MANILA, Philippines (Sep 2026) – Around one in every three students in the Philippines experiences school bullying at least once a week, but a grassroots effort is equipping families with an unexpected tool to fight back: comic strips.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ranks the country among those with the highest rates of campus bullying globally. To address this issue outside the classroom, researchers from Ateneo de Manila University teamed up directly with parents of public school students to create relatable, easy-to-understand educational materials.
Designing with parents, not just for them
Instead of handing down predefined guidelines, the team from Ateneo’s Department of Psychology and Department of Information Systems and Computer Science invited parents to shape the materials themselves. The parents chose comic strips as an accessible format to discuss difficult topics.
By testing the comics directly with local communities, the team ensured the stories accurately reflected daily life, practical advice, and the real challenges families encounter when handling bullying.
Putting fathers in the picture
One of the biggest changes suggested by the parents involved reshaping traditional family roles. They requested that fathers be portrayed as active participants in their children’s emotional well-being, rather than leaving empathy and communication solely to mothers.
As a result, the revised comics showcase both parents engaging in open conversations about bullying. In one scene, a father even recognizes and apologizes for an unhelpful initial reaction, offering a realistic model for how parents can improve their communication with their children.
Turning stories into long-term tools
The project focuses on moving from designing for users to designing directly with them. Beyond basic awareness, the revised comics offer clear guidance on how families can work together with local school administrators to resolve incidents effectively.
These comic strips are part of a broader, ongoing bullying prevention program led by Ateneo de Manila University psychology professor Dr. Ma. Regina Hechanova. The designs will next be transformed into short educational video reels for use across partner public schools in the Philippines.
