Monday, September 17, 2012

A Breach of Children's Rights

Image courtesy of www.peta1.wordpress.com

A child is one of God's most priceless and beautiful creations, a source of pride and joy to the family. And as such, parents and/or guardians are responsible that the child's physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs are sufficiently met. Children are vulnerable and those entrusted for their care are responsible to protect them and keep them safe at all times.

But not all children are as privileged. Many of them are trapped into situations where their growth and rights as children are unjustly jeopardized. To date, more and more kids are becoming easy targets of abuse. In the Philippines, child workers are more often vulnerable to exploitation. And one area where this is commonplace is in the entertainment industry.

Children who work in entertainment, particularly those in show business are often subject to abuse, exploitation and discrimination, yet most of their elders and guardians don't know any better. They go unheard and this is wrong.

DOLE ( Department of Labor and Employment) a government organization that safeguards the rights of the working children (15 years old and below) against a working environment that is abusive - mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful. This practice is considered exploitative.

Unfortunately, poverty is one significant barrier to children achieving their rights and being treated fairly. Television networks and movie companies are mostly guilty of the above. They know the rules , turn a blind eye, and violate them. What are considered violations of children's rights in local showbiz?

LONG WORK HOURS, mostly lasting till the next day can be very damaging, affecting the child's health, academic performance and adolescent behavior in the long term. Sleep is so important, that lack of it can adversely harm them for a long time.

TOO MUCH PRESSURE to deliver good/excellent performance from the director, the child's manager and guardians can wreak havoc on the child's still about-to-bloom personality.

In showbiz, children talents who do a serye or soap are exposed to an environment too large for their young minds to comprehend, not to mention the injustice being committed. The only difference is that children who are lead stars are given preferential treatment and enjoy more perks, vis a vis bit players and extras. *Children's rights apply equally to every child, regardless of who they are, or where they live.*

What am I talking about? Too often, poverty is the most significant factor why children and their parents decide to enter showbiz. Many are blinded and overwhelmed by stardom and the fame and fortune that go with it. Not realizing that it's just the surface that they're seeing. Showbiz starters are often shocked to see the reality behind the glitz and glamor. As newbies, both guardian and child never thought that work hours can entail so long, with very little pay to show for it. An average talent/extra can get anywhere from 500 to 800 or at most 1,000 pesos net per day for a taping or shoot that can last from 6am to 2am of the next day. Under such agonizing long hours, children extras are never given quarters where thay can sleep or even rest. Only big stars are provided with airconditioned tents for the purpose. Extras have to be creative to fend for themselves. They are fortunate if the location shoot is somewhere near comfortable like a big house for example. But what if it is in a forested area, or something like a farm?

There was an instance that an agent was tasked to bring in a truckful of extras for a big scene to be shot that day. The children extras arrived on the set at 7am. Early call time, but they were called to the scene at past 3pm already. What happened and where were they between 7am and 3pm, when the summer heat seemed like to melt one's flesh? They were just scattered around, some crowding under a tree to shield themselves from the scorching summer heat. Kids as young as 4 and 5 years old, were accompanied by their mothers or guardians, but who could only do so much. Sometimes babies get sick on the set, but the production people would not want them to go home because taping has to be finished that day. If you ask them why they allow their kids to go through this ordeal, the standard parent's reply, "This is better than staying at home with nothing. At least here, we are fed and paid, no matter how small." Sigh, indeed, beggars can't be choosers. Aren't you reminded of Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake?"

But isn't the above a clear expoitation, capitalizing on the plight of the poor, hapless children in exchange for crumbs?

"Sec. 12-D. Prohibition Against Worst Forms of Child Labor. - No child shall be engaged in the worst forms of child labor. The phrase "worst forms of child labor" shall refer to any of the following:
"(4) Work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is hazardous or likely to be harmful to the health, safety or morals of children, such that it:
"b) Exposes the child to physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or is found to be highly stressful psychologically or may prejudice morals. "

Every network has a reputation amongst the myriad of issues happening in each "backyard." Network A is untrained but generous, network B is calculating but often misses. When it comes to advocacies, network C has probably the most. Yet one of them reeks of hypocrisy --- its children's welfare's loud talking should be matched with kilometric walking.

In its weekly tapings, this network C's popular program regularly engages the services of child extras. Aside from all the above abuses happening everytime, there's something more than meets the eye. Children are both exposed and subjected to verbal abuse -- oftentimes being shouted at at the slightest misdemeanor/mistake, by the production staff, making the helpless children nervous and fearful. During dramatic scenes where crying is required, they have devised a way to make the kid act accordingly -- threaten the child that if he would not cooperate, his mother or anyone in his family will be killed on the spot.

"Verbal assault - when an authority threatens or bullies the child and creates a climate of fear for the child. Terrorizing can include placing the child or the child’s loved one (such as a sibling, pet or toy) in a dangerous or chaotic situation, or placing rigid or unrealistic expectations on the child with threats of harm if they are not met."

Even if the shouting are sometimes not directed at them but to their agents/caregivers, still the trauma on the children cannot be over-emphasized.

Each taping requires dozens of scenes to get completed. And each scene would be repeated 5 to 6 times if they're lucky, and more if the director is fastidious and doesn't feel satisfied. Child extras who usually have no formal acting workshops find this practice really excruciating. You factor in everything that happens as stated above, and you get a picture of a child who gets severely "beaten" psychologically, mentally, and physically.

"Douglas Besharov states in Recognizing Child Abuse: A Guide for the Concerned, “Emotional abuse is an assault on the child’s psyche, just as physical abuse is an assault on the child’s body”(1990). Children who are constantly ignored, shamed, terrorized or humiliated suffer at least as much, if not more, than if they are physically assaulted. Danya Glaser (2002) finds that emotional abuse can be “more strongly predictive of subsequent impairments in the children’s development than the severity of physical abuse.” Constant exposure to verbal abuse tears a child's self-esteem."

Sometimes, the abuses committed against these kids also stem from the pressures on the production to come up with a product that's excellent, fast and finished with the LEAST production cost.

Network C has foundation focused on child welfare program that not only "saves and restores back to good health sick and abused children, but also gives shelter, treatment and quality home care for rescued children until they can be with their families again or referred to child-caring agencies. It has the following services: training and advocacy on child abuse prevention, rehabilitation of families in crisis, academic scholarships, livelihood, community outreach and medical and dental missions." Are DOLE officials aware that this very tenet is being broken by the very people who are supposed to uphold them?

I used to admire network C for I thought that it is THE face of children's refuge and well-being. But their clouded principles and total apathy smashed that illusion.

"Everything you say and do to a child is absorbed, catalogued and remembered."

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Sources:
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2003/ra_9231_2003.html
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/childrenandyoungpeople/child-protection/child-abuse.htm
http://www.thefamilyinternational.org/en/children-hope-future/

61 comments:

  1. after reading the entire BI for almost 10 minutes, i therefore conclude that the TV show of network C is none other than Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko .

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    Replies
    1. and i therefore conclude that you are very wrong. reread for another 10 minutes para maintindihan mong mabuti ang clues. huwag maging in denial.

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    2. 8:11, I think the comment above you is just being sarcastic. There's something common between the show she's saying and the show being alluded to in this article. Both have letters "K & M."

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    3. Magbantay ka ng bata para malaman mo kung anong network itech.

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    4. This is the effect of having irresponsible parents...

      Nag anak para pagtrabahuhin? Walang mang aabuse kung walang mag papa abuso....

      Cruella

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  2. Tara na sa Mother Ignacia!

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    Replies
    1. tapos gow tayo sa likod kung saan naka-situate ang audience entrance

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  3. ano ba yan pati ba naman mga bata... i bantay bata 163 nga yan, ay teka sa kanila pala yun!

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  4. i have a friend who is an extra but an adult one and she shares the same opinion "At least here, we are fed and paid, no matter how small" i cant imagine this with children. it must be very traumatic to the children and it may affect their attitude in the future displacing things adults have done them.
    I wish that the rights are given respectively soon as this post is to be shared, i know they are actors, paid, but not emotionally.
    if you have a child or have a relative, i hope you treat them the way as if they were your relative.

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  5. sana yung mga magulang ng mga batang ito ay isaalang-alang ang kapakanan ng kanilang mga anak. hindi yung basta lang kumita ng pera o mabigyan ng pagkain ay okay lang sa kanila na abusuhin ang kanilang anak. siguro nga ganun nga talaga sa industriyang yan, pero hindi naman ibig sabihin na tama ang kanilang ginagawa sa mga bata. sana mas paigtingin pa ang batas na sakop ang mga kabataang ito. ang physical abuse pwedeng ikamatay ng bata. ang verbal abuse hindi man ikamatay ito ng bata, pwede naman nitong patayin ang pagkatao nito. bababa ang tingin ng bata sa kanyang sarili at mawawalan ng confidence. or ang pinakamalala eh pwedeng humantong sa suicide. yung mga taong nakakatrabaho ang mga bata dapat isipin nila o i-consider nila ang welfare ng bata. hindi yung basta matapos lang ang taping at lumabas itong maganda para sa mga manonood ay yun na okay na. sad to say minsan kasi pera-pera lang talaga. sana may magbago, magandang pagbabago para sa mga batang ito.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. at sana din hindi matakot lumantad ang mga magulang o di kaya guardian ng mga naaabusong bata sa industriyang yan. minsan kasi yung iba, takot magreklamo dahil baka hindi na ipatawag yung bata pag may taping. yung iba naman, nabayaran na ng network kaya hindi na nagreklamo.

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    2. I definitely agree with you. Lahat ng mga magulang dun walang tapang na magreklamo dahil mawawalan sila ng pang-kabuhayan. To all the mighty networks, makunsensiya naman kayo!

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    3. First and foremost, children should NEVER have to work for their families. It is the parents' responsibility to provide for their kids NOT the other way around. Mga magulang ang dapat magbanat ng buto. Kung mayroong dapat managot, una ang mga magulang ng mga batang ito, then the corporations taking advantage of them.

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  6. FP, bilib ako sayo! For promoting public awareness in cases like this. I have no idea that this is the exact scenario suffered by these children who wanted to earn money. More power FP!

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  7. Ka*******
    tsk tsk tsk. To think they are very active in promoting child's welfare, yun pala, exploiters din.
    Mga mayayaman nga naman, Wala ng pinipili, yumaman Lang.

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    Replies
    1. Korek! Subukan nyo lang po pumunta sa mga taping nila na may bata, yan ganyan pag-trato ang sa mga bagets ang makikita nyo. I dare you, FP readers!

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  8. Kafam ba itetch?! Yung org ba bantay bagets?!

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  9. Pag gising sa umaga.. ?

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  10. Dapat kasi ibahin ang sistema ng shooting dito. Bayaran ng per hour ang mga talents. Para di lugi yung babad sa taping/ shooting. At ma force yung mga talents and prod to finish on time. Ganun sistema sa America. Tapos yung mga unprofessionals na pasaway, pag late sa calltime, bawas per hour din sa TF.

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  11. mga batang kumakayod pra sa kanilang kapamilya!tsk

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  12. I totally believe this article. Billions of income ang madalas pinagmamayabang ng mga network na annual profit nila - BUT at whose/what expense?!! Yan ang itanong nila sa konsensiya nila kung meron sila nun!!!

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  13. Get your facts right fp. Dont get me wrong.i'm a huge fan. Pero sana you're there when things happen. Kasi nakita ko na prod nito. At light at maayos laht. Pati sa iba mong bi. Halong katotohanan at halong panggagatong. Ingat sa sources. Minsan dagdagbawas. (",)

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    Replies
    1. i agree. there's a BI way back about someone i know very well. half-truth, half-paninira. i'm sure that it's not FP but the bitter source.

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    2. TRUELAGEN! di lang pala sa eleksyon may dagdag bawas no?

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    3. I'm also alarmed at the way FP could be inciting the easily swayed masses to something not entirely based on fact but hearsay.

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    4. You know you're lying. Proven ang pang-aapi nila noh. I was in their tapings many times, ganyan ang trato sa mga bata ng mga supposed to be Vanguards of Children's Rights! Hindi kaya isa ka sa production staff nila? hahaha!

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    5. Why not go to their tapings and see it for yourself, too? Mas maganda siguro kung pupunta kayo ng may mga bagets na extra at umuulan. Then observe nyo mabuti. Tsaka kayo bumalik sa thread na ito at patotohanan or pasinungalingan ang post nato. Good luck sa nyo!

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    6. Agree! rants like this should be supported by solid proofs. A video recording of the actual abuse will do. Unless supported by facts, this is still hearsay from a becky source.

      -dan

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    7. Wow 1:30pm, Napaka-discriminating naman ng "this is still hearsay from a becky source" statement mo. Anu naman kinalaman ng pagka-beki ng source sa veracity ng article na to? You're so self-righteous!

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  14. Hindi pwede i-deny ng mga network ang artikulong ito. Walang pwedeng magsabi na hindi ito nangyayari. Kilabutan kayo sa sarili nyo, mga mapagpanggap! I dare you DOLE people to inspect any taping of tv shows and see for yourself kung hindi tutoo ang nakasaad sa artikulong ito.

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    Replies
    1. no dear, i DARE you to report this issue to DOLE! wag puro dada lang!

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    2. But there are talks allegedly na may lagayan din daw sa Dole. Just so sad. kaya maganda na din that this was publicly aired here sa FP.

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    3. I agree completely with you. Tutoo ang artikulo at tutoong may lagayan nga "daw." Kailangan lang talaga ng ebidensya at full blown investigation!

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  15. now you know why we need RH bill, use condom, birth control pls,,,, puro unproductive citizen naman ang mga batang ipinanganganak

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    Replies
    1. Im for RH bill too. But to call innocent kids "unproductive citizen" napakaCALLOUS" mo. That's the most heartless comment I Have ever read.

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  16. kaya we need rh bill, para di dumami ang mga pabigat sa society, yes pabigat kung di naman productive ang mga magulang magtrabaho

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  17. Replies
    1. I think it's the longest running show shown every Saturday prime time.

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  18. people working on showbiz, on and off screen, should create a labor group that will push for the rights of people in showbiz especially the rights of children working as actors. It is sad to hear that networks can abuse people working for them without any repercussions.

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  19. Hay naku asahan niyo diyan sa YUCKS network na yan. no to mining ek-ek para makamkam yung lupa sa Palawan.

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  20. Although I agree that the network has an accountability/responsibility with the way talents are treated, I still believe that the MAIN responsibility lies with the parents or guardians. The parents should be the ones looking out for the welfare of their children. They should be the ones providing for their needs by working. Children should not feel that they have to work to feed the family.

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  21. The end does not justify the meanness!!

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  22. Me mga child extras ba sa G Bulilit? Wala naman di ba? Sila-sila lang, tapos parang naglalaro lang ung mga kids..

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    Replies
    1. Hindi sila ang tinutukoy dito. Yung mga nasa teleserye mostly at yung mga weekly shows na parang teleserye din.

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  23. kasalanan yan ng mga magulang ano! magbanat ng buto, wag yung mga anak ang pinagtatrabaho..tapos isisisi sa kung kani-kanino? lurkey!

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  24. alam kong mahaba talaga at nakakapagod working hours ng mga bagets dito para wtf naman yung mga threats para lang sa "ikagaganda" ng shoot??!! Bata po yan, pwedeng matraumatize at maapektohan hanggang paglaki. Ay sus, mga magulang talaga.. laging dinadahilan kahirapan kaya pinag-aartista. Mag-artista lang kung talagang may passion at yun talaga ang gusto, di yung poverty drama lang ang peg

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  25. Alam ko na kung anong network si C nung sinabi ni FP na may foundation sila para sa welfare ng mga bata. Hindi naman ako surprised dahil kahit sa employees nila... I have a friend whose husband worked for them, he died while travelling, pabalik na sya ng Maynila, galing sa shooting. Binigyan nila ng 50,000 pesos. meron silang 4 na anak.

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  26. thanks FP.. very few knew about mind control.. sana more people asks questions.. kawawa mga bata when some directors/handlers play god and parents only care about themselves

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  27. Gusto ko tuloy i-dial ang 168.

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  28. hahaha naku ang daming kapams pa naman dito! todo pa ang pagtatanggol lagi sa telents at network! at least yung 2 networks, maayos sa kanilang mga talents and extras

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  29. bantayan ang mga bata! yun na! -theboldvoyage

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  30. Sana young mag barya na nai-donate natin kahiit maliit man ang halaga sa mga latang ipinakakalat nila sa National Bookstore, McDo at Jollibee ay naipantulong nila sa mga kinakakawawa nilang mga bata na ito.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hanggang dito sa Canada umaabot yang lata na yan. mga pinay nag aabang kung san maraming tao para humingi ng donation. kahit mga ibang lahi hinihingan nila.

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  31. sorry ha pero feeling ko hindi naman ito KAFAMILY. kasi look at the title, ABC. so shupatid ang mga ito??? KASO anong show???

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  32. hi! just for everyone's info, i'd like to share my experience from previously working in this alleged foundation, particularly in the child program. The foundation is a separate entity from the network, and is in no way involved in any of its dealings with its child stars. The money that the foundation/child program gets and uses for its operations is 100% from donations. Despite being headed by a kin of the network owners, it is not being involved by the network in any way in its shows. Though I know it is not an excuse for the network nor the foundation to intervene, I'd just like to share what really happens behind those walls. The child program is sincere in its aim of saving and nurturing children, but I think they've overlooked those being "mistreated" in the other side of their wall.

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