Valenzuela Celebrates National Children’s Month Kick-off

IN THIS PHOTO:

Pista ng mga Bata!
Mayor Wes Gatchalian joined the lively celebration at the 2023 National Children's Month Kick-Off Ceremony held at the Valenzuela Amphitheater, November 6, 2023. The event saw a collaborative effort between Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWSD), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Department of Health (DOH), Council for the Welfare of Chidlren (CWC), National Youth Coalition (NYC), garnering substantial support from Parents, Teachers, and key officials such as USEC Angelo Tapales, USEC Maria Rosario Vergeire, and USEC Emmeline Aglipay-Villar.

This collective display showcased a strong commitment to advocating for the rights of every child, emphasizing their essential need for a safe and healthy environment. The heartfelt event underscored the importance of creating a secure space for children, resonating with a resounding call for their well-being. Mayor Gatchalian's participation highlighted the city's dedication to nurturing and safeguarding the welfare of its youngest #PamilyangValenzuelano citizens.

(Mico Quebrar, Photo/Text)

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

IN THIS PHOTO:

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

IN THIS PHOTO:

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

IN THIS PHOTO:

Pista ng mga Bata!
Mayor Wes Gatchalian joined the lively celebration at the 2023 National Children's Month Kick-Off Ceremony held at the Valenzuela Amphitheater, November 6, 2023. The event saw a collaborative effort between Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWSD), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Department of Health (DOH), Council for the Welfare of Chidlren (CWC), National Youth Coalition (NYC), garnering substantial support from Parents, Teachers, and key officials such as USEC Angelo Tapales, USEC Maria Rosario Vergeire, and USEC Emmeline Aglipay-Villar. This collective display showcased a strong commitment to advocating for the rights of every child, emphasizing their essential need for a safe and healthy environment. The heartfelt event underscored the importance of creating a secure space for children, resonating with a resounding call for their well-being. Mayor Gatchalian's participation highlighted the city's dedication to nurturing and safeguarding the welfare of its youngest #PamilyangValenzuelano citizens. (Mico Quebrar, Photo/Text)

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

IN THIS PHOTO:

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

IN THIS PHOTO:

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

IN THIS PHOTO:

Photo by: Mico Quebrar

View Gallery

Caption

Tags: ,

Welcoming the children’s month with a vibrant festivity, the City Government of Valenzuela together with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Department of Health (DOH), and UNICEF Philippines, celebrate the “Pista ng mga Bata! The National Children’s Month kick-off Ceremony” at Valenzuela City People’s Park Amphitheater, November 6.

With the theme “Healthy, Nourished, Sheltered: Ensuring the Right to Life For All”, a big parade of children from Early Childhood Care and Development wore their adorable vegetables and fruits costumes alongside children representative from Valenzuela Young Heroes, Bahay Pag-asa and Bahay Kalinga, Pag-asa Youth Association, Muslim children, children with disability, among others.

Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director, Usec. Angelo Tapales expressed how privilege he was to celebrate the kick-off in Valenzuela, “Isang karangalan ko po at pribilehiyo na makasama po kayo sa pagdiriwang ng national children’s month ngayong taon… Ang pagtitipon po natin ngayon ay hindi lamang isang pangyayari ngunit ito po ay isang malakas na panawagan sa aksyon. Tawag na magkaisa upang muling patibayin ang ating pangako at magbigay ng inspirasyon sa pagbabago.” [It is my honor and privilege to be part of the National Children's Day celebration this year. Today's meeting is not just an event, but a strong call to action. We are called to unite to reaffirm our commitment and to incite to change.]

DOH Usec. Maria Rosario S. Vergeire also presented the children's situation in terms of health and nutrition in the country, and promised to support all the programs for children in the coming months and years.

Meanwhile, Mayor WES Gatchalian announced with pride the continuous efforts of the local government for the Valenzuelano children especially the Enhanced Citywide Feeding Program where around 4,000 wasted and severely wasted students were benefited from the program from the recent school year. He added that with the city’s commitment to fight malnutrition among the children, the Local Government of Valenzuela held a groundbreaking ceremony for the bigger and better state-of-the-art Central Kitchen to further advance the community movement that the city had started almost a decade ago. Furthermore, it is the city’s relentless goal to provide a safe, secure, and healthy environment for all Pamilyang Valenzuelano, especially the children.

To formally kickstart the jam-packed month-long children’s month celebration advocating the rights of the children, a ceremonial launching was also held where child advocates raised their magic wand to signify the start of the National Children’s Month, and yelled “Para sa mga Bata!”

Moreover, various booths of the children’s four core rights, as well as a cooking show were also prepared for the kids and parents to enjoy and learn.

Also gracing the event were Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, DILG Valenzuela Director Sudi Valencia, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Noel Bagano, UNICEF Philippines Nutrition Manager Alice Nkoroi, Usec. Emmeline Aglipay - Villar, Chief of City Social Welfare Operations Ms. Dorothy Evangelista, members of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children, and child advocates around the city.

###