Family Week in the Philippines takes place in the last week of September and this year, it’s held from to October 2. The week-long occasion is recognized by the government and churches of the country and involves making a concerted effort to spend time with your family and build on your bonds. The previous years’ celebrations encouraged families to spend time together as a family as well as acknowledge that family in the Philippines is deeply rooted in the Christian church that has settled in the country.

In 1992, the then president of the Philippines signed into law that the last week of September would be recognized as Family Week. President Fidel V. Ramos stated that he wanted the week to recognize the importance of family and the strength and protection being in one provides. He envisioned various authorities in the country encouraging citizens to use the week as a time to foster stronger familial relationships and reconnect with their loved ones.

Ramos’ hopes for Family Week were quickly realized as the Church of Latter-Day Saints supported the idea and encouraged their congregations and followers to celebrate the week. In 1994, former Congressman Erasmo B. Damasing remarked that if the church continued to support Family Week by teaching good moral values and strengthening family ties, then the Philippines would never falter or fail. Since then, the church’s involvement has helped to emphasize the importance of Family Week, and today, the holiday is also supported by businesses, the media, and all branches of the government.

Since the inception of the national holiday, the week has grown in both popularity and spectacle. Many of the years’ celebrations involved occasions like demonstrations, church events, parades, and local communities holding family history fairs. Generally, Family Week features a theme or focus for the week, which helps the church and government address any recent concerns or counter-current problems that are being experienced by citizens. Overall, the week is a well-loved event during the year and a well-used tool for the authorities to regularly check in on their citizens and encourage them to continue to strengthen and deepen their ties to their family and country.

President Fidel V. Ramos signs Family Week as a legally recognized annual holiday.

Businesses and other stakeholders actively participate and contribute to Family Week.

For the first time, Family Week is hosted digitally, with families and organizers tuning in from the comfort of their homes.

This year shapes up to be the first time in two years that Family Week will be held in churches and in public again.

Family Week is officially recognized by the Filipino government, but it is not a holiday where it’s mandatory for time to be given off work.

If you’re unsure of how to spend time with your family, then propose an outing or activity so that there’s something to focus on in between conversations.

Generally, a family is very close, especially a nuclear family. It’s not uncommon for extended families to also be very close, as people are encouraged to foster strong relationships with uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Before following the itinerary of the week, just spend time with your family, whether it’s structured or by happenstance. Organize a movie night, a barbeque, or just make an effort to eat meals together and talk to each other.

Join in the many celebrations during Family Week and do what you can to follow the year’s theme! Find out what your local church is doing for the occasion or find your own community to celebrate with.

No, not like that. We mean thinking about friends and distant family that might not have a tight-knit family to celebrate with. Opening your home to them during this time will undoubtedly improve their week, and who knows, maybe when the week is over, you won’t want them to leave.

The Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands.

Karaoke is very popular in the Philippines and was invented by a Filipino man named Roberto Del Rosario in 1975.

Since mass fishing is illegal, it’s possible to swim and dive with giant shoals of fish during the Sardine Run.

The Philippines holds the record for the number of women breastfeeding their babies at one time, and it clocked in at 15,218 in 2007.

The world’s largest pearl was found in the Philippines and weighs a whopping 74lbs.

It’s all too easy to slip into the stress and speed of life while slowly neglecting ourselves and our families. Even as we work to earn money or educate ourselves to make life better, we forget to spend time with the people we’re doing it for. This week is the perfect time to slow down and reconnect.

The church, state, and businesses recognize Family Week, and it shows mindfulness we don’t often see in a country as a whole. We love that the authorities of the country present a united front when it comes to Family Week.

Family Week is the time to think about what you want for your future family, whether they exist already or not. Decide what you want to do and where you want to go heading forward. Now is the time to start planning.

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