The exemplary children regional and provincial winners under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) attended the 4-day National Children’s Congress (NCC) held at Microtel by Wyndham UP Technohub in Quezon City on November 26 to 29, 2023.

The NCC participants from the Central Visayas region are the provincial winners of the 2023 Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children, composed of Brilliant Gyle Enriquez of Getafe, Bohol; Andrea May Cawayan of Pilar, Cebu; Yasmen Baguis of Lazi, Siquijor; and Lady Ween Ambo of Basay, Negros Oriental.

After three (3) years of hiatus due to the global pandemic, the search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children made a comeback this year, which aimed to recognize the significant role of children in the program implementation.

Since 2012, the NCC has become a regular activity of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held every November, coinciding with the celebration of National Children’s Month.

The NCC is a series of workshops and activities that aim to mold 4Ps children ambassadors by bringing out the voices of the children-beneficiaries primarily on the issues directly affecting them and proposing advocacy-inclined response mechanisms.

This year carries the theme: Building resilience in 4Ps children in addressing climate change.

For Andrea May, the most unforgettable memory she will treasure during the NCC is gaining many friends from different provinces.

“Nabuo namin ang final presentation kahit hindi pa namin lubos na kilala ang isa’t isa kaya sobrang saya ko ng itinanghal namin ito noong Araw ng Kabataan. Matagal ko na ring pangarap na makapunta sa Maynila at ngayon nakapunta na ako. Maraming salamat po sa oportunidad na binigay sa amin (We completed the final presentation even though we barely knew each other, hence, I was so glad that we were able to perform it during the Araw ng Kabataan. It was my dream to go to Manila, and it was realized. I am really glad and thankful for this opportunity),” said Andrea May.

Brilliant Gyle, Yasmen, and Lady Ween could not agree more with what Andrea May said, for they had the chance to bond with other 4Ps children and share each other’s life experiences.

“There were many firsts that we experienced during the NCC, like attending a national event, going to Manila, and riding an airplane,” shared Lady Ween.

Enriching their education and cultural appreciation, the 4Ps children also went to the National Museum of Anthropology, which houses the Philippine ethnographic and archaeological collections, narrating the country’s history through artifacts.

During the Araw ng Kabataan, the National Children’s Congress (NCC) culminating activity, the children presented their NCC output and learnings through different creative expressions like singing, dancing, acting, writing, and spoken poetry.

Central Visayas Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Child regional winner Brilliant Gyle Enriquez received the plaque of recognition from DSWD, headed by Director Gemma B. Gabuya, 4Ps National Program Manager, representatives from the Council for the Welfare of Children, and UNICEF Philippines, along with other Exemplary 4Ps children regional winners as they share the title of the 2023 National Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children. ###

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