BY NELJOY GALIGAO
ILOILO City – As children spend more hours glued to cellphones for schoolwork, social media, and gaming, Ilonggo parents are tightening supervision at home, warning that without firm limits, gadgets meant for learning can quickly turn into sources of addiction and behavioral problems.
With Safer Internet Day recently observed under the theme “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo: Konektado at Protektado Laban sa Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) at Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitative Materials (CSAEM),” parents in Iloilo City and nearby towns say the digital age demands stricter monitoring and constant guidance.
Arlynn Ablania, 33, of Barangay Ingore, La Paz district here, allows her six-year-old daughter to use a cellphone — but only under close watch.
“We make sure to supervise her activities closely. She often watches TikTok, but the content is mostly educational, such as learning letters and numbers,” Ablania shared.
Safer Internet Day is observed every second Tuesday of February. Officially recognized as “Safer Internet Day for Children Philippines” through Presidential Proclamation No. 417 (series of 2018), the observance calls for a “whole-of-nation” approach to protect Filipinos, especially the youth, from online risks.
Ablania said her daughter often asks questions about what she sees online.
“Kon may nakita siya sa social media, gapamangkot siya, ‘Ano ina, Tay, ano ina. Nay’, or kon bawal ina, good or bad,” Ablania said.
“It’s vital for us to engage with her. We regularly check her TikTok to ensure she’s absorbing positive and educational content,” she added.
Still, discipline is firm at home.
“Kon gakaon kami nga ga-cellphone siya, naakigan ko kag na kuha na namon ni Tatay ‘ya. Kag nahadlok na siya kay Tatay ‘ya, isa lang ka hambal,” she said.
“Okay man na sa bata maka-cellphone, pero guide-dan lang siya,” she stressed.
Midnight scrolling a struggle
The Safer Internet Day observance wa spearheaded by the National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM and various government agencies such as the Department of Education.
For Sahira Jadulos, 36, also from Barangay Ingore, La Paz, managing cellphone use among her four children is a daily challenge — especially with her 13-year-old daughter.
“I understand she needs it for school assignments, but I often find her scrolling through social media at midnight,” Jadulos admitted.
“Even when I catch her and explain the dangers, she uses the excuse that she’s chatting with her teachers or searching for schoolwork. It feels like a constant struggle to maintain discipline,” she explained.
“Kon ako lang, gusto ko tani nga kon pwede, kuhaon na lang kag ibawal ang cellphone sa amo na nga edad. Kay ‘di gid siya manami,” she emphasized.
Jadulos also warned about exposure to harmful content.
“Basi may makita sila nga indi pwede kag malain, kag maka-apekto sa ila pag-iiisip…delikado,” Jadulos stressed.
Balancing academics and limits
In Pavia, Iloilo, Christy Jean Dela Peña, 34, allows her teenage sons to use phones primarily for school requirements.
“They use their phones to research for school projects and answer homework questions,” she said.
But she sets strict bedtime rules.
“Kon school hours, ti, iya naman na ka teachers nga demand, kon ano oras and bawal, pero kon sa balay, dapat mga 8 p.m. tulog na sila kay morning may klase. Para ka-relax man isip nila,” she stressed.
Dela Peña also encourages outdoor play to offset screen exposure.
“I make a concerted effort to encourage them to spend time outside and engage in physical activities to counterbalance their screen time,” she said.
“Para sa akon okay man nga may cellphone mga bata kay need gid man na nila… Pero ang pag gamit nga indi man need, siguro dapat itulog na lang nila. Indi sagi ka hampang,” she cautioned.
Technology: Tool or threat?
While parents acknowledge that educational apps and online research help children learn faster, they also observe behavioral changes linked to excessive gadget use.
“They often become upset when taken away from their phones, which shows just how reliant they’ve become on screens,” Jadulos noted.
Across households, a common strategy has emerged: guided use, time limits, content monitoring, and open conversations about online risks.
As Safer Internet Day underscores the dangers of online sexual abuse and exploitative materials, Ilonggo parents say vigilance must begin at home.
In an era where children grow up “connected,” these mothers insist that protection, discipline, and constant communication are now essential tools of parenting — just as important as the gadgets themselves./PN
