The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) exemplary children from all over the Philippines including the four representatives of Central Visayas region attended the week-long National Children’s Congress (NCC) held at Greenhills Elan Hotel in San Juan City, Metro Manila on November 18-23, 2019.
The NCC participants from Central Visayas are the provincial winners of the 2019 Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children composed of Jhon Rhod Amodia of Cordova, Cebu, Cleia Tadena of Duero, Bohol, Shame Lagos of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental and Kathleen Chen Pastrana of Maria, Siquijor.
The yearly gathering of 4Ps children-beneficiaries started in 2012, which recognizes the important role of the children in the program implementation. Since then, the NCC became a regular activity of the program and is being conducted every November, coinciding with the celebration of the National Children’s Month.
The NCC is a series of workshops and activities, which aims to mold 4Ps children ambassadors by bringing out the voices of the children-beneficiaries primarily on the issues directly affecting them and propose advocacy-inclined response mechanisms.
The NCC also uses the arts as development approach in the participants’ creativity in expressing themselves, while instilling the values of leadership and volunteerism to help others, their family and their community.
This year, the discussion in the NCC focused on the participatory rights of the children. It includes children in governance, citizenship among children and providing space for children’s participation and advocating for children’s right to play.
“I learned many things while joining the different sessions in NCC like the Cyber Safety and how kids like me can be safe in the online world,” shared Jhon Rhod.
“Useful sa among pagtuon ang pag-gamit internet labi na kung adunay mga research apan kinahanglan mag-amping kay adunay mga threat like cyberbullying, gaming addiction ug uban pa (Internet is useful in our study especially if we have research in class but we need to be careful because there are threats like cyberbullying, gaming addiction and more),” added Jhon Rhod.
At a very young age, he takes a strong standpoint against cyber pornography, child abuse and bullying and he will share these learnings to his fellow students and friends in his community.
During the nightly talent exposition, the four children showcased their talents headed by Jhon Rhod playing the keyboard. Shame and Kathleen provided the dance interpretation of the song “A Million Dreams” while Cleia sang the song “Oras Na”, her audition piece during the ‘The Voice Kids Philippines’ season 4.
All NCC participants also attended the Araw ng Kabataan at Pasig Sports Complex on November 23, 2019. As part of the culminating activity, they presented their creative outputs through singing, dancing, acting, writing and painting.
Also during the Araw ng Kabataan, the 17 Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children regional winners including Jhon Rhod Amodia received the plaque of recognition as they share the title of the 2019 National Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children. ###
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