'Lapis Campaign' highlights Children's Month kicks off celebration

PASAY CITY, November 7, (PIA) - -  Lapis Campaign highlighted the  kickoff  celebration of the National Children’s Month this November as the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) spearheaded the country’s attempt to make it  to the Guinness Book of World Record (GBWR) for the Longest Line of Pencils formed.   

The country’s attempt to break the record of Germany with 459.97 meters of pencil line recorded last August 5, 2015 was a success as the line of pencils formed last Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the jogger’s lane of SM Mall of Asia was 858.58 meters, almost twice the length of Germany’s pencil line.   

Chief AFP-HRO Brig. Gen. Jose Antonio Motril was invited as an independent witness of the activity and was delegated to declare the record of the achievement. Motril confirmed that he indeed witnessed the conduct of measurement by naming the first and the last persons in the line.   About 2,500 children aged 14-17 years  along with adults from government agencies, non- government organizations, faith based institutions and business establishments gathered to be part of the historic line.   

The GBWR attempt was the culmination activity of the1-Million Lapis campaign of CWC which aims to promote the child’s right to (write as basic right) education.    In her earlier statement, CWC Executive Director Patricia Luna said that the idea of the campaign came from a documentary report in 2012 which stated that in far-flung villages, there are many situations where elementary students divide one pencil to be able to learn to write. The situation showed lack of materials compounded with inadequate school facilities, the topography of the area and the long distance of travel from home to school.   “Lapis” or pencil is a symbolic presentation of a child’s need to express one’s ideas and feelings as they are empowered through learning,” Luna stressed.   

The Lapis Campaign achieved overwhelming support with a total of 3,337,521 pencils as of October 30, 2016 and many more are coming as pledges continue to arrive at the Council’s door.   The project is a partnership of the National Government led by CWC and the private sector led by Amalgamated Specialties Inc. (AMSPEC) who donated 1 million pencils and SM cares where the venue was held and  donated 50 thousand pencils.   Other major sponsors are: National Bookstore, Soroptomist of the Philippines, Landbank of the Philippines and Enchanted Kingdom.   Among national government agencies (NGAs), Philippine National Police (PNP) donated the most with 1.5m pencils followed by DepEd, DSWD, PCOO, DOJ, DA, NCDA, NCCT, NPC, and NEA.   

Non-government organizations (NGOs) like NCSD, Erda Foundation, Consuelo Foundation, Childfund Japan Philippines, Childhope and academes STI  and Mirriam College Middle  School also contributed. The event was graced by DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot, DSWD Usec Mae Fe Ancheta Temple, NYC Executive Director  Niel Tupas Jr,SM Cares ProgramDirector for Youth and Children Welfare Royston Cabunag, Amalgamated President Mr. Lee Thompson and Soroptomist President Judy Gutierrez. 

The Pencil Campaign Project promotes the children’s basic right to education especially for children whose situations impeded their chances. It aims to gather pencils for these children who live mostly in 4th to 6th class municipalities. The right to be educated is an individual’s fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. (CWC/RJB/LFB/PIA-NCR)