How privileged Filipinos can help 3 in 10 PHL children survive

By Faith Sycaoyao

Despite the outward appearance of ease and glamor for some Filipinos in the global diaspora, a stark crisis continues to unfold as millions of children in the Philippines still face a reality we cannot afford to ignore.

In Manila’s bustling streets and polluted waterways, poverty tightens its grip on many lives. Children bear the brunt of inaccessible education, malnutrition, unsafe living conditions, and limited opportunities for personal development. Statistics from the 2023 Situation of Children in the Philippines Report reveal that three out of every 10 children in the Philippines live below the poverty line. Many of them come from impoverished areas like the Tondo slum district in Manila.

This distressing number emphasizes the urgent need for action and begs the question: What did these innocent children do to deserve such a life?

It also underlines the role that privileged Filipinos worldwide can play in combating child poverty in the Philippines. World Vision’s ENOUGH campaign similarly urges Filipinos to confront these challenges and bring about meaningful change.

One facet of this involves using one’s creativity to achieve an influential impact. I’ve applied this approach in various ways, as an executive team member of Climate Cardinals, a reputable global climate nonprofit, and in my work with the Best Seeds Organization to raise awareness for children’s health through therapeutic art initiatives. One of these initiatives includes creating custom-designed letters and sending them to pediatric patients at UCSF Health, Children’s National Hospital, Renown Health, and other institutions. Through art donations to the Students Rebuildprogram, now overseen by Creative Visions in Malibu, my team has also unlocked substantial funding from the Bezos Family Foundation. This support is pivotal in advancing initiatives within their esteemed partners such as UNICEF USA, Choose Love, Little Amal, National Wildlife Federation, etc. These efforts not only benefit refugee children but also foster various sustainable projects, illustrating the transformative power of artivism in addressing global challenges.

Recently, some members of NYC’s Filipino American community have also integrated art with philanthropy, exemplified by Eagle Eye Charities Inc. (EEC), a nonprofit based in New York, which inaugurated its first art gallery in Makati City to enrich cultural scenes, says Porsha Seechung, one of its officers.

I have also engaged with two Filipinas from other countries: Maryam Arado, an art enthusiast and hospitality management graduate in Muscat, Oman, and Claire Sarcia, an interactive media design graduate from Ottawa, Canada. Both shared valuable insights on how Filipinos can support disadvantaged children. Maryam emphasized the Filipino value of “bayanihan,” a form of solidarity, stating, “Filipino communities abroad can gather to show their support to disadvantaged children back in the Philippines through different ways such as implementing donation drives, fundraising campaigns via social media or physically, and so on.” Claire highlighted how Filipino graduates in North America are actively utilizing their talents, noting, “Some Filipino graduates run art workshops and educational programs, both in person and online, where participants learn about the social issues in the Philippines while developing their artistic skills.”

Here are additional efforts to combat child poverty:

• Attend or organize thought-provoking performances at cultural centers; proceeds from ticket sales can contribute to aiding children.
• Produce and distribute sculptures, murals, graphics, or paintings that highlight issues of child deprivation.
• Innovative businesses can allocate a portion of their profits or initiate marketing campaigns that tackle this issue.
• Dedicate a percentage of auction proceeds or art gallery sales to contribute to the cause.

With these examples, everyone can take concrete actions and contribute to solutions! It is our collective responsibility to stand as one and amplify the voices of marginalized children.

Together, the global Filipino community can channel their creative energy and lay the groundwork for a new future and worldview. From local Filipino children to children in need across the world, any person can demonstrate that even the smallest act of goodwill produces an enormous ripple that bridges the lines and changes lives!

Faith Sycaoyao, 19, is a Philippine-born, Middle Eastern-raised international visual artist and young changemaker based in the USA. Twelve nations, including Eastern and Southern Europe, the Middle East, and seven states in North America, have featured and supported her work. She was the Mural Artist for the 2024 Boston Marathon. She is also a content creator with 70,000 followers in 40+ countries and has reached millions on TikTok. In her role as deputy graphics director of Climate Cardinals, the world’s largest youth-led climate organization, she leverages her creativity and innovative thinking to advocate for environmental sustainability and raise awareness of critical global issues.  Academically, Faith is a scholar in Economics and International Business, and brings experience as a Marketing Director with expertise in self-taught marketing strategies. More on Faith here.