By:James B Abbu
XU’s Ateneo Philosophy Club (APC), in collaboration with the Social Involvement and Advocacy Program (SIAP), implemented the Philosophy for Children Project, introducing children to philosophical ideas through engaging games on 18 April 2026 at the Community-Based IKP Center of the Philippine Island Kids International Foundation, Inc. (PIKIFI), Zion Village.
Jade Louie Jabonga, Outreach and Advocacy Head of APC, facilitated the activity with his fellow APC members.
The project aimed to acquaint children with the basic ideas of ethical principles, simplifying them through engaging forms via role playing, and have them think, converse, and respond to the questions asked as to what should be the proper action in a given scenario.
“Philo for Children is more about opening a space where children can think, ask, wonder, and express their own point of view,” said the Project Head and Outreach and Advocacy Head of APC Jade Louie Jabonga
“The project is both difficult and beautiful,” Jabonga stated, “teaching philosophy is already difficult when done with adults, but it becomes more challenging when done with children. It requires patience, creativity, and sensitivity, but [it is also] beautiful because once children begin to speak, question, and share their thoughts, you realize that they are capable of deep reflection in their own way.”
The project is the first for APC to collaborate with SIAP, one of the social engagement arms of the Social Development (SD) Cluster of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.
AB Philosophy students entertained the kids while teaching them simple ethical principles through games.
When asked of the future plans for the project, Jabonga responded that the Philosophy Club has plans to continue the social outreach initiative.
“We do not want this to end as a single activity only. Ang goal namo is to widen and strengthen Philosophy for Children, especially here in Mindanao,” he said, “we want to continue creating spaces where children can engage in philosophical thinking.”
Furthermore, he talked about writing reflective papers in the future on the lived experiences of these children who are also beneficiaries of the PIKIFI.
“Perhaps in the future, we can write journals or reflective papers about their experiences, especially those coming from the margins,” he uttered. “We want to listen to how they see the world, how they understand fairness, friendship, dreams, fear, family, community, and life itself.”
The implementation of the project ended with the turnover of donated toys to the PIKIFI administration.
APC officers turned over the donated toys to the PIKIFI Representatives present on 18 April 2026.
“I think the value of this project is not only in teaching philosophy to children, but also in allowing us, as organizers and educators, to rethink how we understand children. Sometimes, we treat children as if they are only receivers of knowledge. It is also about learning how to listen to them,” Jabonga concluded.