The Philippines National Children's Month: A Visionary and Peaceful Future

 

The Philippines celebrates National Children's Month this November 2023 under the theme "Healthy, Nourished, Sheltered: Ensuring the Right to Life for All." This annual tribute to National Children's Month aims to provide children with a healthy environment, a good education, and healthcare.

 

"Kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan," (The youth are the nation's future), said Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero.  Children are catalysts for a brighter future. According to social research findings, children's early experiences have a significant impact on their future development. Their contribution, or cost, to society over the course of their lives is determined by the course of their development. To achieve Dr. Jose Rizal's goal, we must take good care of children. We must provide them with access to high-quality education, teach them good deeds, and protect their rights. With these steps, we can have a bright and peaceful future ahead of us.

 

National Children’s Month aims to provide assistance to children who have been victims of abuse, poverty, natural disasters, and violence. Children are much more vulnerable than adults to poor living conditions such as poverty, inadequate health care, nutrition, safe water, housing, and environmental pollution. Disease, malnutrition, and poverty endanger children's futures and, by extension, the futures of the societies in which they live.

 

It breaks my heart that many children were sexually abused and exploited back in 2013. But with the celebration of National Children’s Month, various activities, events, and campaigns are organized Nationwide to raise awareness about children's well-being, safety, education, and overall development.

 

As a student from Ilocos Sur National High School, I can contribute to the advancement of children's rights and welfare by collaborating with organizations that work to improve the environment for children, such as Save the Children Philippines, which works tirelessly every day to provide children with a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm.

 

To put it simply, National Children’s Month is a whole month dedicated to our amazing kids, and it’s all about giving them the best opportunities for a bright future. This Holiday, may we listen and pay attention to the children more than ever. It’s a time we all come together to make a positive change for our children. Each child deserves a future that’s full of joy and sunshine, and when we come together, we can turn that into reality!

References:

[1] NATIONAL CHILDREN’S MONTH -November 2023 - National Today. (2023, February 9). National Today. https://nationaltoday.com/national-childrens-month/

[2] Join the Celebration: November is National Children’s Month in the Philippines! | Aurora State College of Technology. (2023, November 7). https://www.ascot.edu.ph/join-the-celebration-november-is-national-childrens-month-in-the-philippines/#:~:text=National%20Children’s%20Month%20is%20our,from%20sexual%20abuse%20and%20exploitation.

[3] Child rights and why they matter. (n.d.). UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/child-rights-why-they-matter#:~:text=The%20healthy%20development