Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: The documentary travels to Olongapo to meet
many of the children released from jail and
now living in the Preda community.
When Karen Davila and cameras of the ABS-CBN correspondents team
found their way into the prisons of Malabon and Novatas, they were not
prepared for what they would discover. Inhuman conditions of
overcrowding, rudimentary sanitation and (the object of their report) the
conditions of dozens of young boys as young as eleven locked in the cells
with adult prisoners. The documentary was broadcast last April 19 in the
Philippines and throughout Europe and North America. It will be shown
again on the international satellite channel ANC at the times below.
Many thousands of young children, some as young as nine years old, are
arrested for trivial reasons and locked in the dungeon like prisons where
they are traumatised sexually abused and are infected with many skin
disease and other illnesses. Some get TB and their lives are damaged
beyond recovery.
An estimated 85 thousand children are jailed at one time or another in the
Philippines. Their punishment is in violation of international treaties
upholding the rights of children. The bright light is the recent intervention
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines to issue guidelines for the family
courts in handling the children with diversion tactics. The rules allow the
children to be released to the custody of their parents when feasible and
to care centers, like the Preda foundation in Olongapo City overlooking the
expanse of Subic bay. The children have the beaches and the forest
nearby to explore and enjoy.
The documentary travels to Olongapo to meet many of the released
children and see their open life in the Preda community. No Guards, no
gates policy, trust and affirmation, work and study is the formula that
works together with a good dose of emotional expression therapy and
group dynamics and sports, adds to the success of this remarkable
programme that is transforming the lives of these abused children.
This is well described by Robert Garcia the Preda programme project officer
and coordinator.
He explains how and why the the teenagers quickly turn from rebellious
misfits and hard-headed youth to happy cheerful members of a community
trying to build for themselves a better future. There is no need for violent
language, punishment, the emotional release therapy releases the
negative energy, the pain and suffering they endured from childhood and
makes way for positive energy to flow. They develop a positive and
cooperative spirit and as Robby tells it he doesn't want to leave, he find
more love in the Preda family than he ever did in his own.
Copies of the VHS video tape or a CD version can be requested from the
Preda centre.
The documentary will be rebroadcast on ANC at the following times:
April 19, Tuesday at 3am
April 23, Saturday at 4am
April 24, Sunday at 6am
The Filipino Channel (TFC) broadcast the film through out Europe and North
America on April 19th.