Hardly in the awareness of the 110 million population of this country, battered by infections and deaths from the frightening and overstaying coronavirus pandemic, is that this week the Philippines is celebrating National Family Week.
Given the culture of the Philippines, where families play an important role in ensuring children are ready to learn when they enter school, and the place which actively promotes their positive growth and development, this celebration is properly providential.
The celebration is led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development for this 29th annual event, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 60 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos, which mandated the commemoration in the last week of September.
Timely is the theme – “Pamilya at Teknolohiya: Magkabalikat na Mapagtagumpayan ang Hamon ng Pandemya” – aimed at stressing the relevance of technology, whether modern or indigenous, in helping Filipino families cope with the effects of this public health emergency.
The celebration was jump-started on September 20 by an online activity, led by the DSWD, followed by family-focused activities conducted by member organizations of the National Committee on the Filipino Family.
The celebration underlines how modern technology assisted Filipino families in strengthening bloodline bonds and in daily life amid the pandemic, like the use of online communication platforms.
Other indigenous technology will also be given recognition, like the Balai House Farming which provides the family an activity to spend time together, at the same time yielding crops to help with food sustenance amid the pandemic.
We join the DSWD in emphasizing the need to raise awareness in observance of the “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day” every 4th Monday of September, which will be marked on Monday, to coincide with the annual celebration of the Family Week.
We are one with the DSWD in prescribing the need for stronger and resilient Filipino families, from an estimated 22 million households nationwide.
