Fun runs, quizzes, parades to mark Nat’l Bible Week from Jan. 25-31

January 25 is the start of National Bible Week, during which Filipinos who are practicing Catholics are urged to honor the Holy Book by reading it, studying it, and doing their best to live by its teachings.

Spearheaded by the Philippine Bible Society (PBS), National Bible Week is a nationwide celebration with the aim of bringing the Bible to the forefront of people's lives. Presidential Proclamations 2242, 44, and 1067 designated the last week of January as National Bible Week, with the last Sunday of January known as National Bible Sunday.

During National Bible Week, participants join a number of activities, including i-Proclaims, or public readings from Scripture; parades, motorcades and rallies; the putting up of NBW-related streamers and posters in communities and parishes; sports events such as fun runs; cultural events such as singing and rap competitions and quizzes; and the distribution of Bibles on the streets and other public places.

The theme of this year's celebration is “God’s Word: Strength of the Family, Hope of the Nation,” based on Psalm 33:12 (“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people chosen as his inheritance”) and on Acts 16:31 (“They answered, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your family.”)

Established in 1899, the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) is a non-profit, non-stock and inter-confessional Christian organization affiliated with the United Bible Societies (UBS), a society of more than 146 Bible Societies operating in 200 countries and territories worldwide.

For more information about National Bible Week, contact PBS at (02) 526-7777 loc. 630, (02) 524-5337, or visit its website: www.bible.org.ph. — BM, GMA News