the Rights of a Child. These kids need special treatment.

UNICEF is starting an advocacy campaign on juvenile justice. They’re trying to promote passage of the Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Bill on Congress. The people should push lawmakers to pass this bill because it is an outrage that there is no law that protects the rights of children in the court or jail. Oftentimes, these kids commit very small crimes but they are jailed with adults where they experience and suffer abuse and tremendous torture. These children will never have a chance to overcome those trauma and these makes them criminals.

One of the aspects of the bill is community diversion. This essentially means that a child who commits an offense is, first of all, never really arrested or detained. The child is brought back to the community, in a system organized by the baranggay to cope with the situation. The child should work or receive some kind of community-based training or opportunity. The main goal or principle is to divert all child cases away from the court, away from jail. It takes a village or baranggay to help these kids stay away from anti-social behavior because they usually lack the supervision of parents.

Even with cases where kids commit heinous crimes, there should be a special type of detention that suits the needs of children.

Two previous congresses have already failed in passing of the bill. Children in jail really have no support, they don’t have expensive lobbyist and they are at the lowest position in society. There are other louder voices than the needs of these children.

"Lack of funding for the implementation of the proposed law should not be a deterrent. At least we have to start with the law."


Regarding Foster care, however, UNICEF considers it as a last resort for kids to be taken away and to be deprived of their natural rights for parents. Unless in very extreme situations where the family is very dysfunctional and could lead to extreme danger for the child. Kids are sometimes just whisked away from their home too quickly. But the country is doing a good job with that regard.

This is just one of the very serious problems Filipino kids face in the country. We still have issues on child labor, trafficking, prostitution, and malnutrition.

"It’s sad that with all the riches and wealth the country has, it doesn’t go and spread around, there are too many children who are deprived."


PHILIPPINE KIDS


With his experience in working with so many kids from different countries, Dale realizes the ways children are the same are much more than the way than they’re different.

"I’m a firm believer that there is only one country in the world and mankind is the citizen of that one country."

However, Dale observers that Filipino kids are generally very resilient, always looking on the bright side of life, obedient and respectful to elders, energetic and enthusiastic.

"Even with the awareness of poverty and lack of material things, kids move on and do the best they can."


KIDS PARTICIPATION RIGHTS


UNICEF stresses that they work for the Children in the Philippines and not for the Filipino Child. Dale explains that there are a lot of young people and children in the country who don’t feel they are really welcome in the Philippines. These are the children in Mindanao, the indigenous kids or from different ethnic groups. They want to get across the notion of the diversity of young people, they all have the right to be here, and they need to be embraced and recognized.

"It’s really important for children of the Philippines to feel like they have a role to play for the development of the country, and that they have the right and the place to play and do that role."

Some people consider kids participation as a radical new vision of young people. We often think that children are small, weak, and not as intelligent and they need to get education and to grow up.

"They’re considered as human beings in waiting. In a nutshell, that is why deprivation of children’s rights exists. We need to say to people that Children are NOT the FUTURE, they’re the PRESENT".

We don’t wait for children to play they role and we need to let them play that role now. UNICEF found in many parts of the world that when you actually listen to kids, you learn things you never knew and you get a perspective on things that adults are not capable of having.

"With two million kids being born every year in the country, we should let them fall off the cracks."


Well, that’s how interesting our talk with UNICEF spokesperson Mr. Dale Rutstein went. And what’s more interesting is the brewing partnership between LKTKR and UNICEF with their Child advocacy. Although, technically, international community defines children as anyone below 18 years of age while the youth as anyone from, 15 to 25 years old. But as Mr. Rutstein put it, "the advocacy should not stop at the 18th birthday."

Expect us to guest hosts of KNN and the young people behind it soon in our succeeding programs!


Anyway, what other child issues did Ma. Gisella Orinion (my sole partner for the day – she did very well) and I talked about?


First, the incredible hoax of Faye Nicole B. San Juan, 12 year old student from St. James School with her Mother, Catherine San Juan winning the International Science Quiz Net. 19-yr old writer Patricia Chanco Evangelista, among major newspapers and TV networks and even US were mislead and believed all the lies. There was no contest and they never went to Australia. Bread of Life Ministries already issued a public apology.

Hopefully, this would serve as a lesson to everyone. Although the story got everyone fooled, the child should not be condemned. But this would not stop LKTKR in our advocacy to give recognition to the young people who give honor to the country in "small and big ways."


Second, Philip Ivan Gines, 7-year-old boy of Cavite, recently died of leukemia. He is one of the patients that young actress Maybelyn dela Cruz is handling for the Kythe Foundation, where she volunteers to entertain cancer – patient kids. Our prayers go for the family and for Maybelyn who apparently has been affected with the child’s passing. Although, Philip lost the fight for life, he made all the people around him special in his short stay.


Third, A 6-grade student in Metro Manila is first honor of his class this grading period. Controversy arises when school policy that a transferee should not be accepted or should be disqualified for 1st to 3rd honors. His achievement is at the brink of being thrown out by the administration although things could still turn around.


Also, AIDS Society of the Philippines, through Project Coordinator Bong Yap, shared with us their practice of protecting the rights of the child in their programs through the "ethical guidelines in AIDS investigation." The child of an HIV patient should not be interviewed about the disease without proper guidelines or parental consent.

This is their underlying principle of "as early as in the womb, kids already have their right."


JOIN KA DITO:

THINK POSITIVE: AIDS AWARENESS CONCERT, SPREAD THE NEWS, STOP THE DISEASE at the PICC Plenary Hall, Pasay City. November 23, 2004.

Pocholo Gonzales and Al Ian Barcelona were not with us because they’re in Mindoro where they inspired, informed, involved and empowered new 300 VOTY members.


RIBYU SA RADYO:


Recommended Movie: Magnifico, played by Jiro Manio (winning major international awards for the past 2 years) – truly one of the best movies in Philippine Cinema.

TV:

Bu-bu cha-cha (dubbed by Choy); Blue’s Clues
Recommended Books for Kids:

Nancy Drew detective stories, Calvin and Hobbes, Hardy Boys, Tintin Adventures, Bryan Learns His Lesson

Songs:

Masdan Mo Ang Mga Bata - Asin

RIBYU SA RADYO:


Everything that a child sees and does is a reflection of the reality and the situation of the society. If they experience abuse and their rights are not being protected, this would surely create an impact on their lives and ultimately in the country’s development.


Peace - Out - DJ Emsie

November 20, 2004
BATA-BATA ANO ANG IYONG GINAGAWA?
(Kid, kid… What are you doing?)
Child Rights, Issues and Advocacy
LKTKR EPISODE

VOICE OUT:

November 20, 2004 is the 15th Anniversary ng international adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child or CRC. So, it’s just the perfect time to talk about Children’s Rights, Issues and Advocacy. And the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the pioneer of Child Advocacy and international watchdog of the protection of kids’ rights, is just about the perfect organization to help us with the discussion.
Mr. Dale Rutstein, Communications Officer of UNICEF in Manila, although in such short notice, graced us with a phone interview. According to Dale, UNICEF started working here in the Philippines in 1947, after World War II, as a temporary program to meet the needs of children who were affected by the war. UNICEF became permanent quickly because the United Nations realized that there was a permanent need for an organization to protect the rights of children and help their development all over the world. He assures that UNICEF will stay in the country for a long time, working in health, education, child protection and advocacy.
The rights of children could be categorized in four principles, mainly Survival, Protection, Development and Participation. Dale explains, that Survival basically means that children should not die, being at the most vulnerable time or stage of life. There is a need to look very carefully, provide all the services, and support needed to keep children healthy before and after before birth, and in their first vulnerable months and years. Development refers to education, growth and all the things that help the development of the child. The child should receive access to a family, shelter, good food and education for them not to suffer. Protection refers all the things needed to shield children from abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination. Dale laments that millions of children in the world are still not given protection from all of these.
UNICEF is only working on so-called third worlds countries; their funds and programs are dedicated towards the countries where there are no public resources to meet and protect all these rights. The organization collaborates closely with the government. Dale says that UNICEF exists at the good gracious of the government as they continue to work with NGO’s and different sectors.


UNICEF is the only UN agency that has dedicated staff working with the media and communication in every country. Dale says that UNICEF takes media work seriously because “people need to be reminded often and loudly that children are here, children need support and special care”. Although we all love children, we often forget that we have to go beyond and do more to protect the child. Even in your own family, it could be a burden because we tend to take care of yourself first. “We need many voices, speaking up and reminding people about that.”
Realizing the importance of media, TV, radio and the broadcast industry UNICEF for many years has been training kids to develop skills in broadcasting, to do radio and video programs. But Dale finds that although the training is great and is developing skills to kids, there’s no outlet for them and no one sees what they do. Mr. Dale Rutstein, along the people of UNICEF decided to produce a TV program made by kids for kids. It is Kabataan News Network (KNN), which is shown every Saturday, 10AM at ABC 5 with replays at Tuesdays 4PM and over NBN and Nickelodeon, the first Filipino – produced kids show on the Cable TV channel. KNN has a bureau of kids from all over the country from Sagada to Saranggani. Dale says that they really wanted to show the lives of ordinary kids because as children look on the media, they see their own lives and realize what they could become. “It’s helping kids to think big.” Several of the kids are taking mass communications in Universities, some wants to become lawyers while others look at it as a way of getting involved in more social causes.
“It’s inevitable that when kids have a powerful experience at a young age, it does tend to mold them”.
In the Philippines, the most serious and alarming problem with regard to Children’s Rights Violation is the lack of comprehensive juvenile justice system. “It’s hard to believe that in the country, there is no distinct system of legal justice that looks at child offenders.” Children who commit a crime or accused of committing a crime are treated like adults. Kids today who are arrested for a crime are detained with adults and tried like adults, which is a violation of the International Convention on the Rights of a Child because these kids need special treatment.

KABATAAN NIGHT, more than the usual


“A modern method of organizing youth activities using electronic media.”

This is how Comm. Marc Castrodes of the National Youth Commission defines the
project dubbed “Kabataan Night”, which was organized by Voice Of The Youth
Network that was held in the Conspiracy Garden Café on November 9. The said
event also became the launching date for the organization’s radio program
referred to as “Lakas Kabataan-Tinig Kabataan: Recharged!” (LKTKR).

It is quite interesting to note that Voice Of The Youth has not considered the
lack of Funds as a constraint in pursuing the said project. There were about a
hundred of individuals and organizations that participated in the said
activity, thus, making the whole place jam packed. Who could have thought that
it is possible to organize an activity by focusing on the strengths of every
members rather than the weakness of the organization. We all have talents that
we can share to other people however we don’t usually find a venue where we can
share these talents. Sometimes even those close to us mock us whenever we try
expressing ourselves. That’s the reason why sometimes we feel down and tend to
hide our talents and skills instead of developing them.

I never really got the chance to recite poems since our society is more into
singing rather than the classical “Balagtas” way of reciting poems. But during
that night I was given a chance to recite and it feels good on my part that
knowing that I do have a talent which I could say makes me unique from other
people. But more than this, I realize that I was not the only person who was
into poetry reading, a lot of people who also performed recited poems, even an
actor of a certain beer commercial, Ronal Tupas who was dubbed in the screen as
“Baby Toy” recited a poem entitled “Ako ay may Alaga” which really made a lot of
us cry out in laughter.

The more interesting skills that were shown was that of Ateneo Arnis group,
where I really have to move away from the stage because of my fear of being
chopped in the head of their arnis. They really move so fast just like your
martial artists that is often seen only in the big screen. There were a lot of
individuals who sang, these include people from the UP Music Circle, and other
individuals who have been part of Voice Of The Youth. Ms. Laiza Milo, a host of
a certain horror reality TV was also seen there singing “Insensitive” and “Make
me Real” songs. Who could have thought that these people who are only seen
casting away ghosts and demons are seen there smiling beautifully and singing
charismatically as if serenading all those who are listening.

There were announcements made by different organizations who have been involve
in Voice Of The Youth activities for the last two years of its existence as a
network of organizations. There were artists and people in the government and
the private sector that graced the event. Philippine Society of Youth Science
Clubs came there as a pack while there was some students who came from Schools
like Mapua, UST, DLSU, Ateneo and UP.

Indeed, the “Kabataan Night” had become more than a showcase of youth talents.
According to Prof Vim Nadera of UP Diliman, it was “the youth running the whole
show altogether.”

Congratulations to Voice Of The Youth for the success of “Kabataan Night”.
Mabuhay ang Kabataan Pilipino!

FOR QUERIES ABOUT OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES Contact:

CHRISTOPHER D. BERNARDO
Director for Finance and VOTY Spokesperson
Christopher.bernardo@up.edu.ph
09185241812
www.voty.org/ www.cdbn.org

Being Twenty-Something:


They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is
when you stop going along with the crowd and
start realizing that there are a lot of things
about yourself that you didn't know and may not
like. You start feeling insecure and wonder
where you will be in a year or two, but then get
hot and scared because you barely know where you
are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and
that, maybe, those friends that you thought you
were so close to aren't exactly the greatest
people you have ever met and the people you have
lost touch with are some of the most important
ones. What you do not realize is that they are
realizing that too and are not really cold or
catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as
confused as you are.

You look at your job. It is not even close to
what you thought you would be doing or maybe you
are looking for one and realizing that you are
going to have to start at the bottom and are
scared. You miss the comforts of college, of
groups, of socializing with the same people on a
constant basis. But then you realize that maybe
they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and
what you want and do not want. Your opinions
have gotten stronger. You see what others are
doing and find yourself judging a bit more than
usual because suddenly you realize that you have
certain boundaries in your life and add things
to your list of what is acceptable and what is
not. You are insecure and then secure. You
laugh and cry with the greatest force of your
life. You feel alone and scared and confused.
Suddenly change is the enemy and you cry and
cling on to the past with dear life but soon
realize that the past is drifting further and
further away and there is nothing to do but stay
where you are or move forward. The stupid ones
plateau, the smart ones rise.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone
you loved could do such damage to you or you lay
in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone
decent enough to get to know better. You love
someone but maybe love someone else, too and
cannot figure out why you are doing this because
you are not a bad person. One night stands and
random hook ups start to look cheap and getting
wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look
pathetic. You go through the same emotions and
questions over and over and talk with your
friends about the same topics because you cannot
seem to make a decision.

You wonder what the hell is wrong with you. You
worry about loans and money and the future and
making a life for yourself and while winning the
race would be great, right now you'd just like
to be a contender!

We are making a lot of mistakes, but helping one
another learn from them. We will piss one
another off, and laugh at the end of a
conversation that started with angry words. We
are a group that talks behind the backs of the
same people we call to meet up with on a Friday
night, but we are sorry about it and we know
that we were just being insecure like they have
been.

What you may not realize is that everyone
reading this relates to it and we are all in
this together. We are in our best of times and
our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to
figure this whole thing out. We are friends, and
in 10 years we will be friends who have figured
out where we fit in in this world.



"Cras amet qui nunquam amavit; Quique amavit,
cras amet"

May he love tomorrow he who has never loved
before.