Family Month activities
The celebration of September as family month was launched last Monday, Sept. 5; spearheaded by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) during the city hall flag raising ceremonies, and activities follow thereon.
On Friday, Sept. 9 at 4PM, the office of Councilor Lilia Farinas sponsors a Zumba session for city hall employees and their families at the city hall grounds. The lady councilor who chairs the Tourism, Special Events, Parks and Playgrounds committee said the activity is her contribution to families’ health, fitness and wellness.
On Sept. 22, Thursday, 6 AM to 12 Noon, an eco-walk within the Botanical Garden in observance of National Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy Awareness and Prevention Week is scheduled. Selected children with cerebral palsy and their guardians go around the park with members of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), City Tourism Office (CTSEO) and personnel from the Persons with disabilities office (PDAO). The activity is dubbed as “A Walk to a Healthy and Happy Family.”
On the same day, Sept. 22, winners of the National Natatanging Pamilya receive their awards at the DSWD training center with the announcement of awardees’ names to be done later.
On Sept. 23, Child Development Workers in the city shall be oriented on family laws, in coordination with the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran (BSK) and the office of Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda at the City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) along Lower Rock Quarry road.
Couples to be married during the mass wedding on October 5 need to attend a marriage enrichment session on Sept 26 at the Senior Citizen center at Salud Mitra barangay. The forum is jointly conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and Health Services Office (HSO). Requirements should be submitted to the CSWDO, upper Session road.
The benefits and privileges of solo parents shall also be discussed in a forum for solo parents, for 50 individuals only at the Sr. Citizen center, Salud Mitra barangay on Sept. 27.
On Sept. 30, fifteen privileged families shall go on tour around the Botanical garden, with orientation on the plants found around, and areas of interest within the park. The family funday at the park is done in coordination with the office of Councilor Elmer Datuin, Kalipi, the City tourism and the BCPO.
A Civil Registration Orientation shall be done on Oct. 3 1PM at the Sr. Citizen Center. This is for the information of individuals and families who should be properly registered with the local civil registrar; the correctness of documents needed, it was emphasized. It has come to the knowledge of several authorities that some individuals are not registered with the LCR, nor have been issued Identification documents, thus the forum.
Tarpaulins bearing the family month activities shall be hung in various barangays, from Sept 25 to Oct 2, while the culmination which is the mass wedding is on Oct. 5, Wednesday. Mayor Benjamin Magalong officiates the wedding, with the venue to be announced later, depending on the number of couples.
The family steering committee has members from the City Mayor’s Office, BCPO, HSO, DSWD-CAR, Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), PDAO, Barangay Council and Punong Barangays with.
Social Workers Lisa Bulayungan, Coralie Dulnuan and Ellen Dayag actively working for success of the activities. The celebration of Family month is anchored on presidential proclamations declaring every last week of September as national family week, and the fourth Sunday as family Thanksgiving Day. Another proclamation declares September’s fourth Monday as Salu-salo ng Pamilya, Mahalaga Day. – JGF