Growing out of Efren Peñaflorida's shadow

Cemeteries usually symbolize the end of a person’s life. However, for Emmanuel “M" Bagual, who lived right beside one, it was the place where he began to see poverty, injustice, and hope. Mhad, or sometimes simply called “M," is only 17 years old. He was a child laborer. Now, he is championing the rights of his fellow child laborers. For his efforts, he has become a nominee for the the Nobel Peace Prize for children’s rights. Based in Sweden, the international award was established by the Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel in 1895. Disciplines eligible for monetary prizes include Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. To pursue his studies, M had to wash jeepneys and sell corn from a kariton (pushcart). Now, he champions the rights of those who, like him, have been exploited at a very young age. He lives to conquer the problems that hounded his past.

Child labor is not uncommon. According to the statistics of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), there were 28.73 million children aged 5-17 years old as of April 2009. Around 10 percent, or 2.68 million, are working children as of April 2009; of this number, 1.63 million are boys while 1.05 million are girls. Many people turn a blind eye to the issue of child labor. Often, child labor is considered a personal issue, a concern of the child laborer’s family. There has been very little community response on the issue of child labor. However, M chose a different path. While he could have chosen not to intervene, M decided to help his fellow child laborers because there are “kids who suffered four or more times harder." M said the children’s desire to be helped fuels him to further his advocacy Father was a driver, mother was a laundrywoman M was born on December 16, 1992 and grew up in a slum area in Cavite, where he became a scavenger at a dumpsite. He had to take on two jobs to pursue his education. “Ang tatay ko driver, ang nanay ko labandera. Medyo gipit talaga kami," he recalled. However, because of discrimination in the classroom, he had to conceal his identity. He had to project himself as a person who is able to afford luxury. “Mag-iipon ako ng pera para lang makasama sa paggala, sa pagpunta sa Internet shop," M said. However, soon after he spends his savings, he recounted feeling intense guilt. He said he could have spent it on food or saved it for his education. Life-changing moment M met Efren "Kuya Ef" Geronimo Peñaflorida Jr. when he performed for a grade school graduation in March 2004. Peñaflorida, 29, is an educator and social worker. He was named "CNN Hero of the Year" in 2009 for his advocacy to educate Filipino out-of-school youth through "pushcart classes." He founded the Dynamic Teen Company (DTC) at the age of 16 and now works in a local private school during the week. He continues his work with the DTC every Saturday. In 2004, M was stunned by Efren’s speech for the grade school graduates. M had no idea that Kuya Ef’s speech would change his life. M joined the DTC and now he is a Biblical Servant Leader, Chief Executive Officer of the DTC, and a United Nations Advocate for Human Rights. Club 8586 M’s values changed after his mentor, Harnin “Bonn" Manalaysay, convinced him to accept himself and show his real identity. “Meron pala akong karapatan na dapat nilang irespeto ( I realized that I have rights that others should respect)," he added. Manalaysay, also known as Kuya KB, founded Club 8586 in 1985. The DTC is one of the groups under Club 8586. Through Club 8586, M realized that “If you want change, then it must start within yourself." He said his mentor Bonn always believed that every individual is capable of initiating change, helping others, and creating hope. After attending a human rights seminar, M decided to promote the issue as his personal advocacy. “We think of programs and activities that may help us suppress the cycle of abuse and neglect of children's rights," he said. M.Y. Rights M founded M.Y. rights, a non-governmental organization aimed at ensuring the protection of human rights, particularly of the youth. M.Y Rights became one of the six organizations under Club 8586, which includes Peñaflorida’s Kariton Klasrum. M said there’s no competition among the six organizations under Club 8586. In fact, the groups practice the value of bayanihan or helping one another. He believes that the right to education and children’s rights go hand in hand. “Naghihilaan lang pataas yung dalawa," he added. Abuses and death threats According to M, the mission’s greatest challenge is to encourage people to help protect the rights of others. To strengthen their advocacy, they had to call on all sectors, especially the parents, to cooperate with them. “In most cases, parents act as the major violator of kids' rights," he added. M recounted the tale of “Mateo," a man who was released from prison three days after M.Y. Rights had successfully placed him behind bars for abusing both his wife and children. Mateo was set free after his wife decided to pull out the case and her testimony. “Mateo" reportedly turned his wife and daughters into living punch bags. Mateo allegedly also touched his daughters inappropriately. “The children knew better than to tolerate the abuses in the household," M said. However, he said, their mother felt otherwise. “Dinadaganan, pinapatungan sila, mga dalaga pa naman," M said. Public scrutiny did not stop Mateo from committing the abuses, M said. Cases like this drive M to pursue his mission, even when he receives death threats because of his advocacy. He recounted the time when a hardened killer waited for him outside their office. “Responsibilidad ko, responsibilidad nating lahat na siguraduhing titigil ang pang-aabuso," he said. –VVP/HS, GMANews.TV The author, Anna Mae Lamentillo, is a fourth year journalism student at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.