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Bagares, Cachila, Dela Rosa, Galindez, Kaur, Manuel, Millares, Pongyan, Rivota, Tan G.

, Tan
S., Tiamzon, Vargas

N2B

What is the concept of family in the Philippines?

Anyone can have a child and call themselves a parent, but what does a real parent do? Can
we compare every parenting practice in the world? Every family has their own concept of family,
the parents and their child/children. Filipinos have been described as family-centered and these
families have been observed to be closely-knit. There are also challenges that every family faces.
One of these challenges is financial problem. According to Philippine Statistics Authority as of
March 2019, there are almost 108.12 million Filipinos and there is estimated 2.7 children to 1
mother. To think that most Filipinos experience poverty and those family are with the ones who
has more than the estimated children per family, financial problem is really their challenge in the
family. Given by that, parents of these Filipino children will have to strive harder to give their
families need. Over 10 million Filipino parents work overseas to overcome these challenges.
Filipino families are having a hard time surviving by having multiple jobs and some Filipinos
who does not have any jobs are trying to sacrifice their lives just to give their family a
comfortable life as much as possible. As much as possible these parents are trying to sustain their
families by being close to them but how can they be close to them when they are working.
Throughout the year, many sociologists have conducted research on how Filipinos perceives the
concept of family, the researches recognized that Filipinos have many concepts, perspective
about “family”. Some of these views include the sociological perspective, the perspective of the
state, psychological perspective, and the non-traditional perspective.

We Filipinos values our family more than ourselves, thus it leads to sacrifices. A very
common sacrifice that most Filipino does is to work abroad and we often call them as OFWs. In
line to this, Melo Villareal said that; OFWs are called as “bagongbayani” due to their
contribution in our economy.

There are also danger that a OFW may encounter. Just like the case of Mary Jane Veloso, who
was saved from Bitay was reported before. Moreover, according to Ana P. Ssntos, a Filipino who
goes abroad sets its mind unto two things; a better home and education for their children.
However, leaving a child behind cannot be translated with monetary terms and any material
things for, a child also needs someone whom he/she can rely on. Though the salary is
incomparable, they must endure long years apart. “All that I have, my whole being and my very
life are what I have sacrificed and will forever be ready to sacrifice for my family.” By Justo
Cammayo, Isabela.

Filipino are well known to be hardworking. Putting love and dedication into their work for their
family. To be able to buy foods for their family to eat and to give a shelter and good way of
living. No matter how hard it is. This is manifested most noticeably in willingness to take risks.
According to Aquavir International Inc., Due to difficult working conditions in the Philippines,
Filipinos always demonstrate a high tolerance for pressure situations and are used to giving their
best while working various shifts in remote locations under high-stress situations. The
importance of kapwa in the Filipino psyche not only guides the Filipino into maintaining
homeostatic relationships, but also makes them act out of genuine care for the other. Harmony in
interpersonal relationships and caring for the other are top priorities in the Filipino psyche
(Selmer & De Leon, 2001).

All in all it can be said that the concept of family amongst Filipinos is well versed in the idea
of being able to sacrifice you own health happiness and well-being for the sake of being able to
provide the best possible living conditions for the family the most common example of this is
being an overseas worker wherein the salary is quite larger as compared to the Philippines
however the same best living condition can’t be said for the OFW since being away from the
family which they very dearly support affects their mental health, Filipinos are still more than
willing to sacrifice themselves for their family just to give them a free financial distress and
comfortable life. In conclusion, a number of persons joined together by bonds of sharing and
emotional closeness and who identifies themselves as being part of the family, in which
sacrifices, love and willingness to take risks are running this family so that each and everyone
can live off their own means is the concept of family for Filipinos.
References

Almendral, A. (2018). Why 10 million Filipinos endure hardship abroad as overseas workers.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/12/filipino-workers-return-from-
overseas-philippines-celebrates/

Filipino Workers (n.d.) http://www.aquavir.ph/filipino-workers.php

https://www.pap.org.ph/ilaganhechanovacopleyto-
bakit_ka_kumakayod_developing_a_filipino_needs_theory_of_motivation.pdf

Philippines Statistics Authority (2019). Population and Housing. www.psa.gv.ph

Rappler.com (2018). What makes the Pinoy family special. https://www.rappler.com/home-and-


parenting/219242-what-makes-filipino-family-special

Santos, A. (2014). Who Takes Care of Nanny's Children? https://pulitzercenter.org/projects/asia-


philippines-uae-dubai-paris-nanny-overseas-migrant-labor-work-children

Tarroja, M. (2010). Revisiting the Definition and Concept ofFilipino Family: A Psychological
Perspective.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3180/8ac456e22d7d6608ff110b6bbd9fdb1bf8ea.pdf

Villareal, M. (2018). Sacrifices of OFW and Families Highlighted in ‘Regalo’ Commercial of


Philippine Airlines. https://outoftownblog.com/sacrifices-of-ofw-and-families-highlighted-
in-regalo-commercial-of-philippine-airlines/

What sacrifices have you made for your family? (n.d.). https://www.philstar.com/inbox-
world/2008/09/24/402652/what-sacrifices-have-you-made-your-family

zam398 (2018). The Unsung Heroes: The Struggles and Sacrifices of Overseas Filipino Workers.
https://steemit.com/philippines/@zam398/the-unsung-heroes-the-struggles-and-sacrifices-
of-overseas-filipino-workers

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