DSWD 7 Culminates 2020 Adoption Consciousness Celeb

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII ended the 2020 Adoption Consciousness Celebration highlighting different competitions that promote legal adoption on February 28, 2020 at SM City Cebu.

More than 200 people participated in the activity, which included the child caring agencies such as the Asilo de la Milagrosa Center, My Bonita Homes, Albert Schweitzer Familienwerk Foundation Inc., Children Shelter of Cebu, Children of Cebu Foundation (Parian Drop-In Center), and Mercy in Action; Central Visayas Adoptive Parents Association (CVAPA); and other non-government organizations (NGOs) and participating individuals.

Centered on the theme “Pagmamahal Palaganapin, Legal na Pag-aampon Ating Gawin!” (Spread Unconditional Love through Legal Adoption), the competitors have shown their best entries for the “Give It Your Best Shot!” Photo Contest, Short Film Contest and Dance of the Decade Competition.

The top 3 entries that won the hearts of the judges and the public (online votes) in the Photo Contest were the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Office Cebu, champion with the entry “A Gift of a Family”; Office of the Regional Director (ORD), 1st runner-up with the entry “Double Dose of Happiness”; and the Capability Building Section (CBS), 2nd runner-up with the entry “Tunay na Kaligayahan ay Makakamtan kung Legal na Pag-Aampon ang Susundan.”

For the Short Film Contest, taking the first spot was the entry of the Clandestine Film and Post Production entitled “Show and Tell” which also received a special award for Best Editing. The second spot went to “Ikaw Among Kalipay” film of Grammes Production, and the third spot went to “True Love Sacrifice” of SWAD Office Negros. Special awards like Best Actress and Best Playbill were given to the Asian Production for its film “Mama.”

Meanwhile, the Albert Schweitzer Familienwerk Foundation Inc. emerged as champion for the Dance of the Decade Competition. My Bonita Homes bagged the second place, followed by the Asilo de la Milagrosa Center.

All the winners of each category received certificates of recognition and cash prizes. Non-winners also received certificates of appreciation and consolation prizes.

The Adoption Consciousness Month is celebrated annually to increase public awareness about legal adoption and the importance of having a legal family. In her testimony, adoptive mother Ma. Ethel Arnesal said, “When Ellen Joy came to us, our life becomes more meaningful and joyful and her ate became more responsible. To those who are planning (to adopt), they are in the right decision because you might not change the world, but the world of the child may change.”