Bright Child ambassador buckles down to work

Bernardo Joecel "Tolits" Forbes, the newly appointed junior ambassador of goodwill of the government’s Bright Child program, has begun his formal duties as icon and standard bearer of the program following a contract signing with the Council for the Welfare of Children.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, who chairs the Bright Child executive committee, said the appointment of Tolits as the newest ambassador of goodwill will boost the effort in ensuring the success of Bright Child.

"Tolits typifies a bright child whom the government envisions all Filipino children to be in the future. He is healthy, listo, and can draw a crowd from among his peers," Reyes said.

He called on all local government units to support Tolits in promoting the program, described as a "one brand" package of interventions on health, food, nutrition, psycho-social, education and social protection services given to children from aged 0 to 17 so that they may grow healthy, responsible and self-reliant citizens.

CWC executive director Lina Laigo said the Bright Child program is a holistic government approach to ensure proper growth and development of children.

Reyes, who also co-chairs the CWC, said Bright Child has a common goal and a shared responsibility, not just among the participating agencies, but also among local government units nationwide.

Tolits, a child star who became famous for appearing in a detergent bar commercial, will be traveling to provinces nationwide to promote the program and embark on a series of television commercials as well as appear in important functions.

The Bright Child program is a joint project of the CWC, the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, te Department of Labor and Employment, the National Economic and Development Authority, the National Nutrition Council and the DILG.