TBWA Santiago Mangada Puno’s powerful film for SaferKidsPH highlights the extent of online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines
With 80% of Filipino children at risk of being exploited online, national governments, social welfare agencies, and private telecommunications companies team up to protect against the online sexual exploitation of children.
The Philippine government has joined forces with an Australian government-led consortium of child rights advocates to form SaferKidsPH, a 6-year awareness campaign on the extent and impact of the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) in the Philippines.
The official launch was held on Tuesday, October 22, at Makati City and part of the campaign is a powerful online film created by TBWA Santiago Mangada Puno Manila. The film uses children’s teddy bears and rag dolls to raise awareness that Filipino children are sometimes subjected to abuse by even their own family members, who facilitate sexual performances for foreign clients.
Just because you have not seen any pictures, so you think the problem does not exist is the concept and the film goes on to highlight the shocking statistic that in 2018 at least 600,000 images of Filipino children as young as 3 months old being sexually abused were shared and sold online.
SaferKidsPH dubs itself as the pioneering consortium created to reduce OSEC. It pledges to work and foster cooperation among the governments, educational institutions, and communities involved.
The SaferKidsPH program’s implementing consortium includes the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), Save the Children Philippines, and The Asia Foundation. From the private sector, telecommunications companies such as Globe, Smart, Google and YouTube, PLDT, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are pitching in.
Within 24 hours of being posted, the SaferKidsPH film drew over 1.5 million views, and thousands of shares, with netizens reacting in shock, anger, and sadness at the crimes being committed. Many of the comments decried the inhuman treatment that produced OSAEC, vehemently denouncing those who would inflict such atrocities on children. Profoundly unsettling, the film is boldly effective in getting its point across.
According to UNICEF Corporate Alliances Officer Georgina Belardo, the film is a crucial component of SaferKidsPH’s mission to spread awareness and create a conversation that would otherwise be left unheard. “The increasing incidents of OSAEC in Filipino children is rising every year,” said Belardo. “People are not educated on how to protect their children and keep them safe online, so we needed to create this campaign to highlight the risks to children.”
As an introduction to the world of online sexual exploitation, the film is nothing less than devastating. As the initial salvo of a six-year campaign, the film merely marks the beginning of an ongoing battle that SaferKidsPH is determined to win.
Credits
Chief Creative Officer: Melvin Mangada
Executive Creative Director: Bryan Siy
Creative Director: Ryan Caidic
ACD: James Mendoza
Art Directors: James Mendoza,and Angel Villanueva
Illustrator: Paul Castro
Copywriters: Bryan Siy and Kyla Caparas
Client Service Director: Kathy Cosico
Account Director: Alexandra Huang
Strategic Planning Director: Issa Ignacio
Strategic Planner: Jhazel Mendoza
Strategic Director: Chino Testado
Senior Media & Analytics Manager: Ingrid Papa
Director: Petersen Vargas
Editor: Hann Marcelino
Producer: Mich Dela Cruz
Sound Arranger: Jasper Perez and Jigo Viriña
Sound Engineer: JM Leano
Production House: How’s Everything
Audio Production House: Soundesign Manila
Client: UNICEF
Georgina Belardo, Corporate Alliances Officer
Atty. Marj Ardivilla, Child Protection Specialist
Atty. Mitch Muñoz, Child Online Protection Coordinator
1 Comment
Great work executed very well. Who was the director?