The Family Values Awards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was re-launched during Bulong Pulungan’s weekly meeting April 16, 2013.
Part of the relaunch was an hour’s discussion on the FVA, the initiatives and advocacies of former awardees, and current issues and concerns affecting the Filipino family.
Ms. Deedee Siytangco, founder of Bulong Pulungan, together with the core group members fielded questions to former FVA awardees Ms. Lina Laigo, former DSWD secretary and convenor of Family Network or FamNet (2005); Mr. Leopoldo Moselina, former chief of the Unicef Manila Child Protection Unit who is now working with Catholic church-based family-centered groups (2005); Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, family advocate and Pro-Life leader (2011); Monde Nissin, honored for their “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” campaign (2010); and Elder Brent Nielson, 1st Counselor of the Philippines Area Presidency of the Church.
The Family Values Award is given by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to recognize the honorable efforts of moral, upstanding community leaders who are striving to advance standards and values that are consistent with the Church’s position on the sanctity of the family.
The Family Values Award is presented annually to community leaders in Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States. In the Philippines, the FVA was started 2005.
The FVA is open to persons who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any person or organization can nominate a candidate who has qualified based on the criteria. A candidate will be chosen to receive the award and he/she will be given the opportunity to invite 50 of his/her family members, friends and colleagues during the awards ceremony which will be held in the last quarter of the year.
The criteria include the following:
1. Exhibits leadership in strengthening the Filipino family and promotes strong family values.
2. Develops partnership with government, NGOs, community leaders, civic and people’s organizations in creating and organizing family initiatives and advocacies.
3. Exhibits commitment and dedication to uplift the Filipino family. A catalyst of change.
4. Exhibits a positive relationship within their family and community.
5. Nominee must be a Filipino citizen who has lived in the Philippines for at least five (5) years at the time of the nomination. Nominee must be legally and lawfully married to spouse. Single persons can also be nominated to the FVA. Institutions must be based in the Philippines.
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The concept of a united family that lives and progresses forever is at the core of Latter-day Saint doctrine. Within families led by a father and a mother, children develop virtues such as love, trust, loyalty, cooperation and service.
According to Church doctrine, a marriage performed in one of the Church’s temples does not dissolve at death as long as the couple remain faithful to their temple vows. Rather, the family relationship continues beyond the grave, and individual family members can progress throughout eternity.
In 1995, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — the Church’s two highest governing bodies — issued a proclamation explaining the divine nature of the family and how family relationships should be conducted and nurtured. (Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World")
In 1915, Church leaders established a program that would urge parents to gather their families around them once a week for an evening devoted to family. Family home evening is a time when parents can teach children principles of the gospel. A typical family home evening includes a prayer, song, short lesson, activity and refreshments. Lessons are taught by parents and sometimes by children.