“Many children cannot retaliate when hurt or shamed by a parent or caregiver, so they express their anger, resentment and pain elsewhere, sometimes through aggression towards their toys, pets, younger siblings, or classmates who are smaller or appear weaker than them." - Wilma Banaga, Save the Children Philippines Child Protection Advisor.
MANILA, 29 April 2025 – Schools in the Philippines’ capital Manila saw a 10% [1] increase in bullying over the 2024/2025 academic year with links between corporal punishment at home and bullying in schools prompting Save the Children to launch a positive parenting campaign.
An OECD report in 2022 found twice as many students were bullied in schools in the Philippines than globally. The report found 43% of girls and 53% of boys reported being the victim of bullying, far higher than the OECD average of 20% of girls and 21% of boys.[2]
Research from the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children [3] supported by Save the Children, shows practices like hitting and verbal shaming are associated with increased aggression, depression, and long-term mental health challenges in children.
This can lead children who experience or witness violence at home to channel their aggression through bullying.
Corporal punishment remains lawful in the home in the Philippines[3] despite an agreed target for a global ban. Earlier this year regional neighbour Thailand banned the use of corporal punishment, following similar progress in Tajikistan and Laos. However it will take another 60 years to meet a global target to eliminate all forms of corporal punishment unless the current rate of progress is sped up.
Corporal punishment takes many forms including smacking or slapping and includes non-physical humiliating treatment which belittles the child, with the UN in 2021 setting up International Day to #EndCorporalPunishment on 30 April.
Wilma Bañaga, Save the Children Philippines Child Protection Advisor, said:
“Many children cannot retaliate when hurt or shamed by a parent or caregiver, so they express their anger, resentment and pain elsewhere, sometimes through aggression towards their toys, pets, younger siblings, or classmates who are smaller or appear weaker than them.
“Physical and humiliating punishments at home can confuse children about what’s right or wrong, and they may copy this behavior when dealing with other children.”
Earlier this month the country’s Department of Education said it was drafting a policy on school safety and security to cover physical safety, incident reports, sanctions of offenders and the provision of psychological first aid to try to combat bullying in schools. [4]
Save the Children, together with local partner the Child Rights Network, an alliance of NGOs, is working closely with the government to raise awareness about the consequences of corporal punishment in all settings.
In a new video entitled “Stop Passing It”, Save the Children calls on parents and caregivers to break the cycle of violence often disguised as love and tradition. The Positive Parenting campaign promotes nurturing ways to raise children such as listening patiently, setting clear rules and boundaries and guiding them with empathy.
Save the Children has been working in the Philippines since 1981 with programmes in humanitarian response, health and nutrition, education, and children's rights and protection.
References:
[1] https://www.deped.gov.ph/2025/04/15/angara-convenes-largest-executive-committee-to-combat-bullying/
[5] https://www.deped.gov.ph/2025/04/15/angara-convenes-largest-executive-committee-to-combat-bullying/
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