Family Values Award Conferred to Consul Floro 

Honorary Consul Victorino R. Floro, Jr. was given the Family Values Award by the Philippines Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Wednesday, May 11, at the MTC Activity Center, in White Plains, Quezon City.

The Family Values Awards (FVA) is given by the Church 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 family.

The FVA is presented annually in Asia, Europe, Australia, the United States, and began in 2005 in the Philippines.

For members of the Church, the divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave, and individual family members can progress throughout eternity.

For this reason, the Church offers a free service called FamilySearch to help families work together to make connections and discover their life story and heritage.

Steve Rockwood, president, and CEO of FamilySearch International, emphasized the importance of FamilySearch in bridging families. He said, “The whole purpose of FamilySearch International is to create inspiring experiences that bring joy to all people as they discover, gather, and connect their families past, present, and future.”

In the ’70s, the Church started the collection of family records through microfilming work and commissioned Victorino R. Floro, Jr. to commence the work in the Philippines. After over twenty years of dedicated service and zeal, Floro became instrumental in the filming of over 60 million vital records in the Philippines including births, deaths, and marriages.

As the Church celebrates 60 years in the Philippines, the Family Values Award was given to Honorary Consul Victorino R. Floro, Jr., for his pioneering work of microfilming in the Philippines and in different parts of Asia.

He has helped capture 80 percent of Philippine Catholic records and important documents from schools and government agencies which would have been left rotten, decayed, and destroyed by the elements.

Without minding danger and discomfort, he has traveled through slow boats and trekked on unchartered mountains while carrying heavy equipment with his team just to capture the necessary records. He has done this long, tedious, and laborious task in cities, towns, far-flung areas, and even in places of conflict.

His positive, proactive approach and deep understanding of microfilming work have helped him build bridges of friendship with government and church leaders who have trusted and expressed support for his team in the preservation of records.

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo, president of the Philippines Area said, “As a Church, we strongly value the importance of the family and appreciate all responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere who promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

Consul Floro has made possible the preservation of family records spanning many generations. This work together with FamilySearch has provided a powerful way to strengthen families and connect with the past to build a legacy.

“At that time, we did not realize the impact our work would have and we are thankful now that it has helped many families," Consul Floro expressed.