Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns

23/08/2026

Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro’s remark in response to the latest shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga – that teachers themselves teach bad manners – was not only an attempt to absolve the government of responsibility but also a demeaning attack on a profession already carrying the weight of a broken education system.



Read article from link in the comments below 👇🏼.

18/08/2026

SALINLAHI ON ATENEO DE ZAMBOANGA SCHOOL SHOOTING: State Neglect and Culture of Violence Condemn Filipino Children; Stop Blaming Teachers!

​QUEZON CITY / ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns vehemently condemns the alarming school shooting incident inside the Junior High School building of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. The alliance stresses that this tragic event is a glaring, undeniable manifestation of the rapidly collapsing state of children's welfare in the country—a crisis that a competent government should have preempted rather than merely managed.

​Reacting to the recurring failure of institutional safety and the dangerous loophole that allowed a student access to a firearm, Salinlahi Secretary General Teacher Elle Buntag slammed the administration for its fatal lack of foresight, noting that lessons from past tragedies remain completely unheeded:

​"Hanggang kailan natin hihintaying umalingawngaw ang putok ng baril sa loob ng mga eskwelahan bago magising ang estadong ito? Paulit-ulit na lang tayong binubulabog ng trahedya kung saan ang mismong sandata ng nagpapanatili raw ng seguridad ay nagiging behikulo ng kamatayan. Walang kuwentang sistema ng kaligtasan ang umiiral kapag ang mga paaralan ay ginagawang armadong kuta sa halip na ligtas na santuwaryo ng pagkatuto!"

​Buntag emphasized that protecting children requires a proactive, comprehensive framework from the highest levels of governance, rather than a system that constantly shifts accountability onto ordinary citizens:

​"Hindi nagkukulang ang mga bata; nagkukulang ang isang bulok at manhid na sistema. Sa halip na maglatag ng komprehensibo at makataong solusyon para sa kapakanan ng kabataan, mas pinipili ng pamahalaang ito na ituro ang baril ng pananagutan sa mga biktima habang sila mismo ay nakaupo sa trono ng kapabayaan."

​Addressing the controversial remarks made by state officials, Buntag sharply condemned Undersecretary Claire Castro for attempting to deflect institutional failure onto the country's already overburdened educators:

​"Napakakapal ng mukha ng mga opisyal na tulad ni Usec. Claire Castro na isisi sa mga g**o ang bulok na kalagayan ng sistema! Ang mga g**o ay lampas-tao ang sakripisyo, binubuhay ang edukasyon sa gitna ng gutom at kakarampot na sahod, tapos kayo pa ang maghuhugas-kamay sa sarili ninyong institutional failure? Huwag ninyong gawing boksingero ng kapabayaan ang mga g**o!"

​Highlighting the socioeconomic root causes driving the youth toward vulnerability, Buntag pointed to systemic poverty and economic desperation as the ultimate destroyers of the social fabric within homes:

​"Paano maituturo ang tamang gabay at pagpapahalaga sa loob ng tahanan kung ang mga magulang ay pilit na inuubos ang buong lakas at oras sa kakarampot na sahod at araw-araw na pakikipagbuno sa kahirapan? Hangga't ang mga pamilya ay nalulon sa kumunoy ng gutom, ang lipunang ito ang mismong nagtuturo sa mga bata na mamuhay sa dahas."

​In closing, Buntag delivered Salinlahi’s firm verdict, laying the ultimate blame squarely on the current administration's tone-deaf and reactive leadership:

​"Walang ibang pangunahing salarin dito kundi ang rehimeng Marcos Jr., na bulag sa gutom at bingi sa daing ng mga bata. Ang karahasan ay hindi basta sumisibol sa kawalan—ito ay tuwirang anak ng mga sikmurang gutom at ng isang pamahalaang kailanman ay walang pusong nagmalasakit sa hinaharap ng ating lahi!"

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13/08/2026

𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗢𝗙𝗙 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚-𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗝𝗔𝗖𝗤 𝗥𝗨𝗜𝗭: 𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗗-𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗦!

Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns condemns in the strongest terms the issuance of an arrest warrant by Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 28 against long-time child rights advocate and worker's rights activist Jacq Ruiz. The warrants are in connection with a worker’s rights protest held on May 1, 2026 for alleged violations of Article 153 of the Revised Penal Code.

For decades, Jacq has dedicated herself to advancing the rights of children. As a former staff member of Salinlahi, Children’s Rehabilitation Center, and Parent’s Alternative on Early Childhood Care and Development Inc. (PAECCDI) and the current Board President of PAECCDI, Jacq has tirelessly led campaigns on child human rights violations, early childhood education, and uplifting the voices of children.

The baseless accusations of tumults and disturbances of public order are the government’s attempt to harass, silence, and discredit highly respected leaders in the community who are genuinely asserting the rights of the most vulnerable and oppressed in society. Drop the trumped-up charges against Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan Spokesperson Jacq Ruiz and Kilusang Mayo Uno Chairperson Jerome Adonis!

11/08/2026

TIGNAN: Nakiisa ang Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns sa palabang paggunita ng Ayta Day 2026 na ginanap sa Zambales kahapon, August 10 na may temang "Ka Allwan Nin Pamilalamu Ni Aw Ka Aytahan." Dinaluhan ang Ayta day ng daan-daang katutubong ayta mula sa iba't-ibang parte ng Zambales at Pampanga upang tumindig para sa kanilang mga karapatan at sariling pagpapasya.

Kinakaharap ng mga batang Ayta sa loob ng mahabang panahon ang mga problema tulad ng kahirapan, pag-agaw sa lupang ninuno, militarisasyon sa komunidad, at pag-aabandona sa kanila ng gobyerno. Lalo ngayon na ang banta ng Pax Silica sa Tarlac ay tatamaan ang mga katutubong Ayta, tiyak isang madilim na bukas ang naghihintay sa mga bata.

Nanumpa ang mga kalahok ng Ayta Day para sa pagpapatuloy ng laban at pakikibaka hanggang sa makamit ang mas magandang bukas para sa mga batang Ayta.

05/08/2026

CALLING ALL MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD RIGHTS ADVOCATES! 💫
If you are a mental health advocate, writer, researcher, artist, and child rights advocate, join us in our advocacy to uphold children's rights!
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
📌Immerse with communities affected by disasters and human rights violations
📌Learn more about the lived experiences of Filipino children
📌Facilitate psychosocial education with children in communities and schools (e.g. topics on mental health, stress management, mental health as a right)
📌Facilitate children's workshops (e.g. theater, songwriting, movement, visual arts, etc.)
As the culture of violence persists, children suffer gravely, heavily affecting their development and their well-being. Children's Rehabilitation Center believes systemic problems such as school violence demand systemic solutions. This includes diving into Filipino families' socioeconomic conditions, lack of functional mental health and childcare services, rampant corruption, and the culture of violence and impunity.
This is why we need more child rights advocates like you to be part of the collective struggle for children's rights!
VOLUNTEER WITH US NOW!
You may sign up by scanning the QR code or by accessing the sign-up form through this link:
🔗https://forms.gle/BJHRdqYvLrCHHjSc6
🔗https://forms.gle/BJHRdqYvLrCHHjSc6
🔗https://forms.gle/BJHRdqYvLrCHHjSc6


⁩

⁨CALLING ALL MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD RIGHTS ADVOCATES! 💫

[UPDATE: VOLUNTEER SLOTS ARE FULL. Sign-up form is closed. Thank you so much!]

If you are a mental health advocate, writer, researcher, artist, and child rights advocate, join us in our advocacy to uphold children's rights!

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
📌Immerse with communities affected by disasters and human rights violations
📌Learn more about the lived experiences of Filipino children
📌Facilitate psychosocial education with children in communities and schools (e.g. topics on mental health, stress management, mental health as a right)
📌Facilitate children's workshops (e.g. theater, songwriting, movement, visual arts, etc.)

As the culture of violence persists, children suffer gravely, heavily affecting their development and their well-being. Children's Rehabilitation Center believes systemic problems such as school violence demand systemic solutions. This includes diving into Filipino families' socioeconomic conditions, lack of functional mental health and childcare services, rampant corruption, and the culture of violence and impunity.

This is why we need more child rights advocates like you to be part of the collective struggle for children's rights!

VOLUNTEER WITH US NOW!

You may sign up by scanning the QR code or by accessing the sign-up form through this link:
🔗https://forms.gle/BJHRdqYvLrCHHjSc6
🔗https://forms.gle/BJHRdqYvLrCHHjSc6
🔗https://forms.gle/BJHRdqYvLrCHHjSc6



⁩

29/07/2026

𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐂 | The state of children’s education under 4 years of Marcos Jr.

28/07/2026

𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐋𝐀𝐇𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐁𝐌'𝐒 𝟓𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀: 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐨𝐥 𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐲 𝐧𝐚 𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨!

​QUEZON CITY — Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address, the Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns vehemently dismissed the speech as a hollow compilation of worn-out platitudes. The alliance asserted that the presidential address completely detached itself from the grim realities of worsening poverty, hunger, and state repression endured by millions of Filipino youth.

​Reacting to the substance-free address, Salinlahi Spokesperson Teacher Elle Buntag criticized the President's reliance on recycled rhetoric:

"Walang laman kundi mga recycled na pangako at gasgas na retorika ang kanyang talumpati. Malayong-malayo ang kanyang ipinintang larawan sa araw-araw na reyalidad ng mga pamilyang Pilipino na nilulunod ng kahirapan, kagutuman, at karahasan ng estado."

​Buntag emphasized that the administration's pattern of unfulfilled promises continues to cause direct suffering to the younger generation:

​"Paulit-ulit na ang sirang plaka ng mga pangakong hindi natutupad. Sa bawat taon na lumilipas, mas maraming batang nagugutom, napagkakaitan ng dekalidad na edukasyon at serbisyong pangkalusugan, at napipilitang mabuhay sa gitna ng kawalan ng seguridad at kabuhayan."

​Exposing the hypocrisy of the government's stance on child protection, Buntag blasted the state for acting as the primary source of harm and violence against the youth:

​"Ilayo raw ang mga bata sa masasamang impluwensya, ngunit ang sarili niyang gobyerno ang pangunahing mapanirang impluwensya sa lipunan—sa apat na taon nyang panunungkulan, 21 na bata ang naging biktima ng pamamaslang ng state forces at 14 ang recorded instances ng pambobomba at strafing sa mga komunidad.

​Denouncing the recent high-handed police operations that targeted youth advocates, Buntag condemned the state-sponsored psychological torment inflicted upon minors:

​"Bagaman pinalaya na ang 12 menor de edad mula sa mala-free-for-all na pang-aaresto kahapon, tiyak na pangmatagalang trauma at pinsala ang iniwan sa kanila ng karanasang ito.”

Salinlahi also condemned the omission of chronic child malnutrition from the administration's core agenda, pointing out how soaring commodity prices starve vulnerable households while deceptive health policies—such as coursing autism care through PhilHealth instead of delivering free, accessible hospitals and public health services—actively sabotage the well-being of Filipino children:

​"Para kay Marcos Jr., ang malalang malnutrisyon at kalusugan ng mga bata ay laging huli sa isip o afterthought lamang! Sa halip na magpatupad ng libreng serbisyong pangkalusugan, ang pag-asa sa PhilHealth para sa mga batang may autism ay isa na namang porma ng pagpapakapal ng bulsa ng iilan kapalit ng kalusugan ng ating mga bata."

​In closing, Buntag delivered Salinlahi’s firm and unchanging verdict on the administration's compounding failures toward the country's youth:

​"Kaya buo at nananatili ang ating hatol kay Marcos Jr.—siya ang numero unong magnanakaw ng kinabukasan ng batang Pilipino!"

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27/07/2026

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2026

PALAYAIN ANG 13 MINORS AT LAHAT NG HINULI SA SONA NG BAYAN PROTESTS! Marcos Jr., HINDI CHILD-FRIENDLY!

​QUEZON CITY — The Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns vehemently condemns the high-handed and illegal arrest of 13 minors among the 51 individuals rounded up by the Philippine National Police during today’s SONA ng Bayan protests. Eyewitness reports confirm that police engaged in indiscriminate profiling—snatching individuals simply for wearing black or balaclavas—in blatant violation of legal arrest procedures and without any element of hot pursuit.

​Denouncing the state's brutal crackdown, Salinlahi Spokesperson Teacher Elle Buntag exposed the glaring hypocrisy of the administration:

​"Ipinangangalandakan sa SONA na ilayo raw ang mga bata sa kapahamakan, pero ang mga pulis mismo ni Marcos Jr. ang nagposas at naghasik ng dahas sa mga menor de edad sa tabing ng overkill na seguridad!"

​Buntag emphasized that the true state of the nation is starkly reflected not in Marcos Jr.’s empty rhetoric, but in the harrowing ordeal of these young artists. Instead of addressing their calls for systemic reform, state forces violently suppressed them:

​"Ang tunay na estado ng bansa ay nakasalamin sa mga matang pinilit patahimikin at posasan! Sining ang kanilang sandata para sa radikal na pagbabago, pero karahasan at posas ang isinukli ng mga pulis na nag-aastang berdugo sa halip na tagapagtanggol ng kabataan!"

​Buntag added that the arbitrary detention of geospatial and youth activists, including the 13 minors, is a direct violation of Republic Act No. 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, pointing out that the mass arrests were conducted without formal charges or valid legal grounds.

Demanding swift action and institutional accountability, she stressed the urgent need for their freedom and recovery:

​"Walang kaso, walang batayan, at walang habas na hinuli ang mga kabataan! Hinihingi namin ang kanilang agarang pagpapalaya nang walang kondisyon, kalakip ang kagyat na psychosocial support para sa matinding trauma na dinanas nila sa kamay ng mga pulis."

​Connecting these arbitrary arrests to the worsening state terror under the current administration, Salinlahi noted that this repression directly mirrors the lethal violence already unleashed upon the nation's youth.

​"Hindi ito hiwalay sa 21 batang pinaslang ng pasistang militar sa ilalim ng kanyang rehimen. Patunay lamang ito na si Marcos Jr. ang numero unong child rights violator sa Pilipinas!"

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27/07/2026

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄

𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐋𝐀𝐇𝐈 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐉𝐫.’𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲

QUEZON CITY— As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address, Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns marched alongside thousands at today's SONA ng Bayan mobilization to strip away the administration's glossy rhetoric and expose the brutal, systemic neglect faced by Filipino children.

The children's rights alliance asserts that despite narratives of economic growth, the everyday reality for millions of Filipino children is defined by pervasive hunger, institutional violence, and a future systematically plundered.

"Limang taon ng mga hungkag na pangako sa SONA, pero hanggang ngayon, ang plato ng batang Pilipino ay patuloy na binabantaan ng gutom," said Teacher Elle Buntag, Spokesperson of Salinlahi.

"Sa bawat apat na bata, isa ang nababansot dahil sa chronic malnutrition. Ang kakarampot na 85-piso na dagdag-sahod ay isang malaking insulto at kailanman ay hindi makakapamili ng sapat na masystansyang pagkain."

Buntag also lambasted the administration's regressive tax system, noting how working-class families bear the brunt of crushing value-added taxes and high prices of basic commodities while multi-billion-peso corruption scandals go unpunished and unmitigated.

"Habang nilulunod ng mga regresibong buwis tulad ng VAT at excise tax ang mga pamilya sa kahirapan, patuloy na ibinubulsa at pinagtatakpan ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ang kaban ng bayan," Buntag emphasized.

“Walang hustisya sa korapsyon na nagnanakaw sa pondong dapat sana ay para sa edukasyon, kalusugan, at kinabukasan ng ating mga anak."

Exposing the fatal human cost of state neglect and militarization, Salinlahi revealed harrowing statistics that condemn the administration's track record.

"Hindi na simpleng estadistika ang gutom—ito ay tahasang pagpaslang sa kinabukasan. 95 na bata ang binabawian ng buhay araw-araw dahil sa malnutrisyon; may sariwang dugo sa mga kamay ng rehimeng Marcos Jr.!" declared Buntag.

"Hindi lang sa gutom pinapatay ang mga bata. Umabot na sa 21 ang mga batang pinaslang ng operasyong militar sa ilalim ng National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development."

In closing, Salinlahi stressed that the country's youth must stand firm and refuse to be pacified by another round of manufactured accomplishments.

"Dapat i-promote natin sa mga bata ang critical thinking. Usisain ang mga salitang bibitawan ng pangulo sa kanyang SONA," Buntag concluded. "Ang pagkilos ngayong araw ay tanda ng patuloy na pagtindig ng mga Pilipino para sa kinabukasan ng mga susunod na salinlahi!”

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25/07/2026

Ipaglaban ang kinabukasan ng batang Pilipino!

Singilin ang rehimeng US-Marcos Jr. Magnanakaw ng kinabukasan!

Sumama sa SONA NG BAYAN!
11 AM | Wilcon Home Depot, Commonwealth Ave., QC