16th National Children`s Month Celebration & My Reflection...

In relation to our campaign and as a continuation of the article I`ve written last Thursday, October 2, 2008 entitled Our HOPES Need Hope, this month of October the whole Philippines is celebrating its 16th National Children`s Month in recognition of every Filipino child as the most valuable asset of our society with its theme "BRIGHT CHILD: Sa Tamang Pag-aaruga, Kinabukasan ay Maginhawa".

Yes, it is indeed a blessed event that October has been declared by our government as National Children`s Month joining the whole world in its celebration of Universal Children`s Day that was formally established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954. This is the time for us to heighten up our awareness on the life of every children not only here in the Philippines but in the whole wide world as well.

In today`s Filipino society the existence of abuses against the dignity of children is constantly increasing and it is really alarming. Examples are the [•] the rising phenomenon of street children roaming our metropolis [•] the unjust practice of child labor and [•] children being sexually abused and even murdered. Thus, I must say, that there is really a greater need of our special and intensified attention and utmost concern.

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Remember that a child is a gift...

Below is a music video released for Children`s Rights Campaign.

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Again consider some of my thoughts...

• Every Filipino has one single aspiration and that is to live life here in the Philippines to its fullness... Thus, it only means to say that every single Filipino child aspire the same.
• There have been several efforts established for a child-friendly justice system here in the Philippines yet there are still so many children that are still often harassed by some law-enforcement officers especially the new ones. For this very reason, I suggest that advocacy efforts should always be continued for the creation of a Juvenile Justice System and a separate facility for minors. There is still really a need to continue to orient, train and advocate among law enforcers on the rights of a child, the psychodynamics of street children, children in conflict with the law, the sexually abused and exploited, and the street children substance abusers.
• The way I see it, Politics or should I say politicians are really the main reason why child abuse happens for they give little priority to the implemention of children`s rights and welfare. Most of the time, they only do boast their paperworks and legal requirements in the promotion of children`s welfare, yet the truth is they have failed implementing their own policies and programs because of lack of their political will... For some reason, I am just thinking that maybe it`s because children in the first place are not legal voters.
  
• While significant progress has been achieved in the area of child health, still it`s a fact that there is still high levels of underlying malnutrition and childhood illness in the country. This is because of the rapid-growth of Filipino children population and the increasing number of poverty in the country.
  

The reason why there is a need to celebrate Children`s month is because this is the only time for us to reflect and be more aware of what`s really happening to our future`s hope. If we will just open our eyes and look around us, surely we`ll be able to realize why is there a need for us to be aware... of why there is a greater need for us to be involved. What we`ll do today to help them, is what our future generation beholds.

Let`s be part of a child-friendly movement. Children themselves, families, communities, church, government and other related groups should participate to place each child at the center of development efforts to effect sensitization of society toward child-friendliness. Let us help each other in promoting the rights of children to survival, development, protection and participation. Let us prioritize and address issues and concerns affecting the full realization of the rights of children to heighten awareness, and monitor and evaluate allocation of resources and implementation of policies, programs and services for children.

Let us all do our share. This is the time for us to act, for us to help, for us to be involved. For they are the HOPES who surely need hope. They surely need us, let`s just let them know and let them feel that we`re still here for them and that they`re not alone after all.

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For some other information and references...

PHILIPPINES LAWS & ISSUANCES ON CHILDREN

• R.A. 6655 (Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988)
• R.A. 6972 (Barangay Day Care Law)
• R.A. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons)
• R.A. 7323 (Summer and/or Christmas Employment for Poor Students)
• R.A. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) [click to download]
• R.A. 7624 (An Act Integrating Drug Prevention and Control in School Curricula)
• R.A. 8044 (The Youth in Nation-Building Act of 1995)
• R.A. 8504 (AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1988)
• R.A. 8353 (The Anti-Rape Law of 1997)
• R.A. 8980 (Early Childhood Care and Development Law)
• Republic Act 9208 ( Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003)
• R.A. 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004)
• R.A. 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006)
• Executive Order No. 56 (Authorizing the Ministry of Social Services and Development to Take Protective Custody of Child Prostitutes and Sexually Exploited Children and for Other Purposes)
• Proclamation No. 731 (Declaring the 2nd Week of February of Every Year as "National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation)
• Proclamation No. 267 (Declaring October as National Children's Month)

In relation to our campaign, I would like you guys to visit the websites listed below which has greater emphasis on the betterment of Filipino Children.

• Association for the Rights of Children
• Council for the Welfare of Children
  
• Philippine Children Organization
  

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Our HOPES Need Hope...

Last September 26, 2008 a group of Filipino bloggers who are entrecard members managed to run a contest for the purpose of spreading the word about the need to adopt and implement effective policies that will promote child welfare here in the Philippines and maybe for the rest of the world too.

[image taken from http://www.cgstock.com/4186]

Now, the question is... Why is there really a need to implement effective policies that will promote children`s welfare?

But first, before we answer that question, let us first define if what really a child is? I`m just thinking that almost all of us know what a child is, but never did we realize who they really are and what their purpose really is in our society.

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is every human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. And biologically, a child is anyone in the developmental stage of childhood which is between infancy and adulthood. And according to the law applicable to Philippines, they recognized a child as a basic sector distinct from youth and students.

Now what are their role and how important are they in our society? As of today, it is considered that children played an important role within the family which as we all know is the fundamental unit of our society. They`re the most sacred treasure we have nowadays. They are the foosteps of every community. And more importantly, Children are said to be the hope of our future.

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On November 28, 2007, a certain columnist named Mong Palatino who happens to be a youth activisit, the news editor that time of Yehey! [a Philippine-based web portal, and I`m not sure if he`s still the news editor at this point], and a Global Voices correspondent, wrote a certain commentary article with greater emphasis to the rights of the Filipino children. Entitled "Commentary: Is the Philippines child-friendly?" which was posted on UPI Asia.com, Mr. Palatino summarized and questioned the actions that the Philippine Government is doing in implementation of Children`s Rights and Children`s Welfare.

[image taken from http://www.unesco.org/delegates/philippines/html/body_r1.htm]

Accordingly, the Philippines is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Every administration has committed to building a child-friendly society where children are "nurtured and allowed to grow and develop in dignity." And that more than a decade ago, the government adopted a Philippine Plan of Action for Children in order to realize a child-sensitive society. But then the government has failed because of lack of political will and by not realizing the importance of those obligations.

I even agree when Mr. Palatino said that Children`s rights are the most important human rights. And that Children are among the most ignored and discriminated against sectors of the Philippine society.

If you wanna read, know and learn more about the article, you may simply click this link and go directly to the post: http://www.upiasia.com/Human_Rights/2007/11/08/commentary_is_the_philippines_childfriendly/3938/.

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Now consider some of my thoughts below regarding this matter...

• `twas said that the Philippines has long been committed to ensuring the rights of children, particularly their rights to survival, protection, development and participation. ••• Yet, until this point I don`t see any improvement regarding the said matter.
• Government efforts to ensure progress towards the attainment of its goals for children had always failed, and it`s accordingly because of financial crisis. ••• For me, it`s not really the financial crisis but the unnecessary and unproper government spending such as unproper budget allocation and the several projects by several corrupt government officials.
  
• ••• An effective way to promote enjoyment of Children`s rights is not only through the provision of direct services to them, but by providing favorable world and national economic environments where their parents or older siblings could be empowered to help meet the children`s needs.
• ••• The Government among other sectors should always give emphasis and special attention to the rights and well-being of children... giving them the right to represent and participate in several government plans.
• ••• The Government should also acknowledge the need to address the gap between the enactment of laws and the enforcement of these laws. Aside from the need to set-up functional and efficient monitoring systems, the need to educate the public and the government officials and other public/civil servants about these child-focused laws and policies must always be considered essential. `twas evident that the lack of public awareness and understanding within the justice system about national laws which were specifically intended to provide special protecton measures for children had contributed to this lack of commitment to enforcing these laws.
• ••• The mission to give voice to the Filipino children by providing them with a link to the highest office in the land is really necessary. But proving them voice alone won`t help them unless the Government is also prepared to lend them an ear and hear their voices.
• ••• Lastly, the national government along with different local governments must understand and appreciate the importance of these obligations and the fulfillment of these commitments for the benefit of a brighter future and brighter society.
  

Remember always that Children are the key to our success in the future and that is actually the very reason why they are considered the hopes of our future. Whatever we do today to help them will surely benefit the lives and the society of our next generation.

Thus, I am encouraging not just politicians but all of us to participate and contribute to the promotion of a Child-Friendly governance.

You may be wondering if if this post or article would be in existence if there would have been no contest at all. Honestly, the answer is I don`t know... But this is what I wanna tell you. The contest helped me realize the importance of articles like this. It opened my eyes to what is really happening today and thus making me aware of the current condition and situation of our children today. In this regard, I would really like to be involved. I wanna help even just in my own little ways our children of today. They surely need us, let`s just let them know and let them feel that we`re still here for them and that they`re not alone after all.

Our future HOPES need hope!

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I would like to thank the following Filipino bloggers who have managed to conceptualize and made such contest possible:

• Seek No More
• PolitEkon
• Pinay Wife Speaks
• Proud Mommy
• Momma Wannabe
• E-Pamilya
• The Pinay Blogger
• Trader’s Hub
• Swirling Thoughts
• A Grateful Heart
• Pinay in States

Thank you so much guys, and continue spreading the word! Keep up the good work.

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Why insearch4you?

[image is taken from here.]

You might be wondering until now why my blogsite`s URL is http://insearch4you.blogspot.com?

Why insearch4you when there are still a lot of names or words to choose from, or why not just use atenean101 instead?

You may not know it, but aside from the usual atenean101 being my username and of what most internet people and friends know me for, I`m also known as insearch4you or insearch4u in several sites I have joined and entered [may it be a personal site or just the usual one].

The name insearch4you came across my mind almost two years ago during the time when I almost consider myself alone and helpless and the time when almost everybody around seem to abandon me... I have been known to be a fighter, a well spirited person and an optimistic one, but at that certain point of my life I could say that I almost wanted to give up. At that time, I am like searching for something or for someone or somebody who shall guide me and who shall walk beside me and enlighten my way through the darkness...

[image is taken from here.]

Now the question is... why insearch4you and why not atenean101?

http://insearch4you.blogspot.com if you may notice is my very first personal blogsite which accounts all the things that interest and concerns me in the past, in the present and in the future. I have personally published and established it myself [with the help of blogspot and other sponsor sites of course] for the following reasons: • I want the world to know that I exist and continue to exist. • I want to establish huge network of friends. • I want to show the world the wonders of living. • I want to somehow walk beside others who seek for the light [like what I have been through before], or be their inspiration. • Or simply to exchange relevant issues, topics, experiences and stories. • And to share the wisdom I have learned from my continuous search.

Now, since this is my very first personal site, I chose insearch4you rather than atenean101. The word[s] just mean a lot to me. It means a lot of things that I`ve been through and that I`m going to go through in my life. As for my own perspective [as what I have been through], our life is a continuous search... for something... for someone or somebody... for the LIGHT.... or even for our own selves. You may actually say that I am in search for someone special, that I am in search for love, that I am in search for friends, or that I am in search for GOD... or even for myself. Fact is it`s all true as I believe that we continue to live each day searching for so many things that life has to offer. And day by day we continue to account what we have searched for, for this and that particular day.

Life is really the most impossible thing we can really have in this world... and making it possible for us to have, is a challenge and a search we have to face everyday.

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Have You Met Your Dreams?

[ 1st image is taken from here. ]
[2nd image is taken from here. ]

I have been thinking earlier until now about the message I`ve received from a certain friend. Nothing really is special with the message, just the same usual message I have been receiving from my friends lately, asking me my current condition and how am I doing with my life and all related stuffs. But what makes it different from the rest is the question that really caught my attention - "Have you met your dreams?". Well it`s really not just the usual thing I have been asked before... But maybe it`s because no one had asked me or should I say nobody had tried to ask me that question after I had done the biggest failure in my life. And honestly, after reading it, I have even asked myself "Have I really met my dreams?"

Accordingly, dreams are conditions or achievements which are longed for... are aspirations... are wild fancies... are hopes... And in my own perception, dreams are things that I consider as standard that I need to set, define and fulfill in order for me to better my life. Dreams are essential in everyone`s life. They serve so many purpose but mainly they are subject for nurturing and bettering one`s life and making it worth living for.

Each one of us has dreams. If there`s such one who never dream, then perhaps he/she`s not living at all. Who never dream anyway? Nobody right? Fact is, it`s just part of being human... of being normal beings... And hope you`ll agree with me when I say that each of us do have our very own and unique dreams in life...

So now the question is "Have I met my dreams?". To start with, I would like to emphasize that my dreams are not just merely for myself alone [please don`t raise your eyebrows because I`m just being real], but for my family as well. I still remember when I was just a kid I dreamt to be a successful and famous doctor and that`s because I want to help my family and I want to be the one who shall take good care of them when they`re sick... but that dream will only be just a dream afterall, because one day in my life I`ve just realized that I am not good with things related to medicine at all. And so my dream shifted... From being a successful doctor to being famous achiever... from famous achiever to better person... And to cut it short, right now I just dreamt of being as successful as I can be.

I may have been so damn stupid before for making so many damn stupid mistakes, but I`ve already learned and I know I deserve a second chance. And I`m so thankful to God, to my family, and to all those people who have supported me for they have not left me, and they have continued to inspire me to continue dreaming. Perhaps I could say that I have already met some of my dreams but not the one that I consider ultimate. But I know and I believe that for as long as I am living... for as long as I have still the courage... for as long as I am not giving up my faith... for as long as I will not stop believing in myself... and for as long as I have God, my family and friends, I know I`m going to make it. I`m going to meet my dreams. I know I`m not going to fail this time `coz I am a better person now. Still I know that it`s a long long way road, but then again, I`m not giving up. And I promise, I`m not going to make the same mistake again. Again, I have learned and I am a better person now.

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