by Emma C. Tabalanza

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (24 October) -- Some 200 employees from various national government agencies (NGAs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and the religious sector in Central Luzon participated in the joint flag raising/candle lighting ceremony for the annual Family Week celebration held recently at the Commission on Audit (COA) gymnasium at the Regional Government Center in Barangay Maimpis in this city.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Makulay ang Buhay ng Pamilyang Matibay".

Adelina Apostol, assistant regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region III lauded the participants in the celebration because it shows their concern and care for the family.

The Filipino family will be the strongest and happiest in the world if we promote our moral values, spend time with our children, hear their aspirations and dreams and share happy moments with them, Apostol said.

Apostol shared the fact that every week, the DSWD staff goes to the airport to pick up repatriated Filipinos from Malaysia most of whom were being abused.. There are 800,000 people throughout the world who are victims of various crimes. Some 200,000- 250,000 of these are in Asia and are victims of trafficking, including mothers who went to work abroad.

Apostol posed the question: if the parents are victims themselves, what will happen to the rest of the family?

She emphasized that every family should have a father and a mother who will nourish and take care of their children with love. "God's love is over flowing and God should be the center of the family."

She encouraged everybody to give quality time and utmost concern to their family, because a family has a mission unto itself; it must be a shelter of peace, justice and freedom.

"We have to work hard at being a member of the family by protecting, caring for our loved ones. Children turn to their parents for emotional support when there are problems. They should be a role model, strong, loving and God-fearing."

The youth from the Regional Study and Reception Center in Lubao, Pampanga presented a lively song and dance number during the program.

The celebration ended with the candle lighting by all the participants.

Other activities in connection with the family week celebration were a forum on Juvenile Justice Welfare Act at SM Pampanga, a live radio interview at DWRW, DWGV-AM with DSWD -R III officials as guests.