Bantay Bata protects kids from cyber bullying

By Boy Abunda (The Philippine Star), Jul 12, 2017

When it was founded in 1997, Bantay Bata 163 was solely meant to rescue and rehabilitate abused children by providing shelter, therapy and quality home care for rescued children until they can be reunited with their families or referred to proper child-caring agencies.

As the years go by, the child welfare arm of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. has been extended to providing Positive Parenting and Value Formation Programs, Health and Medical Programs and scholarships through Bantay Edukasyon.

And now that the social media has become part of our daily lives, project director Jing Castañeda says that Bantay Bata is taking a step to upgrade and increase its online presence to protect children from cyber bullying and child pornography.

“The children, actually all of us, have access online so we try to double our efforts at Bantay Bata to have an active online presence so we can receive online reports, do online chat to keep everyone informed,” shares Jing. “Online abuses transcend social economic status ­— whether rich or poor — so we need to protect our children.

“Nakakatakot na mangyari sa mga anak natin na maging biktima. We want to emphasize prevention. Kapag rescue and rehabilitation that means something had already happened and as much as possible we don’t want that. So prevention is more important and as parents we have to restrategize being parents in the digital age kasi tayo mismo kung hindi natin papasukin ang mundo nila, sobrang delikado for our children. One of our goals is to roll out campaigns through different platforms to empower parents to keep their children safe online.”

Jing, who took over the post of project director from Tina Monzon Palma last October, relates that it took her some time before accepting the offer to handle the position.

“After Tina retired, many took turns handling the post but not for long until it was offered to me by Gina Lopez and Susan Afan. It was election time and the news department didn’t permit me to leave since we were already deployed to cover the campaigns and the election. Besides, I also needed time to think about it because it’s a different field.”

She went to Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan for guidance since she very well knew that once she accepted the position, it would be like “a point of no return” for her. However, her being a journalist also got her involved in public service through telling stories of people. “At ‘yun din ang gagawin namin sa Bantay Bata, we will share stories and we hope those stories will move people to act on issues.”

Having a soft spot for kids had led her to take on the task without ifs and buts. Jing is not new on dealing with people ­— young and old — who seek help. In fact, when she was still active in the news department, she even requested to bring her back to family and child-related issues with frequent news-gathering at the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Fate also led her to marry a guy who has a heart for helping others. She and her husband, Nonong Velasco, are active volunteers in Gawad Kalinga. They, too, devote some time at the Center for Family Ministries at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“My being a mom allows me to understand better the issues in Bantay Bata because it’s more relevant for a mother those issues involving the kids.”

This year, Jing hopes that the Children’s Village of Bantay Bata in Norzagaray, Bulacan will be of use once again as shelter for the children. Lack of funds had caused the facility to shut down.

“The expenses cost around P12M a year which were used to pay for the staff, bills, doctors and food so a few years ago they were forced to close down,” Jing reveals. “The rescued children were brought to government facilities. That’s why, I am hoping for it to be reopened soon.”

With God’s grace, Jing is wishing that the partnership of Bantay Bata with the DSWD be finally sealed before the year ends. The two parties are already putting together their MOAs to make clear their respective responsibilities.

“Maganda rin kasi na may ka-partner since they have the financial resources and the expertise also.”

Jing is also happy to note that the children who were rescued by Bantay Bata and now all grown-up with a steady job are willing to help in every way possible. Some were inspired to champion the advocacy of Bantay Bata 163 due to their painful past. Among them was world-renowned fashion designer Rocky Gathercole whose life story was featured in MMK. Abused by his dad and abandoned by his mom, Rocky was forced to live on the streets of Manila until he found a job as a waiter. He went to the Middle East and worked as an apprentice in a dress shop. Eventually, he made it to the US where he got to work with top designers and created gowns and dresses for celebrities.

Rocky is in Manila to join in the celebration of Bantay Bata’s 20th anniversary with a dinner-cum-fashion show featuring his elegant creations. The show is also an invitation for everyone to support the cause of Bantay Bata.