Viela gave birth to her first child, Mia, in 2020, right in the middle of the Covid lockdown. As a first-time mum, the limited social opportunities were mentally and emotionally challenging. As a nurse, Viela was aware of the benefits of parent support groups, outside play and community connections. As soon as restrictions eased, she started joining playgroups in her local community.

Since, Viela has gone on to enjoy playgroup with her now three children- Mia, six years of age, Victor, four, and Camilla, one. She has found playgroup to be a powerful, positive point of connection. It became further meaningful when she became part of Mabuhay playgroup, a Filipino playgroup that began in Melbourne. This allowed Viela to remain close to her Filipino culture and her Tagalog language, sharing this with her children and another generation of kids.

“Being able to communicate in Tagalog throughout the session brings a feeling of joy and support to us parents. We check on one another in Tagalog- and we relax and take comfort that we have a village around us showing genuine care and connection.”

“There is already a deep, shared bond among us, knowing that we have all lived similar experiences, joys and struggles as migrants in a new country.”

This year Viela has been recognised as a Playgroup Champion, starting and founding Mabuhay Playgroup South-East.

“She has built more than just a playgroup- she has created a warm, welcoming community for families and children to connect, learn, and grow,”  said Maria who attends the group.

Viela received one of the largest numbers of nominations as part of Playgroup Victoria’s community initiative, with many families feeling compelled to write in and express their thanks for Viela’s “warm and welcoming spirit”. Her peers write about her early years knowledge, teaching and playing with the kids.

“Through her thoughtfulness and care, Viela brings our group closer together,” said Jade Anne.

She is commended for the effort she selflessly pours into the playgroup, making it an enriching experience for the children and adults.

Razeille said that Viela’s, “commitment, generosity and genuine care for our community truly embody the spirit of a Playgroup Victoria Champion.”

Continue reading to learn more about Viela’s playgroup experience and her passion for the early years, a time that she cherishes.

How did Mabuhay playgroup first begin?

Mabuhay Playgroup began in 2024. Our group founder is Nikki De Lima, a teacher and a mum who put out an online expression of interest for local families to form a playgroup in our Melbourne Filipino Community Facebook group. There was no other Filipino culture-specific playgroup before then.

We started as a very small group of families meeting up on Saturday mornings at the Flagstaff Gardens in Melbourne CBD for a simple Tagalog music and storytime, and outdoor play.

Word of a Filipino Playgroup in Melbourne got around and before we knew it, we had lots of families participate. A parent committee was formed and we started searching for venues, opportunities for weekday meetings and support for resources to keep our sessions regular and sustainable. We have always wanted it to be free of charge for families. 

What inspired you to start and facilitate Mabuhay Playgroup in Springvale?

I am part of the parent committee of the CBD group and we received requests in our Facebook group for Tagalog storytime sessions in the south-east. I live in Melbourne’s south-east and I was happy to start the south-east chapter and get to know Filipino families in my area. I was initially uncertain of how it will turn out, if there will be much interest. I am very pleased to say that we have a strong group in the south-east as well.

In what ways does the playgroup make you feel close to your heritage and culture?

All aspects of the playgroup bring us close to our Filipino heritage and culture. Being with people that look like me, speak like me and enjoy the same food favourites and festivities brings such a warm, comforting feeling.

“I can really say that I feel at home when I am in the playgroup.”

In what ways does the playgroup experience help to preserve your native language?

“The playgroup sessions are the best opportunities for us parents to pass on the Tagalog language to our children. Through the conversations of parents, stories and songs, it astonishes me how the children pick up Tagalog words after attending one or two sessions. My son started counting from one to ten in Tagalog after half a year of joining the playgroup. They are like sponges- they observe and understand amazingly well!”

In what ways does playgroup forge a deep sense of connection to your own family and upbringing?

Seeing Mia, Victor and Camilla go through their early years in Mabuhay Playgroup brings me a sense of joy and pride. They play and form friendships with fellow children who share similarities in physical features, language, festivities and snack favourites! They have a sense of appreciation and pride describing the Philippines and mum’s Filipino roots to the people outside of our playgroup, such as their kindergarten friends and teachers.

In what ways is your language tied to your identity?

My language is my identity. The words, phrases and accents that I use in my everyday conversations sum up my ancestry, upbringing and life experiences.

In what ways are your activities meaningfully linked to Filipino culture?

“Everything we do in our playgroup session is a nod to the Filipino culture. Our arts and crafts activities depict Filipino elements such as the rice fields, jeepney, nipa hut and colourful festival decorations. At storytime, I read Tagalog story books that centre on Filipino family values such as unity, sharing, respect and expression of gratitude. We sing Tagalog nursery rhymes that describe the trees, plants and animals in the Philippines while centering on inclusion and love for one another.  For example, our Hello/ Welcome song is ‘Kumusta’ which translates to, ‘How are you, and I am so glad you are here’ in English.”

In what ways is your life enriched by being bilingual? What benefits do you see for your children?

Being bilingual expanded my world! It gave me confidence to go and explore different countries and experience different cultures. I gained so many personal and professional connections by understanding and speaking multiple languages. It made me more respectful and appreciative of everyone in the community, knowing that all of us have special values, talents and abilities from our diverse life experiences. I would like my children to have the same philosophy in life – to keep on exploring, meeting, respecting and learning off people.

What are the benefits of learning a language in the first five years of life?

“Thanks to the professional development training at Playgroup Victoria, I have learned that a child’s brain is 90% formed at the age of five. Needless to say, this is the best time to learn multiple languages! I could not stress how well and quick my children picked up Tagalog words after singing Tagalog nursery rhymes week after week. The children attending our playgroup sessions effortlessly use both English and Tagalog words correctly in their conversations and demonstrate very good comprehension in both languages.”

In what ways do the stories, songs and activities you share at playgroup impart knowledge and traditions?

Through the stories, songs and activities we share in our playgroup, our children get to see, hear and hold our traditions. Through picture books, we see elements of our Filipino heritage such as traditional costumes, native animals, plants and landscapes. Through music, we hear and sing Filipino instruments, words and phrases. Through crafts and hands on activities, we create keepsakes that remind us of the Philippines.

Your playgroup has been on so many adventures together- to the State Library of Victoria, The National Gallery of Victoria, the Play School exhibit and you have had many guests visit your playgroup. What are your most treasured playgroup memories? What experiences have you enjoyed as a group?

We have certainly done a lot of Mabuhay playgroup adventures! It warms my heart seeing our children and us as parents form wonderful friendships and memories from our group trips to the museums and libraries in the city. We go regularly as a group to the State Library, National Gallery of Victoria, Royal Botanical Gardens and ACMI. Out of these adventures, I really treasure the group visits to the fire stations and visits from Victoria Police. Our children get to meet our local firefighters and police officers and be inspired and awed by their service and dedication to protecting everyone in the community. Our community heroes are so engaging and charismatic in their interactions with the children, so much so that our children have expressed of wanting to be like them in the future.

In what ways has community collaboration benefited your playgroup attendees?

The community collaboration opportunities greatly help our Filipino migrant families as they settle and transition in a new country. Firstly, they get to know other Filipino migrant families and create connections for their social and emotional support. Secondly, they get to know the support services for families and children available in the community. Some examples would be free dental check ups for the children through the Healthy Little Smiles program and free kinder in Victoria.

In what ways does your playgroup connect the up-and-coming generations with the wider community?

Mabuhay Playgroup introduces our children to the Australian society through excursions and incursions. We go as a group to libraries, museums and family day events, and mingle with the wider community. We also organise visits from key people in the community, such as leaders and emergency responders, so families get to know them and the services available to them to keep them safe and looked after.

How did you feel when you found out that you have been nominated as a Playgroup Champion by your local playgroup community?

When I found out that I have been nominated as a Playgroup Champion by the Mabuhay Playgroup families, I was really surprised as I had no idea of it being organised in the background. I am usually the overall planner, so I was like, ‘how did this happen without me knowing?!’

Kidding aside, I feel grateful and humbled by the families kind testimonies on how I help them make their parenting journey easier through the playgroup. I find my enjoyment in organising opportunities for families to get together, so it is rewarding for me that they find these sessions impactful and meaningful as well.

What does the Playgroup Champion recognition mean to you?

I see the recognition not as my individual success, but a success of Mabuhay Playgroup as a whole. As much as I persevere in preparing every session, I see the dedication of the carers- mums, dads, grandparents, aunties- setting their precious time aside week after week to come and participate in our group activities.

“I see their enthusiasm to engage and play with their children in the sessions. I see their faces light up with pride when their children have created an art masterpiece. I see their weary and tired faces turn into smiles when their children start singing and dancing. Those are the little things that fill my cup and inspire me to keep going.” 

What has your experience been like as a mother? What have you enjoyed most about creating your own family?

Motherhood for me is a lifetime commitment full of challenges, lessons and rewards. Some days are happy, some days are exhausting, some days are frustrating. It is a journey with no navigation maps, but having a supportive group around you gets you through!

What fulfills me and I enjoy most about creating my own family is seeing my children happy, healthy and thriving every day. 

What have your children taught you about life and love?

My children have taught me about persevering love, which is the steadfast commitment to show up and care for them every single day, through the obstacles and hard times. To continue seeing the good in every moment, celebrating every blessing and living in the present.

Why are the early years of life so valuable?

“The early years of life are so valuable because, simply, it is time that we can never get back. For us parents, I see it as the golden opportunity to create and foster loving relationships with our own children that they will cherish for the rest of their lives- and hopefully pass down to their future children as well.”

What memories do you hold close from your time raising your little ones?

The memories I will always hold close from my precious time raising my little ones are the quiet, low-key days – playing with them in the local parks, sitting with them in the sunshine, reading books with them in the library.

Connect with the community at Mabuhay playgroup on Facebook or Instagram
Read more about the community of 2026 Playgroup Champions

Article by Sinead Halliday
Photography Courtesy of Mabuhay Playgroup and Mylie Nauendorf