Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. will jumpstart, today (September 22), the National Family Week celebration in a kick-off activity in Mandaluyong City.
Some 800 participants composed of delegates from the 17 local government units in Metro Manila, DSWD employees, and NCFF member-agencies will participate in the event to be held at the Executive Building Atrium, City Government Complex, Mandaluyong City. Congressman Neptali Gonzales will also join the event as a show of support for families.
The kick-off will start with a parade by 6:00 a.m, followed by a formal program around 8:00am where the theme of this year’s celebration, “Ensuring Work-Family Balance,” will be formally announced.
Moreover, DSWD will award the winners for the nationwide Search for the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya. The Search was launched in July in recognition of family-beneficiaries who religiously complied with the program conditionalities and have demonstrated a strong sense of family values, as well as love for their communities.
Adjudged as the 2012 Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya is the family of Mr. Rommel and Leilanie Manarpaac of Batac City, Ilocos Norte in Region I. Runners-up are the families of Mr. Rey and Evangeline Rodriguez of Iloilo City and Mr. Luis and Marilyn Babia of Baguio City (1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively).
The Manarpaac Family will serve as the family-advocate of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who will share their inspiring stories during gatherings of Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.
As Secretary Soliman says “Families are the core unit of the nation, hence, we need to give importance to strengthening family ties and providing the needed programs to empower families. A strong family contributes largely to a progressive nation.”
Aside from the kick-off, nationwide celebrations will also be conducted in different regions through the conduct of fora, film showing, lectures, Family Day programs and games in different localities.
Meanwhile, all families are also enjoined to observe the “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” day on September 24, 2012, and spend quality time with family members through eating meals together. Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga day is an annual observance every fourth Monday of September as declared by President Benigno S. Aquino III through Proclamation No. 326 signed in January this year.
The DSWD, through the NCFF, will also conduct a Family Conference with the theme “The Family Shall Overcome” on September 26, 2012 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) Buendia Chapel, Salcedo Village, Makati City. Family-representatives from different government and non-government organizations will come together to discuss topics on family values, domestic violence, family disaster preparedness and the effects of media on the Filipino family.
The Family Week celebration started in 1992 thru Presidential Proclamation No. 60 signed on September 18, 1992. It seeks to strengthen family unity and relationships through meaningful celebration and promotion of Filipino values.
The National Committee on the Filipino Family chaired by the DSWD spearheads the celebration of the National Family Week with partners from non-government organizations, other government agencies, and the private sector. ###
