CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — “Be a friend to your kids to maintain closeness in the family,” says a mother of four, juggling her work as a cook and taking care of her kids together with her husband, who is a carpenter.
Geornel Donque Layno, 49, a resident of barangay Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City, who attended the celebration of International Family Day organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 together with the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Filipino Family (RIAC-FF), shared that she was over the moon upon being hailed as “Ulirang Pamilya,” or model family, in her barangay.
“Nitulo akong luha sa kalipay. Daghan baya gyud ang naghangad nga makuha pa sila, pero dala sa pag-ampo og pagsalig sa Diyos, kami ang nakuha nga Ulirang Pamilya,” she said.
(I shed tears of joy. There are many who hope to get such recognition, but through prayer and trust in God, we became the Model Family.)
She admits that her family has always been poor, but through persistence and a strong partnership with her husband, she raised four children. Two graduated from college, one recently finished senior high school, and the youngest is in grade school.
“Para sa ako, importante gyud ang pamilya, para close atong family ang atong anak isipon nato as a friend. Dili nato hunahunaon nga as mama ka or papa ka, kung unsa imong gusto masunod, no, sa akong mga anak wala ko nag-tell sa ila labi na sa akong duha ka college. Wala ko nag-ingon nga nak, mao ni ang kwaa nga kurso, kay dili ako ang gadala sa ilang pangutok, ako silang giignan kung unsa inyong kaya, mu-support ko,” she said.
(For me, family is really important; so that our family is close, we consider our child a friend. Let’s not assume that just because you are a mother or a father, your children should automatically follow your wishes. No, I didn’t share this information with my children, especially my two college students. I didn’t say that this was the wrong course, because I’m not the one thinking for them; I always tell them that whatever they can do, I will support them.)
Haide Macabinlar Bonje, the president of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) in Barangay Bulua, revealed that many families participated in the search for model families in their barangay. However, Geornel’s family stood out for their resilience, demonstrating that despite their poverty, they effectively raise their children and serve as positive role models in their community.
About 35 families gathered at City Hall in celebration of International Day of Families 2024.
DSWD-10’s Zosimo Butil explained that DSWD-10 celebrates International Family Day for two reasons: to highlight the importance of families and the various factors negatively impacting them, and to emphasize the importance of empowering families through education, altering consumption habits, and advocating for meaningful and effective climate action.
This year’s theme is “Pamilyang Tumutugon sa Bagong Panahon” (Family Responding to Changing Time).
Among the topics discussed are the importance of civil registration, facilitated by Marivic Escobido of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and edible gardening by Ronald Allan Camaddo of the Department of Agriculture.
DSWD-10, together with its partner agencies, spearheaded this annual observance of International Day of Families observed on May 15 of every year to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies, and cultures around the world. (JMOR/PIA-10)
