KTCAP Session with Judge Robert Victor Marcon Inspires and Empowers Children and Guardians

On March 26 at 9:00 a.m., Judge Robert Victor Marcon of Family Court Branch 3, Makati City, served as the resource person for a special Kids and Teens Court Awareness Program (KTCAP) session. He warmly welcomed the participants and, together with his dedicated staff, facilitated an interactive learning experience on the Philippine court system.

*The session featured a role-play activity to demonstrate:
*The structure and function of the court system
*The roles of courtroom personnel
*The basic steps in court procedures
*The importance of the child’s testimony and how to handle it with confidence

Through an engaging role-play, Judge Marcon and his team introduced the basic structure and function of the court, the importance of court proceedings, and the role of children when testifying. The session emphasized making the court experience less intimidating and more empowering for young participants.
A total of 25 individuals participated in the session: 11 children, along with 14 adults including social workers, parents, house parents, and guardians from Fresh Hope for Families, CSWD Mandaluyong, Caritas Novaliches, and QC SSDD.

Children’s Reflections:
1.“Pinaka nagustuhan ko po ay yung nakilala ko ang mga tao sa korte, dahil nalaman ko po kung sino ang mga nasa loob ng korte at mas naging komportable ako” – Female, 10 years old
“What I liked most was getting to know the people in court. Now I understand who they are and I feel more comfortable.”

2. “Dahil sa programang KTCAP marami ako natutunan at nagkaroon ng mga bagong kaibigan .“ – Female 13 years old
   “Because of KTCAP, I learned so much—and I even made new friends!”
3. “Mabait po ang Judge at tinuruan niya po kami kung paano sasagot sa mga tanong. Masaya po siya kausap” -Female, 12 years old
   “The judge was kind and taught us how to answer questions. He was fun to talk to.”
4. “Naging kalmado ako dahil alam ko po ang gagawin dahil sa Kids and Teens Court Awareness session. Kalmado kase nga po meron kaming natutunan kay Judge. Sa session kasi marami po akong natutunan pinaka nagustuhan ko dahil sa KTCAP ay napaliwanag ito ng maayos at lahat ng mga katanungan na matagal ko na gustong itanong at nakuha ang sagot ngayon ay nasagot na.” – Female, 14 years old

“I felt calm because I now know what to do, thanks to the KTCAP session. The judge explained everything clearly, and the questions I’ve had for a long time were finally answered.”

Feedback from a Social Worker:

“At FC Branch 3 in Makati City, Judge Marcon and his staff were well-prepared and exceeded the children’s expectations. The use of role-play and open Q&A made the topic easy to understand and helped child victims and witnesses feel more prepared for their cases. Where once they felt anxious and overwhelmed, they are now more confident and secure.”
— Ahleen Joy M. Antonio, Social Worker, Fresh Hope for Families

Final Thoughts
The KTCAP session with Judge Marcon reminded us that when we take the time to educate, empathize, and engage with young minds, we create safer, more supportive pathways to justice. With every empowered child, we move one step closer to a court system that not only seeks the truth, but also protects the most vulnerable with compassion and care.