Day care students of the Togal Ozliyen Day Care Center in Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey display their parol creations and Philippine and Turkish flags in front of the Embassy’s End VAWC backdrop to mark the Philippines’ participation in the Cankaya Municipality’s “Countries in our Kindergarten” project on 9 December 2019.  

13 December 2019 – The Philippine Embassy participated in the “Countries in our Kindergarten” project of the  Cankaya Municipality in Ankara, Turkey on 9 December 2019 and promoted the Philippines to eighteen (18) day care students, aged 6 years old, of the Togal Ozliyen Day Care Center in Cankaya, Ankara Turkey.

The Embassy introduced the Philippines through a powerpoint presentation, highlighting fascinating facts about the Philippines, from its geography, map, distance from Turkey, population, language and prominent Philippine icons such as the common mode of transport - the jeepney, popular species such as whale sharks, and the Philippine tarsier and eagle, as well as the islands’ topography such as beaches, volcanoes and the like.

Next, the children were made to go on a relay race of the popular Philippine children’s game, Maria Went to Market, where the students were made to race while wearing traditional Filipino wear. The activity energized the kids and the Embassy then offered them Filipino pastries and delicacies like piaya, butter scotch and dried fruits like mangoes and coconut.   

The children were then divided into groups of 5 to create their version of the Philippine parol or lantern. The Embassy emphasized how the parol has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to Filipinos during the Christmas season.

The event was capped with a photo of the children with their parol creations and Philippine and Turkish flags in front of the Embassy’s End Violence against Women and Children (End VAWC) poster to also show the two countries’ support on the global campaign to End Violence against Women and Children. -End.

Day care students of the Togal Ozliyen Day Care Center in Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey join in the Maria went to Market relay race that made them don traditional Philippine wear during the Philippines’ participation in the Cankaya Municipality’s “Countries in our Kindergarten” project on 9 December 2019.  

Day care students of the Togal Ozliyen Day Care Center in Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey create their own versions of the Philippine parol during the Philippines’ participation in the Cankaya Municipality’s “Countries in our Kindergarten” project on 9 December 2019.