We already know that there is more to play than just having fun. Play is one of the many factors that molds a child into what he or she is, going to be when she grows up. It teaches balance, strategy, analogy, concentration, coordination, and teamwork. And because of this, I’ve always been inspired by Johnson & Johnson Philippines as they are actively promoting the power of play in helping our children’s development. Their campaign “Hindi Lang Laro ang Laro” is what I think about every time I see my own daughter play with her cousins or the neighbor.
So when I was invited by Johnsons Baby to fly out to Tacloban, Leyte and witness the turnover of the playground in Sagkahan Elementary School last June 6, 2014, I didn’t hesitate.
As an advocate of active play, Johnson & Johnson Philippines’s Di Lang Laro Ang Laro (promoting 1 hour of active play everyday for the holistic development of kids) brought its program to Tacloban and took a proactive stance in helping school-aged kids overcome trauma through the promotion of active play. The Johnson’s Baby team, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Play Pilipinas, continues its advocacy on active play, this time by constructing the first ever children’s school playground in Sagkahan Elementary School in Tacloban, Leyte to welcome the new school year.
When we arrived, the Grade 1 Students and some of their parents are already waiting for the turnover ceremony.
According to Ms. Nice Galura, the principal of Sagkahan Elementary School, the first day of this school year has a 100% attendance compared to the previous years which only has 80%. She said that this is because the children are already excited to play in the playground.
I had a chance to go around the school and check out the classrooms and building that was built for the students…
At first I thought, they were transferring the Johnson’s Baby Active Fresh Shadow Playground there but according to Ms. Kris Llanes, Johnson Baby Senior Brand Manager, the Shadow Playground is not right for the school because of the direction of the wind and the soil.
Ms. Sigrid Perez, Executive Director of Play Pilipinas, designed the playground. It was made with old tires, wood, and materials that are sustainable and readily available so it would be easy to fix once it gets broken.
This is the slide before it was opened to the children….
…and this is the slide after!
Look at the smiles in the children’s faces!
It was a hot morning when we were there but everyone didn’t mind the heat. There were lots of running around, laughter, smiles, and of course, playing!
The smiles I saw from the students of Sagkahan Elementary School is the kind of smile I want to see on Ykaie’s face that’s why I make sure that she gets at least one hour of active play everyday. Usually, she plays with her cousins or our neighbors, but I make sure I also get a chance to play with her. I’ve learned that it’s very important that for me, as a mommy, to spend solo time with my daughter to show her how much I love her.
I’ve attended many Johnsons event in the past and each event made me realize the importance of Active Play in our children’s holistic development. The turnover of the playground also made me realize that Active play does not only mold a child, Active Play also heals a child.
Let me share with you this video so you mommies can see what I saw and experience what I experienced there at Sagkahan Elementary School in Tacloban.
31 Responses
This is a great cause! This will help more children to enjoy school. Thanks to Johnsons!
Awww this is an amazing project! I know that the devastation in some parts of Tacloban can still be felt after last year’s typhoon disaster, and it’s just so nice that these kids in the area have been given a great reason to smile by Johnson’s Baby.
As always, Johnson’s promotional strategy still exists even at this Elementary School. There’s a lot of elementary schools all throughout the Philippines who needs help, not only Sagkahan. At least, Johnson have the power to extend help for these kids.
I do hope they get to build playgrounds for those other schools as well.
Wow. Really inspiring. This is a great cause and it’s a great way to put the smiles back to those children’s faces 🙂
It is very inspiring, indeed!
Wow. This is really inspiring. Such a great cause, and it’s delightful to put back smiles to those children’s faces. 🙂
What a great project. The kids would really love the playground that Johnson & Johnson donated. BTW. It’s touching that the J&J employees have their share too by donating toys.
yeah, it has touched me also.
Kid likes playing AND IT’S VITAL FOR THEIR WELLBEING, THEY SAY ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JAC A DULL FOR.
I agree.
More Company should follow Johnson & Johnson’s example in constructing playground for kids especially in Tacloban area.
I do hope so, Franc.
Oh, how nice of them to sponsor such project. Isn’t it great if all companies would do the same?
Yeah, I do hope more companies would sponsor projects like this
What a nice trip to take! And who would have thought about wind, soil, etc. It’s amazing how many things go into planning just about anything, isn’t it! Big Kudos to Johnson’s for their role in this project!
Kudos to j&j!
Wow, we take everything for granted here. I was expecting so see the regular play grounds in the pictures, rather than tire swings. It is such a great thing that this children are eager to attend school now and that they have a place to socialize. Great post. Reminds me there is still good in the world and while my kids are crying over a tablet app that keeps freezing theres kids like this that dont even get the technology we are spoiled with.
True Zulema. Thanks to J&J for donating this playgound to the students of Sagkahan Elementary School.
What an awesome cause!
Yeah, thanks to J&J for helping kids in Tacloban cope.
Nice event and project of J&J. I’m sure kids are all happy.
Yes, the kids are very happy!
It warms my heart how everyone is pitching in and STILL helping rebuild calamity stricken places!
I’ve attended an event by Play Pilipinas before and I really love their advocacy. It’s so great that J&J decided to partner with them for this project. Hope they build more playgrounds in Tacloban and the rest of the country too. 🙂
l love it! Even I would have a hard time prying my kids off this kind of playground. what a nice thing to do, Johnson! 🙂 Kudos!
This is a wonderful project! Kudos to Johnson’s for working on something like this. 🙂
Surely the kids loved their new playground! Nice project 🙂
Nice project! I like their tagline Hindi Lang Laro ang Laro. It truly helps a lot of children especially in situations like what the children in Tacloban experienced.
What a very good advocacy from Johnsons and Johnsons. i hope more big companies like them will go beyond the profit side of their businesses and really give back to the country through projects like these. I’m sure that this will be extra beneficial to the students of Sagkahan because of what has recently happened to Tacloban. Good job J & J!
True! This is why I love J&J