At the heart of every strong society lies the foundational strength of the family. Recognizing this vital truth, Proclamation No. 60 (s. 1992) declared the last week of September of every year as National Family Week, which honors the family as the foundation of the nation, emphasizing that nation-building begins right at home.

That connection is central to the work of the Department of Home Economics Education (DHEEd) at the UP Diliman College of Home Economics. From research and teaching to public engagement, DHEEd works to understand and support Filipino families. For National Family Week, DHEEd planned a week of activities around the Filipino Family Wellbeing (FFW) project—a research and advocacy initiative that began before the pandemic. The week brought the project’s work into public conversations, celebrated student achievement, and marked the launch of a dedicated online resource.

Starting National Family Week

The week opened with the National Family Week’s significance: beyond spending time together, it is an opportunity to recognize how families shape our culture and society. 

On September 22, the project received a nomination for the Gawad SWF 2026 Natatanging Proyekto sa Filipino from the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino–UP Diliman (SWF-UPD). The nomination recognized Pagsasalin ng Filipino Family Wellbeing Survey sa Wikang Filipino, led by Prof. Consuelo T. Chua, with co-authors Prof. Joanne R. Bantang, Assoc. Prof. Aurora S. Llige, and Asst. Prof. Mary Justine Clarise A. Trinidad.

The following day, DHEEd marked a research milestone with the publication of “Designing the Filipino Family Wellbeing Survey” in the International Journal of Home Economics. The article introduces a pioneering survey that measures Filipino family wellbeing across eight culturally rooted dimensions. 

Expanding this advocacy to public media, on September 25, Prof. Bantang and Prof. Chua joined DZUP’s UnoDiaries for an episode titled “Maginhawang Buhay for Everyday Filipino Family: Dasurv Natin ’To!” to discuss how Filipino family wellbeing is conceptualized. That same day, Peso Weekly featured the 2022 study “Conceptualization of Filipino Family Wellbeing,” which draws on interviews across diverse income groups. The study describes family wellbeing through areas including health, relationships, parenting, values, and contentment.

The week also celebrated DHEEd students who earned academic honors in the second semester of Academic Year 2025–2026. Their achievements reflect the learning and commitment that can contribute to Filipino families and communities.

At the end of the month, the DHEEd launched its official Filipino Family Wellbeing website. Developed as part of the Department’s ongoing FFW work, the site offers a dedicated space for resources and collaboration to help families flourish.

Together, the week’s activities—from research and public engagement to the launch of a new online resource—showcased the Filipino Family Wellbeing project’s growth and DHEEd’s unwavering commitment to Filipino families.

Lagi’t lagi, para sa bayan at sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino! ✊🇵🇭