Shaping change makers through teamwork and active play

Kids are never without energy. They love to run, climb, jump, and move around which is why at times sitting in school and listening can be quite a bore for them because it means they would have to resist the urge to move around and play.

However, with active play moving around and playing to learn is encouraged to contribute to the child's development and optimal growth. Study also shows that active play can help children's physical and social well-being. Another study also showed that children developed social understanding, awareness of other individuals' customs and cultures, cooperation, and empathy. These skills cannot be developed by purely sitting and reading books but by interacting actively with other kids and experiencing real world situations in an educationally equipped environment before they even go out into the big world.

Recognizing this need for active play, Breeze, in partnership with Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), launched Breeze EcoPlay: Sige sa Mantsa, Tuloy ang Laro—an initiative designed to empower Filipino youth through the transformative power of active play. This program highlights the proven benefits of active play in shaping resilient and well-rounded children.

The partnership caters to 68 elementary schools Taguig, Pateros, Marikina, and Quezon City; using traditional Filipino games to cultivate resilience, sportsmanship and teamwork among young learners, while also celebrating the value of getting dirty in the process.

In the first Breeze EcoPlay: Sige sa Mantsa, Tuloy ang Laro Palarong Pinoy held last December 10, 2024, after a few reminders about safety, and messages from the Department of Education (DepEd), Edric Calma as the representative for KCFI, and Lara Santos to represent Breeze.

"Our goal with Breeze EcoPlay is to build resilient and well-rounded change makers who are unafraid to get dirty in pursuit of meaningful experiences,"said Lara Santos, Premium Laundry Business Performance Manager of Breeze. "This collaboration with KCFI allows us to create a generation that sees stains as part of the journey and not as setbacks," Santos added.

The event was kicked off with the lighting of the cauldron, joined by more than 700 elementary students from different Marikina schools.

The children played games such as tumbang preso, agawang panyo for the smaller kids and agawang base for the older kids, sipa, and patintero. Everyone enjoyed interacting with other kids from different schools and levels, not worrying about the dirt as they pranced around the field and playing area.

The event also honored exceptional qualities in the participating students through special awards such as "Batang Bilis at Liksi", "Batang May Lakas at Kumpyansa", and "Batang May Tatag ng Puso at Kalamnan," celebrating their skills, dedication, and sportsmanship. The teachers and schools were equally recognized for their efforts, with awards like Leadership Award and Most Active Participative School highlighting their contributions to the program's success.

The top 3 schools which had the most winners were also given plaques and the top winning schools per grade level received Smart TV sets from Haier, Breeze shirts and tumblers for the children. Best of all, for the overall top 3 schools who championed the games and the school which had the most beautiful eco garden received a Knowledge Channel TV Package.

Moreover, one lucky parent drawn during the live raffle took home a Midea washing machine—proving that dirt and stains are nothing to fear. Breeze's EcoPlay: Sige sa Mantsa, Tuloy ang Laro Palarong Pinoy encourages families to embrace the fun and freedom of active play, knowing they can easily handle life's messes while letting kids enjoy and explore without limits.

Following this, succeeding Breeze's EcoPlay: Sige sa Mantsa, Tuloy ang Laro Palarong Pinoy event winners from Quezon City and Taguig-Pateros will be receiving washing machine units from Dowell and Fujidenzo.

Breeze and KCFI are deeply committed to expanding the reach of the EcoPlay program, aiming to impact more schools across the country. By doing so, they hope to provide even more children with the opportunity to experience the transformative power of active play. The initiative not only encourages physical activity but also fosters important life skills such as resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Through continued partnerships and outreach, Breeze and KCFI aspire to inspire future generations to embrace the value of collaboration and perseverance, helping them build a strong foundation for personal growth and social development. By reaching more communities, they hope to cultivate a spirit of camaraderie and ensure that children from all walks of life have the chance to play, learn, and grow together.

For more information about Breeze EcoPlay: Sige sa Mantsa, Tuloy ang Laro, visit Breeze Philippines official Facebook Page.