MARAWI
CITY, Lanao del Sur, Sept. 23 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) officially kicked-off the 23rd National Family Week
celebration on September 22, with a parade and short program in Cotabato
City.
More than 500
employees from different line agencies and offices of ARMM took part in
the opening spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD-ARMM).
DSWD-ARMM also awarded
Sambay Salik-Suwaib as the Solo Parent Awardee this year. Suwaib
received the award “in recognition for her exemplary roles as father and
mother” to her three children since her husband passed away more than
20 years ago.
Four other families also received the
Model Family Award from the department. The awardees received a plaque
of recognition and cash rewards.
Haroun Al-Rashid
Lucman, the region’s vice-governor and DSWD secretary, said in a
statement that the celebration was aimed at intensifying the importance
of strengthening the family as the foundation of the nation.
This
year’s celebration holds the theme “Family Solidarity, Gender Equality
and Children’s Rights in Contemporary Families.” This highlights equal
opportunities of men and women as well as existing child rights in the
Filipino family.
“The family is the very foundation of our nation. It is from where it derives strength, progress and stability,” Lucman said.
The
celebration is observed annually every fourth week of September based
on Proclamation No. 60 issued on September 18, 1992 “in recognition of
the sanctity of family life and to protect and strengthen the family as a
basic autonomous social institution.”
The weeklong
celebration will last until September 27. But a ‘kanduli’ or
thanksgiving lunch will be held on September 25. (BPI/APB/PIA-10)
No comments