February 17, 2025
Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines holds its third kiddie market on Valentine’s Day
By Dorothy Castro
A rainy Valentine's Day celebration did not make the day any less cheerful for the nursery and pre-kindergarten students of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines. The school held its kiddie market bazaar last February 14 at its campus in Agno, Quezon City.
Heart-shaped balloons and pink banners adorned the preschool's front steps, and tables for families were beautifully set up by the pond. Here, students and their companions bonded for a day full of laughter and excitement.
Throughout the morning, students were very happy with their role as vendors, selling handmade keychains, organic cleaning agents, grass head plants, and special vegan palabok and brownies, paired with fruity refreshments.
It was a lighthearted time for bonding among families. Diana Li, mom of student Deborah, found this event to be the perfect chance to bring along her daughter’s cousins for a nice day out. And like many of the parents that day, the kiddie market exceeded their expectations.
“We’re enjoying it very much. We're very excited because we see all the kids selling the items,” the proud mom shared.
To pre-kindergarten teacher MJ Seno, this excitement would not have been possible without the collective efforts of the teachers, staff, parents, and students who did their best throughout their preparations for the kiddie market.
The dainty yet colorful keychains, Seno shared, are works of art personally colored and designed by the pre-kindergarten and nursery students. “The parents also helped us make the balloons with battery-operated lights, as well as the brownies,” she added. These gift items were truly a hit for families to buy for the Valentine’s Day celebration.
This day of hearts was made more lively by the students’ surprises for their families. They sang and danced their hearts out to songs like “L-O-V-E” for their parents, and prepared a Valentine’s Day dedication video for their parents.
“The students are very enthusiastic today. They are happy to show their parents their performance, even dancing to two songs,” said Seno, who recalled how her pre-kindergarten students picked the songs to show off their best moves.
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To Li, Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines has been instrumental in her daughter’s growth. “Ever since she started studying here, she has been more outgoing and she has become a very independent child, even wearing shoes by herself now,” Li proudly shared.
This is the growth envisioned by Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines. Through events like the kiddie market, students are encouraged to confidently be themselves and “empower them to master skills like creativity, entrepreneurship, and also teach them the concept of money,” says Seno.
Moreover, through this experience, students broaden their understanding of Tzu Chi. The event, a fundraising initiative for Tzu Chi Foundation’s charity programs, gave the students and parents an opportunity to take part in helping communities in need of medical and educational assistance.
Li, supportive of Tzu Chi’s missions, encouraged her relatives to join the event for this same reason. This was also a heartwarming moment for her to teach her daughter about love and compassion through Tzu Chi.
“For us, this is a moment to tell our child that education is not only about going to school but also being able to help others.”
DSWD Authority/Solicitation Permit No. DSWD-SB-SP-00055-2024 VALID UNTIL OCTOBER 28, 2025, NATIONWIDE
On February 14, Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines held its third kiddie market in Agno, Quezon City.
Students look on in excitement, waiting for the mini bazaar to start.
Students look on in excitement, waiting for the mini bazaar to start.
A student sells beautifully decorated balloons with roses to enthusiastic parents.
Encouraging environmentally friendly practices, the preschool shows off its handmade grass head plants and organic eco-enzyme cleaning solution made by Tzu Chi’s Waste to Wonder initiative.
The students also showed off their creativity, as they prepared handmade mini keychains for the kiddie market.
The preschoolers have a tasty and refreshing treat for their customers! Cold drinks come in two flavors: winter melon, and apple.
A student shows off these Valentine’s Day brownies, adorned with pink sprinkles.
A student sells the handmade keychains made by her and her classmates.
This young one practices her entrepreneurship skills while handling her customers’ payments.
Parents and attendees happily check out the items available for sale.
Parents and attendees happily check out the items available for sale.
This youngster’s skills are unmatched as she prepares vegetarian palabok for her customers.
A student cheers on, anticipating the start of the kiddie market.
Preschool directress Jane Sy gives gifts for the students, after a successful day at the kiddie market.
Parents share fun conversations with each other during the kiddie market.
Parents share fun conversations with each other during the kiddie market.
Who says Valentine’s day is only for couples? This mother-daughter duo enjoy their bonding time at the kiddie market.
Families pose for photos at the kiddie market photo booth.
Families pose for photos at the kiddie market photo booth.
Families pose for photos at the kiddie market photo booth.
The cheery mother-and-son duo pose for a photo at the kiddie market.
Pre-kindergarten teacher MJ Seno takes a photo with one of her students.
Preschool directress Jane Sy poses for a photo with a nursery student.
![“Thank you so much for making this happen. All the parents are really excited, and the best thing about this event is we get to communicate with [our kids]. We get to nurture our relationship with our children,” says Diana Li.](/assets/news-page/images/25-v16.jpg)
“Thank you so much for making this happen. All the parents are really excited, and the best thing about this event is we get to communicate with [our kids]. We get to nurture our relationship with our children,” says Diana Li.
Nursery students, together with teacher Marian “Yani” Carpo (second row, leftmost), Directress Jane Sy (second row, center), and teacher Mary Ann Rodriguez (second row, rightmost) pose for a photo after their performance.
Teachers, volunteers, and staff pose for a fun photo after the successful kiddie market event.