As DLSU-For the Kids (FTK) 2026 draws closer, new details emerge about what attendees can expect at the Feb. 1 celebration. The 37th edition of this COSCA tradition, themed "Haraya: A Festival of Dreams," promises a day filled with Filipino-inspired festivities at the Henry Sy Sr. Grounds.
Inside the Piyestahan
The heart of the event beats in its piyestahan-style celebration: a distinctly Filipino atmosphere designed for joy and connection. The day will commence with a mass, one that grounds DLSU FTK in community and reflection before launching into the festivities.
Each child from the 20 partner Special Education centers across Manila will be paired with an Ate-Kuya volunteer—a student companion who will guide them through the day’s activities.
Together, they will navigate mini-Olympics style games such as Boxtastic (puzzle-solving with stacked blocks), Tumba Saya (toppling paper towers with soft balls), and Munting Balay (creating personalized field scenes on cartolina). Other stations include ring toss, basketball, soccer, and a multi-station relay where student-athletes cheer on participants.
Outside those games, the green grounds will buzz with interactive inflatable activities, partner organization booths, and food stalls offering festival favorites. The event expects approximately 1,500 attendees, including 400 children, 200 adult companions, and over 1,000 volunteers from across the Lasallian community.
Setting the party
The road to Feb. 1 has been paved with awareness-building and skill-development activities through three main pre-events:
Sensory Odyssey, a university-wide fundraising event, invited participants to explore life through the lens of the seven conditions represented at FTK on Nov. 12, 2025. Through immersive activities and games, attendees gained perspective on the daily realities of children with disabilities, thus raising both funds and awareness in the process.
Ate-Kuya volunteers gathered to learn the fundamentals of Filipino Sign Language (FSL) during the Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Seminar, to equip themselves with effective communication to the members of the Deaf community. The hands-on seminar covered basic vocabulary, greetings, numbers, conversational phrases and more, while considering the values and cultural insights of the Filipino Deaf community.
37 years strong, FTK remains a living testament to Lasallian values in action. As Feb. 1 approaches, it carries forward the collective hope of every participant who has made this celebration possible.
As one of COSCA's longest-running advocacy events, DLSU-For the Kids 2026 offers an experience rooted in empathy and community. Follow COSCA-LOVE’s on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
