Balitang Akap Bata June 2012

After the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, child welfare group Akap Bata Partylist has filed before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) its manifestation of intent to join the Congressional race on May 2013 national elec-tions. Its eight nominees submitted the documents to the COMELEC. Akap Bata first nominee, Arlene Brosas in statement said, her group is running not because they want pow-er but the Filipino children need genuine representation in the Philippine House of Representatives (HOR).

“Children are highly vulner-able; they are the most vul-nerable sector. The sector needs serious and system-atic programs and services to augment the currently lamentably poor efforts of the government to address their condition,” says Akap

A K A P B A T A P a r t y l i s tprepares for 2013 polls

Brosas furthered.

In addition to the support for the children’s cause, the group is also promoting the rights of the daycare work-ers and volunteers. Akap Bata also helped in the monitoring of the imple-mentation of Department of Education Order # 8 series of 2012, which prohibits excessive and illegal collec-tion of graduation fees.

Bata second nominee, Dr. Ed Clemente.

Citing the latest data about the state of the Filipino children, he said 27 per cent of the children in the coun-try are malnourished, with 3.3 million considered un-derweight due to food insuf-ficiency.

“In 2011, 4.5 million fami-lies experienced involuntary hunger,” he said.

Brosas, meanwhile, said the numerous abuse cases against children are also alarming.

“The rate of child abuse in-creased from 2,587 in 2001 to 4,016 in 2011, while 7 out of 10 children has yet to have access on early child-hood care and education. These facts are not to be ig-nored, that the children tru-ly need genuine representa-tion in Congress,” she said.

Asked over the guilty ver-dict against the former Chief Justice, Brosas pointed that it is not only the corrupt who must be punished, but human rights violators and greedy businessmen as well.

“Much has been said dur-ing the impeachment trial but it would be useless of none of them will not prac-tice honesty, accountability and genuine public service,”

Para sa Bata, Pamilya at Pamayanan Volume 1 Issue No. 1 | March 2012Volume 1 Issue No. 2 | June 2012

Nominees prepare the requirements upon filing the group’s intent to par-ticipate in the 2013 elections together with the new set of nominees.

Meet the nominees. From left to right: Mr. Erving De La Cruz (5th nominee), Ms. Royal Jean D. Beraquit (7th nominee), Ms. Miriam D. Mueca (8th nominee), Ms. Arlene D. Brosas (1st nominee), Ms. Lyne S. Paulo (6th nominee). Not in the picture: Dr. Edgardo “Doc Ed” Clemente (2nd nominee), Dr. Evangeline R. Cas-tronuevo-Ruga PhD (3rd nominee) and Ms. Liza Lei Garcia-Beschi (4th nominee).

2

Akap Bata Partylist together with children’s rights advo-cates from various organiza-tions of daycare workers, art-ists, church people, women and youth launched a compre-hensive summer arts workshop and seminar to take up issues like Child’s right, education, nutrition, culture and welfare while building-up and enhanc-ing skills and talents of the chil-dren.

Mobilizing Art for Children

Two art workshops are held si-multaneously by City Chapters of Akap Bata.

With the theme “Mobilizing Art in Advancing Children’s Rights on Adequate Shelter, Education and Nutrition,” Akap

Bata Caloocan, Youth Network of Child Advocates (YNCA), Institusyong ng Kalinga ng Pamilya and Sining Bugkos through the help of Councilor Prado held a three-day summer workshop at Prado Verde Venue in Bagumbong, Caloocan City last April 13 – 15.

“About 100 children attended the said event and as an output, we have formed ‘Sining Sal-ingkit’ as a cultural formation of children in Akap Bata Calo-ocan,” said Erving De la Cruz, Akap Bata Caloocan Chairper-son and Akap Bata Partylist 6th nominee.

Meanwhile, Akap Bata Mariki-na together with the Day Care workers and volunteers in the city also held the same activity

NEWS

AKAP BATA Launches Summer Art Camp

at Marikina Heights last May 29. Under the theme “Food, Shelter and Education for the Filipino Children,” some 100 children participated the said activity.

Art as Therapy

Anakbayan Metro Manila’s Children’s Committee also con-ducted an Art Workshop togeth-er with Akap Bata – Parañaque in Silverio Compound last May 31. A total of 100 kids aged five to 10 years old who suffered from stress during the violent demolition last April 23 partici-pated in the said event.

“As ates and kuyas (big sisters and brothers) in Silverio, we tied up with the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation for this event. The objective is not only to make the children under-stand their living condition but also release the stress that they are feeling,” said program head and Anakbayan Secretary Gen-eral Dianne Solmayor. Akap Bata Partylist Parañaque also said that art is therapeutic and facilitates child development.

A drawing and painting work-shop was held during the day while the outputs were put up in a street exhibit.

The output of Likhaang Bata in Caloocan were put up in an exhibit dur-ing the Akap Bata Partylist National Convention last May 9. 2012

Member s of the children’s committee of ANAKBAYAN facilates the art workshop for the children of Silverio Compound last May 30, 2012.

Akap Bata Partylist scores the railroading of the House of Representatives to reduce crim-inal liability age from 16 to 13 years old last June 7, 2012. The Lower House approved House Bill 6052 on final reading the amendment of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) of 2006, lowering the age limit of child felons by three years.

For Akap Bata Partylist, the Lower House not just fast-tracked the process of approval of HB6052 but clearly offered band-aid solutions to the prob-lem of children in conflict with the law. They stressed that: lowering the age limit of crimi-nal liability reflects how our society treats our children and what kind of justice system we have in the country.

Akap Bata Partylist also insist-ed that enacting HB6052 will

not resolve the underlying is-sues and root causes why these children were being forced to perform anti-social activities and the amending RA9344 will mean further violation of our children’s basic rights.

“The government should go after “bigger fishes”, the ones who should be punished. For the longest time, Filipino chil-dren as the most vulnerable sector in our society has long been suffering from extreme poverty, hunger, homelessness among others,” says Arlene Brosas, national secretary-gen-eral and first nominee of Akap Bata Partylist. The group also stressed that to achieve a child-friendly society, basic issues involving children needs to be resolved such as children’s education, health and nutrition, shelter and protection program for the children.

“Children are victims, not criminals” - AKAP BATA

3NEWS

With the proper guidance of their parents, children as young as 13, should not be hindered in using social networking sites as Facebook, says Akap Bata par-tylist. The statement came as more and more ‘mature’ people are supporting the freer access to the internet by the children. Akap Bata said, the access to the internet is one of the basic rights of every child to express their own views, opinions, thoughts and ideas on whatever platforms and channels. The group also said that the internet is also an avenue for the chil-dren to play, have fun, and learn and explore new things.

However, Akap Bata clarifies that as children need to be given access over the social network-ing sites, their parents, guard-

Social networking sites, OK for kidsians and even elders must give more time to guide and monitor their online activities.

As guideline, Akap Bata par-tylists gives adults of the ‘10 Internet Rules for Children’ so that kids can determine the things that must and must not be done online, which includes NOT TO DO:- Never announce personal in-formation online.- Never send out picture or any-thing without unless approved by parents/guardians.- Never agree to meet someone face-to-face.- Never respond to messages that are cruel or makes you feel uncomfortable.- Never give out passwords to anyone other than your parents/guardians.

TO DO:- Be a good netizen by not do-ing thing that may hurt others and that are illegal.- Tell parents/guardians about distressing information en-countered online.- Talk with parents/guardians regarding rules on going online- Help parents/guardians under-stand how to learn things over the internet.- Check with parents/guardians before downloading or install-ing software.On the other hand, the group also presses for the stronger punishments for those who vio-late the Anti-Child Porn Law.

“As adults need to provide more time to monitor our young netizens, the government must also do its role to protect and help our children by means

of strengthening existing laws against online abuses against children. We also urge the gov-ernment to strictly and fully implement Republic Act 9775 or the Anti-Child Pornogra-phy Act of 2009,” says Arlene Brosas, Akap Bata Partylist national spokesperson and first nominee.

‘The internet is being used to-day as the widest platform of child pornography all over the world as pornographic images and videos of children can eas-ily be posted online and spread virally on various social net-working sites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter among oth-ers; therefore, there is a greater possibility for children using the internet to access porno-graphic sites, which make them victims of child pornography as well,” Brosas added.

As School Year 2012 – 2013 opens, Akap Bata partylist had launched E-Monitor 2012 to ensure that the “No Collection Policy” by the Department of Education (DepEd) is strictly implemented in public ele-mentary and high schools. The launching coincided with the partylist’s national convention at the Bulwagang Balagtas in Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Ma-nila last May 9.

A continuation of the success-ful GRADFEE MONITOR 2012 last March, E-MONI-TOR 2012 will receive com-plaints and reports from par-ents, guardians and concerned citizens.

“We are calling on parents

During Akap Bata’s convention:E-Monitor 2012, launched

and guardians of enrolling students on public elementary and high schools this year not to hesitate to contact us for complaints and reports con-cerning collection of any fees required for enrollment of their children this school year. Rest assured that identity of our callers will remain confi-dential,’” says Arlene Brosas, national secretary-general of Akap Bata Partylist.

The reports can be sent through their hotline number: (02) 4376831 or via e-mail address: [email protected]. They are also in Facebook and in Twitter: @akap_bata_party. The receiv-ing of reports had started, May 10 onwards opening of class-es, which will start on June 4.

This will also cover the moni-toring of the initial implemen-tation of the K+12 program on June.

On the other hand, Brosas stressed education remains one of the basic rights of ev-ery Filipino child, and finan-cial constraints must not be an obstacle for young Filipinos to be denied to access of free, ac-cessible and quality education.

She explained that the gov-ernment must ensure that the ‘no collection policy’ will be strictly implemented especial-ly that enrollment is on-going on various public schools na-tionwide and that issue of fees as requirement for enrollment must be eliminated in order to ease the problem of the grow-

ing number of out-of-school children.

Akap Bata Party-List cited various reiterations of DepEd on their existing orders and memorandums in regards with the ‘no collection policy’ on enrollment including DepEd Order No. 65, series of 2010, DepEd Order No. 19, series of 2009, DepEd Order No. 19, series of 2008, DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2008, DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2009 among others.

The child rights advocate also reminded school officials about the sanctions in connec-tion with the violations of the aforementioned DepEd issu-ances.

4

5OPINION

6

Mensahe Mula sa Secretary General

Arlene D. Brosas is a teacher by profession and a staunch child

rights advocate. She is the former Executive Director of Akap sa Bata ng mga Guro Kalinga Inc. from the

year 2008 - 2010 and the Spokes-person of Anti - Child Pornography Alliance. She is the Secretary Gen-

eral and the First nominee of AKAP BATA Partylist.

Sa lahat ng kasapi, volunteer, kaibigan at taga-suporta ng Akap Bata:

Magandang araw sa ating lahat!

Sa pagpasok ng ikalawang hati ng taon, inilalabas natin ang ikalawang isyu ng Balitang Akap Bata at nandito na naman po ang inyong lingkod para mag-ulat.

Sadyang napaka-“busy” ng nagdaang mga buwan. Noong Abril sinimulan natin “Likhaang Bata” o art workshop sa iba’t ibang panig ng Metro Manila. Mahalaga po ang ganitong mga serbisyo at pagtitipon para sa mga bata dahil nakatutulong po ang sining upang mawala ang stress at mailabas ng mga bata ang kanilang mga saloobin. Mainam ito sa mga komunidad na nakaranas/nakararanas ng kalamidad at demolisyon.

Buwan ng Mayo nang matagumpany nating nailunsad ang National Convention (NC) na ginanap sa Bulwagang Balagtas sa PUP Sta. Mesa. Humigit-kumulang 1,000 child advocates ang nagkatipun-tipon sa malaking okasyon na ito. Nais po nat-ing magpaabot ng mainit na pasasalamat sa lahat ng dumalo, nakiisa at nagbigay-suporta—sa iba’t ibang uri o pamama-raan—upang maging matagumpay ang nasabing asambleya.

Doon na rin natin inilunsad ang Educaton and Enrollment Monitor (E-Monitor) na talaga namang malaki ang impact sa media.

Dahil dito, kumalat po ang ating adhikain at marami po tayong natatanggap na reklmo at ulat mula sa ibaba. Tinitipon pa po natin ang mga datos ngayon at malapit nang ihapag sa Dep.Ed. Naging makulay rin ang panimulang paghahanda natin sa eleksiyon. Naglunsad po tayo ng “Children’s Santacruzan: Parade of the 10 Rights of the Child” sa Intramuros. Naging masaya ang aktibidad na ito at nakakatuwang tingnan na ang buong pamilya ay naging bahagi ng aktibidad ng Akap Bata at naging informative na rin sa kanila ang pagtitipon. Pagdaan ng sagala sa COMELEC ay duon po tayo naglunsad ng maikling programa habang nagpa-file po tayo ng “intent to participate” at mga bagong nominado.

Ngayong Hunyo naman, naghanda tayo sa Daycare Worker’s Week. Naghahanda rin tayo sa mga Congress at Senate troop-ing upang mapabilis ang pagpapasa ng Magna Carta for Day Care Workers. Siyempre, sa darating na Hulyo ay Nutrition Month naman.

Talaga nga namang “jam-packed” ang nagdaang tatlong bu-wan. Siguro ay mas lalo pang magiging busy ang ating mga kasama, kaibigan at volunteers sa susunod na mga buwan. Sana ay magkita-kita ulit tayo sa susunod na mga pagtitipon at higit pang dumami at lumawak ang ating kasapian! Ipagpatu-loy natin ang sama-samang pagkilos, kasama ng masang api, para sa kinabukasan ng mga batang Pilipino! Tuloy ang laban para sa kagalingan at karapatan ng batang Pilipino!

7OPINION

Sa kabila ng pagiging “Pag-asa ng Bay-an,” ang mga bata at kabataan ay salat sa serbisyong panlipunan.

Alam n’yo ba na pito sa sampung bata ang hindi naaabot ng Early Childhood Care and Education program ng gobyer-no? Hindi sila naaabot ng feeding pro-grams at hindi rin nakapapasok sa Kinder o Day Care.

Heto pa, ang international standard na budget sa edukasyon ay 6% ng GDP pero 2.1% lamang ang inilaan ng gobyernong Aquino para sa edukasyon. Sabi nila, malaki na raw ito kumpara sa nilaan ng gobyernong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; ngunit kung susuriin, kulang pa rin ito – ni hindi nga man lang umabot sa kalahati sa itinakdang international standards! Ibig sabihin, ang kalusugan at karunun-gan ng mga kabataan ay hindi ganoong pinaglalaanan ng gobyerno!

Saan napupunta ang pondo na laan para sa mga bata at kabataan? Malaking ba-hagi nito ay napupunta sa korapsiyon,

ANO ANG NAGHIHINTAY SA MGA BATA?Dr. Edgardo N. Clemente, M.D* pambayad utang at militarisasyon. Kaya

naman malaking hamon na itulak ang pagbabago na ating ninanais sapagkat dominante ng iilang makapangyarihan ang senado at kongreso at sinisiguro nila na ang mga batas at panukala ay pabor sa kanilang mga interes.

Alam nating lahat na sa Mababang Kapu-lungan, naririyan ang Partylist seats. Dito tayo nagkakaroon ng lugar at boses upang maipahayag ang ating mga adhikain at programa. Ito ay malaking oportunidad para sa tunay na mga kinatawan ng ap-ing sektor, laluna ng mga batang Pilipino, upang makapaglunsad ng mga proyekto sa mga kabataan, at maihayag ang ating paninindigan at maipakita ang ating ak-siyon hinggil sa mga tampok na isyu ng lipunan.

Liban sa Partylist system, ang iba’t ibang aping sektor ay nakikibahagi rin sa iba’t ibang porma ng pagkilos upang igiit ang kanilang mga karapatan. Ngunit paano naman ang mga bata? Bahagi ang mga bata ng bawat aping sektor.

Kaya, mahalaga na sa mga bawat paki-kibaka ng mga sektor na ito, maisama rin ang “children’s advocacy,” dahil wala rin naman maasahan ang mga bata kundi ang kanilang mga tatay at nanay, mga ate at kuya at kanilang mga tagapag alaga.

Sabi nga nila, ang kasalukuyang kal-agayan ng mga bata ay repleksiyon ng mga bagay ginagawa ng nating mas na-katatanda – o ng mga bagay na nakalimu-tan nating gawin.

Noel Sales Barcelona, Editorial Staff SABI NG ISANG MATANDANG kas-abihang Hindi, “Mahalaga ang pagkain sa pagkatutong espirituwal.” Paano nga ba makapananalangin nang husto ang isang bata kung ang iniisip niya ay isang tasang kanin, isang pritong tuyo at isang tumpok na mga gulay? Kasama sa paghihimala ng Panginoong Hesu-Kristo noong nasa daigdig pa Siya, ay ang pag-papakain sa mga nagugutom. Sa Pilipinas, marami ang batang kulang sa nutrisyon. Hindi tayo kulang sa pagkain. Hindi totoo ang patalastas sa radyo at telebisyon na kapos ang daigdig sa pagkain. Dahil kung gayon, magsa-sara ang McDo, Jollibee, at Chowking dahil wala na silang sangkap na mailu-luto at maipagbibili. Ang suliranin ng napakaraming pamilya, ang salaping pambili ng pagkain. Kapos sa salaping

pambili ng pagkain ang ating mga kaba-bayan dahil wala silang trabaho o kung may trabaho man, kapos ang kanilang mga sahod at sweldo para sa pang-araw-araw nilang pangangailangan. Sabi ng pinakabagong Social Weather Station survey, tumaas ang antas ng walang hanapbuhay sa ban-sa—13.8 milyon, kontra sa 9.7 milyon noong Disyembre 2011. Pahayag ni Santiago Apostol, “Ang dalisay na relihiyon at walang dungis sa harapan ng ating Dios at Ama ay ito, da-lawin ang mga ulila at mga babaing balo sa kanilang kapighatian, at pagingatang walang dungis ang kaniyang sarili sa sanglibutan” (Cf. Santiago 1: 27). Ang pagkalinga sa mga nangangailangan ang tunay na batayan ng relihiyon. At bahagi ng pagkalingang ito ay ang pagtiyak na ang bawat isa ay nakababahagi sa biyaya

ng Diyos, gaya ng pagkain at iba pang pangangailangan. Dagdag ni San Pablo, ang pagibig sa kapwa ang pinakamatin-ing sa lahat. Aanhin mo ang himala, ang kapangyarihan, ang ibang wika kung bato naman ang puso mo? (1 Corinto 13) Hindi naman nangangahulu-gan na dapat maglimos ka araw-araw para makakain nang husto ang mga bata. Pero maganda rin ito dahil sabi nga sa Ecclesiastes 11:1 “Ihasik mo ang iyong tinapay sa tubigan: sapagka’t iyong ma-susumpungan pagkaraan ng maraming araw.” Ang ibig nating sabihin, bigyan nawa ang mga magulang nila ng sapat na pagkakabuhayan. Kung mayroon silang trabahong sapat ang kita, mayroon pa kayang batang magugutom at magkuku-lang sa nutrisyon?

Kayo ang magdala ng makakain… (Cf. Juan 6:5-15)

* In this picture is Dr. Edgardo N. Clemente, M.D with the participants of Children’s Sagala. He is the second nominee of Akap Bata Partylist and a surgeon by profession. He is also an ac-tive advocate on children’s health and nutrition.

8

Editorial StaffJo Anne AnastacioNoel Sales BarcelonaDanica CastilloNeshreen KingkingCarol TanghalChristian Yamzon

Graphic ArtistRaymond Oxcena

Contributing PhotographersAndrew Del CastilloJen RomuloTudla Productions

For Feedbacks, please reach AKAP BATA party-list through the following:

Address: 74 A Stanford St., Cubao, Quezon CityTelefax: (02) 437.68.31E-mail: [email protected]: http://facebook.com/akapbataTwitter: http://twitter.com/akap_bata_party

The "Balitang Akap Bata" is the official quarterly newsletter of AKAP BATA partylist. The second issue is published by AKAP BATA partylist to dessiminate information, news updates and showcase writing and artistic prowess of its members, friends and volunteers. AKAP BATA partylist is open for feedbacks and suggestions to improve our newsletter.

Sa mga hakbang na di matun-ton paroroonan

Sumalubong musikang pumaya-pa sa kawalan

Sa bakuran ng paligid na naka-mulatan

Aliw ang magiliw na hiyawang naghahabulan

Mga batang liwaliw sa sariling pananagutan

Kamusmusang malaya sa baga-bag na kapalaran

Biglang napalis ang munting ngiti sa nasaksihan

Linukuban ng lungkot ang bu-ong katauhan

Sa nanuot na kahirapan ang buong katauhan

Kahit sa payapang araw walang kinahinatnan

Sa bigat ng pasaning iniwan at daratnan

Sariling anak pa’no yayakapin hahagkan

Sa Yakap ng KapalaranRhian Guevarra, Akap Bata Quezon City

Sa hubog ng KahirapanRhian Guevarra, Akap Bata Quezon City

Sa silid na karamihan tingin isang direksyon

May diwang nagbubulakbol nasa labas ang atensyon

Maagang gapos sa kaluluwa ng kahirapan

Ispiritung antukin sa oras ng kaalaman

Palaging umiiwas sa oras ng pagsasalo

Di alintana kung hanggang kai-lan mahihilo

Walang ibang gawa kundi tum-ingin sa relo

Nais makatakas maitago laman ng ulo

Sa paroo’t parito di nagbago ang kwento

Di naglaon nawala sa listahan ang magulo

kapalarang di mahawakan ma-hugnay ang dulo

Hinubog na kahinaan sa lungga’y nagsosolo

Literary