Voices From the Edge: Lived Experiences of Male Vulnerable Children

Marissa  L. Lontoc,; Yna Angelie  T. Erestain,; Princess Nicole  B. Lucero,; Sharmaine  A. Panganiban,

Voices From the Edge: Lived Experiences of Male Vulnerable Children

Marissa L. Lontoc | Yna Angelie T. Erestain | Princess Nicole B. Lucero | Sharmaine A. Panganiban

Discipline: Education

Abstract:

This study explored the lived experiences of male vulnerable children in Cavite, Philippines, particularly those classified as Children in Con-flict with the Law (CICL), who were exposed to adverse family, social, and economic conditions. It specifically aimed to examine the under-lying causes of their misbehavior and to identify the coping strategies they employed prior to and during institutionalization. Using a quali-tative phenomenological design, three male adolescent aged 16-18 re-siding in a Bahay Pag-asa were purposively selected based on gender, age, length of institutional stay, educational attainment, and family background. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed interconnected themes including problems at home, delin-quent behavior with peers, financial constraints, boredom during re-habilitation, repentance, and self-reflection. These experiences high-lighted coping strategies such as seeking belonging through peer af-filiation, economic coping through informal or illegal means, avoid-ance behaviors (e.g., running away), and adaptive coping through re-flection and repentance during intervention. The findings underscore the importance of gender-responsive and context -specific interven-tions to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of male adoles-cents in institutional care.

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