The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, New South Wales, celebrated Children’s Week in a vibrant and interactive showcase of music, oral traditions, martial arts and visual arts on 27 January 2026 at its Bulwagang Rizal.
Children’s Week is celebrated in the fourth week of January each year under Proclamation No. 190 by former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal to promote children’s welfare and citizenship.
Consul General Charmaine Rowena C. Aviquivil said that the commemoration of Children’s Week reminds us of our shared responsibility to protect, uplift and nurture every child.
“At the heart of today’s celebration are three simple and powerful ideas: children’s rights, protection and development. Every child has the right to be safe, to learn, to be heard and to grow up with dignity and hope. Protection means being vigilant against child abuse, child labour, neglect and online risks. Education, mentorship and positive role models shape not just successful individuals but also compassionate citizens of the world,” Consul General Aviquivil explained.
The program was organised in collaboration with youth advocate Jinky Marsh. It showcased Philippine-inspired artworks by Filipino-Australian school-aged children Matthew Chidgey, Timothy Marsh and Maria Hall, who likewise delighted the audience with interactive riddle time. The legend of Mount Mayon was also retold.
A demonstration of Filipino martial arts, Arnis, was conducted by John Alivio of NNG Balintawak Australia and his student Salvatore Romeo. He stressed the importance of spreading awareness of martial arts from the Philippines among Filipino-Australian children.
The program’s keynote speaker, Mary Girlie Glen Tupas, Senior Lead for Engagement at the International Justice Mission, spoke about the alarming magnitude of online exploitation of Filipino children. Despite the surging incidents, Tupas emphasised hope in working together to combat such crimes, arrest suspects, convict offenders and restore survivors. She encouraged vigilance, spreading awareness, early intervention and reporting to authorities to counter child exploitation.
This service of hope was put into music by Hall with her inspirational singing of Someone’s Waiting For You from the animated movie The Rescuers.
Messages on Children’s Week by the great-grandniece of Jose Rizal, Josephine Quintero; Philippine Community Council of NSW President Grace Daymiel Liston; Philippine Australian Sports and Culture Inc. President Marivic Ayap-Flores; author and voice teacher Tina Bangel; and Philippine culture and arts advocate Joan Villarante were also featured in the program.
The celebration concluded with a captivating rendition of Rey Valera’s Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko on violin by Jethro Villarante, which he learned by ear without sheet music. The song reminded children and youth to value mutual respect, especially toward those who raise and nurture them — their parents, carers and guardians.
