Dignity trampled

I have always been in awe of child stars - how they manage their acting, finishing school and having time for their family. What they do is work, as a job per se. The only difference is they only work for limited hours, accompanied by an adult with unlimited perks and privileges.

When I was a young girl, I once dreamed to be a child star. My parents tried to send my photos to a local talent search but I didn't score well. I'd pretend to be in a scene while speaking to a mirror while my pigtails bobbed in every direction. Child stars were a big hit at that time. Familiar names of today were kids back then such as Camille Prats, Angelica Panganiban, Aiza Seguerra and the likes.

Today, a new breed of child stars in the images of Bugoy Carino and Chacha Canete dominate the entertainment industry. And let's not forget, the great Ryzza Mae Dizon.

Ryzza has her own show named after her where she hosts it like a grown up. Her guests are interviewed by her out of her sheer innocence. On top of that, she also is a regular on a network's noontime show.

I noticed Ryzza while eating lunch one day in a nearby eatery. She'd play pretend along with the other noontime show host like a real star. Her charisma and confidence captured my attention along with others who find her personality "cute".

In one of her show's episodes with a guest named Gelsa Buhok, the kid innocently asked the woman if she has a girlfriend. Gelsa was quick to retort asking Ryzza back if she wanted to steal her boyfriend and added, "Landing bata ka!" or "flirty kid."

When Ryzza heard the demeaning comment her eyes widened in shock.Who in her right mind would call a child, "flirty"? For all we know, she does not even know what it is to flirt with other guys.Movie and Television Review and Classification BoardChairman Eugenio Villaruel said that the scene "palpably violated the dignity of the child". And I bet it did. There goes a young mind, corrupted.

Meanwhile, in Cebu, children are also robbed of their dignity especially by their own parents. This I realized when a recent report surfaced that another couple has been allegedly dealing with foreigners to have their children undress in front of the camera, for a fee of course. They had their daughters do lascivious act several times so that they would have money to get them by.

Even parents whom we trust the most with our lives could trample on our dignity in exchange for a few pesos.

Is poverty the issue? That I cannot judge; but I know that these children have been robbed of their innocence and the chance to have a good future.

There is power in the next generation. One day they will surpass the standards of today and make the nation a better place. It has always been my dream that the next generation will restore whatever damaged today.But they cannot fulfill it when adults are ruining their dreams.

There's nothing worse than a young child's dignity being trampled on. These two incidents make it easy for one to lose hope for tomorrow. There is nobody I could blame but pop culture and the people raising the kids. If not for their persistence in corrupting their innocent minds, there would not have been any issues raised.

Adults should also know their boundaries. When one possesses seniority, they are to model before the children what right and good. A child replicates what is seen and obeys what is asked to do. It is simple logic that some grown-ups do not understand.

Children have rights and they are entitled to it. No one should deprive them of a normal environment, household and a life of learning whether they be child stars or not.