Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lerner L. Gatchalian
February 27, 2017
1. Legal Basis
Customs and Tradition are sometimes the basis of the existing law of
the land, in the Philippines it is nature of the majority of the Filipinos to
take care of the Elders in the Society because they see it as Debt of
Gratitude to their parents that raise and sacrifice to mold them as the
person that they are today. Aside from celebrating "Elderly Filipino
Month" every October of the year which recognize the vital role of the
elderly in the society in the nation building many laws are already
passed that promote and protect the elderly Filipinos in our society.
The mentioned existing laws are the proof that even the government
promotes the care and attention to the elders in the society, Child of
their Parents must return the favor, the love and affection that the
Elderly Parents used to mold them. Now that they are in the dawn of
their life we must cherish every moments that they are with us.
2. Moral Basis
The Bible has much to say about caring for elderly parents and other
family members who are not able to care for themselves. In the
Philippines we are known to have a close family ties and extended
family have role to care and support the elderly with respect is
embedded in our culture. Yes It is customary for a Filipino child /
families to live together in the same house and take care of our elderly
parents. It is shameful for us to set parents apart from our children and
grandchildren. Filipino elders are expected to spend the remaining
days of their lives with their children and grandchildren looking after
them. Filipino children are taught to show affection for older family
members and respect for older adults and authority. We are expected
to seek the advice of elders and accept the decisions of our older
adults. We value the wisdom they have acquired through living long
lives. We are oblige to care for older adults and aging parents, and
maintain group harmony, loyalty, and emotional ties with our parents
and other family members across their life span. Conservative Filipino
elders expect their children to greet them by saying mano po as the
children kiss their hands or place the seniors hand to their foreheads.
In here we can notice that we Filipinos value our Elder so much Unlike
in some culture the elderly can be seen as burdens rather than
blessings. Sometimes they are quick to forget the sacrifices their
parents did to them when they are in need of care themselves. Instead
of taking them into their homes they put them in retirement
communities or nursing homes that sometimes against to the will of
their Parents.
When we honor and care for our parents, we are serving God as well.
The Bible says, The church should care for any widow who has
no one else to care for her. But if she has children or
grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at
home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is
something that pleases God very much, But those who won't
care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same
household, have denied what we believe. Such people are
worse than unbelievers (1 Timothy 5:3-4, 8). Taking care of an
elderly family member at home requires genuine attention, patience,
dedication, time and effort. Caring for an elderly is a good way to
return the love and kindness to someone who has taken great care of
you through the years. Some elderly individuals require more
assistance than others. There are some who need round the clock
help. Looking after an aging individual is not easy and has its share of
challenges along the way.