Soap opera writers urged to treat child adoption properly

MANILA, Philippines— Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman has called on scriptwriters and producers of televised soap operas in the country to portray adoption in a more positive light.

Soliman said it was time to put an end to the misconception that adopted children tended to be mistreated and that adoptive parents were cruel or wicked.

Soliman recently sat down with writers of top networks ABS-CBN, GMA-7 and TV-5 to discuss the process of adoption and to correct what she said was a lot of “inaccurate information” about it.

In a statement, she noted that soap operas with adoption themes tend to show adopted children being abused by step parents or forced to do heavy chores in orphanages.

She said there was a need to show people that this was not the case and that being an adoptee does not diminish the worth of the child.

She said the adoptive family brings a lot of love into a child’s life.

Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chair Grace Poe Llamanzares also agreed that it was time to highlight the benefits of adoption and the responsibilities that go with it, rather than  negative stereotypes.

In an earlier interview, Sally Dagulo of the Alternative Care Division of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said the department wants to impart the message that adopted children are actually lucky and are not victims.

Dagulo said adopted children are considered fortunate because there are people who volunteer to care for them and raise them as their own.

She also explained that when the DSWD allows children to be adopted, it makes sure  they would be welcomed into caring homes with supportive family members.

The DSWD has had many success stories concerning adoption, she added.

The adoption process is not as daunting as some fear. The DSWD also undertakes processes to check the motivation and background of couples or single parents who want to take children into their homes.