in Filipino translates to love — but also has the implication that someone is of precious value.

At MAHAL Advocacy, our mission is to uplift generations of children in the Philippine welfare system experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation, poverty, and family separation (OFWs) by providing legal advocacy, education, and cultivating community, belonging, and inclusivity.

Our core values follow the Philippine traditions of kapwa ᜃᜉ᜔ᜏ — belonging and community to the greater collective, utang ng loob ᜂᜆᜅ᜔ ᜅ᜔ ᜎᜓᜂᜊ᜔ — responsibility for one another, and mahal ᜋᜑᜎ — love rooted in the dignity of children’s humanity.

We achieve this by connecting youth with local KAPWA chapters who advocate on their behalf in the children’s court system, providing court reports and youth-centered advocacy recommendations to the specialized Family Courts and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), connecting youth and family members with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), providing youth with education and literacy support, and cultivating belonging, inclusivity, and community within the Filipino community.