Christmas all year long

MANILA, Philippines - “At Museo Pambata, Christmas is everyday,” says the museum’s president and CEO Nina Lim-Yuson. “It is a place where children are given options in their lives,” she adds on the child-centered museum – the first of its kind in the Philippines– which is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

The Christmas spirit was high during the Museo’s annual gift-giving event. This year, staff, donors, and volunteers packed 2,000 bags for kids from different districts of Manila. Preparation for the Christmas celebration starts as early as three months in advance, says Nina.

All day long, excited groups of children – many of whom were visiting for the first time – toured the museum and enjoyed the various educational exhibits. When museum guides greeted each group at the entrance asking, “Sino’ng gustong mag-laro (Who wants to play)?” all the children enthusiastically raised their hands in anticipation of the fun-filled day in store for them.

After going through the museum, the children received bags with noche buena staples, handed to them by Nina herself. But after getting their bags, the surprises were not yet over. The kids also had a grand time walking through the back driveway of the Museo where tents were set up with more giveaways to be enjoyed, ending with a refreshing scoop of dirty ice cream, capping what surely is a memorable day in each of the children’s lives.

“There has been more recognition that it is important to focus on children,” emphasizes Nina. Among those who supported the gift giving event were the Czech ambassador Jaroslav Ludva and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

The children sang a hearty “Happy Birthday” to the mayor, whose birthday is a day after the Museo’s.

With the Museo Pambata’s 15th year launched, the museum looks back on many fruitful years. There are many noteworthy exhibits and events throughout the years of the museum which promoted children’s rights, peace, and Filipino culture and history. Among these are the Tutubing Bakal and the recent Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The convention, dubbed “Kanino ba ang CRC? (Whose responsibility is the CRC?)” was a three-day summit which brought together some 50 children aged 11 to 16 years old. One of the children’s activities, Nina shares, was writing birthday wishes. “One of the major things on the minds of children is that they finish schooling,” she says. 

Of all of the activities that the Museo has held, Nina is most proud of their mobile library and literacy program, as well as their traveling exhibits, all of which enable them to reach out to children who are not able to come to the museum.

Nina shares that the best indicator for success at the museum is when young children tell their moms, “Ayoko pang umalis (I don’t want to leave yet)!” after going through all of the exhibits.

“The children who have come here and remember their experiences here someday will become leaders,” says Nina. “Somehow we hope that we have affected their love for learning by making learning fun.”

Museo Pambata has many plans and activities lined up for their 15th year. First, Nina says, they would like to refresh all of the themed rooms. They also have new publications on ordinary children who have become extraordinary young heroes of today. Nina is also excited about their fifth traveling exhibit to the provinces, Money Matters, which promotes financial literacy and helps children distinguish their needs from their wants.

Of course, all of these activities require sufficient funds. Aside from finding sponsors, one of Museo Pambata’s fundraising activities is a Tile Wall. For P1,500 per tile, groups or companies can paint tiles with messages of peace and hope. The tiles will brighten up the Museo’s lobby.

“Having positive experiences brings children a notch higher,” says Nina on the importance of the children’s museum. “We need good role models for children.”

“Christmas is really for the children,” affirms Nina. Her Christmas wish for the Filipino children is that they persevere in school and become more creative and imaginative through reading storybooks. She wishes that parents spend more quality time with their children. “You cannot replace the early years,” she says.

Finally, Nina hopes that teachers will make school an inviting place to learn, as Museo Pambata celebrates its milestone with more exciting and fun opportunities for Filipino children to learn and be inspired.

Museo Pambata is located at South Drive corner Roxas Boulevard, next to the Luneta. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 523-1797 or visit www.museopambata.org