REPORTED BY

ANGELA C. IMPERIAL

FILIPINO FAMILY VALUES AND SOLIDARITY

INTRODUCTION

Values change slowly, but it depends on how strong families

are in preserving, promoting, and passing on our cultural values

from one generation to another.

INTRODUCTION

PRE COLONIAL PERIOD

Very close family ties

Nuclear and extented family

Patriarchal

Hospitality Bayanihan

Marriage customs

Women enjoyed relative freedom in precolonial society. They had rights, held property, conducted business, and had a public life.

men were in general, monogamous

courtship usually begins with paninilbihan

if the man wins the trust of the parents, he does not immediately marry the woman, but he has to satisfy several conditions:

- give a dowry or bigay-kaya- pay the panghihimuyat- pay the wet nurse bigay-suso- pay the parents himaraw - bribe for the relatives called sambon (among the

Zambals)

pamamalae or pamamanhikan or pamumulungan

weddings are officiated by the priestess or babaylan

uncooked rice is thrown on the couple after the wedding ceremony

Marriage ceremony - eating rice

Tausog wedding

ceremony

COLONIAL PERIOD

Colonialism stripped Filipino women of their position. They were expected to remain within the home and only concern themselves with housework and raising children.

The ideal woman was a "Maria Clara" in the mold of Jose Rizal's tragic heroine from Noli Me Tangere -- meek and self-effacing. But despite this, many women showed the strong will and determination that would allow them to go beyond social constraints and move on equal footing with men.

FILIPINO FAMILY DURING COLONIAL PERIOD

FILIPINO FAMILY DURING COLONIAL PERIOD

Also, in rural communities, kin members can build their household dwellings close to each other, which may not be possible in the city.

Moreover, Filipinos who move away to study or work in cities, locally and abroad, tend to stay with their more affluent relatives, and this increases the size of the family household.

POST COLONIAL PERIOD

As societies modernize, social relationships become more impersonal and businesslike.

At the same time, less religiously oriented and more scientifically grounded.

Western-models continue to dominate development circles.

Moreover, the modern Filipino family continues to be close knit and centered on the family. Relationships among extended kin continue to be marked by reciprocal obligations and privileges even across great geographic distances.

Filipino parents consider it their duty to provide for the material and educational needs of their children.

Children, in turn, are expected to obey and respect their parents and to take care of their parents when they grow old.

Also, older children, until they marry and have families of their own, are expected to help younger siblings with school, and to assist them in getting a job after graduation.

POST COLONIAL PERIOD

• Bayanihan: • Close Family Ties:.• Pakikisama:.• Hiya: • Utang na Loob: o Amor Propio: Concern for self image.o Delicadeza: Sense of honoro Palabra de Honor: "word of honor"

Although these traits are generally positive, these practices also have the inclination to be applied in the wrong context. A debt of gratitude is sometimes repaid by giving special favors to the other person regardless of the moral outcome. Close familial ties can also lead to favoritism.

POST COLONIAL PERIOD

Beginning in the 1970s, the Philippine government implemented an overseas employment program to absorb the increasing numbers of Filipino workers.

This has led to new conceptualizations of the Filipino family and changing gender roles, as many married females have decided to migrate abroad to work, and their husbands stay home to care for the children.

Today, most Filipino families are maintaining and reproducing transnational household connections and networks. The Filipino family continues to be adaptive and functional in these new and changing circumstances.

Once a couple is married, keeping the relationship intact remains the number one priority, regardless of any indiscretions such as extramarital affairs.

“Divorce is illegal in the Philippines. . .A mistress on the side, even another child or two outside

society tends to hold the marriage vows sacred; whatever the man's extramarital habits might be, he is expected to support his family and not humiliate them through abandonment or by flaunting his behavior.

The woman is expected to be loyal to her marriage and to strive to maintain it.” (Gochenour 1990:19‐20)

Decision MakingTraditional Filipino families often consult each

other about when making important decisions."Going to college, taking a job overseas, and

getting married may sometimes be individual decisions, but quite often they are family decisions" (Gochenour 1990: 18-19).

Actual family involvement in personal decision making has decreased for most of those surveyed

Hospitality"In spite of limited resources, Filipinos help

friends and relatives and they welcome visitors with warmth and plenty of food" (Sustento-Seneriches 1995: 121).

Most Filipino families have remained hospitable and generous to visiting friends and relatives

Filipino Families today are more exposed to a growing number of diverse life threatening problems than any other generation has ever been.

FILIPINO FAMILY TODAY

DISINTEGRATION OF FAMILY

Increasing fragility of marriage.

• Among the many factors which contribute to the fragility of urban Filipino families is the loosening control on the young.

• Today young people are more independent and are allowed greater freedom. The increased mobility of young people for recreation and leisure purposes has made it difficult for parents to monitor them.

Delinquency among adolescents

Juvenile Delinquency- can be explained by the failure of social control which is one of the responsibilities of the family

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

PHYSICAL, PHYCHOLOGICAL AND VERBAL ABUSE

Children and young adults use drugsThe most common reason given by children and

young adults is that these prohibited drugs are relatively easy to get. Pushers roam neighborhoods where children could be easily lured and victimized.

Other reasons which are more serious and should be given immediate attention are: 1. Abusive parents2. Family problems3. Peer pressure4. insecurity5. The feeling that parents have given up on the child6. Accesibility or visibility of some kind of inhalant in the

home such as rugby of thinner.

PARENTAL ABSENTEEISM

Today, the family is brokenbecause of the diminishing opportunities for them to be one.

The real meaning of family has been distorted. Family is equated with material possessions. Many parents leave their young children to seek better economic opportunities.

Many parents replace their presence with the latest gadgets.

Absence of parents destroys the solidarity in the family.

Economic DifficultiesAlthough it has been acknowledged that money is not the most important thing in the family, we have to admit that economic difficulties is one of the biggest challenges being faced by many families today.

As a result of this, children are malnourished, cannot go to school and instead work to augment family income at a very young age. Children and young people in the streets are exposed to all kinds of hazards (addiction, exposure to toxic substances and pollution) with negative impact on their health and overall development.

ABSENCE OF FAMILY GOALS AND DETERIORATING VALUES

The absence of values and goals to guide family decisions and activities can cause members to lose sight of what is truly worthwhile.

Values are strong feelings or beliefs about issues, ideas or things that are considered important by the person.

Individuals and families have different values. It influences a person’s most important decisions about friends, sexual relationship, family education, work and money.

Failure of parents to recognize higher meaning and purpose of the family can lead to materialism, instant gratification and pleasure as life’s chief goals.

RISING INCIDENCE OF EARLY SEXUAL INVOLVEMENT

AND TEENAGE PREGNANCIES/MARRIAGES

Too Early Sexual Involvement This refers to engaging in someform of sexual encounter or sexual intercourse at an early age.Too early sexual involvement often leads to WASTED lives.

W eak self-imageA dolescent or teenage pregnancyS exually transmitted infectionsT een marriageE motional woundsD isrupted goals

STRONG NEGATIVE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA

Media has a negative influence on the family, especially on the youth

Too much exposure to violent crimes and sex in the media brings damage to the upbringing of children.

Because of media, the interpersonal relationship in the family seems to have been neglected. Family ties that used to be very close are being threatened.

Media has become

the babysitter , taking

the place of busy

parents

ANALYSIS

FILIPINO FAMILY VALUES

PRE COLONIAL

COLONIAL POST COLONIAL

PRESENT

CLOSE FAMILY TIES/SOLIDARITY/INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

HOSPITALITY

DECISION MAKING

MARITAL SACREDNESS

RELIGIOUSITY

ACCESIBILITY/VISSIBILITY OF PARENT

STRONG FAMILY GOALS & VALUES

STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE FAMILY

GENDER ROLE

END