Conversations

Children relate their experiences and feelings in the most fascinating and amusing ways. But their stories are often insightful and profound, giving us a glimpse of how they view the world.

During the pandemic, the view for Hannah and Callum Goh and Zach Bautista was from the confines of their homes. They wrote, illustrated, and published books that deal with the complex topics of death and loss, of not losing hope and chasing one’s dreams.

One hundred fifty-two million students in the region were forced to shift to remote and online learning when the COVID-19 pandemic led to prolonged school closures.

Eight children share how they coped with this abrupt transition and what they liked or disliked about their virtual classes.

Five children candidly share how the pandemic affected their daily lives, how it altered their views and attitudes, and what lessons they learned from the experience.

UNICEF says approximately one billion children are at an “extremely high risk” of the impacts of the climate change crisis. Research has shown that children born now will face much more extreme weather and other climate disasters than their grandparents experienced in their lifetimes. 

The ASEAN asked children in the region about the impact of global warming on their families and communities and how they can  help stop it.

Ilaw Llanza Rosimo started her specialty store, Munting Ligaya, in Baguio City at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a way to earn extra income and keep herself occupied during the long lockdowns became a full-blown business, with both a physical store and online presence. Ilaw did not let the threat of COVID-19 and the difficulty of registering her business deter her from her goals.

A licensed architect by profession, 31-year-old Marie Ashley E. Mendoza had a full-time job and was pursuing her Masters’ degree in in Tropical Landscape Architecture when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020. Ashley and her life partner/co-worker, William Giron, decided to set up a food business called PorkMaru Crispy Pata, after both of them lost their jobs due to the prolonged lockdown. Their business soon took off and was later featured in local media outlets.