![FPOP [Family Planning Organization of the Philippines] — “Quality of life is our vision”](../../../site/img/spacer.gif "FPOP [Family Planning Organization of the Philippines] - “Quality of life is our vision”")
The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), the oldest and the largest non-government organization in the field of family planning, is proudly celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. For four decades now, FPOP has served millions of Filipino women and couples from the poor, marginalized, socially excluded and underserved communities by delivering quality family planning and reproductive health care services.
FPOP marks this year’s anniversary by reaffirming its commitment to improving the quality of life of Filipinos by delivering quality family planning and reproductive health care services with the message, “Life Begins!” with a clear vision (20/20@40) of the future.
FPOP traces its beginning in 1969, when two dynamic family planning organizations decided to join forces in an effort to promote family planning more effectively. Leaders of the former Family Planning Association of the Philippines (FPAP) and Planned Parenthood Movement of the Philippines (PPMP) formed FPOP and registered it with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 4 of the same year.
FPOP is an organization of volunteers who share their expertise, time and effort for free in pursuing the organization’s mission of helping achieve a quality life for Filipinos. Today, FPOP boasts of at least 15 professional volunteers in each chapter who, as a national collective, set the organization’s general direction. It also has numerous community-based volunteers who directly link the whole organization to its target communities.
In observance of its 40th anniversary, FPOP has lined up a series of 40 activities that took off last June 26, 2009 and will run until August 4, 2009.
All its 25 chapters and 29 clinics will each have a day of celebration. The clinics will provide special packages of services that include family planning counseling, services and supplies, pre-natal check-ups, PAP Smear and laboratory services.
Together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), FPOP will present Filipino world-class pianist Ms. Cecille Licad, in a concert with Mr. Alban Gerhardt, a world renowned cellist. The concert will be held on September 15 and 16, 2009 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Oscar Yatco. The funds raised from this concert will be for the benefit of poor women who visit the FPOP clinics.
For those who are interested in the work of FPOP, a “Souvenir Book” will be released this year. This book chronicles the struggles of FPOP pioneers, the organization’s achievements and contributions to the Philippine society, the challenges faced and the volunteerism of the people who made FPOP a relevant organization today.
On July 17, 2009, a group of artists committed to the promotion of family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights, together with FPOP, will launch a month long art exhibit entitled, “The Sacredness of Life.” This activity features on-the-spot painting by the artists and selling of their works. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of paintings will benefit FPOP’s FP Scholars and Cervical Cancer Screening projects that will be launched soon.
Part of the celebration activities are the Annual General Membership Meeting, National Youth Leaders’ Assembly and Chapter Program Managers’ Meeting, which shall be held from July 27 to August 1 at the National Office at 50 Doña Hemady Street, Barangay Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City.
A culminating program will be held on August 2, also at the National Office. One of its highlights is honoring the women and men of FPOP who braved the odds and championed the cause of family planning, responsible parenthood and sexual and reproductive health and rights. In each decade of FPOP’s life, individuals and groups will be honored for their great contributions to FPOP, the family planning movement in the Philippines and in the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Another highlight of the culminating program is the launching of the following:
As FPOP continues to enhance the quality of services for those in need, it strongly declares support for the enactment of a national policy on reproductive health. FPOP will also work with Local Government Units (LGUs) and advocate for increased resources for family planning and reproductive health to enhance the quality of services that can be accessed by the poor.
