BASIC UNIT OF SOCIETY

1.1 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.
Extended Family consists of parents, children, and other close relatives, often living in close proximity
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
compadre system
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 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).
: 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.
: 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.
: 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.
: 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.
: 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.
FUNCTIONS OF FAMILY
1.The family is the unit of reproduction. It regulates the sex behaviour of people in any given society.
2.It performs the functions of biological maintenance. As a child is born, the parents take the role of
providers and protectors providing the child his basic needs.
3.The family socializes the members.it is the major agency for socialization. It transmits culture from
generation to generation through the family.
4.It provides status to the members. Every child is born to his family which provides him status name,
and lineage.
5.It serves as an important mechanism for social control. It exerts efforts on the members on what it
considers desirable behaviours according to societal standards and norms.
6. The family serves as the first and foremost school where every child learns the major lessons in life.
The parents perform a very vital role in the child’s development and formation. Basic values are learned
from parents.
7. It performs such other functions to meet the material and economic, religious and social needs of the
child. It is the family where the child learns basic concepts of authority, structure, etc. and where he
develops his self-image and self- concept.