Yeng Constantino’s new mission: Save modern-day slaves
They say it only takes a simple act of kindness to make an impact on someone’s life. Or, in Yeng Constantino’s case, a single yet powerful book her fiancé Yan Asuncion gave her back in 2012 when he was still her suitor.
The book was “Lioness Arising” by Lisa Bevere, an inspirational tome the 25-year-old singer said gave her what she described as “instant swag.” And one chapter in particular struck her: how women are more prone to human trafficking and prostitution.
"Si Lisa Bevere isa sa ministry niya is nagre-rescue sila ng mga babae na binebenta para sa prostitusyon tapos nagka-counseling sila after. So habang binabasa ko 'yon, nagkaro'n ako ng desire na gusto kong gawin ‘to,” she explains.
Slavery in Bulacan?
So it seemed fated to have Yeng cross paths with Cecile Oebanda, a globally recognized anti-slave advocate described by CNN as “shaking hands and rubbing shoulders with dignitaries like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu and the queens of Sweden and Spain.” Yeng happened to shoot scenes for her indie movie “Shift” in Mrs. Oebanda's residence.
The indie movie has since wrapped up, but her newfound advocacy had just begun. She did her homework and so did the giver of the book.
"Kapag sinabi nating ‘trafficking,’ feeling mo ang layo. Kapag nasa Philippines ka parang, ‘Wala naman akong magagawa diyan. Hindi na lang ako magpa-participate.’ Pero nang nagre-research kami ng fiancé ko, si Yan, nakakagulat malaman na, malayo pa nga kapag inisip mong Cebu or Bacolod e, pero kapag nalaman mong Bulacan tsaka Pasay, nandito lang sa likod natin ‘yun!”
She continued, "Nakakanginig ng kalooban na may nangyayaring ganito sa likod lang ng bahay mo. It feels like parang nabe-betray ‘yung country natin.”
100,000 trafficked children
In the Philippines alone, 300,000 to 400,000 Filipino women are being trafficked locally and internationally, according to a 2013 CNN report citing data from the United Nations, Transparency International and the U.S. State Department.
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Furthermore, 60,000 to 100,000 of those trafficked are children and 80% are females younger than 18 years old.
A trip to an Oebanda shelter for trafficking survivors made the statistics real for Yeng.
"Talking to them, knowing their stories, talagang magugulat ka as early as 9 years old may mga batang binebenta na sa ibang bansa, may binebenta na rin sa Pilipinas at ginawang sex slaves."
We need to awaken
Citing a kid who left the chain of slavery but who bore cigarette burns, Yeng couldn’t help but ask, "Siya naka-survive. Ilang bata kaya ang hindi?”
The singer takes the fight against human trafficking a step further by agreeing to be the ambassador of iFight, a youth movement that aims to end human trafficking, and encouraging others to do the same.
"Ang desire ko talaga sana po magkaroon talaga ng awakening sa atin na may nangyayari na ganito and magkaroon ang mga kababayan natin to help.”
For more information on iFight, a youth movement to end human trafficking, visit their Facebook.
