National Family Week: What Filipino Parents Should Know (and Why It Matters)
The last week of September is celebrated as National Family Week in the Philippines
Did you know there’s a week every year when the entire country pauses to celebrate the heart of Filipino life — the family? In the Philippines, the last week of September marks National Family Week, a celebration rooted in tradition and backed by law. For busy parents, it’s a timely reminder to slow down, reconnect, and cherish moments with loved ones — even if it’s just over dinner.
On September 20, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a memorandum directing government offices to shorten working hours on September 22 to allow employees to spend time with their families. This move coincides with the observance of “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” (The Family Meal Matters), which takes place every fourth Monday of September.
The Legal Roots of Family Week
The celebration of National Family Week was established through Proclamation No. 60, signed on September 28, 1992, by the late President Fidel V. Ramos. The proclamation emphasizes: “the importance of strengthening and promoting unity, solidarity, and stability of the Filipino Family as the basic unit of Filipino society and for whose well-being all national development efforts are directed.”
In 2012, Proclamation No. 326 further emphasized the value of shared family meals by declaring the “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga Day.” This amended an earlier proclamation from 2009.
“There is a need to highlight and celebrate the value of families sharing meals together as a national tradition that should be observed annually and sustained by all Filipino families.”
Originally known as “Salu-Salo ng Pamilyang Mahalaga,” the event was renamed to “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” to emphasize the ritual of dining as a meaningful and annual family tradition.
What This Means for Filipino Parents
In its announcement, Malacañang explained the intent behind the shortened work hours: “The suspension of work in other branches of government, independent commissions or bodies, and the private sector is also encouraged, to afford all Filipino families the full opportunity to celebrate the 33rd National Family Week.”
For many working parents, time with their children can be limited due to long hours or late shifts. Often, they come home too exhausted to meaningfully connect. This initiative offers a chance — however brief — to sit at the table, share a meal, and ask simple but important questions: How was your day? What made you smile? Is there anything on your mind?
Because sometimes, those conversations over dinner are exactly what our children — and we, as parents — need most.
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FAQS: About National Family Week
The celebration of National Family Week was established through Proclamation No. 60, signed on September 28, 1992, by the late President Fidel V. Ramos. The proclamation emphasizes: “the importance of strengthening and promoting unity, solidarity, and stability of the Filipino Family as the basic unit of Filipino society and for whose well-being all national development efforts are directed.”
Originally known as “Salu-Salo ng Pamilyang Mahalaga,” the event was renamed to “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” to emphasize the ritual of dining as a meaningful and annual family tradition.
National Family Week is celebrated in the Philippines on the last week of September.
