News Release

Las Piñas Stake (Diocese) Teaches Family History to Over 200 DFAMC Students

 Masarap malaman ang kwento ng iyong kanunu-nunuan (It’s good to know the life stories of your ancestors). This enables us to build a strong foundation for the families of our nation. These words uttered by Pastor Jun Matundan summarized the sentiments of more than 200 students from Dr. Filemon Aguilar Memorial College ( DFAMC ) who attended the Family History Orientation sponsored by the Las Pinas Stake (Diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Matundan, who was inspired to include family history in the school's a curriculum, made it possible for students to learn and participate in family history work.  He met a member of the Church 12 years ago who emphasized the importance of families and the significance for multigenerational families, both living and dead, to be linked together. That meeting motivated him to support genealogy work.

With the help of FamilySearch, a non-profit organization that provides family historians and anyone interested in genealogy free access to historical records, the students discovered the purpose of family history and ways to start their genealogical journey.

President Silvestre Manaligod of the Las Piñas Stake presidency emphasized, during his remarks, how fortunate and blessed the young individuals of today’s generation are because family records that are readily made available through the internet. “Kahit sa mga sarili nating tahanan pwede nating aralin ang mga kwento ng lola at lolo natin at ilagay ito sa ating mga Family Search account,” he added.

[Even in our own homes, we can study the stories of our ancestors and add them to our FamilySearch account.]

Meanwhile, Larry Caduada, Jr. from the Church's Family History Department in the Philippines, gave a short lecture highlighting the importance and significance of the temple, family life, and the gospel of eternal families. He also showed a few Church documentary videos that helped students understand how members of the Church participate in the Family History Program.

Caduada also demonstrated the steps in creating a free account on FamilySearch.org which he fondly calls the “Facebook of the Dead.” Afterwards, the students filled out their own family tree. 

Valerie, a DFAMC student, was able to complete her own family chart. When asked how she was able to accomplish the activity, she answered, “Buhay pa po lola at lolo ko sa tuhod at nakaugalian na po nilang magkwento tungkol sa buhay nila noong sinakop ang Pilipinas ng mga Hapon. Mahilig din po silang magpamana ng mga gamit ng kanunu-nunuan nila.”

[My great grandparents are still living, and they used to tell us stories during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. They also handed down to us things from their ancestors.]

In his closing remarks, Caduada shared, “What a blessing it is to discover the stories of our family, who they are, and where they came from. We believe that families are eternal and what a blessing it is to be with them forever.”

FamilySearch’s commitment to helping people connect with their ancestors is rooted in the belief that families are meant to be central to our lives and that family relationships are intended to continue beyond this life.

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