1st NCCT’s Cinepambata Premieres on Street Children’s Day

The National Council for Children’s Television in cooperation (NCCT) with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) Kalahi Cultural Caregiving Program celebrates the Street Children’s Day thru its 1st CinePambata Festival on December 28, 2009 at the NCCA Auditorium, NCCA Intramuros, Manila. Registration begins at 8:00am.

The Street Children’s day is celebrated pursuant to Malacañang Proclamation No.1207 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, otherwise known as Holy Innocent’s Day, declaring December 28 as a special day dedicated to street children and other abandoned, orphaned, abused and marginalized youth.

According to UNICEF, there are 250,000 street children in the Philippines who literally live, sleep, and work in key cities nationwide. These children are exposed to various risks endangering their health, well-being, and even their lives.

NCCT Executive Director Frank G. Rivera said, “It is about time that films and television shows will not only be for entertainment but most importantly, will contribute positive behavior, culture and values among Filipino children.”

Around 300 street children under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development headed by Secretary Esperanza Cabral and City Hall of Manila will enjoy series of children’s films twinned with dance, painting, choral singing and learn to play the national sport, Arnis, thru the Kalahi Caregiving Program of NCCA chaired by Dr. Vilma Labrador with Cecile Guidote Alvarez as NCCA Executive Director. As a finale, children will walk to Fort Santiago to appreciate our heritage and commemorate Dr. Jose P. Rizal through the cooperation of the Intramuros Administration headed by Bambi Harper where the prizes for the best films will be awarded.

Films to be shown are created and produced for children featuring young and talented filmmakers like Noriel Jarito, Donnie Sacueza, Jedd Chris P. Dumaguina, Carlos Corpus IV, Vic Tiro, Rica Arevalo, and Milo Tolentino.

Simultaneously, an NCCA Kalahi Cultural Caregiving for healing in a resettlement area of victims in Datu Piang, Maguindanao coordinated by Basilidas Pilapil and in Bohol for the marginalized youth; a competition in music and dance coordinated by Lutgardo Labad focused on child and parenthood is undertaken with the cooperation of the UNFPA and the health sector of the provincial government.

Conducted nationwide, the KALAHI Cultural Caregiving Program is a poverty alleviation program aimed at achieving the eight UN Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs). This program utilizes the Earthsavers DREAMS Methodology which involves Human Resource Development, Eco-Social Rehabilitation and Values Education through Arts and Media and Sports and Science. Its holistic approach underscores the therapeutic and participatory values derived from meaningful and relevant arts training that culminates into a showcase of talents in the field of visual arts, music, dance, theater arts, rondalla, creative crafts, media and animation and broadcast modules.

The event will be featured in the Sining Gising program held on Sundays on NBN from 4:00-6:00pm. For more information, please contact Patrick Jay Veril and Chay Dionco at 634-7156/0922-887-8254.

For inquiries, please contact the Public Affairs and Information Division at (T) 527-5529, (F) 527-2191 local 612-615, or email at info@ncca.gov.ph.