Pre-Three Kings Day event aims to give children much to grow on

“A Tradition That Unites Us,” an event held this past weekend at the Puerto Rico Network for the Rights of Children and Youth’s headquarters in Juncos, featured the participation of the Three Wise Women who, as allies of the Three Kings, offered gifts to the children of the community.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Network for the Rights of Children and Youth celebrated Three Kings Day in Juncos this past weekend with the event “A Tradition That Unites Us,” in which the community came together in a family gathering to offer gifts, joy, excitement and hope to the children of the eastern central municipality.

“Celebrating Three Kings Day with our children is much more than a tradition. In this community event, we are giving visibility to our children and families, and reaffirming the hope that coming together, strengthening relationships, and enjoying ourselves in a safe space is possible,” said Marcos Santana Andújar, founding president of the Puerto Rico Network for the Rights of Children and Youth. “This celebration, close to the beautiful Three Kings Day festivities, is part of our cultural and spiritual identity. The excitement of waiting for Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar every January 6th is a tradition that transmits fundamental values aligned with those of our organization, such as joy, social justice, and love.”

The event, held at the Network’s headquarters in Juncos, featured the participation of Three Wise Women who, as allies of the Three Kings, offered gifts to the children of the community. The activity included music and educational game stations tailored to each stage of child development, where the children interacted with their families. The exercise highlighted the importance of toys for children.

“The distribution of toys is not just about giving away an object,” noted Emibell Chong Trinidad, the Network’s vice president of programs. “For many children, toys represent joy, excitement, and a sense of being seen and valued. A toy can be a powerful tool for emotional, social, and cognitive development, especially when used intentionally and educationally. Through play, children develop skills such as communication, creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and emotional self-regulation.”

“Learning through play fosters creative and innovative citizens,” she added. “There are countless benefits, even more so in a space that allows everyone to reach their full potential.”

The Three Wise Women, with their colorful costumes, captured the attention of both children and adults, who were reminded of their own childhood joys during the event.

“Keeping this celebration alive is a way to connect generations, strengthen families, and reaffirm who we are as a people,” Santana Andújar said. “We also send a message to our children, who have carried so much in recent years, to tell them: you are important, we are thinking of you.”

Chong Trinidad, in her address to the audience at the event, observed that “celebrating Three Kings Day in this way is sowing hope, it is investing in the present and future of our community.”

“When we take care of our children, we take care of the future of an entire country,” she said. “This is part of our theory of change: the closer we bring services, the greater the prevention, confident that a better country for our children is possible.”