By Laurence Ligier | Project Leader
My name is Antonnette. I am now CAMELEON’s youngest staff member, working in the Advocacy program. I arrived as a CAMELEON beneficiary last May 2008. I was a quiet, 4th-grade little girl. I stayed at CAMELEON center for 5 years and was under the After Care Program for the last 5 years until my college graduation.
I had very supportive sponsors. They sent me cards and letters that were full of encouragement towards my dreams. My sponsors visited me last 2012. They were a couple who showed great concern towards my interests and plans in life. I was very shy at first. However, the constant exchange of letters and talking in person made the whole thing easier. Slowly, we talked about ourselves, cultures, books and many more.
CAMELEON and my sponsors came at the exact time when I felt vulnerable. I was enduring pain from my past and I had no idea how to start living again. They helped by sending me to school, living in a safe environment, sending me books and constantly feeding me words of love and encouragement. My sponsors and CAMELEON members were pieces of puzzles I needed towards my healing. They are a family that made my heart trust again after my own blood had shattered my life.
In the times when I felt hopeless, I reminded of them and Tita Lulu, CAMELEON’s foundress, who believed in me. I dared to dream big because they got my back.
I graduated from high school with national recognition as a Journalism writer and lead as an Editor-in-Chief in campus school paper. I was able to enter the university of my choice and took up Special Education. While doing so, I was the youngest advocate when Voice of CAMELEON’s Children was formed. We organize lectures to parents and children in the community, establish partnerships to Local Government Units in projects, represent children and youth to national consultation planning and many more. I believe my sponsors invested in me, not only in financial terms but for the future. Without their encouragement and support, I would never have found my purpose in life.
As the same as how Tita Lulu has fought for us, I raise my voice to encourage others, child sexual abuse survivors or not, to end this inhumane act.
I represented Voice of CAMELEON’s Children in the search for 2017 Ten Accomplished Youth Organization in the Philippines and surpassed 400 applicants as Top 1. Last 2018, bearing the organization's flag, together with CAMELEON’s Advocacy Program officer, we flew to the United Nations headquarters at New York USA and attended the 5 days Winter Youth Assembly. Fast forward to the year 2015, I graduated with special awards in Speech and Literature, Theater and one of the Outstanding Teacher nominees. Now, I move back and forth in giving lectures to different participants, giving theater activities, developing advocacy materials and encouraging more people to join the advocacy.
It was a long journey from being a little girl who couldn’t talk to becoming a woman who speaks for those in silence.
It was also a decade of fighting against the turmoil of the past, encouragement, celebration and coping with realities of life. It was a battle that I won thanks to CAMELEON, Tita Lulu and my sponsors who fought alongside.
Children call me “Manang” or big sister. Sometimes, I still lose myself between the pages of the book. And I cannot help but think of those who are in shadows and silence. I hope that they will be found and that there will be more who can lend their hand, just like it happened to me.
- Antonnette, 23 years old
Discover her contribution to CNN Philippines’ article about the legal situation in the Philippines:
Links:
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