Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. kicks off Angeles City government’s celebration of National Children’s Month with a series of competitions for Day Care students on November 15, 2023.

A total of 240 Day Care students took part in a poem recital contest, solo singing contest, cheerdance competition, and Parada ng Pangarap.

For the Cheerdance Competition, grand winners of Day Care students from Baby Huey Child Development Center took home P10,000; second placer learners from St. Joseph Child Development Center got P7,000; third placer kids from Cuayan Child Development Center received P5,000; and non-winners took home a consolation prize of P2,000.

Zaila Zaydee Angeles of Belen Homesite Child Development Center sang her way to victory in the Solo Singing Contest and received P5,000; Atarah Joy Equita of Cutud Child Development Center placed second and got P3,000; Dana Aravella Guiao of Abacan Child Development Center took home P2,000; while non-winners got consolation prizes of P1,000.

Chathellea Misolas of Lourdes Sur East Child Development Center was crowned as the champion for the Poem Recital Contest and got P5,000; Inno Dominic Ortiz of Abacan Child Development Center finished second and took home P3,000; Keira Leigh Cordero of Batibot Child Development Center placed third and received P2,000; while non-winners received consolation prizes of P1,000.

Louise Perales of Plaridel I Child Development Center had the best costume for the Parada ng Pangarap and took home P3,000; Julien Julian of Baby Huey Child Development Center placed second and received P2,000; Kray Cion Noguchi of San Ignacio Child Development Center completed the top 3 and got P1,000; and non-winners got consolation prizes of P500.

Serving as panel of judges are Environmentalist and Veteran Broadcaster Cecile Yumul, City Treasurer Jenifer Castro, City Budget Officer Jane Nakpil, Angeles City Youth Development Officer Joffre Joel Dulinayan II, Vincent Catacutan of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Joseph Rassel Santiago of City Information Office.

According to Mayor Lazatin, this kind of competition will inspire the kids to enhance their skills, teach them to aim high, and strive harder.

“Ang day care po ay malaking bagay sa paglaki ng bata at sa gagawin nitong transisyon sa isang elementary school, nagsisilbi pong pundasyon ang day care sa mga bata na papasok sa elementarya,” Lazatin said.

Meanwhile, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Edna Duaso expressed her utmost gratitude to Mayor Lazatin for his never-ending support to this program for the day care students.

“Napakalaki po ng binigay na suporta ng ating butihing Mayor Pogi, ito na po siguro ang pinakaengrandeng at pinakamalaking papremyo sa mananalo sa ating mga contests para sa day care students,” Duaso said.

“Simula noong pagkaupo po ni Mayor Lazatin, isa sa mga tinututukan niya hanggang ngayon ay ang kapakanan ng mga mag-aaral na bata, ginawa niya pong libre ang lahat magmula sa mga libro, uniporme, sapatos at school supplies, wala na pong iisipin ang mga magulang kundi papapasukin na lang po nila ang kanilang mgq anak sa day care,” Duaso added.

To recall, the city government, led by Mayor Lazatin, distributed school supplies to 2,500 day care students in the city.

Lazatin continues to provide programs to uplift the quality of education and well-being of day care students.

Present during the event are Vice Mayor Ma. Vicenta “Vicky” Vega-Cabigting, and former Sangguniang Kabataan President Arnoah Mandani.