19 November 2019 | Manila, Philippines
“Pasasalamat”
[noun] gratitude; thanksgiving
It is said that there are people whose lives affect all others around them, impacting many through their leadership roles or quietly touching one heart even on ordinary days. Oftentimes, their influence reaches far beyond the bounds of the positions that they held at a particular time. Part of the gains that the world celebrates on the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the unrelenting dedication and determination of those staunch child rights advocates who have gone way before us.
During the opening ceremony of the annual AKO PARA SA BATA International Conference at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Manila on 19 November organized by Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc. and UNICEF Philippines, we had the treasurable opportunity to salute and give honor to the following pioneers of child rights advocacy:
Teresita Silva, founder and President Emeritus of Childhope Philippines. She has years-long work on children in street situations, former professor and lecturer, author of various technical papers on street children and children in vulnerable situations, and social welfare expert and consultant in the United States of America, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, People’s Republic of Child, Nepal, and India. She was also the first award recipient of the Most Outstanding Professional Social Worker of the Year award in the Philippines.
Angela Maria Pangan, founder and President of NORFIL Foundation, Inc. Social Worker at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) from 1955-1976, educator, recipient of honors and awards on social work and children’s rights, and founding and board member of various civic organizations.
Lourdes Balanon, former Undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, educator and social worker. She is a recipient of numerous fellowships, scholarships, and awards on social work and author of various child rights and social work publications. She continues to share her years-long experience and knowledge in the academe. She teaches at the Asian Social Institute.
We were also honored to have the Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Hon. Rolando Bautista to co-present the plaque of appreciation to our Pioneers during the ceremony.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who supported and took part in the making of this video documentary: NORFIL Foundation, Inc., Childhope Philippines Foundation, Inc., Asian Social Institute, St. Mary’s College, The Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) National Coordinator Ms. Ma. Salome Crisostomo Ujano, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Flor Villar, and Philippine Civil Service Commission Chair Hon. Alice Bala. We hope that more and more lives that are precious and impactful will be honored and celebrated.
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Credits:
Video Documentary by Elendil Cañete
Graphics by Jose Abantao
