(City of San Fernando, Pampanga) The Department of Social Welfare and Development led the Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago!Regional Search for Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children on September 16, 2014 in this city.

This is to encourage exemplary compliance of children to the conditionalities and co-responsibilities set by the program through recognition of those who excel in doing so and develop exemplary Pantawid Pamilya children beneficiaries as advocates of the program.

On its sixth year of implementation, Pantawid Pamilya expanded its coverage to children up to 18 years of age in order to further pursue the rights of the children and enable the program to contribute to the end of the inter-generational cycle of poverty, thus the launching of the Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago Campaign.
Also, in line with the national celebration of Children’s Month every October the search was conducted to be a part of the National Children’s Congress that aims to emphasize the importance of the role of the child within the Filipino family and in nation-building. The search will also identify a pool of children advocates of the program.

Mr. Armont C. Pecina, Chief of the Institutional Development Division, who welcomed the guests and participants stressed, “Alam ko at alam nating lahat na ang layon sa ngayon ay pag-igtingin ang programa upang lalo pang umusbong ang bagong uri ng kabataan na taglay ang ugali at kakayahan na halaw sa pagpapanday ng programa.” He also challenged the audience by saying “Kapit-bisig nating iatang sa balikat ang pangarap sa bukas at tupdin any nakalaan para sa maayang hinaharap ng ating kabataan.”

Ten children from different provinces of Region III competed for the title of Grand Winner of the Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago! Regional Search for Pantawid Pamilya Children. They performed their talents and were judged according to the criteria Kilos at Ugali (Behaviour and Practice), Talento (Talent), Talino at Talas ng Isip (Intelligence and Wit), Pakikilahok sa Komunidad at Eskwela (Community and School Participation), Tindig at Pormang Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago! (Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago! Presence and Appearance), each comprises of 20%.

The Provincial Operations Office of Tarlac bagged the top place represented by Regina N. Villarama followed by Pampanga’s representative Rose Ann S. Garung and Bulacan’s Hannah S. Breis.

Regina presented a sing and dance and drama portraying a life of a child who’s living in poverty. She also added “Hindi ko kasalanan na ako ay ipinanganak na mahirap pero magiging kasalanan ko kapag ako ay namatay na mahirap. Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago! Salamat sa Pantawid Pamilya.” ### (Alexine Bianca Castaneda)

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