Twenty young performers from public elementary and high schools took the stage on June 28 for the second leg of the ANNAKKO Talent Show 2026, part of ASSIST’s year-long program to protect children in farming communities from child labor.

SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur — The Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) held the second leg of the ANNAKKO Talent Show 2026 in San Juan, Ilocos Sur, part of a year-long program working to prevent child labor in farming communities. The event brought together 20 young performers from public elementary and high schools across the area.

ANNAKKO is ASSIST’s flagship program that directly addresses the persistent issue of child labor in small-scale farming communities, where families often rely on unpaid labor from household members, including children, to keep farms running. The program distinguishes this from child work—light, age-appropriate tasks that support a child’s development without compromising their health, safety, or education.

In contrast, child labor deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful- risks that are particularly prevalent in agricultural and informal settings.

Guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which upholds every child’s right to education, rest, play, and protection from exploitative labor, ANNAKKO works directly with farming communities to counter these vulnerabilities and safeguard children’s fundamental rights. This core mission drives the program’s community-centered approach.

“Our children are our future,” said Francis Macatulad, ASSIST’s Director for Business Development. “As the leaders of tomorrow, children deserve the opportunities to learn, play and experience childhood away from the demands and hazards of child labor. ANNAKKO (‘My children’ in Ilocano) was designed to raise awareness among the youth on children’s rights and the importance of education.”

To translate these principles into action, the Talent Show was launched as one of several activities under ANNAKKO Year 3: Our Children, Our Future, launched in November 2025. Anchored in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the program aims to reach 1,500 children, 500 parents, and 100 educators by strengthening the support systems around children — family, school, and community — through activities that include a Children’s Rights Parade, digital literacy sessions, poster-making contests, summer leadership camps, and the Talent Show series.

The event, supported by Rotaract Club of Magsingal North Ilocos Sur, Trans-Manila, Inc., and Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc., opened with an orientation on child labor, grounding the day in ANNAKKO’s core message: every child has the right to learn, grow, and pursue their ambitions in an environment that protects rather than exploits them. 

Talent show winners across the Elementary and High School divisions were awarded plaques and cash prizes. Families, teachers, classmates, and school communities filled the venue in support of the performers throughout the event.

While events like the talent show foster immediate community engagement, they form part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at long-term empowerment and regional growth.

“The program also organizes various enjoyable but empowering activities that build their knowledge and skills, such as leadership training, advocacy campaign building, disaster resiliency games, summer camps, self-defense classes, talent shows, and art competitions,” Macatulad added. “ASSIST is proud to uphold children’s rights and contribute to child labor protection among small-holder farming communities in Region 1, and we hope to expand our impact to other parts of the Philippines.”

Programs like ANNAKKO run on partners willing to invest in children’s futures. Organizations interested in partnering with ASSIST can learn more about partnership opportunities https://bit.ly/PartnerForProgress