THE Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 held various tilts participated in by children from different child development centers in Central Visayas to conclude the month-long celebration of the 27th National Children’s Month (NCM) in Cebu City on Nov. 30, 2019.

The 27th NCM celebration fell on the same day of the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children—the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history with 196 countries or states that laid out the rights for every child.

The singing, draw-and-tell, and folk dance contests were the three categories included in the regional competition, which was graced by the different day care workers and children from 17 local government units in Central Visayas.

In the singing contest, Jaliyah Luz Rosal of Lapu-Lapu City won the first prize for belting out her rendition of the song “Paglaom (Hope).” Meneya Chatty Paragoso of Cebu City got the second prize, while Jaden Shekinah Flores of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental took home the third prize.

All three contest categories were anchored on the 2019 NCM theme: “Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na pahalagahan at gampanan tungo sa magandang kinabukasan (Children’s Rights: Must be taken care of and implemented for their bright future).”

For the draw-and-tell competition, Francine Mae Cañete who represented Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental clinched the first prize with her drawing that carries a message that families and communities must protect the children’s rights. Rogen Pongase of San Fernando, Cebu and Precious Jade Jacaban of Cebu City took home the second and third prizes, respectively.

Select children from a child development center of Talisay City, Cebu bagged the first prize with their Miligoy de Cebu dance performance. The second prize went to the children from the municipality of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental with their Jota Quirino folk dance and the third prize was awarded to the children of Toledo City, Cebu for doing the Polka in Plaza dance.

All the winners received trophies, plaques of recognition, cash prizes, certificates, toys and goodies while the non-winners also received consolation prizes for their active participation in the annual culminating activity for the NCM celebration.

The 2019 Search for Exemplary Pantawid Children Regional Winner Jhon Rhod Amodia from Cordova, Cebu also inspired the participants by showcasing his talent on playing a keyboard. Amodia performed two songs during the program: “A Million Dreams” and “10 Thousand Reasons.”

The community singing of the NCM theme song, “Sigaw ng Kabataan (Shout of the Youth),” led by the children of Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines concluded the 2019 Regional Children’s Contest. The group from Talisay City, Cebu was the 2017 Halad sa Kabataan (Tribute to the Youth) contest winners.