The Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne, in collaboration with the Philippine Language School of Victoria (PLSVI) and the Filipino-Australian Student Council of Victoria (FASTCO), hosted a Children’s Day celebration on January 20, 2024. The event, held at the consulate’s premises, attracted over 30 children aged 1 to 13, along with their parents and guardians, and featured traditional Filipino storytelling, songs, and games.
Consul-General Maria Lourdes Salcedo opened the event with remarks emphasising the importance of children and the Philippines’ commitment to child rights. The program included a video storytelling session of ‘Si Pagong at Si Matsing’, presented by Story House, followed by traditional Filipino games like luksong tinik, hep hep hooray, piko, and longest breath, organised by FASTCO.
Ms. Perla Luetic, President and Principal of PSLVI, spoke about the significance of Children’s Day and introduced a performance by PSLVI students. The event concluded with remarks from Consul Jan Sherwin Wenceslao, who encouraged adults to celebrate Children’s Week at home and highlighted the importance of fostering children’s imagination and creativity.
The celebration also featured the distribution of goody bags and a Filipino afternoon snack, or merienda, including suman, sago at gulaman, biko, and pancit.
Ms. Rosa Almencion, a Mommy YouTuber, attended the event and later shared her experiences on her YouTube channel. She reported that her son and other children enjoyed engaging in traditional Filipino games and learning about Filipino culture. Her account emphasised the educational aspect of the event, noting that the children continued to play games like piko and luksong tinik at home.
This event in Melbourne was part of the Philippines’ initiative to celebrate Children’s Week in the fourth week of January, aiming to promote awareness of children’s rights and welfare as outlined in the Child and Youth Welfare Code of the Philippines.
