Child rights advocates headline int'l confab against child abuse

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s foremost authorities on child rights will join the roster of speakers for Ako Para Sa Bata (I Am For The Child) Manila Conference. The global conference will take place at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Manila from Dec. 5 to 7.

The high-profile speakers include Dr. Ma. Lourdes “Honey” Arellano Carandang, clinical child psychologist and founder/president of MLAC Institute for Children and Families. She will tackle the subject of Creating Caring Schools: Incorporating a Culture of Non-violence in the School.

Joining her to discuss Creating a Culture of Safety is Dr. Rafael Consunji, division chief of the Surgery Division of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and president of Safe Kids Philippines (SKP), the first global effort to focus solely on the prevention of unintentional childhood injury.

Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair Grace Poe Llamanzares is also expected to participate and speak on Creating a Caring Media: Guidelines for Media Practitioners and Parents. Mag Cruz Hatol, secretary general of Anak TV — the Philippine advocacy for child-sensitive, family friendly television will also share his insights on what TV-Fare is safe for children.

 “We are thrilled to have well-respected leaders and some of the country’s most prominent voices in the crusade for child safety who will participate in Ako Para Sa Bata,” remarked Dr. Stella Manalo, Organizing Committee Conference chair.

Organized by the Child Protection Network Foundation (CPN), the conference revolves on the theme of Creating Safe and Caring Environments for Children. The conference is a meeting of hundreds of law enforcement agents, doctors, lawyers, academicians, social workers, media, government, non-government and private sector representatives who are frontliners in the fight against child abuse.

Ako Para Sa Bata Conference (APBC) is co-presented by Promina, with the support of the Consuelo Foundation, Plan Philippines, San Miguel Corp., Design Plus Marketing and Print Solutions Provider, Kopiko, Microdata Systems Management, Inc., Nokia, Pediatrica, PRMD, Vibal Publishing. Raffle Sponsors include Belo Medical Group, CVC LAW, Metrobank, TMS Ship Agencies, Inc. and RCBC. Special thanks to I Support APBC Campaign Sponsors: Armvet Printing Company, Embu Integrated and Trading Corp., Top Best Stickers and Labels. Exclusive paint sponsor of CPN is Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. Media partners are Business World, Business Mirror, Herword.com, Crossover 105.1, Mellow 94.7, RJ 100.3, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin and PDI.

Interested delegates and sponsors may call at 404-3954, fax 404-3955 or e-mail at [email protected].