HEALTH

Family Structure
The family is the basic unit of society. It is the unit that it is the smallest group of people
bounded by kinship and a common culture. The parent/s is/are figure/s of authority to which
the child, as a dependent, is expected to submit. It is within authority to which the child, as a
dependent is expected to submit. It is within the family that rules of good behavior are first
learned.

Dating and Courtship

Dating is an important experience that contributes to the emotional growth and identity
formation of a person. While dating, everything is tentative. Each party is expected to present
its positive side. In time, if the relationship deepens, each party learns to accept and tolerate
the negatives. Dating also helps the couple develop their judgement of character, which is
shaped by their sense of right and wrong.
Courtship implies a deeper sense of commitment. This is the period when two persons
develop a romantic and intimate relationship that could lead to marriage. Traditionally, the
man visits the woman at her parent’s home, introduces himself, and declares his romantic
intention. In most cultures, courtship is viewed as a “ritual” of testing the man’s sincerity, will
and resolve in winning the heart of the woman he loves. It more than dating and is important in
choosing one’s lifelong partner.

Five Essential Reasons Why Courtship is More Important Than Dating

Respect  Being polite towards the woman and her family
 Understanding that courtship is not done in haste
 Showing real character that shines through hard work
 Allowing one to judge a person’s character fairly
Expectations  Having transparent communication
 Discussing aspirations in life and future plans
 Gauging the needs of each other
 Judging whether their plans “fit” each partner
Romance  Making the partner feel special
 Giving flowers, gifts, and attention to the lady
Rationality  Sorting through confused feelings
 Having open communication
 Pre-empting conflicts and problems that may loom later on
Pursuit  Relishing the experience of hard work in winning the hand of the
 beloved.
 Treasuring the memory of the partner going to great lengths to earn
their love.
 Making the relationship more valuable and durable.

Marriage
Courtship culminates in a proposal of marriage from the man to the woman. If the
woman accepts the proposal, the man will seek the approval of her parents. Once consent is
granted, the union of the man and woman as husband and wife is formalized in marriage rites.
In the Philippines, marriages in general monogamous, which means that a person is
only allowed to have only one spouse. Marriage to one person while still legally married to
another constitutes an act of bigamy, a criminal offense punishable by law.
Among Muslims and other ethnic minorities, a man is allowed to have a multiple of
wives. This practice is called polygamy and is an exemption in Philippine law.

Successful Marriage and Healthy Family Life

Keeping a Healthy Family Life

Togetherness  Sharing meals together
 Going to church or worship together
 Trying out new “things” like food/cuisine
 Engaging in nonroutine activities
 Camping or going out to trips together
 Playing sports together
Communication  Having constant dialogues between husband and wife
 Having constant dialogues between parents and children
 Spending less time with gadgets and more time in conversations
with parents and siblings
 Having internet-free and gadget-free days for the entire family
Conflict  Being open to one another
Resolution  Allowing each member to express oneself
 Listening carefully
 Avoiding raising one’s voice to prevent shouting matches
 Preventing of keeping emotions to one’s self; letting it out