About 233 street children and street families participated in the first COMPRE Got Talent held at Hotel St. Ellis, Legazpi City on October 18, 2015.

COMPRE or the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families and IP’s especially the Badjaos, provide a package of services and interventions to respond to the needs and provide opportunities to live productively in a safe environment.

As explained by Director Arnel Garcia, it is a two-year program piloted in Legazpi City aims to contribute in the reduction of vulnerabilities of children and families on the street through the provision of comprehensive package of services.

In Legazpi City, there are five COMPRE centers where these group met with structural activities provided. The COMPRE centers are in the barangays of Bitano,Dap-Dap,Tula-Tula,Bay-bay and Cabangan.

In his message Garcia acknowledged the support of the City of Legazpi headed by Mayor Noel Rosal. He also expressed his happiness for the huge crowd of participants in spite of the bad weather. According to Director Garcia, he is one with City Mayor Noel Rosal in advocating for a zero street children and street families. Children must be safe.

Meanwhile City Kagawad Vince Baltazar shared that his advocacy which needs the support of the parents is to stop drug abuse. He urged the parents who were present to take good care of the children. What is the importance of infrastructure if the investment is poor? Who are the investments? …it’s the children” he said

The first COMPRE Got Talent has several categories; modern dance, ballroom dancing, for singing; solo,vocal duet and family participation. The winners who received cash prizes are the following barangays:

Dancing: 1st Dap dap, 2nd Baybay, 3rd Bitano
Ballroom: 1st Baybay, 2nd Bitano, 3rd Tula-Tula
Vocal Solo: 1st Cabangan, 2nd Tula-Tula, 3rd Bitano
Duet: 1st Cabangan, 2nd Tula-Tula, 3rd Bitano
Family rendition: 1st Tula Tula, 2nd Cabangan, 3rd Bitano

The non-winners were also given consolation cash prizes.###eejerusalem