Pangkat Manawari, a team of psychology students from the University of the Philippines Diliman Extension in Pampanga and Olongapo (UPDEPPO), is set to roll out a three-day child development program at Kanlungan ng Kabataan in Angeles City, Pampanga this April 2026. The initiative is designed to support children’s socio-emotional development through guided, play-based learning experiences grounded in everyday interaction and reflection.
Spanning three Mondays of April, the program shifts the learning experience away from conventional instruction and into more interactive, child-centered engagement. Each session is intentionally structured to respond to the realities of young learners—using movement-based activities, storytelling, and creative expression as entry points for understanding emotions, relationships, and self-worth in ways that are both familiar and accessible.
On April 13, Project Halina opens the series with a focus on emotion regulation. Through guided group activities and reflection exercises, children are encouraged to identify what they feel and explore healthier ways of responding to different emotional situations. The session emphasizes awareness and grounding as foundational tools in managing everyday experiences.
On April 20, Project Halaga centers on empathy development. Through shared storytelling in partnership with The Storytelling Project and group-based activities, children are guided to recognize perspectives beyond their own and develop a deeper understanding of how emotions are experienced by others. The session underscores listening, awareness, and respect as key elements in building meaningful social connections.
On April 27, Project Hiraya concludes the program with confidence-building through self-expression. Participants engage in creative and collaborative activities that allow them to express identity, highlight personal strengths, and take ownership of how they see themselves. The session will also feature a film viewing activity in collaboration with Yakult, adding another reflective layer to the final day of the program.
Taken together, the three sessions form a continuous learning experience that moves from self-awareness, to understanding others, and finally to self-expression. Each week builds on the last, allowing children to carry forward what they have learned and apply it in new ways. Instead of treating activities as stand-alone moments, the program creates a steady progression where insights are developed through experience and reinforced over time.
In shaping these moments, Pangkat Manawari frames the project as a space of learning lived in real time. In the quiet shifts between play, reflection, and expression, the program leans into a simple direction: that growth does not always arrive loudly—it often begins in spaces where children are simply given room to be, to try, and to understand themselves a little more each time they show up.a
