- Film director Mike de Leon asked people to focus on the Philippines’ current state instead of holding the ABS-CBN Ball.
- The network, however, relaunched an advocacy dedicated to Bantay Bata 163’s Children’s Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
- Bantay Bata 163 program director Jing Castañeda explained that blue is the international color for child abuse.
ABS-CBN Ball 2018 was held on September 29, Saturday. Kapamilya artists were present at the ball which became both a fashion event and a relaunching of an advocacy.
Film director Mike de Leon pointed out that people should focus on the Philippines’ current state.
A useless event?
In the Citizen Jake Facebook page, the director posted his opinion on the recent ABS-CBN Ball. A photo of Vice Ganda and It’s Showtime co-host, Ryan Bang, was shown in the post with the words:
“Many people will not like this question but I have to ask it – In these dark times of murder and hunger, who really needs the ABS-CBN ball? Bread and Circuses again a la Imelda Marcos.”
Bantay Bata 163.
Although it was heavily hyped as a fashion event, the evening also marked the relaunch of Bantay Bata 163‘s Children’s Village. Vice was the one who introduced the advocacy dedicated to the Children’s Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
The village aims to provide immediate care and holistic healing for abused, exploited and neglected children. Its goal is also to help them build a better future for themselves through physical and psychological means in a structured, therapeutic family-like environment.
Blue ribbons.
Almost all, if not all, Kapamilya artists sported a blue ribbon attached to their chests. According to Bantay Bata 163 program director Jing Castañeda, blue is the international color for child abuse and this became the network’s way of promoting prevention of child abuse.
“It’s a place where we bring the children we rescue… We call it a ‘home that heals,’ a home that gives hope. Because that’s what the children we rescue lose — the sense of hope, and that’s where we teach them to dream again… This is actually the international color for child abuse.
“Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon. It’s not just a problem in the Philippines; it’s a problem in several countries. This is our way of promoting prevention of child abuse… The mere fact that we are the beneficiary, it’s a huge help in generating awareness for our advocacy, which is prevention of child abuse.”
Bantay Bata 163 works to protect and ensure the welfare of children.
