By: Fawn San Jose Maday-a
On August 29, 2025, a transformative lecture series on Parent Effectiveness unfolded, bringing together educators, daycare parents, and community leaders in a shared mission to strengthen family relationships through empathy, communication, and respect. This is through the S.A.L.U.N.-A.T. initiative of the School of Nursing in collaboration with the School of Nursing Extension and Community Services.
Led by dedicated four faculty members from the school of Nursing and three alumni from school of nursing they covered the following topics: Ma’am Vanessa Leygo delivered an insightful discussion on the structure and dynamics of the Filipino family, highlighting its cultural significance and evolving roles in modern society. Her lecture explored the unique characteristics of Filipino households from the traditional extended family setup to emerging forms like single-parent and reconstituted families. She underscored the importance of understanding family systems not just as biological units, but as foundational institutions that influence a child’s emotional development, identity formation, and social behavior.
Following the discussion on the Filipino family, Ma’am Nellie De Vera took the floor with a compelling talk titled “Myself as a Person and a Parent,” focusing on the foundational role of self-awareness in effective parenting. She emphasized that before one can guide a child, a parent must first understand their own values, emotional patterns, and personal history. Her session encouraged participants to reflect on their identity not as parents but as individuals shaped by their own upbringing and life experiences.
Mr. John Allen Guisdan followed with an engaging and informative discussion on Child Development, shedding light on the intricate stages of growth that shape a child’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. His presentation emphasized that understanding how children develop is essential for parents to respond appropriately to their needs at every stage.
Ma’am Jhoanne Soriano delivered an enlightening session on “Keeping a Healthy Environment,” emphasizing the vital connection between our surroundings and overall well-being. Her discussion highlighted how a clean, safe, and nurturing environment both at home and in the community plays a crucial role in shaping children’s physical health, emotional stability, and learning capacity.
The seminar continued with a practical and engaging discussion on Home Management, delivered by Ms. Fawn Maday-a. This session focused on the essential skills and strategies needed to maintain a well-organized, nurturing, and efficient household an often overlooked but critical component of effective parenting.
The seminar concluded with an insightful presentation on Nutrition, delivered by Mr. Eric Villamor, who emphasized the critical role of balanced diets in supporting both child development and overall family wellness. His discussion highlighted how proper nutrition is not just about food choices it’s about cultivating lifelong habits that promote physical health, mental clarity, and emotional resilience.
The various topics explored throughout the seminar were meaningfully aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3- Good Health and Well-Being by promoting physical, mental, and emotional wellness. By educating parents about maintaining a balanced diet, safe living conditions, and holistic family health, SDG 5- Gender and Equality. By empowering both mothers and fathers to engage in responsible, self-aware, and equitable parenting, the seminar promoted shared responsibilities within households. SDG 4- Quality Education by providing lifelong learning opportunities for parents, educators, and community members. It fostered knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, helping families develop the skills needed to raise well-adjusted children; SDG 10- Reduced Inequalities by fostering inclusivity and equal access to knowledge. And SDG 16- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by promoting empathy, communication, and mutual respect within families, the seminar helped build the foundations of peaceful and cohesive communities..
The Parent Effectiveness Seminar was more than a series of lectures, it was a call to action, a reaffirmation of the vital role families play in shaping a just, healthy, and compassionate society. From understanding the heart of the Filipino family to embracing proper parenting, nurturing child development, safeguarding the home environment, mastering household management, and promoting nutrition, each topic served as a building block toward stronger, more resilient communities. This seminar stands as a meaningful contribution to the University’s ongoing commitment to holistic education and community empowerment.
