Antique: Children enrolled in child development centers (CDCs) in Antique learned to develop their sense of nationalism at an early age. Margie Mijares, whose four-year-old son attends Lacaron CDC in Barangay Lacaron, Sibalom, shared that her son often sings the national anthem, Lupang Hinirang, albeit not yet memorizing the full lyrics. "My son learned to sing the national anthem because he is being taught at the CDC," she said.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jeneme Dubria mentioned that her three-year-old daughter looks forward to the flag-raising ceremony at the San Pedro CDC in San Jose de Buenavista each morning. Child development workers emphasize the importance of the flag and the national anthem as symbols of Philippine independence.
Carla Cabigunda, in charge of the Early Childhood Care and Development (EECD) program at the Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, stated that the daily flag-raising ceremony and national anthem singing are activities that foster children's love for country, civic values, and character building. 'The 'love for country' is one of the core values emphasized in the National Early Learning Framework developed by the ECCD Council,' she explained.
Vivian Rose Hallares, a child development worker in Barangay Lapak, San Remigio, for 35 years, shared that they conduct a flag-raising rite daily during school days to instill respect and love for the country in children. "I am teaching the children as early as two-and-a-half to four years old to sing the national anthem during our flag-raising ceremony that we show our sense of nationalism," she noted.
Merly Saturnino of Carmelo I CDC in Barangay Carmelo I, also in San Remigio, emphasized that one of the four core values they instill in children is the love of country. "We have flag-raising daily, for we believe that by doing so, children learn to memorize the national anthem," Saturnino stated. This practice also helps develop self-discipline, as children immediately stand and place their right hand on their chest upon hearing the national anthem, demonstrating their allegiance to the Philippine flag.
