Legazpi City—DSWD Regional Director Arnel Garcia discussed parental education for children’s welfare during the Family Forum at Bicol University (BU) yesterday as part of the series of events of the 25th National Family Week (NFW) celebration.

He pointed out that the family is the basic social unit in the society, thus, molding the behavior and values of the children who consequently help the community grow.

Furthermore, Dir. Garcia said that a family is not only about blood relation but also the blood you give relating to the famous lines of Charles Dickens, an English writer.

He said that adoptive parents should explain this to their child: “Hindi ka man lumaki sa tiyan ng nanay mo pero lumaki ka naman sa puso namin (Even if you did not grow inside your mother’s womb, you grew inside our hearts).”

The said forum was attended by BU faculty and students, partners from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, local government units (LGUs) and national government agencies (NGAs).

DSWD Field Office V, the chair for the Bicol Regional Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family, joins the whole nation in the observance and celebration of 25th NFW celebration with the theme: Tungo sa Maginhawa, Matatag at Panatag na Pamilyang Pilipino.

As mandated by Proclamation No. 60, signed by former President Fidel V. Ramos on September 28, 1992, The NFW is commemorated every last week of September,

This year’s observance of the Family Week was aligned with the United Nations International Day of Families. The theme focused on the role of families and family-oriented policies in promoting education and overall well-being of their members. The week-long event aims to raise awareness of the role of families in promoting early childhood education and lifelong learning opportunities for children and youth.

The Family week kicked off last September 25, 2017 at Ayala Malls Legazpi with a short program and similarly, launched the three-day Matatag na Pamilya Exhibit comprised of booths dedicated to promote family well-being. This was participated in by church-based groups, NGAs, non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs). The exhibit finally ended last September 27, 2017 wherein the Regional Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya Winners were awarded during the closing program. The grand winner for the said contest is the Evangelista Family of Baleno, Masbate.

Also, Ayala Mall Legazpi food outlets offered family discounts under the activity, Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga/ Famealy Togetherness, from September 23-30, 2017.