THE CONCEPT of "peace," often explained by grown-ups through wordy and vague definitions, was simplified by children one Saturday afternoon, by way of the one activity they do best—playing.

And play they did all afternoon, as shrieks of laughter, children running around, playfully stumbling over each other, eating and sharing snacks, meeting other children, and basically having a grand time, dominated the children's fair held in the Cafeterium hall of Miriam College last Saturday, October 19 in Quezon City.

According to its organizers—NGOs working for children's concerns and welfare--the fair, built on the theme "Kaming mga Bata, Kasali rin sa Usapin ng Kapayapaan (We Children, Partners in Discussing Peace)" was designed to provide a venue where the young could express their aspirations for peace.

Organizers of the treat for the children were the Salinlahi Foundation Inc., Parents' Alternative Inc., Children's Rehabilitation Center (CRC), and SAMAKANA (Samahan ng Maralitang Kababaihang Nagkakaisa).

The activity was the groups’ way of highlighting October as children's month. The United Nations, in recognition of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Philippine government has signed, declared Oct. 17 International Day of the Children.

Fun at the Fair
Some 200 children—from toddlers to pre-teens, accompanied by parents, guardians, and children's advocates—played games, ran around, and, based on the smiles on their faces, had fun at the fair.

From the word Go, it was fun that greeted the children—from the colorful banderitas (flaglets) that lined the hall, to the makeshift booths and tables manned by adults that attracted the children's interests.

For almost an hour, hordes of excited kids lined up for a chance to hit a pot filled with candies and goodies with a club while blindfolded. Each pot bore negative words that today’s children should understand, such as globalization, militarization, military aggression, and oppression.

One of the more popular booths taught young kids origami, the Japanese art of folding paper to produce different shapes and figures such as birds and flowers. At the face-painting booth, children sat as adults drew a flower, a butterfly, a billiard ball, a pair of red lips smiling, or a star on their cheeks.

A magician named Manny performed feats of magic, to the wonderment of children who gathered at his feet. And food stalls served fish balls, native delicacies, cold refreshments, and ice-drops, which were a hit among kids and teeners alike.

The Strains of Poverty and Countryside Militarization
Most of the children came from urban poor communities in Metro Manila, while some were victims of displacement due to military operations in the countryside, according to Carlos Padolina, secretary-general of Salinlahi, one of the NGO organizers.

"When you're in the urban poor community, nandoon ang lahat ang problema (all the problems are there), mainly economic—fathers don't have work, or they don't have food on the table. So, many children help out by vending," he said. On the other hand, children displaced by militarization are uprooted from their homes and evacuated. Both situations result in both physical and emotional strain, Padolina said.

"They don't have time for play. So we want them to have fun and at the same time push for peace," Padolina told CyberDyaryo. Peace, in this sense, means creating an environment where children can play and enjoy their childhood free from problems brought by economic hardships and violence.

The Situation of Children Today
In a brief program in the afternoon, children's groups revealed their serious side by presenting through plays how they view the situation of children in the country.

Many of the children in the audience apparently knew the state of many children in the Philippines today. "Naghihirap (Suffering)," replied the chorus in answer to Padolina's question, which kicked off the program started.

The plays presented children in different situations—as scavengers, laborers, farmers, and victims of military abuse. The presentations were capped by pledges from the children to stand up for their rights and to continue the struggle for justice.

A group of children who used to live in the garbage dump in Payatas, Quezon City, reenacted the anguish they felt when the July 10, 2000 tragedy struck when mountains of garbage crashed on their homes, killing hundreds of their family members, friends and neighbors. They said they are still seeking justice for their dead.

Another group performed a skit on how they were driven from their homes in Mindoro province by the military, who accused them of being members of the communist New People's Army.

"For us, peace means food on our table, jobs with decent wages for our parents and a house that we own. Peace means finishing our education and treating us children as equals and our rights respected," said a statement of the children given by Salinlahi.

Participating in Peace
Why should children and the young participate in the issue of peace? Isabelle Castillo, 14, a member of the CRC-Children's Collective who co-emceed the program, told CyberDyaryo that children have to involve themselves in this issue in the present, "for the future."

"For example, if your parents were killed by the military, what will happen to you? You can't go to school, what will happen to your future?" she said, adding she has heard displaced children tell stories of their plight.

She pointed out that such stories led her to believe that the situation in the country is not peaceful. This is why children should be involved in promoting peace, she added.

Is the government promoting the path to peace? "No, of course not," Castillo replied, noting that she has read a newspaper editorial on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's purported claim that 95 per cent of Filipinos do not support peace talks with the communist led National Democratic Front.

In an interview, 11-year-olds Glaiza and Sharalyn of Pasig City frowned and gave a negative view of the national situation. Glaiza particularly pointed to President Arroyo, who, she said, is "sunod nang sunod sa presidente ng Amerika (simply follows the lead of the president of the US)." Such a relationship will result in "maraming masasaktan at madadamay (many will be hurt and many will be drawn in unwittingly)."

The affair ended with the children gamely rushing up the stage, dipping their palms in paint and leaving their handprints on a blank white cloth, symbolizing their individual pleas for peace. -- CyberDyaryo

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