Bawat Bata - Apo Hiking Society

This is a story about Juliet (not her real name). She was still a kid when she experienced difficulty dealing with people. We started our correspondence when I was still a teacher. I recalled her story when we were discussing about a law on Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). I can't help but sympathize with her plight.

She was a victim of child molestation and growing up with that predicament, she said going to school was difficult especially when their subject is about Biology or physical education or anything that tackles body organs of reproduction or sex. During discussion, she cannot understand the teacher because all she hears was the loud beating of her heart. It was uncomfortable talking about sex, according to her. She knows she is different from every girl in the classroom because her puberty experience was a deviation from normal. She knew this because she had that sad experience from a drug addict relative.

She never told me the name of that person but I know it was someone dear to her or her family. She never had real girl friends because she doesn't want to be confronted with girl talks about the opposite sex and anything that goes with such topics. It was just uncomfortable.

Now, putting myself into her situation... I find it hard but I realized that her experience prevented her from getting in touch with reality, with relationships. I wonder how she is right now.

If only children were fully protected...

...and here is a song relevant to this blog:

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Bawat Bata (Every child/Each Kid)

Ang bawat bata sa ating mundo (Each kid in this world)
Ay may pangalan may karapatan (has a name, has rights)
Tumatanda ngunit bata parin (they grow old but remains a kid)
Ang bawat tao sa ating mundo (Each person in this world)

Hayaan mo’ng maglaro ang bata sa araw (Let the kid play under the sun)
At pag-umulan nama’y magtatampisaw (And in rain let them get wet)
Mahirap man o may kaya, maputi, kayumanggi (Whether poor or wealthy, white or brown/tan)
At kahit ano ma’ng uri ka pa (And whatever kind are you)
Sa’yo mundo pag bata ka (World is yours if you're a kid)

Ang bawat bata sa ating mundo (Each kid in this world)
Ay may pangalan may karapatan (has a name, has rights)
Tumatanda ngunit bata parin (they grow old but remains a kid)
Ang bawat tao sa ating mundo (Each person in this world)

Ang bawat nilikha sa mundo’y (Each creature in this world)
Minamahal ng Panginoon (is loved by the God)
Ang bawat bata’y may pangalan (Each kid has a name)
May karapatan sa ating mundo (Has rights in this world)

Hayaang mong bigyan na ng pagmamahal (Let them be given love)
Katulad nang sinadya ng may kapal (Like God has intended)
Mahirap man o may kaya, maputi, kayumanggi (Whether poor, wealthy, white, brown)
At kahit ano ma’ng uri ka pa (And whatever kind are you)
Sa’yo mundo pag bata ka (World is yours if you're a kid)

Hayaan mo’ng maglaro ang bata sa araw
At pag-umulan nama’y magtatampisaw
Mahirap man o may kaya, maputi, kayumanggi
At kahit ano ma’ng uri ka pa
Sa’yo mundo pag bata ka(4x)

Ang bawat bata sa ating mundo
Ay may pangalan may karapatan
Tumatanda ngunit bata parin
Ang bawat tao sa ating mundo

Ang bawat nilikha sa mundo’y
Minamahal ng Panginoon
Ang bawat bata’y may pangalan
May karapatan sa ating mundo…….

Bawat Bata - Apo Hiking Society