DAGUPAN CITY, Oct. 14 (PNA) — Children came with their mothers, others with their teachers, all hoping to go home wiser after attending the three-day 5th Dagupan Children’s Congress that started Tuesday at CSI Stadia in Barangay Lucao here.
Being held under the auspices of the Department of Education and Culture (DepEd) and the Dagupan City government, the Congress is being attended by 5,000 children from 31 barangays here, from the elementary and high schools.
Mayor Belen Fernandez, who was represented by City Administrator Farah Decano, and City Schools Superintendent Gloria Torres led the opening ceremonies of the three-day Congress under the theme “Advancing Children’s Talents and Well-Being”.
Assistant City Schools Superintendent Lourdes Servito, lauded the children’s congress which is now going on for the past four years, which is Dagupan’s own unique way of celebrating the National Children’s Month this October.
Schools Superintendent Torres hailed the Congress, complete with a Children’s Fair, which she said re-stresses once more the beauty of being a child.
Decano said the children’s congress is a brainchild of Mayor Fernandez that symbolizes her unending love for children and of Dagupan City.
Before she entered politics, Mayor Fernandez was already giving her support to children by opening up and bankrolling the needs of day care centers so the they can promote early child education.
Main topic discussed during the opening day was on children’s bullying with Dr. Estela Manalo, assistant executive director of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as discussant.
She said there is a need to stop bullying which comes in different forms, not only physical and verbal but also behavioral and social.
She called on the people to pity not only the bullied but also the bullies who certainly have problems in their homes.
Among the activities in the Congress are essay writing, coloring contest, basketball 3 on 3. ppster making contest, flok dance demo on-the-spot slogan writing contest, Colgate puppet show, ath Challenge, recyclabells decor-making contest, spelling nee, story retelling, and ” Palaro ng Lahi” which includes tug of love, three -legged race, “palo sebo” “patintero” interpretative dance contest, ICT design and Search for Little Mr. and Ms. Children’s Congress 2014.(PNA)