Butuan City – Celebrating family togetherness and positive change, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga conducted the Pantawid Pamilya National Family Day held at FSUU Gymnasium on October 4, 2015 with the participation of more than 3,000 program partner-beneficiaries in the city.
A simultaneous activity with the other field offices of DSWD, the event highlighted the theme “Tuloy ang Pagbabago” to inspire and encourage the families to sustain enthusiasm and motivation about positive change and development.
In her message, regional director Minda B. Brigoli inspired the attendees reminding the participants that all the dreams, hopes, and efforts for positive change are endeavours done for their families.
“Ang pinakatam-is nga kalampusan, mao ang kalampusan kauban ang pamilya (The sweetest success is the victory achieved with your family),” shared Brigoli.
“Ang atong pagsaulog sa Family Day karun nagpahinumdom nga atong kanunay huptan ang maong damgo- ang malig-on, himsog, malampuson, ug malipayong pamilya (Our celebration of the Family Day reminds us to continue holding to our dream- strong, healthy, successful, and happy family),” she added.
During the event, the agency also recognized and awarded this year’s provincial winners of the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya namely Canto Family (Agusan del Sur), Dador Family (Surigao del Norte), and Rosales Family (Surigao del Sur). Sinugbuhan Family, regional winner, attended the Central Office’s celebration of the event which happened in National Capital Region (NCR).
Highpoint of the activity is the soft launching of the “Pagbabagong nasimulan, tuloy sa tuwid na daan”– new brand name of then Bawal ang Epal Dito (BAED) campaign. Ms. Sherrytis L. Pulido, parent leader from Butuan City, spearheaded the brief launching.
She explained to the crowd about the nitty-gritty of the campaign and urged her fellow beneficiaries to help in this advocacy.
“Kitang mga benepisyaryo sa programa mag-tinabangay ug edukar sa atong mga kaila nga kaning Pantawid programa sa DSWD ni, ug walay biskan kinsa nga pulitiko ang makatanggal or makapalista sa atoa sa programa (We, the beneficiaries of the program, should help in educating the people we know that this program is implemented by DSWD, and no politicians can delist or enlist us from/to the program),” she added.
After Pulido’s talk, the crowd affixed their signatures in the tarpaulins to express support of intensifying the campaign.
Leah R. Rebuta, parent leader in Butuan City, also called for the support and unity of her fellow partner-beneficiaries to push and lobby to the public and the law-making bodies the institutionalization of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.
“Dapat maisabatas jud ning Pantawid aron magpadayon ni ug daghan pang mga pamilya ang matudluan ug makabaton ug nindot nga kabag-uhan (The Pantawid program must be institutionalized so that this will be continued and many more families will be educated and will experience positive change),” Rebuta said.
A symbolic ‘Puno ng Pagbabago’ (tree of change) was also placed on stage. The attendees hanged the pieces of paper with written testimonials/sharing of the beneficiaries’ brief story of change; these pieces paper symbolize the bunga ng pagbabago (fruits of change).
The families actively participated in the fun games and the children enjoyed the cotton candies and ice cream provided.
Public and private partners including the media persons also graced the activity. The Philhealth, Department of Health (DOH), and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) installed booths in the venue. ###(Social Marketing Unit/DSWD Field Office Caraga)
