ANTIQUE — Young learners from Child Development Centers across the province showcased their creativity, confidence, and talent during the Provincial Pre-Schoolers’ Talent Contest held on November 21 at CityMall Antique, marking a key highlight of the 33rd National Children’s Month celebration.
Participants from 16 municipalities vied for top honors in three categories: Vocal Solo, Draw and Tell, and Zumba Dance. The annual event, organized by the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (OPSWDO), aims to empower children by giving them a platform for artistic expression while reinforcing their rights to participation and protection.
“This initiative is a celebration of the children’s gifts and our collective commitment to defend their safety, dignity, and rights,” said Carla Jee Ann Cabigunda, Early Childhood Care and Development Focal Person at OPSWDO. She added that the contest “strengthens the province’s advocacy for child protection while honoring the vibrancy, innocence, and boundless potential of its young children.”
The event also echoed this year’s National Children’s Month theme: “OSAEC–CSAEM Wakasan: Kaligtasan at Karapatan ng Bata, Ipaglaban!”—a nationwide call to end Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM).
Social Welfare Officer V Careen Panaguiton emphasized that the talent show is part of the province’s continuing efforts to safeguard children’s rights, noting that Antique launched its month-long celebration on November 11 with a pledge to uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In the competition, Hamtic triumphed in the Vocal Solo category, followed by San Jose de Buenavista and Patnongon in second and third place, respectively.
San Jose de Buenavista ruled the Draw and Tell category, with Tibiao taking second place and Sebaste securing third.
Meanwhile, the energetic and well-coordinated performance of Tibiao earned them the championship title in the Zumba Dance category. Patnongon placed second, while Valderrama finished third.
The event not only celebrated the talents of Antique’s preschoolers but also reaffirmed the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to advancing child protection, participation, and empowerment across communities./PN
