De La Salle University (DLSU)’s Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) and its student volunteer arm, the Lasallian Outreach and Volunteer Effort (COSCA-LOVE), spearheaded the 37th DLSU-For The Kids 2026 (DLSU-FTK) advocacy event for children with disabilities on Feb. 1 at the Henry Sy Sr. Grounds, DLSU.
With the theme “Haraya: A Festival of Dreams,” the event embodied a vibrant celebration of children’s hopes and dreams. Haraya in Filipino means “imagination” or “vision.” The event offered mini-Olympic games, interactive booths, and intermission performances to foster joy and confidence through connection and support among children with disabilities, including those with Autism, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy, vision impairment, hearing and speech disabilities, and intellectual disabilities from Special Education centers throughout Luzon accompanied by Ate-Kuya Volunteers (AKVs).
The event commenced with a mass celebration, presided over by Fr. Luis Lorenzo. “When the time comes, we will all find comfort, joy, and salvation in His Kingdom; we will attain the vision of our dreams,” Fr. Lorenzo emphasized in his homily.
After the mass, DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca FSC delivered his opening remarks. Br. Oca explained the community gathering. “We regard [the children’s] laughter, stories, and joy […] leading to an inclusive world for [them].”
The Animo Squad then performed a cheer dance and led the AKVs and children for a dance exercise. The La Salle Dance Company (LSDC) performed next with a Filipino folk dance and a hip-hop dance cover of “Alam” by Sarah Geronimo.
An inspirational message by COSCA Director Ms. Fritzie Ian de Vera followed after the performances. She credited the children’s artworks included in the event’s designs, stating that “Haraya is a part of our current experiences at DLSU-FTK.”
Moreover, she created her own version of “haraya” – ha for halaga (value) that envisions the worth of everyone and community contributions, ramdam (feelings) that conceives joy, excitement, surprise, and exhaustion dedicated to the program, and yakap (embrace) from DLSU-FTK being a crucial program that enlivens DLSU as an expression of love for the youth.
To mark the start of the games’ opening, student-athletes led the parade while holding a paper torch to symbolize the Olympic torch lighting. Student-athletes, AKVs, and the children took oath to show sportsmanship.
The children with their AKVs played seven mini-Olympic games: Munting Balay (creating a personalized scene of a Filipino town, Timba Saya (knocking paper cup towers), Box Tastic (solving shuffled puzzle blocks), Relay (racing with two obstacles and finishing with a limbo), Ring Toss, Basketball, and Soccer.
Amenities and interactive booths by partner organizations were set up for the children and AKVs to explore. These amenities include an inflatable playground, a puzzle mat spot, a photo booth, and food stalls.
Most partner organization booths offered games to win toys, but COSCA and Benilde Center for Inclusive Education (CIE)’s booths were for a cause; COSCA had a cafe stall with proceeds dedicated to SPED Centers, and Benilde CIE provided samples of accommodation accessories.
During the afternoon, another set of intermission numbers followed. From DLSU’s performing groups, Innersoul brought the community nostalgia by singing Disney songs, “Love is an Open Door” and “Beauty and the Beast,” while LSDC amplified the fiesta theme with another folk dance.
Representatives from the participating children had a chance to showcase their talents. Angela Hailey Alejandro from Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School and Skywin Goldwin Calucag from Wishful Achievers Inclusive Tutorial Center sang Golden from K-pop Demon Hunters, Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School students danced the nursery rhyme “A Ram Sam Sam,” Calucag sang a second song, “Ang Buhay Ko” by Aegis, and Kyrie from Odelco Elementary School sang “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars.
For the last intermission number, all LOVE volunteers had a dance remix of Filipino pop songs and “L.O.V.E.” from Hi-5, blending the overall themes of openness, kindness and excitement of the event.
To close the event, Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Jaymee Pantaleon, from her closing remarks, expressed her gratitude to the community for attending DLSU-FTK, thanking the children for the inspiration to work for their future from the curiosity, energy, and joy they give and the parents, school organizations, and community partners’ trust in making the event possible.
She wished that DLSU-FTK continued annually while impacting the community. “FTK is not a one-day event […] it is a [way of] living.”
DLSU-FTK was established in 1984, and has benefited over 12,000 children with disabilities, bridging them to the environments they deserve to thrive in. It is observed every third Sunday of January annually by the Lasallian Community with highlights of Filipino culture and fiesta designs in commemoration of the Feast of Santo Niño.
The event highlighted the children’s joy and aspirations, underscoring the role of the community in supporting their needs and contributing to efforts toward a more inclusive future.
