National Play Advocacy Week: Protecting Children, Strengthening Communities

Just days before 15 November 2025, as National Play Advocacy Week approached, Super Typhoon Fung-Wong swept across the Philippines — claiming lives, damaging homes, and leaving families facing sudden uncertainty. The storm brought grief, fear and upheaval to entire communities.

And yet, in the middle of all that devastation, something extraordinary happened.

In Quezon Province, more than 140 children gathered — not in fear, but in laughter. Not in silence, but in joy. They came together to reclaim something the storm could not take: their right to play.

The moment was captured beautifully by Executive Director V of the Council for the Welfare of Children, Sir Angelo M. Tapales, whose words reflected the heart of the celebration.

This was no ordinary activity. It was a testament to the resilience of children who refuse to be defined by disaster — a reminder that play is not just fun. Play protects. Play empowers. Play unites. Against the backdrop of loss, these children showed the world that hope can rise again, courage can shine again, and community can stand strong again.

In the aftermath of devastation, this gathering became a declaration: Children’s rights do not disappear in disaster — they matter even more.

Courage in the Storm

In the days leading up to the event, Football for Humanity coaches found themselves directly in the path of Super Typhoon Fung-Wong. Floodwaters surged, vehicles were submerged, and roads were cut off. Many would have turned back.

They didn’t.

Soaked to the bone, carrying damaged equipment, and wading through rising water, our coaches pressed on with one unshakeable mission:to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation, empower them with life-saving knowledge, and unite communities in a shared purpose.

They travelled on to Quezon to deliver education through storytelling, immersive games and rights-based activities — because even after a storm, every child deserves safety, awareness and hope.

One of our frontline coaches, Coach Kim said, "Our homes were damaged, and vehicles submerged, but the mission remained. After the super typhoon, reaching the children with life saving education was not just important — it was urgent."

With mobile signal fading in and out after the storm, his voice carried the fatigue of someone who had survived a long night. Yet beneath it was a steady determination — the resolve of someone who would not abandon the children counting on him.

This same spirit of protection runs through Coach Kim’s newly released playbook, which reflects the realities children face and the extraordinary dedication of practitioners who safeguard them even in the harshest conditions.

At its heart, the playbook champions two powerful tools:

Play

Play is more than fun — it is healing. Through games and role-play, children process fear, rebuild confidence and rediscover joy after crisis.

Storytelling

Stories offer comfort and connection. They help children make sense of their experiences and recognise their own capacity to rise above adversity.

Kim also offers practical guidance on creating safe, nurturing spaces where children feel protected and free to express themselves. His book equips parents, teachers and community leaders with simple, compassionate tools that help children recover, grow and thrive.

Their courage embodied the first FFH pillar: PROTECT.

Play With Purpose

The celebration came alive with vibrant, interactive play booths created by the Philippine Play Coalition and partner organisations — each one designed with intent and purpose. These weren’t just spaces for fun. They were environments where children could heal, grow and rediscover themselves after the storm.

Through every booth, children were encouraged to:

→ Understand their rights

Building confidence to recognise their entitlements and use their voices.

→ Rebuild confidence after crisis

Providing safe spaces where children could express themselves and feel secure again.

→ Strengthen emotional resilience

Helping them develop coping strategies and emotional tools for future challenges.

→ Develop life skills through play

Encouraging teamwork, communication and leadership in natural, empowering ways.

In moments of upheaval, play becomes more than play — it becomes a lifeline. It restores normalcy, sparks creativity and gives children a safe way to release emotions they cannot yet put into words.

After the devastation of Super Typhoon Fung-Wong, these spaces became a beacon of hope. Laughter returned. Imagination returned. Childhood returned.

Their resilience reflected the second FFH pillar: EMPOWER.

A Community United for Children

This celebration was only possible because a community chose to rise together — united by one purpose: to protect and uplift the children of Quezon.

It was a powerful collaboration between:

• The Provincial Government of Quezon (Overall governence of Quezon)

• Committee for the Welfare of Children (Policy implementors)

• Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children Region IV-A (Nation building & disaster response)

• Football for Humanity (Yay, thats us!) 👋

• Ludus Distributors (Tabletop hobby game distributor)

• Kalaro Kolektib (Creative development)

• ATI Calabarzon (Capacity building)

  
  

Each organisation brought something essential — expertise, compassion, creativity, leadership. And together, they created an environment where children felt safe, seen and supported. Together they restored joy after the storm. Together they showed that when communities unite, hope becomes stronger than any typhoon.

Because unity in the Philippines is more than partnership — it is survival.

This archipelago faces typhoons, floods, earthquakes, volcanic ash and, in some places, armed conflict. Yet through every hardship, the Filipino spirit remains unbreakable.

I’ve stood in wind-tearing typhoons, felt the ground shift under earthquakes, breathed volcanic ash and walked through conflict-affected areas. And in every setting, I witnessed the same thing: people coming together — calm, compassionate, determined, ready to lift each other up.

And in Quezon, we saw it again: a community choosing joy over fear, togetherness over despair, and choosing to let children play, laugh and rise again. Because when communities unite, the Filipino spirit rises and no child stands alone. Even in the aftermath of a fierce storm, hope finds its way back.

Our togetherness revealed the third FFH pillar: UNITE.

As the Philippines rebuilds from another Super Typhoon, the celebration in Quezon stands as a reminder of a powerful truth:

𝐇𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐠𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐮-𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠!

• Play Protects.

• Play Empowers.

• Play Unites.

And through these, play helps children rise again. But rebuilding childhood doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because people choose to show up, choose to care, and choose to stand with children when it matters most.

So how about you? What part will you choose to play in helping a child feel safe, seen, and supported? Get in touch, and play your part!