CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- “Malayo pa, pero malayo na rin ang narating natin [There is still a long way to go, but we have come a long way],” said one of the most profound child labor advocates in the country, Daphne Culanag, World Vision Project ACE director.

“Gone are the days na minsan ay galit na galit ako, bakit ang pamahalaan ay ginagawa yon. Ngayon ako’y tuwang tuwa, ang dali pa lang makipag usap sa mga kawani ng iba-ibang kagawaran [Gone are the days where sometimes I am super angry about why the government is doing it. Now I am very happy, because it is so easy to talk to the staff of the different departments],” she said during a two-day strategic planning session with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Regional Council Against Child Labor (RCACL), and other partners in Mandaue City, Cebu.

She described how the government was slow in its actions against child labor. When she started her work as a child labor advocate 30 years ago, she questioned and even fought DOLE about why the government was too slow, but through the years, she mellowed down.

“Nakita ko mas madaming nagagawa, pag tayong nag uusap, tayo nagpa plano together, kaysa nagsisitahan [I saw that we get more done when we talk, we make plans together, than when we argue or fight],” she said.

Change is possible.

Daphne is allergic to corrupt government officials. “Basta ang katulad nyo ang kausap, hindi yung mga korap [Just as long as I talk to people like you (RCACL members) and not corrupt officials],” she said.

But there is still hope. She explained that even negative things can turn out positive.

“I have learned through the years that bagamat minsan negative yung kausap, nagbabago [even though sometimes we talk to a negative person, it changes],” she said.

Prayer is a powerful tool to touch the heart of any person.

“So it has been my practice for the past 30 years, pag may meeting o may event, dinadasal ko sa panginoon [if there is a meeting or event], Lord, go before us. Touch the heart ng mga taong dadalo [of the people going to attend]. Keep them safe,” she shared.

God is behind the success of the fight against child labor.

“Natutuwa ako dahil pinapakita sa akin ng Panginoon, na siya ang kumikilos dito sa ating laban sa child exploitation. Kami instrumento lang, kami tumutugon lang sa tawag ng Panginoon. Pero ang laban ay nasa inyo, na nandito sa region [I am happy because God is showing me that he is the one behind the fight against child exploitation. We are just instruments, answering the call of God, but the fight is with you, in the region],” she shared.

“It is not an accident that we are gathered here,” she added.

It is important to talk and share good stories.

“Kahit ano kaganda ang Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) strategic plan na na-approve, kung hindi tayo magkukwentuhan, 'pag mahirap basahin, ibababa natin, pero kung narinig natin ang kwento ng bawat isa [if we do not share stories, if it is difficult to read, we put it down, but if we hear the stories of each other], we get inspired,” Daphne explained.

I hope we continue to inspire each other, she said.

The World Vision Development Foundation’s Project Against Child Exploitation (ACE), together with the RCACL-10, conducted strategic planning in line with the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) 2023-2028 on January 25–26, in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Project ACE has been collaborating with various government agencies and councils in Northern Mindanao to eliminate child labor since its implementation in 2020.

Meanwhile, the United States Department of Labor is providing funding under cooperative agreement number IL 34007-19-75-K. 100 percent of the total costs of the project in the Philippines are financed with United States Department of Labor funds. (JMOR/PIA-10)