Stars turn the spotlight to campaign against child abuse

After receiving overwhelming love and support from kapamilyas at the ABS-CBN Ball, Bantay Bata 163 is now focused on the much-awaited relaunch of the Children Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan this November.

Bantay Bata 163 program director Jing Castaneda said they are now in the final stages of renovation of the halfway house built by Bantay Bata 163 in 2003 to provide a home for victims of child abuse while they undergo healing and recovery.

“We are very excited to welcome the kids we have rescued to the Children’s Village once again, now that it is made more comfortable for them with new facilities to help them cope with the trauma of abuse. This would not be possible without the help of our donors and the Quezon City local government headed by Mayor Herbert Bautista, and also our kapamilyas who pledged their support for our cause during the ABS-CBN Ball,” she said.

Jing emphasized that aside from the monetary support, Bantay Bata 163 is thankful for the awareness that the Ball, which had the tagline “Share the Love,” created for its campaign against child abuse.

“Just the act of wearing the blue ribbon, blue being the international color of the fight against child abuse, means a lot to our advocacy. We are very grateful to our Kapamilya artists who really made an effort to incorporate the ribbon in their outfits, and for voicing their support for the cause of protecting our children from abuse,” she explained.

The blue ribbon was the fashion statement of the attendees of the ABS-CBN Ball, which gathered over 300 Kapamilya stars in a night that was made even more special with the launch of the campaign in support of the Bantay Bata 163 Children’s Village.

Jing said they encourage those who would still like to help, especially as the village needs continuous funding to sustain its operations. “Our campaign for Children’s Village is not a one-time thing, just like our fight against child abuse. We always welcome those who want to contribute to the cause. Your donations, however big or small, can go a long way. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the children in the village,” she said.

Those who would like to donate, volunteer, or participate in Bantay Bata 163 activities may call the 1-6-3 hotline. Donations can also be coursed online on www.abs-cbnfoundation.com or through the Bantay Bata 163 cans placed in establishments.

Now on its 21st year, Bantay Bata 163, a program under the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. endeavors to find new ways of combating abuse while remaining at the forefront of child welfare and protection in the country. Through capacity-building programs aimed at educating community leaders on abuse and the intrinsic rights of a child both online and in the real world, it empowers citizens to become game-changers in the fight for children’s rights.

For news on the Bantay Bata 163 Children’s Village, log on to www.abs-cbnfoundation.com or follow @abscbnfoundationkapamilya on Facebook. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.