Children gathered in Quezon City on November 7, 2025, to mark the start of National Children’s Month (NCM), spending the morning singing, dancing, and simply enjoying a safe space to play and run freely. Among them were children in conflict with the law (CICL), young people often unseen or labeled only for their past.

CICL, under the care of Taguig City Bahay Pag-Asa (BPA), was one of the groups that performed on stage. For many of them, it was an opportunity to be recognized and appreciated for their talents and efforts.

“Masaya po kasi napagbigyan po kami makapagperform dito, at magiging isa ito sa aking best memory na makapag-perform sa harap ng maraming tao,” shared one of the youth performers.

(I’m happy because we were given the chance to perform here, and this will be one of my best memories, being able to perform in front of so many people.)

They also expressed their enjoyment of the program. “Na-enjoy po namin mga performances, lahat po sila magagaling,” the performer added, referring to other children who performed as well.

(We really enjoyed the performances, everyone was very talented.)

With the theme,“OSAEC-CSAEM Wakasan: Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!”, the celebration is spearheaded by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), National Youth Commission, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The NCM highlights the importance of creating supportive environments where every Filipino child can grow up protected and empowered. In the case of CICL, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) ensures they undergo rehabilitation rather than punishment, recognizing that they are still children who deserve a chance to rebuild their lives.

The event served as a reminder that CICL are also children, capable of learning, healing, and contributing meaningfully when provided guidance, care, and a supportive environment.