By Leilani S. Junio
MANILA, (PNA)–There is a need to strengthen Filipino families.
This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) NCR Director Alicia C. Bonoan during the kick-off ceremony for the 21st National Family Week Celebration held at Cayetano Sports Complex in Taguig City on Friday.
According to Director Bonoan, a strong family leads to a strong society.
“Our DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, who is Zamboanga City right now always advocates the strengthening of family ties for we believe that empowerment and success in nation building are by-product of successful families built under strong foundation of love, unity and God-fearing traits,” Bonoan said.
Bonoan cited that in the kick-off ceremony, the DSWD, along with Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano and other families of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4P’s) planted some 300 seedlings together and lead parade with other staffs of other government agencies.
She said that planting of seedlings by families signifies not only commitment towards addressing problems on global warming but at the same time, the planting activity symbolizes “unity and cooperation” among members of the family.
She added that as part of the effort of the DSWD to strengthen the family as the basic unit of society, the agency conducts Family Development Sessions (FDS) to teach 4P’s families effective parenting or how to be “better and more responsible parents” towards their children.
She also added that FDS as a tool to effective parenting also promotes understanding on child development, husband and wife relationships, house management and gender issues.
For this year, with the theme “Unity Across Generations: A Strong Family, A Strong Society,” she said that it focuses on breaking the inter-generational gaps and instead promotes unity and understanding.
“We should strive to encourage our young generation to give recognition also to what “words of wisdom” that elderly members of the family can share to them,” she explained.
She said that being in their twilight years, the elderly can exchange their views to the “young ones” who can learn a lot by listening and at the same time having interactions too and thus, leads to “stronger ties” or unity.
“This can be done better done effectively by “eating together” because when they eat together they can talk what is happening between and among them in and out of their home, and at the same time have more time to plan better for their future and can even think together of what they can together to achieve their dreams,” she cited.
She added that in recognition for the need of “unity” in a family, in cooperation with Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC) which is always supportive of the programs of DSWD, through the National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF) they are encouraging every Filipino family to take part in “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day” every 4th Monday of September.
“On that day (Monday) we hope that every Filipino family will spend time together as they happily eat their meals together,” she added.
In January 2012, President Benigno S. Aquino III has officially declared “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day” under Presidential Proclamation No. 326.
The National Family Week is celebrated from September 20 to 27, 2013.
Among the activities during the week-long celebration are NCFF exhibit on September 24 at SM Aurora in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, National family Conference on September 25 at the Church of Jesus Christ LDS Buendia Chapel.
It will culminate with the awarding of “Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya” that will be chosen from among the top three finalist of program beneficiaries from different parts of the country.