Filipino Family

FAMILY• A basic social unit consisting of parents and

their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.- While this definition is a good starting point, there are several modern family structures that are excluded by this definition, such as childless couples or other variations on the family unit.

• Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another and reside usually in the same dwelling.

Filipino Family

• Filipino family is a family of Philippine origin. Philippine families exhibit Filipino cultures, customs, traits and values, of which the most important value is family closeness.

Structure of Filipino Family• The typical Filipino family

consists of a husband, wife and children, extending to include grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. This circle is often enlarged with the selection of a child's godparents.

The Filipino Family: Nuclear Family

Consist of father, mother, and children

Father

• The father is acknowledged head of the family. • The father commands full

authority in the family.

Mother• The mother on the hand is

considered be the light of the house (“ilaw ng tahanan”). • She is responsible in all

housekeeping activities, taking care of the children, planning of meals, and budgeting the income of the family.

Child• The role of the child may depend on whether

he is the eldest, middle, the youngest or the only child.

• The eldest takes charge in helping mothers take care of his siblings.

• The middle child may assume the role of the eldest child.

• The youngest is often the most loved although he is also expected to have his own share in doing some household chores. The youngest always gets the special treatment from his parents.

The Filipino Family: Extended Family

consists of parents, children, and other close relatives, often living in

close proximity

The Filipino Family: Joint Family

composed of parents, their children, and the children's

spouses and offspring in one household  

• BLOOD KINSHIP is very important in the Filipino family.

• Family alliance is further extended by the  compadresystem

• The Filipino family is said to be patriarchal in authority.• However, studies by other

sociologists reveal that the Filipino family is not "patriarchal" but is egalitarian.

The Filipino Family• The Filipinos practice endogamy, the custom of

marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan, or tribe.

Same tribe Same religion

• In marriage, monogamy is

the norm. Although

polygamy is allowed

among the Muslims.

• Right from childhood Filipino child is made to believe that he belongs to the family.

• Since childhood, a Filipino is encouraged to tell all of his thoughts to his parents and submit to his parents’ direction, counsel and advice.

• He is advised to be good because any disgrace that he commits is a disgrace to the family. In times of misfortune he is assured of his family’s support, sympathy and love.

• Even after finishing school, Filipino children are not obliged to get out of their homes unless they want to.

• In fact, most of them keep their close relationship to their parents by staying at least before they get married.

• Filipino Families are Hospitable.

• Traditional Filipino families often consult each other about when making important decisions such as Going to college, taking a job overseas, and getting married may sometimes be individual decisions, but quite often they are family decisions.

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

The Filipino Family Values

All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. - Leo Tolstoy

• Values formation which is vital to the socialization skills of an individual can be developed and nurtured in the family, school and environment.

• Values may include obtaining knowledge, wisdom and necessary skills, using them in your home and living out the values you acquired within the family.

• The Filipino family has values that have been treasured and passed on for many generations already. These values are believed to be beneficial as it fulfil some of the basic needs of people.

Filipino Family Values: Paggalang

• It means being respectful or giving due respect for a person. Filipinos are accustomed to using the words “po,” “opo,” and “ho” when they are conversing with older people or sometimes to people with higher position or status in the society.

• Using these words is customary in the Philippines and it shows sign of respect. Paggalang can also be given to the elders by virtue of kissing their hands before leaving and upon arrival. Younger member of the family gives due respect to older siblings by calling them kuya (older brother) or ate (older sister).

Filipino Family Values: Pakikisama

• “Pakikisama” or Getting along well with people – The yearning of the Filipinos to be accepted and well liked by his friends, colleagues, boss and even relatives steers them perform pakikisama.

• The word pakikisama means helping others. This trait usually fosters cooperation and doing good deeds which are favorable to other people.

Filipino Family Values: Utang na Loob

• “Utang na Loob” or Debt of Gratitude –Usually a system of obligation, when applied it gives duty and responsibility on the part of the young siblings to serve and repay the favors done to them sooner or later.

Filipino Family Values: Pagpapahalaga sa Pamilya

• “Pagpapahalaga sa Pamilya”  or Putting importance to family - This implies that a person will put a high regards and concerns over the family before anything else.

• This is one of the reasons why a father or a mother in a Filipino family will seek employment abroad just to earn decent earnings for their family, to meet the family’s basic needs and want.

Filipino Family Values: Hiya• “Hiya” or Shame – This controls

the social behaviour of Filipino. It is a value that makes a Filipino be obedient and be respectful to parents, older siblings and authorities. It is also a key ingredient to the loyalty of one’s family.

Filipino Family : Customs and Traditions

• The Filipino family are very traditional people. They believe in many different kinds

of customs and follow lots of various traditions.

• The Filipino people are known to have close family ties. This is why you may notice that the people in a vicinity most of the time know

each other. Actually, they are likely related to each other.

Whether short or long and distant, the Filipino family will choose to

live close to each other.

• If they would have to move out to a new house, the homeowner will be asked to throw some coins when he opens the front door. This is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the household.

• The first things one should carry into a new home on the day they will transfer are rice and salt.

•  The number of people sleeping in a new house the first night should be the same for nine consecutive days. Otherwise, death will occur in that house.

• When doves and pigeons leave a house, it is a sign that there is no harmony there, because its owners quarrel all the time.

• If you wish to rid your home of unwanted visitors, secretly sprinkle salt around the house and they will soon depart.

The Filipino people are very religious as well. Therefore, there are quite a lot of Filipino culture, customs and traditions for the home and family that is based

on religious beliefs. • During the morning, it is also

customary for Filipino people to open their east window. This is said to bring God’s grace inside the house through the sun.

•  It is also very important to make sure that there are statues of Jesus or Mary in the house. It is also important that they are facing the direction of the front door. This is because they will be greeting the visitors of the house and anyone who comes in.

• When building a house with stairs, make sure to count them that they are not 13. It is said that 13 is the number of Judas and this will bring bad luck to the household and the people who will come in.