THE Davao City Recreation Center held the 35th International Children's Day celebration with the theme "Break the Prevalence, End the Violence: Protecting Children, Creating a Safe Philippines."

The event lasted from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., aiming to raise public awareness of the protection of children's rights and attach importance to the construction of regional peace and security in the Philippines.

The opening ceremony of the event officially started at 1 p.m. with the opening prayer and the singing of the Philippine national anthem. Members of the Executive Committee gave welcome speeches, followed by an opening performance by the children of Titogop Elementary School.

During the event, representatives from different countries displayed their national flags and expressed support for the protection of children's rights and interests. These countries included China, Vietnam, Fiji, Gambia, Cuba, Somalia, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia.

During the speech session, special emphasis was placed on the severe situation of global children's rights protection.

According to data, about 15,000 children under the age of five die every day from preventable diseases, millions are unable to attend school, and hundreds of millions remain trapped in violence, poverty, conflict and indiscipline around the world. The impact of current military conflicts around the world on children is profound and devastating.

Philippine foreign policy was also the focus of this event. The Philippines' current foreign policy should follow the principle of "friends-to-all-enemy-to-none" to avoid or prevent the possibility of proxy wars happening in the Philippine territories by developed, advanced and powerful countries.

The Philippines should independently develop defense systems and mechanisms instead of relying on external powers, especially former colonizers such as the United States. This would not only endanger national sovereignty and regional peace but would also pose a threat to the future of children.

In addition, organizers also emphasized that protecting children's rights and interests from violation would be the fundamental means to prevent and resolve conflict.

The campaign of the coalition together with its partners and stakeholders against Osaec, or the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, should be given more concern than pushing preparations to the "drama of war," wherewith if ever won, none shall benefit but children's lives are ruined.

At the end of the event, the organizers emphasized the importance of respecting the will of the people and protecting regional peace and stability, and called on the international community to pay attention to the destabilizing factors of powerful nations across the globe.

One instance would be that of the US military deployment in the Philippines at the brink of sprouting regional military conflicts. Pay attention to protecting regional peace and the rights and interests of the intra-regional children.

The event ended successfully with a series of wonderful performances and awards. Organizers once again emphasized the importance of protecting children and ending violence, and called on the whole society to work together to create a safer and healthier growth environment for children.

It also called on the media to remain vigilant and actively disseminate correct and accurate information with the aim of building regional peace.