History of the Philippine Home Economics Association, Incorporated (PHEA, Inc.) Founding Chairman: Dr. HELENA ZOILA T. BENITEZ
PHEA is a non-stock, non-profit organization established in September 24, 1948. It is a national organization of Home Economist and Allied Professionals in the Philippines. The objectives of the Philippine Home Economics Association are to:
Provide dynamic leade
rship in the unification of efforts of Home Economics organizations in promoting academic and cultural excellence and carry out its commitments in the profession. Strengthen organizational effectiveness for coordination collaborative and collective efforts both national and international level as well as in government and non-government organizations. Initiate, promote and supports legislation government thrusts, reform and program relative to Home Economics and directed towards quality family life. Encourage and support relevant and significant projects and programs as well as attendance for national and international conferences and congress in the advancement of Home Economics. Establish and promote quality standards of leadership in undertaking research in Home Economics. The Philippine Home Economics Foundation (PHEF) was established 1984 after the Philippine Home Economics Foundation (PHEA) hosted the 14th International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) Congress in Manila in 1980. This was the first time it was held in Asia and outside Europe. The theme of the 14th IFHE Congress was "Home Economics - A Regional Partner in Development". "In a developing country like the Philippines, our "bayanihan" way of working together in a common task makes ideas and things happen and big projects succeed. This cultural tradition has enabled us to host the XIVth International Federation Home for Economics Congress." (Helena Zoila T. Benitez, Congress Organizing, Chairman, Manila, Philippines, July 21-25, 1980)
The Philippine Home Economics Foundation, Inc. (PHEF) is the umbrella organization of three dynamic national professional Home Economics organizations in the Philippines namely: The Philippine Home Economics Association (PHEA), founded in 1948; Council of Deans and Heads of Home Economics in the Philippines (CODHHEP), organized in 1970; and the Home Economics Extension Association of the Philippines (HEEAP), organized in 1976. The objective of PHEF is to unite the three above mentioned HE associations. The origin of Home Economics could be traced back as early as 1660. Early attempts were made by Frances de Laval, first bishop of Canada when he established agricultural education in 1668. Farm schools were put up in Southern Canada for boys and household tasks were taught to girls at the Ursuline Convent in Quebec. The view of some early leaders in home economics in the United States was that it was a movement with the great potential for social change and betterment of family life (Baldevin 1991). In the United States of America, Home Economics became fully developed at the end of 18th century. The year 1862 was a significant year in the history of Home Economics in the United States of America by virtue of the passage of the Merill Land Grant Act. A strong pillar in Home Economics movement in the United States of America was the series of Lake Placed Conference which made the opinion that home economics a broader term than household arts. Marjorie East presented this definition of Home Economics, which served as a model in the 1902 Lake Placid Conference: "Home Economics is the profession and body of knowledge which focuses on the family as the core or nucleus, and works predominantly as a preventive educational, developmental mode, rather than a remediation or therapy in crisis intervention." The International Federation of Home Economists (IFHE) former president - Frau Monica Tupay said: "Home Economics enables men and women to develop competencies needed to live in an increasingly complex world". For the Philippine Home Economics Association: "Home Economics is an integration of knowledge from various disciplines. It conceptualize home economics as an applied science to improve the life by improving the environment."
