Alonzo, Renz Aimeriza A.

JD 4301
Labor Law I

Reflection Paper: Minsan lang sila bata

“Minsan lang sila bata” is a short film that focuses on child labor in the

Philippines. Child labor is prohibited under the law but due to poverty children are forced

to work in an early age. As what the narrator said, “Ang kahirapan ang bunga ng mga

batang manggagawa”. I, myself, was an employee in a BPO company. After graduation,

I started working for my family and my future. It was really hard at first but as time goes

by it was self-fulfilling as I was getting paid correctly plus added bonuses. As I watch the

short film, I realized that I was blessed for I was able to study and graduate before I

started working. It made me realized that poverty is a problem that our country has been

facing for so long. Until now, child labor is still happening even if the law has prohibited

such thing.

I was shocked on the working hours of the children especially in the

slaughterhouse where the two teenagers work at 10:00 pm until 3:00 am in the morning,

as well as in the hacienda and the pier where the children mentioned in the film worked

rigorous jobs than those who are older than them. These children don’t get paid

properly. It makes me wonder how did they squeeze their budget for the whole family as

all of them said that they are working for the food of their family. I also come to ask

myself how can the adults or the businessmen tolerate this kind of practice. I’m also

saddened that these children instead of going to school, they worked just to give their

family something to eat in a daily basis. As what one of the children who was working in

the hacienda, that her parents didn’t want her to go to school because of their family’s
Alonzo, Renz Aimeriza A.
JD 4301
Labor Law I

debt. Even if the children go to school, they would not complete the 5 school days and

would just force to drop out because of work.

These children made me count again my blessings. There are things that I have

taken for granted for most of the time. Sometimes I would complain on my salary and

benefits and the work itself it was tiring but I failed to realize that there are people,

especially the children, would enter any work or labor just to put food on their table for

their family. Their love for their job made me realized to appreciate the hard work that

these kids are doing for their family.

On the downside, I was amazed on how the children valued education. They

really wanted to go back to school and given the opportunity, they would rather go to

school than work. I was happy that one of the kids who worked in the pier in Dapitan

wanted to become a lawyer someday to fight against child labor and poverty. Indeed,

education is the key to success. Even if they’re still in this situation, they still think for a

better future ahead for them and to the next generation.

Lastly, I am moved by the motivation of these kids – family. I am touched by their

selflessness. At a young age, they show great love for their family. They are not bitter

for their fate. They work for their family and tried to understand their situation.

The short film taught me to strive harder in my studies. As a future lawyer, I wanted to

help the under privilege and to help our kids nurture for their future. I have a social

responsibility and a role to play in building the nation. Our country has been fighting

poverty for a long-time and still ongoing and it will take time to eradicate child labor. As

a business major graduate, I can help alleviate and eradicate poverty in the country by
Alonzo, Renz Aimeriza A.
JD 4301
Labor Law I

creating jobs through businesses that observe high ethical standards. This is a wake up

call for everyone especially the government. I pray that someday, through the concerted

effort of the community and government there would be no single child that will be left

behind. Every child should have equal chances of a better life and good education.