Another early start to go with EdM to the settlements built above the sea in Navotas. The majority of people here are fishermen, with an average family size of around 6 children.

It’s an extraodinary warren of houses constructed on bamboo stilts. The houses on the inside are remarkably clean as they have access to electricity and water, but there are no toilets so all rubbish and sewage go directly into the sea.

We walk on planks at least 5 metres above sea level. I can see why their biggest fear is children falling into the sea, which apparently happens relatively frequently. This trip has been planned for Humanopole, one of EDM’s French partners. They interview and film one of the families asking simple questions about their daily life. The woman they interview has 6 children, gets up at 4 every morning and says she is happy when they can eat 3 meals a day and go to school.

Meanwhile, Anna-Louisa spends the morning at the less scenic offices of the anti-child exploitation NGO, ECPAT Philippines, with its Director, Dolores, in Quezon City. Here, Dolores explains that the Philippines was one of the first countries in which ECPAT began its work. It was one of 3 NGOs to campaign for the succesful implementation of the first Filipino Child Protection Republic Act 7016. Today, it continues to champion the advocacy of children’s rights and participation as well as providing services to children who have been sexually expoited. Dolores highlights that collecting information about child sexual exploitation is challenging not only because of the geography of the Philippines, the taboos surrounding abuse and exploitation, the the autonomy of village level institutions, but because of difficulties in dealing with national agencies.

Despite a culture of denial, the exploitation of children for sexual purposes is rampant in the Philippines, with an estimated 40% of male foreign visitors to the Philippines engaging in sex tourism each year. Dolores explains that ECPAT’s current priority is establishing a  centre in Boracay to educate the local community about the dangers of child exploitation as well as to provide psychological services to children who have already been victims of exploitation and abuse.

Anna-Louisa leaves ECPAT feeling disturbed. As we discuss our meetings back at Pacific Plaza, we determine to investigate sex tourism further.