By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF) and the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) on Thursday (Sept. 18) discussed their respective Family Week and Library and Information Services Month (LISM).
In the PIA Press Conference, the Annray V. Rivera, Deputy Executive Director of Department of Agriculture and Chairperson of NCFF Subcommittee on Plans and Program, said that National Family Week is based on Executive Order No. 60 series of 1992 which is observed every last week of September every year.
Rivera added that the 2025 National Family Week will be observed on Sept. 20-26, 2025.
She said that there’s National Family Week, although there are some OFW families who are facing challenges on migration, and digital challenges.
In 2023, Rivera noted that there was a commercial wherein families were urged to go home early and take a shared meal with the members of the family.
“And because of the digital age, it could be dinner because of the work. If the government could fortityy the access to livelihood opportunities, Filipino families need not anymore seek greener pastures abroad,” Rivera said.
“We are currently drafting for a National Action Plan for Filipino Family because the marginalized sector and the vulnerable sectors are important to us,” she added.
Rivera said that there are families who have fur babies and consider them as part of the family.
She added that the broken families are also considered as families.
“We are encouraging families to eat meal together on Sept. 22 and participate in other activities,” Rivera said.
There will be an Interfaith Family Forum on Sept. 23 from 9am-5pm.
Rivera said that as if there is no cellphone where Filipino families sit down and eat together and to have quality time with the family.
The culminating activity will be on Sept. 26 in Taguig City.
The NCFf had previously been in Bulacan province and now Taguig City is hosting the Family Week celebration as it is available and has the resources to do so.
Melanie A. Ramirez, Over-All-in-Charge, on the 2025 Library and Information Services Month (LISM), the NLP said that the LISM 2025 official poster draws inspiration from the vibrant spirit of the Filipino Fiesta.
Ramirez said that it will be a simultaneous nationwide opening ceremony on Nov. 5, 2025 for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The LISM is observed every November which will begin on Nov. 5 this year which is the opening ceremony/bazaar & exhibit, educational tour on Nov. 6-7 this year, book theater concert on Nov. 6, 14 & 21; Layb Chikahan on Nov. 11 & 19;
Likewise, Pinoy Book Character Contest on Nov. 5; Lola Basyang Chamber Storytelling Contest on Nov. 7; Bring Me Contest on Nov. 11 & 19, among others.
Ramirez cited for an instance a town in Bicol wherein they are promoting their local delicacies in the field of cultural exploration.
“We have libraries in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which are promoting the utilization of libraries,” she said.
“After eating, make reading a bonding moment with the family,” she added.
Ramirez said that they have the electronic resources and techno aklatan of the National Library.
She added that the National Family Week is observed nationwide for Filipino families to gather together and participate in activities.
The NCFf was created in 2023. The National Acton Plan is separate from the other local committees.
She added that the Book Picnic per family will be held in Botolan, Zambales on Sept. 26.
Maricel Urena, Chief of Research and Publications Division of the National Library of the Philippines, said that the LISM is one of our vehicles to promote our services as well as free seminards.
“You can use the National Library with free internet. We were not left behind by technology advancement,” Urena said.
Urena added that the contests during the LISM are open for the youth sector.
She said that the former perception of the National Library was that it was a venue for books, but it is now with free wifi and there are electronic services available in the National Library.
The National Library has an average of 300 “walk-ins” everyday. ###
