MANILA, Philippines — After the video of a six year-old boy gyrating like a macho dancer on primetime TV went viral, many Filipinos went into introspective mode and mulled over what kind of society we have become.

Even education stakeholders and children’s rights advocates tried to face the question head on, as they called for more responsible parenting as well as more value-laden advertising and TV programming to veer children away from all forms of abuse and violation of rights.

More to the Jan-Jan issue
But there is more to this issue than meets the eye. This was discussed at a weekly media forum held at the Aloha Hotel in Manila earlier this week.

Child psychologist Riza Ng said everything is a confluence of many cultural phenomena that created situations such as this. “This is not just about what happened to the boy but about the concept how we, as adults, tend to forget that children are children whose rights should be deeply respected,” Ng said.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro underscored his observation that in a society where family is of great importance and where children are put onto a pedestal, what happened to Jan-Jan is tantamount to rape. “The child was violated, his rights were not respected and it is sad that even the viewers enjoyed what happened,” he lamented.

Luistro added that the incident did not only violate the rights of the said child but also trampled on Filipino culture. “Niyurakan yung buong kulturang Pilipino. Ang masakit dito at ang nakakalungkot dito ay sa kulturang Pilipino, inilalalagay ang bata sa pedestal pero ngayon, nabaligtad ang tingin natin sa bata,” he added.

Advertisers asked to be discerning
For advertising luminary Emily Abrera, it is an opportune time that the issue be put forward. “It’s high time that we look at the issue and reflect on the values we get from these shows,” she said.

Abrera, who has worked in the advertising world for more than 30 years, said that now, more than ever, is the time that advertisers need to be more discerning where they put their money.

The advertising field, she added, is also undergoing a time of change with the new media. “It’s also a good time for them to reflect on changing media and the greater influence that viewers can have.”

Reflection, she said, is something that should be done on a regular basis. “For a long time, there has been no need for it but when this [Janjan incident] happened, it’s a good opportunity to reflect. It should serve as wake-up call,” she stressed.

Parents of Jan-Jan liable
Atty. Joven Evangelista said that it is very important that people acknowledge that there was abuse.

“Clearly, there was child abuse. We need to understand that a provision of the Constitution was violated. There’s no doubt about it,” Evangelista said.

He added that unless people recognize that there was a law violated by the show and its host Willie Revillame, abuse of children will become more prevalent in society.

The parents of Jan-jan, explained Evangelista, can file a case against the show and the host for violating RA 7610 or “An Act Providing for Stronger Deterrence and Special Protection against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, and for Other Purposes”. Particularly, he pointed out that the catch on provision in RA 7610—the Section 10 or “Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child's Development” was violated by the show and its host.

“But if the parents of Jan-jan would not file a case, the DSWD can do so,” explained Evangelista who also said that if the parents are found not to be taking care of the welfare of their child, they can also be held liable for it.

Emotional prostitution
Ng explained that the incident was very disturbing for psychologists like her.

“It is unfortunate that in our society, the deep respect for children is deteriorating and Jan-jan serves as the symbol of this deterioration.

“Ang nangyari kay Jan-jan, is like prostituting a child. Although it’s not sexual, it’s emotional and social prostitution that may have long term effects if he is not made to understand what happened and why some people are reacting negatively,” she said.

Since the incident took place last March 12, Ng along with MLAC Institute for Children and Families—a foundation composed of certified clinical psychologists and child therapists, who advocate, practice, and model respect for the Filipino child—has been closely monitoring the show. Because of the incident, MLAC will kick off a series of awareness campaigns in barangays with the goal of educating families about trauma, violence, and abused children.

“We have to raise our sensibilities and we have to be aware. Our level of morality should be higher than that of a child. Bata yan eh, we’re supposed to guide them,” she said.

Who is to blame?
Much criticisms have been thrown at the program, its host, its audience, the parents of Jan-jan and even its advertisers. But for the current DepEd chief, everyone in the society is at fault.

“Lahat tayo ay may kasalanan at lahat tayo ay biktima,” Luistro said. “Di pwedeng sisihin dito ang isang programa lang at isang tao lang. Ito ay sintomas lang ng mas malawakang nangyayari sa ating lahat,” he says.

Abrera, on the other hand, partly put the blame on popular culture. “Culture is dynamic, it changes. Now, we have pop culture that we should question and we should look at to see if we like it or if it is wrong or right.” She said pop culture has pushed and pushed the edge to what is acceptable and what is not.

Ng said the deteriorating style of Filipino parenting should also be carefully reviewed. “The type of parenting has a lot to do with this,” she said. “Because of so many things that parents have to deal with particularly at work minsan, nagiging insensitive na sila at 'yung bata ang nagsa-suffer.

Meanwhile, Evangelista said that the lack of awareness on existing laws about children’s protection has also contributed to what happened.

“There is really lack of awareness not only on the part of the parents but the public in general. Considering that some believe that there was no abuse, people really need to be informed about our laws,” he stated.

What to do?
Right now, however, Ng believes that the main concern should be the concerned child, the victim. She suggested that Jan-jan along with his family seek professional help. “I can only imagine his confusion. He is now famous and popular but he also doesn’t understand that other people are reacting negatively about what he did,” she explained.

That does not mean that Jan-jan has a deep psychological or emotional problem. Therapy would help him process and understand what he went through and why people are reacting that way.

This, she says, is very important.

“If you could imagine, five or 10 years from now, do you think he will be proud of what he did? All of us, when we were young, we might have a happy childhood with our family but with Jan-jan, do you think this is something that he would want to look back and be proud of? I think not,” she added.

Abrera, on the other hand, lauded advertisers who have pulled out from the show saying that is the right action to take. “I think there is so much that the advertisers could do to help in situations like this to make people rethink if we want to be a part of the popular culture. Tama lang yun. I do endorse that,” she stated.

Abrera also called on TV networks to put greater discernment on the programs they produce. “At the end of the day, we really need to  discern what is more important: To earn money and get good ratings or instill good values among our young\ people,” she said.

Luistro observed that while it it true that children spend time in school, there is a bigger world where they need to be guided. He says that the implementation of universal kindergarten program this coming school year would help children understand their rights and would also help parents and teachers instill good values at an early age.

“Teachers can also do their part by doing free discussions. Kasi marami ding bata ang nanood kaya kailangan ipaliwanag. It is also one way of encouraging abused children to speak up,” he said.

All stakeholders agree that the show and its host should be sanctioned.

An apology is not enough, the lawyer Evangelista said. Psychologist Ng underscored the fact that Revillame has a history of having violated children and women. "We have to take a stand and we want him to be suspended from the show for a long period of time,” she said.

The stakeholders ultimately called for parents, teachers, and all other concerned to reflect on the way they instill moral values on to children.

Amid all these, they all hope that what happened to Jan-jan is the beginning of awareness and appreciation of what is right and good in the society in these modern times. (With reports from Mary Gracielle Libero)