Now it can be told. Miriam Quiambao, the beauty queen–turned TV host cum actress and a long–time advocate of children’s rights, is now officially the spokesperson of ABK Initiative against child labor.

To her legions of fans, Miriam Quiambao is the dusky "Filipina" who carried the Philippine flag with such poise, grace, wit, and style during the 1999 Miss Universe pageant. Of course, she was also equally famous for that "trip up" on her way to getting runner–up honors, just a few points short to Miss Botswana, who took home the coveted crown. But Miriam won more than just a crown as she has also won the hearts of women all over the world who embraced her courage after an embarrassing fall.

After that, Miriam has become a popular face on Philippine television through a hosting job and a reality show which further demonstrated her inner strength when challenged with the unthinkable.

Today, more than a face and the stature (and a very private wedding to Italian businessman Claudio Rondinelli in Boracay 2 years ago!), Miriam embarks on a "daunting" mission, which she admits she has never done before. And it was only made official during the recently–concluded 1st National Media Summit on Child Labor in a ceremony where Miriam was officially named "Celebrity Spokesperson and Advocate against Child Labor."

"I’m deeply humbled with this opportunity to become an instrument of change on behalf of millions of Filipino child laborers in the country," she said in her acceptance speech before 365 delegates of the Media Summit held at Century Park Hotel. To receive the honor, she had to fly in from Hong Kong where she is currently based. "I do pray that God will give me the strength and endurance to perform duties expected of me," she adds.

The hugely successful 1st National Media Summit on Child Labor is seen as breakthrough event in the history of child labor advocacy in the Philippines. It legitimized the potent role of the media sector as advocacy partner to combat the global problem that practically exists in every society today.

ABK Initiative (Pag–Aaral ng Bata para sa Kinabukasan) launched the Media Summit in an effort to intensify its campaign against the six worst forms of child labor. These forms include pyrotechnics production, mining and quarrying, sugar–crane plantation, deep–sea fishing, domestic work, and commercial and sexual exploitation. The theme for this year is "The Media Factor in Addressing Child Labor Through Education."

With her role now made official, Miriam will lead a series of massive advocacy campaigns in eight priority areas of the project where the problem continues to persist. Her passionate testimony and presence will hopefully inform and educate the public about the negative effects of child labor, influence the partners – media sector included – on the importance of the role of relevant sectors in combating child labor through education, and inspire children engaged in the worst forms of labor and risk to a life transformed and renewed through ambition to overcome poverty.

"I pray that my presence will not just point the public and the relevant sectors to the problem. It is important they understand the plight and poverty that destroy lives of millions of child laborers, their harrowing experiences brought to light and the solutions we can all work out together as a people and as a nation," said Miriam.

Miriam and child rights’ advocates of the 1st National Media Summit urged about 200 media practitioners throughout the country to probe deeper on the issues of over 2 million Filipino child laborers in hazardous environments today.

World Vision is the lead–agency in the implementation of this child labor project along with its partner–agencies such as the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), Educational Research and Development Assistance Foundation, Inc. (ERDA) and Plan Philippines. Funding for ABK Initiative is provided by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) under cooperative agreement E-9_K-3-0055.

To date, the ABK Initiative has assisted 28,160 children to withdraw or prevent them from working in six priority sectors of the worst forms of child labor. It supports the implementation of the Philippine Time–Bound Program in eight provinces across the country where there is a high incidence of the six worst forms of child labor.

ABK Initiative acknowledges the support of the United States Embassy and the government partners such as Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Government (DoLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the International Labour Organization–International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO–IPEC), community organizations and stakeholders.

For more details, please visit www.worldvision.org.ph/abkinitiative or call Kay Maatubang of World Vision Development Foundation at 374–7618 to 28 local 108–109.

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A musical theater billed "Sound & Shapes of May" marks the culmination of an intensive acting workshop simultaneously held this summer in Metro Manila and Angeles City organized by the Supportive Parents Association with the support of Balintataw Film & Theater Arts and Eugjher Modelling Agency. The event takes place at Rib–Eye Steak, Angeles over a sitdown dinner today, May 19, at 5 p.m.

The thrust of the workshop adresses the UN Millennium Development Goals to provide creative education for all and encourage partnerships for human development through debt relief to protect cultural diversity and enforce public service communications technology and availability of appropriate social services.

The pioneering project was organized by FMAS PRO entertainment writer Vir Mateo, and Artistic Director of UNESCO Philippine Center of ITI (International Theater Institute) George Vail Kabrisante who sought the collaborative support of the president of Eugjher Mrs. Jojo Haynes.

The musical theater will be presented to the 36th Biennial World Theater Congress of the UNESCO ITI hosted by the country for the first time from May 22–29, auspiced by the Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Cecile Guidote Alvarez and National Artist for Literature/UNESCO Phil. ITI president Dr. Alejandro Roces. Stage, film & TV director Kabrisante who is in the Theater Education Committee of the Congress will make the official report and assessment of the project to the committee president Christine Schmalor of Germany who will come along with over two–hundred official delegates worldwide.

Successful participating workshoppers of the musical theater include in Manila are Carina de Jong, Centa de Jong, Charmaine de Jong, Karen Angelique Manuyag, Kristel Alysa Manuyag and Dominique Anne McClung.

Angeles City workshoppers are Elmira Afdasta, Ruth Aplasca, Julia Nicole Beausoliel, Allaine Catacutan, Princess Tiffany Carbungco, Faith Abigail Co, Madelene Jezer Co, Meryl Joy Delfino, Mary Joy Celine Mcandili, Alyana Serene Pagcu, Alysa Syrril Pagcu, Lana Sallave Parker, Kristine Mae Robillos, Jameel Anjelyn Tayag, Rachel Miriam Thomas, Rizael Ann Lim, Micah Andrea Enriquez, Patricia Fish, Jericho Candelaria, Mark Gregory Carbungco, Mark Isaah Co, Paul Jeremiah Co, Odin John Enriquez, Samuel Lim, Shannon Raymond McEwen, Ivan Paolo Naluz, Julian McKeough, Seiya Morimoto, John Christian Orbase and Robin Royce Yap.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 19, go to famous designer Rajo Laurel, PDI entertainment editor Emmie Velarde, Yvonne Dayrit Romualdez, Pinky Ramos-Ochoa, Marjorie Barretto, MB’s Lynn Abanilla, Aileen del Rosario, Joseph Alonzo and Joe Astete of Philippine Coconut Authority...