Child labour
Angel's dream takes flight beyond child labour
Child labour continues to deny thousands of children in the Philippines of their childhood, but Angel Grace refuses to give up on her future.
29 July 2026
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Philippines (ILO News) - Every time Angel Grace looks at the sky, she imagines herself soaring above the clouds as a flight attendant. It is a dream that keeps the 16-year-old moving forward, even when her reality pulls her in the opposite direction.
Since she was eight years old, Angel has spent weekends and school holidays weaving broomsticks from palm leaves in coconut fields. Each broomstick earns her just 30 pesos after hours of careful work.
"It is hard to finish one and it takes a long time," she says. "I go to the coconut fields first because the tide is still high at the sea."
When the tide goes low, she heads to the shore to collect sea urchins and shells. Each pack sells for 50 pesos, but she receives only a 10-peso commission.
The work is physically demanding and often dangerous. "I once cut my hand while using a knife to make broomsticks," Angel recalls. "I also dislike gathering shells because there are creatures in the sea that bite."
Sharp rocks, sea creatures and changing tides leave their mark. "I have had cuts and wounds on my legs because of it," she says.
However, the greatest burden is not the physical pain. It is the struggle to balance work with school. Now in Grade 12, Angel is determined to finish her education.
Her family is part of the Philippine government's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which helps low-income families through social protection and conditional cash transfer.
Staying in school is important for Angel's future and helps her family continue receiving support. Yet, the realities of poverty demand difficult choices. She works whenever she can, even when she is exhausted, leaving little time to rest or study.
"I struggle because I have two things on my mind. When we have a lot of homework, I stay up until midnight to finish it. My body feels tired when I wake up," she admits.
Her responsibilities became even heavier after her grandmother suffered a stroke, leaving one of her hands paralyzed. Unable to work as before, Angel took more responsibilities to help keep the household afloat.
Angel is not alone in this struggle. The latest data shows a tough reality. An estimated 513,650 working children were engaged in child labour in 2025. This was higher than the previous year but lower than in 2023.
Angel was one of 100 children profiled during the World Day Against Child Labour in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Regional and National Council Against Child Labor led the campaign.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of Canada through the Strengthening Freedom of Association and Action Against Child Labour in the Philippines project supported the initiative to help prevent and end child labour.
As part of the campaign, the ILO also shared good practices and practical tools that support child labour prevention and response efforts. These included Supporting Children's Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media (SCREAM), the Child Labour Monitoring System (CLMS), and the Child Labour Training Manual, highlighting approaches and resources that can help partners strengthen their initiatives to protect children from child labour.
"There are children suffering and carrying the burden, and we cannot slow down. The ILO remains committed to supporting our partners in this effort. Together, we turn commitments into concrete actions, including piloting initiatives at localities or communities with high prevalence of child labour," says Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
Despite everything, Angel still lifts her eyes to the sky. She dreams of wearing a flight attendant's uniform and one day visiting Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and Thailand.
More than travelling, she wants to finish her education and build a better life for her family, free from poverty and the burden of child labour. Until then, the sky remains a distant dream.
Relevant projects
Rights at work
Strengthening freedom of association and action against child labour in the Philippines