With colorful banners, joyful presence of children, and spirited performances, the Children’s Rehabilitation Center (CRC) marked its 40th anniversary with a Children’s Rights Fair held at Vinzon’s Hall, University of the Philippines – Diliman yesterday, June 29.
The event, anchored in the theme “Apat na Dekada ng Pakikibaka at Pagtataguyod ng Karapatan ng mga Bata!” (Four Decades of Resistance and Upholding Children’s Rights), was part of a series of activities honoring the organization’s decades-long commitment to protecting children, seeking justice, and empowering young survivors.
“For 40 years, tuloy-tuloy nagtataguyod, nagsusulong ng karapatan, kagalingan ng batang Pilipino,” said Olivia Bernardo, Executive Director of CRC.
CRC @ 40
Founded in 1985 amid the grim horrors of Martial Law and widespread human rights violations, CRC has consistently provided psychosocial support and holistic rehabilitation to child victims and survivors of state violence and other forms of human rights violations, calamities, and sexual abuse.
“Primarily ay pagbibigay ng psychosocial services sa mga batang biktima ng karahasan, ng sekswal na pang-aabuso at mga survivor ng disaster. Paano mapaliwanag sa mga bata yung nangyaring pagkulong, paano yung separation, matulungan sila magkaroon ng positive coping mechanism,” explained by Bernardo.
What began as a response to the urgent psychosocial needs of young victims has evolved into a holistic approach to rehabilitation that centers not only on emotional healing but also on understanding the social and political contexts that shape their experiences.
“Hindi lang kami tumitigil doon sa mailabas ng mga bata yung kanilang naramdaman. Hindi lang yung kalungkutan, yung galit, kun’di ipaalam sa mga bata ano yung konteksto, bakit may karahasan, bakit may displacement, bakit may mga magsasakang nawalan ng lupa, bakit yung mga magulang nila ay ikinulong, pinapaliwanag namin ‘yan,” she shared.
Their treatment and rehabilitation program weaves together a range of targeted strategies, all designed to create a comprehensive and child-centered approach to healing. This holistic method unfolds across three key phases of therapy: release-diagnostics, meaning construction, and cognitive mastery.
Beyond processing trauma, CRC further envisioned empowering children who see themselves as survivors and advocates of their rights and agents of change.
“At eventually tulungan sila magkaroon ng positive coping mechanism, maging survivor. At yung pagiging survivor, maging child rights advocate,” she further added.
Every child holds the power to be a force for change
The fair unfolded with cultural performances, booths, locally made merchandise, and freshly produced goods from grassroots farmers. At the heart of it all was a comics workshop, where children were given the space to draw, imagine, and express their experiences through art.
Cultural performances also took center stage. The CRC-Children Collective (CRC-CC) performed “Bata, Bata”, a song that sheds light on the struggles of children across different sectors. Meanwhile, the Young Marikina Artist Collective (YMAC) delivered a rendition of “Kay Hirap ng Buhay”, originally by Alay Sining, capturing the everyday realities faced by ordinary Filipino families.
During a solidarity message, CRC-CC member Marcelo asked the crowd: “Araw-araw ramdam ba natin na tayo ay ligtas? Pakiramdam ba natin na maayos ang ating mga buhay? Hindi. Dahil ang mismong gobyerno ay patuloy tayong pinapahirapan at inaabuso.”
“Hangga’t hindi tayo tunay na malaya mula sa eksploytasyon, hangga’t hindi natutugunan ng lipunan at pamahalaan ang ating karapatan, hangga’t hindi pa napapatalsik ang mapang-aping sistema ng Pilipinas, ineengganyo ko kayong lahat, lalo na ang mga bata na isulong ang ating mga karapatan at lumaban sa abuso. Dahil kayo at tayo, tayong lahat na mga bata ay ang pag-asa ng bayan,” he continued, encouraging fellow youth to actively participate in advocating for their rights.
Healing through creativity
Filled with enthusiasm, the children also took part in a comics workshop led by Fidel and Michael, political artists and illustrators from the Center for People Empowerment in Governance. Armed with pens and colors, they drew and joyfully explored creativity beyond the lines of coloring.
“Kasi ang therapy namin ay to play arts, music, dance. Kasi mga bata yan, hindi ‘yan basta-basta magkukuwento. Kaya kailangan maging creative yung aming mga activities,” said Bernardo.
They highlighted that creative and participatory activities such as art, play, and storytelling are vital tools not only to help children process their experiences but also to engage them deeply in healing. Accordingly, it captured CRC’s core belief: that healing and awareness must go hand in hand.
Building advocates for the future
“Mayro’n silang papel sa lipunan, hindi sila mga bata lang. Kaya advocate kami ng children’s participation. Mahalaga sa amin na bata pa lang, maintindihan nila ano yung nangyayari sa lipunan at maging productive members of social change. Mga bata pa lang kasama na natin na nagsusulong ng pagbabago,” Bernardo emphasized.
For CRC, the ultimate goal goes beyond recovery to empowerment; that is, for children to grow into resilient individuals who can reclaim their narratives and become advocates for their rights and the rights of others.
Various individuals further expressed solidarity. Among them were parents, advocates of children’s rights, and lawmakers who attended the event. Hon. Sarah Elago of the Gabriela Women’s Partylist reaffirmed her support with CRC and stressed the importance of sustained consultations in the implementation of the Magna Carta of Children.
“Magtutuloy-tuloy ang mga konsultasyon para sa pagpapalakas ng Magna Carta of Children. At dapat ang nasa puso nito ay ang boses, ang interes, at ang karapatan ng mga bata. Asahan n’yo—walang iwanan, hanggang sa Kongreso,” Elago declared.
Looking ahead
“Hindi tumitigil yung karahasan. Ang CRC dahil nage-exist pa siya, ibig sabihin ang kalagayan, ganoon pa rin. Kaya sa amin ang challenge, ” Bernardo pointed out that the need for child rights advocacy remains as urgent as ever.
With the persistent challenges faced by Filipino children, their 40th year commemoration is not a one-day event, but part of a broader campaign.
Prior to the fair, CRC held two major activities: Last April 19, their group held the Sila Kian atbp: Pasyon Patungong Hustisya, a public expression of collective grief and righteous indignation to honor and mourn the children and families affected by extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration; and on June 10, they conducted a solidarity visit to the communities of Lupang Ramos and Lupang Tartaria in Cavite, where children engaged in an integration activity with farmers, strengthening their awareness and connection to grassroots struggles.
CRC will continue its anniversary celebration with the following events:
- July 3: From Marcos Sr. to Marcos Jr.: A Legacy of Oppression – A forum on children’s human rights violations under both administrations
- July 13: Looking Back: Reunion and Strengthening of Bonds in Four Decades of Struggle
- July 13 (evening): Kasadya ug Pagsukol: A Night of Arts and Culture
Child rights advocates, organizations, and allies are invited to participate and stand in solidarity as CRC marks this milestone and renews its call for a free, just, and safe world for every child.
