DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 1 (PIA) -- Family life advocates here recognized the value of technology in coping up with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as they also emphasized that it is through the responsible use of technological platforms that would help families achieve prosperity.
This was highlighted during a Kapihan sa PIA forum held Sept. 28 in line with the city’s observance of National Family Week (NFW).
Dumaguete City Family Life Council George Gilvero said technological platforms and devices became a positive tool helping families cope with the adverse effects of the ongoing pandemic and it could also contribute to a healthy family relationship when used responsibly.
“Ang teknolohiya dako kaayo tabang sa hagit sa pandemya hilabi na sa ato mga kabataan, sa atong panginabuhi, sa atong komunikasyon sa atong kaigsoonan. Ang teknolohiya is gamiton sa husto makapalambo sa pamilya (Technology has helped us a lot in coping with the challenges posed by the pandemic especially to our kids, in our livelihood, and communication. If technology is used properly it could help the family prosper),” Gilvero said.
On the other hand, Dr. Vicente Jurlano of Couples for Christ and Pastor Francisco Abella of Pentecostal Church in Dumaguete City, have cited how digital platforms provide space for virtual meetings and interactions among members of their congregation.
It also became an effective tool to carry out religious activities during the pandemic.
However, in the case of maintaining healthy family relationships, they emphasized that family members must not forget to practice personal interactions despite the presence of technology in their homes.
Jurlano said mental health issues have been a big concern among the youth as most of them turn to social media for their problems because they lack attention from their parents.
“Panginuhaon gyud sa parents na mahatagan ug pagtagad ang mga anak because one of the things kung ngano ang mga bata mopunta ug social media is because wala sila makuha attention gikan sa mama ug sa papa. If the son or the daughter feels nga here’s the mother, here’s the father looking after the welfare of the child then naa siya time magahin sa social media but part of that will be taken over the by the parent’s responsibility to take care (Parents should make an effort to reach out to their children because one of the reasons why children turn to social media is due to the lack of attention from their mama and papa),” Jurlano said.
Abella encouraged families to always set aside time for God and maintain a prayer time to enrich the spiritual and relational aspects of their family life.
“Ang pinaka-bottom line is atong paghigugma sa Ginoo (The bottom line in this is our love for God). Kung ang husband and wife are God-fearing, likewise, the children are God-fearing also and we can have a happy family strengthened by love,” Abella said.
This year’s National Family Week Celebration focuses the positive impact of technology in families amid the pandemic through its theme “Pamilya at Teknolohiya: Magkabalikat na Mapagtagumpayan ang Hamon ng Pandemya.”
Due to the imposition of community quarantine measures in the city, the local celebration of NFW is limited to online events with the exception of the Kapihan forum which only gathered a few reactors.
Other activities include a virtual ecumenical ceremony held Sept. 27, and an online talk show and online Zumba held Sept. 30.
The activities were led by the City Family Life Council together with the City Social Welfare and Development Office. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
