Fely Fadrikela, a volunteer at the Give a Life Project claimed that since the campaign, donations started coming in. There are now twelve ventilators (each costing Php800,000.00) compared to two ventilators before, and they were able to purchase six new incubators (worth Php660,000.00 each).

Other donations are expected for the purchase of other equipments like nebulizers, suction machines, portable EKG machines, videogastroscopes for infants (each worth Php1,180,000.00) and medical supplies. Someone donated new fans when they came to visit and saw the dilapidated and broken ones.

Not only are donations in the form of money, supplies or equipment. McCannErikson, a big advertising company in the Philippines, compressed a 30-seconder commercial from the documentary film I viewed for free. They also made posters and print ads as donations to the children of PGH. Other firms involved in banking, consumer products and information technology (requested not to be named) donated not only their money but also their time last year for the children of wards 9 & 11. Their employees chose not to have the usual Christmas parties every end of the year. All funds allocated for the celebration of the season went to the Give A Life Project for the PGH children.

There are many ways in reaching out to others in need. Dr. Cruz once said, �we can�t save the world, but at least we�re trying to do what we can where we are�. These children, whose needs and rights should be recognized and treated as a whole person, are entitled to the best quality as well as quantity of life. Let us remember that every child has the inherent right to life.

The film may have touched the viewers. It definitely reached out to me, moved me so to write about it. I am sure this is not just a passing interest. This is also a form of cultivation of others� advocacy for the rights of children, especially in this country. There is a need to raise consciousness on the rights of hospitalized children. There is an urgent need to promote child health in a hospital environment. Restoring dignity to children suffering illness and poverty is more than like saving good stocks for our country�s future, for they are the pillars that will keep our fortress strong.

The campaign helped many sick children in the 9 & 11 wards, but as Dr. Cruz himself admits, the campaign is merely a �stopgap solution to a deeply rooted problem�. There are the bigger issues in our health sector that need to be attack. More health centers and practitioners need to be educated on the new technologies and better deliverance of services. Most important is that the government should look deeply into the problem, acknowledge it as one of the country�s diseases, and exert effort in helping the vulnerable group that is the hospitalized children of our society.

If the Local Government Units (LGUs) heads and team players can obtain funding for infrastructures like farm to market roads and bridges and basketball courts, etc., they should also consider looking after their young and sick children. Children�s rights should be given priority as well as other priorities of their health care system. A town can be sturdy even without steel bridges, or cemented or smooth roads, but what is a town that is burdened with the sick? Are we to consider them more ill than those suffering children? Healthy children will grow into healthy adult citizens who can make strong and healthy political, economic and social systems.

About the Author

Marou Laurio-Eduarte is a freelance PR writer who used to work in Malacanang. Marou also used to be the literary editor of Miriam College�s Chi-Rho Publication as well as was actively involved in school newspapers back in high school and college.