MANILA (August 20) – Every child needs to grow up in a secure and loving family. It isn’t always the case for others, though. In the YouTube video ‘Can I Come In,’ actress Liza Soberano recounted her personal tale, which relates to the quiet fights that many Filipino children undergo.
The actress went through something that no child should ever have to go through, yet it is still a reality for many Filipino children today. Liza openly stated that her childhood was filled with violence and neglect as a result of her parents’ drug-related problems. She explained how these encounters molded the person she has become.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) handled 1,967 incidents of child abuse involving females and 897 involving boys in 2024, according to statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for 2025. This data provides insight into the nation’s overall child abuse situation.
Her experience is representative of the many children who are growing up in families that are unstable, traumatized, and in difficult situation. No child should endure hardship at the hands of those they entrust to be their parents and guardians.
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) applauded Liza Soberano for boldly sharing her experience. The CWC underlined that childhood trauma, particularly when induced by abuse or neglect, leave long-term scars that might have an impact on a person’s future.
“Every report of abuse is not only a violation of rights, but is also an emergency that demands a holistic and immediate response,” CWC said.
The CWC, as the leading council on child welfare, encourages everyone to take action, including families, communities, government, and civil society. They emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant for signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, strengthening early intervention, providing psychosocial support, and ensuring that children have a voice in decisions that influence their life.
