Nurturing Filipino Values and Protecting Children’s Rights through “I Love You 1000: Batang #Laking1000”

By Janna Kyla Dela Cruz

Every November, the Philippines celebrates both Filipino Values Month and National Children’s Month — two national observances that remind us of the importance of raising a generation rooted in compassion, respect, and love, while also upholding the rights and well-being of every child. 

In celebration of these national observances, the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI), in partnership with the National Nutrition Council (NNC), continues to provide parents and caregivers with vital knowledge through the educational program “I Love You 1000: Batang #Laking1000.” The series focuses on the critical first 1000 days of life — from conception to a child’s second birthday — regarded as the “golden window of opportunity” for growth and development. 

Hosted by Majoy Apostol and Marlo Mortel, the program offers practical guidance on nutrition, health, and early childhood care, with episodes covering topics such as breastfeeding, immunization, and early childhood stimulation. By presenting expert insights and accessible parenting tips, “I Love You 1000” empowers families to make informed decisions that support their children’s holistic development. 

The program also reflects core Filipino values such as love for family, parental responsibility, and collective action through bayanihan. At the same time, it reinforces the objectives of National Children’s Month by promoting the rights of children to survival, development, and protection. 

Here are four takeaways on raising Filipino child with Filipino values from watching ILY 1000: 

1. Upholding Every Child’s Rights 
   The episode on Child Rights reminds us that children are entitled to survival, protection, and development. By recognizing these rights, parents embody the Filipino value of pananagutan (responsibility), ensuring that children grow in safe and nurturing environments. 

2. Nurturing Through Proper Maternal Nutrition 
   Good health starts even before a child is born. The focus on Maternal Nutrition reflects pag-aaruga (care) and pagmamahal sa pamilya (love for family), as parents provide the foundation for their child’s lifelong health and well-being — echoing this year’s Filipino Values Month call for compassion and care. 

3. Preparing for Parenthood with Responsibility 
   The episode on Preconception Care shows that raising a child begins even before pregnancy. This highlights the Filipino value of pananagutan (responsibility), as future parents prepare themselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually, aligning with Children’s Month advocacy for holistic development. 

4. Caring During Pregnancy as a Community Effort 
   The Introduction to the First 1000 Days underscores that pregnancy care is not just the mother’s role but also a shared duty of families, communities, and health institutions. This reflects the spirit of bayanihan (community cooperation), where collective support ensures the survival and protection of both mother and child. 

 
Across all episodes, I Love You 1000 reinforces that raising a child is about instilling values alongside health and nutrition. Pagmamahal (love), pananagutan (responsibility), and pagkakaisa (unity) remain the guiding values in nurturing a new generation — aligning with Filipino Values Month and affirming the rights of every child during National Children’s Month. 

Through this initiative, KCFI reaffirms its commitment to advancing education and nation-building by nurturing not only the intellectual growth of children but also the values and rights that will guide them toward a better future.