We must all work to make the world worthy of its children

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The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The brouhaha of the alleged child abuse committed by Willie Revillame and the filing of a child abuse complaint at the fiscal paved the way for the approval of an important legislation that will protect the rights of children against abuse. The bill, ““An Act Promoting Positive and Non-violent Discipline of Children” authored by Reps. Susan Yap and Bernadette Herrera-D was approved in the House of Representatives on 3rd and final reading last April, the month of the Willie Revillame brouhaha.

Perhaps it was the public awareness over child abuse issues that awakened the minds of our dear legislators.

Now comes the President with good news. The President issued Executive Order No.53 that strengthens the government initiatives for children’s protection from different forms of abuse — physical, sexual, prostitution, child labor, neglect and other relevant forms of violations. This EO 53 is created to amend the existing Executive Order No. 275 that was issued in 1995 and formed the Committee for the Special Protection of Children (CSPC).

Under the new EO, President Aquino organized CSPC, an inter-agency body that directly acts and coordinates with different agencies for the precise implementation of Republic Act 7610, also known as the Anti-Child Abuse Act.

This also directs monitoring of investigation and prosecution of cases that violate the Anti-Child Abuse Act and other child-related criminal laws.

That is certainly good news from President Aquino’s government. On my Human Rights day article “Who will speak for the children?”, I hoped that a clear agenda pertaining to Filipino children’s welfare will be established by the President.

I am grateful that our president took time to strengthen the law against child abuse that includes child labor; children-victims of sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation; abandoned and neglected or children without primary caregivers; children of indigenous cultural groups; child-victims of disasters; children in situations of armed conflict; street children; and, children in conflict with the law.

This is just the first step toward the shift of cultural and generational ways of child care. These are the future citizens of our country that offer hope. As Gandhi once said “if we are ever to have real peace in this world we shall have to begin with the children. ” If we don’t stand up for our children, then we don’t stand for much.

You and I must all contribute to make the world worthy of its children.

My husband, lawyer for private citizens’ child abuse complaint against Willie Revillame

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Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime. –Herbert Ward

Remember the child abuse complaint filed against Willie Revillame two weeks ago? I am one of the co-complainants from the third suit filed by concerned citizens that includes Froilan Grate, Peachy Bretana, , and Fr. Robert Reyes. Yesterday was the first preliminary hearing of the the three child abuse charges against Willie Revillame. You can read more about the details here.

Of course, my husband was willing to be my lawyer. This is the first time my husband will act as my lawyer (and of the three other complainants) and this will certainly be interesting.

Apparently, Willie Revillame will be back on air this Saturday, May 14, with a new, refurbished offering. TV5 announced that Willie’s show will have a new title “Wil Time Bigtime,” which will occupy the timeslot of its predecessor, “Willing Willie.” MTRCB decision, page 8, under PENALTIES states that Willing Willie and any program created in its stead with the same format and genre is to be put on a per broadcast permit basis. That means the new refurbished show will still be closely monitored by MTRCB.

I am optimistic the justice system will act on our child abuse complaints and decide within 60 days whether our complaints will go to trial.

So you ask why am I doing this? Bob Ney explains it well. There “is nothing more vicious and outrageous than the abuse, exploitation and harm of the most vulnerable members of our society, and I firmly believe that our nation’s laws and resources need to reflect the seriousness of these terrible crimes.” Andrea Ingram adds that “it is not surprising that we need to do more. I mean, this is child abuse. There is always more to be done.”

“The stigma of child abuse is still apparent here. (It’s) kind of like the road less traveled. Turns out it was the road all of us should have been taking all along. ~ Cindy Winstead

Filing a child abuse complaint against Willie Revillame

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Remember my article Discovering Tranquility in Luijoe Meadow? I felt something good was going to happen. Positive developments on the resolution of the Willing Willie incident looked promising. During the Holy Week, I received news that a child advocacy group would file a complaint of child abuse against Willie Revillame. I kept the good news to myself.

What I did not expect is I would actually be a co-complainant in a suit filed by DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman. Together with ““running priest” Fr. Robert Reyes, environmentalist Froilan G. Grate, advertising executive Frances Irene Bretana, and myself, we filed separate but joint complaint-affidavits before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, charging Willie Revillame for violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act 7610).

Sure I had plans to file a complaint against Willie Revillame but I was awaiting a formal report from the Commission of Human Rights.

Trying to keep the issue burning, I initiated a ““blog and twitter carnival” in which people online are invited to write articles and express their views about the controversial March 12 incident concerning the crying dancing boy. The blog carnival began on April 18 and ends tomorrow April 28. Not many seemed interested to blog and instead chose to tweet their views.

I was afraid the child abuse issue would die down after the holidays. As I said earlier, this Willing Willie episode erupted to such madness that it zapped so much energy from me. I got sick for two days with one day totally bed-ridden. My immune system must have gone haywire. I knew I just had to be tranquil for a day. I needed to let go when things are just beyond my control.

I prayed hard to Luijoe to show me the light. The image of the crying boy just could not leave my mind. I must do something. If filing the case was not meant to be, I will accept it. Even if Luijoe is not around, I still talk to him. I told him about the six year old boy. “What should I do Luijoe?” Is filing the complaint a good step? Then I lifted my prayer to God.

Truly, God is faithful. Yesterday, I got word from End Child Abuse Community Facebook administrators Froilan Grate and Frances Irene Bretaña that we could be co-complainants in a suit filed by DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman.

I yelled “I am in.”

Today we walked the talk . We filed this child abuse complaint so we could speak in behalf of the children who have no voices.

This is not about networks. This is not about Willie alone. This is about our children, the future citizens of our country.

I will now let the Courts take care of this as I cannot make comments anymore on the complaint and Willie after today.

Every child deserves a nurturing family and a safe environment, free from fear, abuse, and neglect. Parents, guardians, relatives, and neighbors all share a responsibility to prevent these devastating crimes, and our government plays a critical role as well.

Let a child be a child

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I had no idea what awaited me that Sunday afternoon as I clicked on a Youtube link provided by a concerned blogger who wanted me to write about it. My heart broke as I watched a six-year-old kid gyrating like a macho dancer on the variety show ““Willing Willie,” with TV host

Willie Revillame making fun of him and the audience amused beyond belief. It was truly sickening. I cried as I watched the boy’s pained facial expression. I couldn’t take it anymore. The first thought that ran through my head was, ““Could this be a violation of Republic Act No. 7610, or the ‘Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act’ Section 3 (b)?”

What I witnessed was Willie repeatedly humiliating a boy in front of millions of people tuned in to the TV station. Where is the dignity in that? Why did he allow the boy to  dance like a male Chippendale dancer for the general public entertainment? The adults who taught him to dance that way? Ugh, the very same people responsible for his well-being.

This incident reminded me of Human Rights Day last year when I wrote on ““Who will speak up for our children?“. A conversation with a friend made me realize that our kids don’t have a voice unless an adult speaks up for them. When a child is caught in a tussle when their parents are hitting each other, who will speak for this child? A child can be silently suffering from domestic abuse, bullying and corporal punishment. In the Willing Willie episode, who will speak up for this six-year-old boy who cried as he gyrated to the music? The fear and embarrassment written in his eyes was undeniable. I wanted to hug him and rescue him from his discomfort and tell the boy that he didn’t have to do that dance.

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Letter to Manny V. Pangilinan from DSWD Sec Soliman

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This letter is response to my entry Willie Revillame humiliates a crying 6 year old boy. You might also be interested to read an Open Letter to Jan-Jan.

March 28, 2011

MR. MANNY V. PANGILINAN
Chairman
ABC Development Corporation

Dear Mr. Pangilinan:

This is with regard to the 12 March 2011 episode of your show ““Willing Willie”, which was brought to my attention by several concerned citizens and groups. In the said episode, a six year-old boy named Jan-Jan Estrada was made to repeatedly perform dance moves usually done by adult dancers in indecent shows. The poor child was in tears and looked scared the entire time, as show host Willie Revillame poked fun at him and the audience laughed and cheered.

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A letter to Jan-Jan

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Jan-Jan is the 6 year old boy who was dancing and crying in Willie Revillame’s show. This is a letter written by my good friend, Cathy Guballa . I have posted it here with her permission.

Dearest Jan-jan,

My heart broke as I watched you cry on television. You should never have been there in the first place. There are many people to blame for the humiliation that you went through. What took place should have never happened if people had been doing their jobs, if people had only known better.

First of all, I cannot understand how your tita would teach you to dance that way!! You are only six years old and what do you know about the world? I’m sure you are a very bright, sensitive, and talented little boy, that much I could see. That’s another reason why it was so painful for me to watch you suffer. You were, in fact, the only one in that studio who knew that what was happening was so very wrong. You rely on your parents and your guardians to take care of you. They need to ensure that you grow up to become healthy in mind, body and spirit. But by allowing you to suffer that way, they miserably failed you.

It’s not all about the money, Jan-jan. The dignity of every child must be upheld. By allowing you to perform that way, they trampled on you and made you feel so small. I could see the fear and embarrassment in your eyes. It was undeniable. If there was only some way to rescue you from that moment, I’m sure every parent worth their salt would have done so.
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Willie Revillame humiliates a crying 6 year old boy as he dances

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This is just so disgusting. Willie Revillame, you are the lowest of the low.

I watched this video of a six year boy crying as he danced in Willie Revillame’s show. Watch as Willie laughs and picks on the poor boy (removed video now)

My heart just goes out to him.

jan-jan1

My friend, a mother herself asks :

What have we become as a people if we consider the humiliation of a helpless six year old boy as entertainment? Of course the issue also goes back to the family — why in heaven’s name would you teach a six year old to dance that way? My heart broke as I watched the expression on this little boy’s face.

@iamhappyamy tells me in Twitter” @momblogger a kid gyrating like a macho dancer, willie making fun of him, the audience enjoying – truly sickening!” @yeahred adds “Letting a kid dance sensually on national television (and enjoying it) is very inhuman. Willie Revillame, you’re such a disgrace.”

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