Thu Nov 07 09:58:41 UTC 2024: ## Filipino Mothers Grapple With Legacy of Corporal Punishment in Photo Essay

**MANILA, PHILIPPINES -** A new photo essay by young photographer Albert C Reyes sheds light on the ongoing issue of corporal punishment, known as “pamamalo,” within Filipino households. Despite government efforts and international commitments to ban the practice, the essay reveals that nearly 60% of Filipino children between the ages of one and 14 have experienced violent discipline within the last month.

Reyes’ project, part of the Safe Photography Project run by Restless Development, delves into the experiences of three mothers in Barangay Hagonoy, a densely populated area of Taguig City. The women candidly discuss their own experiences with pamamalo as children and their struggles to break the cycle in their own parenting.

The essay highlights the complex factors contributing to the persistence of physical punishment, including intergenerational trauma, economic hardship, and mental health challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that such violence can be damaging, triggering pain, sadness, fear, anger, and trauma in children. It can also desensitize them to violence and negatively impact family relationships.

Despite these dangers, many Filipino mothers continue to believe that corporal punishment is an effective means of discipline, a belief reinforced by cultural norms and a lack of readily available resources for alternative parenting approaches.

Reyes’ powerful images and the mothers’ personal narratives offer a poignant glimpse into the reality of this deeply ingrained issue. The essay serves as a call for action, urging communities to embrace more positive and safe parenting methods to protect children from violence and create nurturing home environments.

The photo essay will be exhibited at the global ministerial conference on ending violence against children in Bogota, Colombia, on November 7 and 8, alongside other works by young photographers exploring the meaning of “safe” in diverse communities.

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