Under-18 zone

Abigail's special connection with street children

Abigail Manglicmot Fabrigas

Abigail Manglicmot Fabrigas, 16, is from Olongapo City, a three-hour drive from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Her father is an engineer, currently unemployed. Her mother teaches at a state school. Abigail is the eldest of three children - this, she says, has given her a strong feeling of responsibility for others.

When she was around 11 years old, Abigail began working with street children and children with special needs. She says she was impelled by curiosity - she realized she'd never known well any street children. But the curiosity was almost immediately replaced by an emotional connection, she remarks.

As a member of her government's delegation to the Special Session, she says she wants to focus on the plight of street children, the inadequate investments in children's health and education, and the global problem of armed conflict. She plans to brainstorm with other children on how to make a real difference in the world.

Highly articulate and intelligent, Abigail was a host, with President Gloria M. Arroyo, at the Philippines' national launch of the Say Yes for Children campaign in May 2001. She has already graduated from high school, from one with high academic standards. She won a contest in broadcasting and is on her way to study broadcast communications at the University of the Philippines.

Abigail has never left her country before, so she is very excited about visiting New York. She says she loves to mix with people from diverse cultures and to hear about their lives, and she's sure she will make many new friends.

UNICEF supports the right of every child to be heard, and therefore provides this opportunity for children to voice their views and impressions of the United Nations Special Session on Children. The report above reflects the opinions of an individual child delegate to the Special Session and does not represent the policies or positions of UNICEF.