MANILA -- The Council for the Welfare of Children will seek to address the

mental health and well-being of children as the council marks the

30th National Children’s Month observance on November 3.

Highlighting the theme “Kalusugan, Kaisipan at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata

Ating Tutukan,” the kick-off ceremonies will gather participants from national
government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society
organizations, and local government units.

Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, CWC Executive Director, said this year’s

theme is anchored on the World Health Organization’s statement that health
is “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity.”

“Many were affected during the Covid-19 pandemic. But the silent victims of
the pandemic are the youth and children as there were no discussions on how
the pandemic has affected them,” Tapales said in a press briefing last
Tuesday, October 25.

He added the CWC will also push for the review of the Mental Health Law to
include children’s welfare.

In 2018, the Philippines had published findings from the 2015 National Baseline
Study on Violence against Children (NBS-VAC) showing that children and youth
aged 13-24 years, experience high levels of physical (64.2 per cent),
psychological (61.5 per cent), sexual (22.4 per cent) and peer (65 per cent)
violence.

It was the first study to measure prevalence of all forms of violence against
children across the country.

Some activities lined-up during the kick-off are: ceremonial launching of the
CWC MAKABATA Helpline, partnership launching with the Miriam College Child
Rights Advocacy Center (CRAC), National Play Advocacy Week (NPAW)
Partners’ Play Toolkit launch, and the relaunching of the Mental Health Literary
Pieces for Children: Sarilaysay Activity Book and Eroplanong Papel Comic
Book.

Video documentaries on the success stories of Local Government Units on

Child Participation and the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC
Functionality) will also be shown.

The Makabatang Buhay Talk Show on Child-Friendly Local Governance will also
be held with Mayor Dahlia A. Loyola from the municipality of Carmona, Cavite
as speaker.

Republic Act 10661 or the National Children’s Month Act is celebrated every
November and commemorates the adoption of the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989. Under section 3 of the law,
the CWC, National Youth Commission, and the Department of Social Welfare
Development were designated as the lead agencies for the conduct of the
celebration.

The month-long celebration aims to instill in the Filipino consciousness as well

as sustain the promotion and protection of children’s rights. (CS/PIA-PMD)

National Children’s Month is celebrated every October here in the Philippines. Mandated by Presidential
Proclamation 267, it is a time to recognize the value of Filipino Children as the most valuable assets in the
society. Observed by Government and Non-Government agaencies around the Philippines, the month-long
celebration is also a campaign to end violence against children and to promote their physical, emotional,
moral, spiritual and intellectual well-being.

According to UNICEF, every year millions of children around the world become victims of untold violence.
Children in every country, every culture and at every social level face various forms of abuse, neglect,
exploitation and violence. The abuse takes place at home, in school, in institutions, at work, in the
community, in armed conflict and natural disasters. Much violence against children, such as corporal
punishment and sexual abuse, remains legal and socially approved in many countries. The violence children
face takes many forms, such as exploitation and abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating punishment,
harmful traditional practices (including early marriage and genital mutilation/cutting) and recruitment into
armed forces and groups. Growing up with violence and abuse seriously affects a child’s development,
dignity, and physical and psychological integrity.

Stairway marked National Children’s Month with plenty of enjoyable and inspiring activities for the
children. The month ended with a wonderful awards ceremony recognizing the talents and personal
achievements of the children.

“Mankind owes to the child the best it has to give.” -Anonymous

Science Trivia
Science trivia questions will keep the whole family guessing about
humans, nature, and how the world works. Need help getting started?
Try these:

 How many teeth does an adult human have? Answer: 32

 What is the largest known living land animal? Answer: African
elephant
 What are animals that eat both meat and plants called? Answer:
Omnivores
 How many elements are in the periodic table? Answer: 118
 What is the world's largest ocean? Answer: Pacific Ocean
 What temperature does water boil? Answer: 212ºF
  What is the largest internal organ in the human body? Answer:
The liver
 How many breaths does the average human take in a
day? Answer: 17,000 to 23,000
 What was the first planet to be discovered using the
telescope? Answer: Uranus
 What is the chemical symbol for table salt? Answer: NaCl

Space Trivia
Test out your knowledge about planets and stars with these space-
based family trivia questions.

 How far away is the moon? Answer: 238,900 miles

 How many earths could fit inside the sun? Answer: 1.3 million
 How many phases does the moon have? Answer: Four—New
Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Third Quarter.
 How many days does it take Mars to go around the sun? Answer:
687 days
 How many moons does Saturn have? Answer: 82
 What planet has the most gravity? Answer: Jupiter
 Which planet in the solar system is the hottest? Answer: Venus
is 900ºF
 How many miles up is the International Space Station? Answer:
227 miles
 Who was the first astronaut to walk on the moon? Answer: Neil
Armstrong
 Which planet rotates on its side? Answer: Uranus

Animal Trivia
Kids will love showing you how much they know about lions, tigers,
and bears (oh my!) with these family trivia questions about animals.

 What color is a giraffe's tongue? Answer: Purple

 What is the fastest flying bird in the world? Answer: Peregrine
falcon
 What is a female donkey called? Answer: Jenny
 What color is a hippo's sweat? — Answer: Pink
 What mammal has the longest lifespan on earth? Answer:
Bowhead whale
 Where does the most venomous spider live? Answer: Australia
(It's known as the Sydney funnel-web spider or Atrax robustus)
  What is a group of lions called? Answer: A pride
 What animal is born blind? Answer: Rabbit
 How many bones does a shark have? Answer: 0
 How fast can a roadrunner run? Answer: 20 MPH

History Trivia
Historical facts don't have to be bland—spice it up with some history-
themed family trivia questions.

 Where did the Olympic games originate? Answer: Greece

 Who was the first Black president of the United States? Answer:
Barack Obama
 Which was the first country to use paper money? Answer: China
 Who wrote a famous diary while hiding from Nazis in
Amsterdam? Answer: Anne Frank
 In which year did the Titanic sink? Answer: 1912
 Where was Martin Luther King, Jr. born? Answer: Atlanta,
Georgia
 What holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the
U.S.? Answer: Juneteenth, on June 19
 What famous playwright was born in 1616? Answer: William
Shakespeare
 What animal is considered to be the symbol of America? Answer:
Bald eagle
 Which famous person was the teddy bear named after? Answer:
President Teddy Roosevelt

Disney Trivia
Bring the happiest place on earth home with these Disney trivia
questions.

 Who sings the song "Shiny" from Moana? Answer: Tamatoa

 What is the princess's name in The Princess and the
Frog? Answer: Tiana
 What type of fish is Nemo? Answer: A clownfish
 What kind of animal is Abu in Aladdin? Answer: A monkey
 Who was the first Disney princess? Answer: Snow White
 What are the names of Cinderella's evil stepsisters? Answer:
Anastasia and Drizella
 What animal does Merida's mom turn into in Brave? Answer: A
bear
 Which Disney princess is inspired by a real person? Answer:
Pocahontas
 What is the name of the little teacup in Beauty and the
Beast? Answer: Chip Potts
 What is Mirabel's last name in Encanto? Answer: Madrigal

 November 14, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd), through the

Child Protection Unit (CPU), opened the National Children’s Month (NCM)
celebration with discussions on bullying reduction and securing child
well-being in schools on Wednesday.

 During the kick-off program, representatives from DepEd’s CPU and Youth
Formation Division (YFD), and Stairway Foundation, Inc. discussed topics
on Understanding Learners’ Self-Concept, Safe Spaces in School Settings,
Bullying Prevention, and Child Participation and Youth concerns.

 Consistent with the national theme “Kalusugan, kaisipan, at kapakanan

ng bawat bata ating tutukan!”, DepEd’s NCM will cover four categories of
children’s rights including survival rights, development rights,
participation rights, and protection rights for the whole month of
November.

 “The virtual kick-off program manifests DepEd’s renewed focus and

sustained efforts to invest in our learners and increase their awareness
of the importance of mental health,” Vice President and Education
Secretary Sara Z. Duterte said in a video message.

 Special celebrations for children will also be observed simultaneously in

every DepEd Regional Office, Schools Division Office, and school.

 In addition, the 30th NCM aims to acknowledge the magnitude of the

mental health concerns among children pre- and during the COVID-19
pandemic and meet and improve the mental health of Filipino children
through activities that respond to the categories of children’s rights,
among others.

 “I am positive that this celebration of the 30th National Children’s Month

will spark more meaningful initiatives to create an informed, highly self-
aware generation of learners,” VP and Sec. Duterte added.

 DepEd also launched its Bullying Prevention campaign that ensures the
function of child protection committees and promotes community
participation in advocating for child rights and protection.

 “Every contribution, whether it’s taking part in a school or community

event, looking out for someone being bullied, or raising awareness
through conversation makes a difference and changes lives. Look for
 ways to get involved,” Atty. Suzette Gannaban-Medina, CPU OIC-Director
III noted.

 In serving the best interests of children, we serve the best interests of all
humanity. – Carol Bellamy
 REPUBLIC Act 10661 signed in 2015 by the late Philippine President
Benigno Aquino 3rd made November the official National Children's
Month in the Philippines, its origins being the UN World Children's
Month. This 2015 Act encourages us Filipinos to know and understand
the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as well as to sustain the
promotion and protection of the child's rights especially in this time of
the coronavirus pandemic (https://nationaltoday.com/national-childrens-
month/)The Philippines signed the UN CRC on Jan. 26, 1990, making it
the 109th country to sign the Convention. The Philippine Senate ratified
it on Aug. 21, 1990. The hereunder information drawn from the various
websites and reports are only several of the celebrations of Philippine
Children's month.
 Philippine Children's Month. Several government organizations on
children's welfare besides the DepEd are celebrating National Children's
Month this whole of November. The DepEd is reported to have
"officially kicked off the observance of this year's NCM on November
09." The celebration features "discussions on Understanding Learners'
Self-Concept: Me, Myself and I; Bullying Prevention and Safeguarding
of Learners and Children; Safe Spaces in the School Setting in the
Context of Learners; and Child Participation and Youth Concerns in
Child Protection." This month-long celebration will conclude with a
culminating program on November 25, to be hosted by the Child
Protection Unit (CPU) in partnership with the Public Affairs Service.
DepEd informs us that the 2022 celebration of NCM shall focus on
"Kalusugan, Kaisipan, at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan!" It
will cover four categories of children's rights: 1st week – survival rights,
2nd week - development rights, 3rd week – participation rights, and 4th
and final week – protection rights. (Manila Bulletin -
https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/06/ deped-to-launch-anti-bullying-campaign-
during-2022-natl-childrens-month-celebration/) According to the DepEd,
"This program aims to recognize schools that deliver positive results for
the learners' well-being." Based on the Child Protection Policy
Implementation Checklist, an assessment of schools shall be carried out.
This assessment focuses "on child's rights, health, protection and learners'
participation."
 Anti-bullying advocacy. For an outcomes-based celebration, schools are
encouraged to initiate "localized child protection policies and programs,"
and for teachers "to know the Child Protection Policy and their role as
guardians and partners towards its development." DepEd will "launch a
Bullying Prevention Advocacy Campaign" on the 30th of November of
National Children's Month, with the set of activities "spearheaded by the
Child Protection Unit (CPU)." To ensure the functionality of the child
protection committees (CPC), the DepEd encourages the CPU-initiated
programs to materialize especially where most needed. These programs
aim to "raise teachers' morale and motivation, mobilize community
support for education, and promote learner empowerment and youth
participation in advocating for their rights and protection."
(https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/ 06/deped-to-launch-anti-bullying-campaign-
during-2022-natl-childrens-month-celebration/) The theme is
"KasamaKa:BaLiK-Aral (Boses, Lakas ng Kabataan at Komunidad sa
Balik-Aral). The said campaign will focus on three core aspects:
KasamaAko (Adbokasiya Para sa Sarili), KasamaKayo (Adbokasiya para
sa Kapwa), and KasamaTayo (Adbokasiya Tungo sa Pagbabago). "This
program aims to recognize schools that deliver positive results for the
learners' well-being," The anti-bullying advocacy aims "to ensure the
functionality of the child protection committees (CPC) and encourage
schools to develop their localized child protection policies." Through this
advocacy, DepEd hopes "to inspire the members of the CPC and the
teachers to know the Child Protection Policy and their role as guardians
and partners towards its
development."(https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/06/deped-to-launch-anti-bully
ing-campaig n-during-2022-natl-childrens-month-celebration/)
 CWC and DSWD Children's Month. Another theme for the NCM will
be that by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) — the focal
interagency body of the Philippine Government for children. CWC is
"mandated to coordinate the implementation and enforcement of all laws;
formulate, monitor and evaluate policies, programs and measures for
children." To contribute to these efforts, CWC involves the
"collaboration with civil society, children and youth groups, the private
sector, academia, and the media." Dynamic leadership ensures "a child-
friendly and child-sensitive society where every child fully enjoys his/her
rights." (https://www.cwc.gov.ph/index.php/other-links/25?) "To
strengthen the advocacy for the mental health and well-being of children,
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the CWC,
the National Youth Commission (NYC), and other partners will
collaborate on the celebration this November of the 30th National
Children's Month (NCM)." Similar to DepEd, the theme is "Kalusugan,
Kaisipan at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan!" "It calls for
public support to prioritize the availability of necessary interventions to
support the mental health and overall well-being of children amid the
pandemic." These organizations and other partners will celebrate the
NCM this year focused "on providing mental health support services for
children in line with their rights to survival, development, protection, and
participation." "Raising awareness of children's rights can be done
through sustained capacity building, child's right on education and
communication campaigns." (http://pia.gov.
ph/press-releases/2022/11/04/dswd-partners-call-for-stronger-mental-
health-initiatives-in-30th-national-childrens-month-celebration)The
advice is to "give children time for play;" that children should not "be
pressured about life's demands and expectations, but rather they are to be
equipped as they still develop their young minds." Also, that children be
given "the opportunity to socialize with other kids and have fun while
they are still young;" that they "must be given the opportunity to go to
school and learn based on their respective ages. They are to be given
good shelter and healthy foods to suffice for their nourishment. Children
are to be empowered by letting them engage in various activities that will
boost their learning such as music and art tutorials." (Armenio Manuel)
(https://maharlika.tv/2022/10/31/ celebrating-national-childrens-month/)
Let us thank our sources for the various activities so painstakingly
planned and realized by concerned organizations, their partners and civil
society. We call on everyone to collaborate and help secure a sound
future for all children!