About 4,000 children enjoyed a day of fun for free at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.
The one-day “Kiddie Land” had photo booths, carnival rides, train rides, an X-box gaming area, two movie rooms, magic shows, clowns, Santas, juggling stiltwalkers, and food stations prepared by the Kababayen-an Association in Lapu-Lapu City.
Some 100 children from each of the city’s 30 barangays were invited by barangay officials for the event.
Kids, accompanied by their parents or guardians, were given meal stubs after registering.
“We are doing this because this is a child-friendly city,” said Mayor Paz Radaza.
The estimated P200,000 cost of the event was shouldered by donors with a counterpart from the city government.
While the city hosts an annual Christmas party for kids, Radaza said this was the first time Hoops Dome was transformed into a theme park.
Kids from the nine island barangays of Olango were the first to arrive.
Children under the care of social workers—orphans, minor offenders and victims of abuse, – also joined the fun.
Volunteers
Francis Nicole Balao, former Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president, who now works with the city’s tourism office, organized the Kiddie Land project.
“We help out whenever we are needed by the mayor for special activities like this although we concentrate on eco-tourism activities,” Balao said.
He and five other former SK officials coordinated with private volunteer groups. Tau Gamma Phi fraternity members volunteered as Santas to distribute candy to the kids.
Policemen secured the venue and served as guides for the children.
The Philippine Red Cross Lapu-Lapu-Cordova Chapter was also there for any emergency.