ALANGILAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics

BEYOND FAMILY TIES:CHALLENGES FACED BY STUDENTS OF

ALANGILAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LIVING IN EXTENDED HOUSEHOLDS

INTRODUCTION

The Filipino culture is diverse, these are caused by the different cultures of the
invader in the early days who lived in the Philippines for a long time, specifically Spain.
Although the Filipino culture existed long before other cultures were developed, there
are a few ethnic groups that have lived and practices their own culture. Because of this,
there are some cultures that have been passed on to different generations and are still
followed by Filipinos. This includes the strong bond between relatives, the family is the
center of Filipino culture, and It was first taught to be practiced within the family. Culture
has become the basis for most Filipinos morals. Living with their family further
strengthens the Filipino family's unity within a home. But it also caused the toxic culture
of the Filipino family because the more Filipinos value the family, the easier it is for them
to abandon it. This made it difficult for them to continue their relationship. Despite the
fact that not every family practices the same culture, this specific tradition remains intact
to this day. Because of the culture, there are many different relationships in every
Filipino family.

According to Reyes, A. (2019) In difficult times, it may be useful to live with family
to reduce uncertainty and financial strain. The capacity of families to protect themselves
from poverty may be affected by the financial needs of individuals and the resources at
their disposal. Consideration of the differences in economic resources and social norms
surrounding extended family households by race or ethnicity, taking account of these
factors, to evaluate the relationship between their establishment and migration into
poverty. Research has shown that relocation to a home with extended family reduces
poverty, in particular for new families. The majority of this reduction in poverty is due to
the Family Safety Net, in which a nonpoor family takes over impoverished family units.

There are different types of families in the Philippines besides the typical Filipino
family, which consists of a mother, father, and child. A family that consists of multiple
generations residing in the same home is known as an extended household or extended
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Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics
family. In the Philippines, it is common among successful and poor families as well as
ethnic groups. It can involve up to three generations of the family. The extended
household is a type of environment with the presence of various Filipino cultures. As a
result, ethnic groups form positive and strong bonds within families, with the eldest
generation acting as the leader and the younger generations acting as followers.
Wealthy families find that having an extended family leads to success and strong bonds.
In contrast to what poor families in extended households experience, which typically
includes a lack of food and financial support as well as space and privacy. Even though
it may result in problems, the extended family environment tries to bring families from
different generations together.

Katharine (2016) argues that the idea of “household” should resist the tendency
to substitute when the edges of legal family fail us, because core familial ties exist
across multiple households and not inevitably familial. Churn is a characteristic of
household membership because of life cycle changes and changes in intimate
attachments. Churn in a way that minimizes disruption to individuals attachment to
building, neighborhood, community, and family members living in separate households
should be accommodated in house design and housing policy.

Nowadays, it is not new for a Filipino household to have more than one family
living in a single house. Living together helps cover most expenses as it’s divided with
the people living under the same roof. It offers practical and versatile solutions for
families seeking to adapt their homes to changing needs. This communal life
arrangement is not just about money. Here, families do not only share economic
burdens but also have common emotional and social experiences in their day to day life.
This creates an environment where relatives live near each other more frequently. In
such an atmosphere familial relations are strengthened across generations. These
shared moments therefore strengthen the fabric of living altogether for mutual
celebrations and hardships that come along the way. Thus, it embodies two salient
aspects of Filipino adaptive financial philosophy as well as cultural orientation toward
family ties and local community relationships as a response to today’s life challenges.

Senior high school students that lives in an extended household encounter

challenges that comes from living in a shared household. According to Larovici, D.
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Mathematics
(2014), A growing percentage of students who are experiencing mental health issues—
which can range from mood disorders to adjustment disorders—are coming to campus
for support. However, these students also possess resilience and a strong desire to
study; they come to campus with the expectation of beginning a new and better chapter
in their lives. The statement highlights a concerning trend where an increasing number
of students are managing mental health issues as they enter the school environment.
These challenges cover a range of conditions, from mood disorders to adjustment
disorders. Despite dealing with these mental health issues, students show resilience and
a strong commitment to their academic pursuits. Their decision to seek school support
reflects their determination to overcome these challenges and start a new and improved
chapter in their lives. Despite the obstacles they face, these students come to school
with hope and the expectation that higher education will be a transformative and positive
experience for them.

Living in an extended household has a big impact on the students well-being and
academic performance. Having limited privacy and personal space, living in an extended
household means sharing spaces in houses such as rooms and common areas like the
living room. This lack of privacy and personal space can affect students concentration on
their academics or studies. Being a student really needs privacy and personal space at
home. The lack of privacy can also lead to conflicts within the household because of
misunderstandings within the family. Additionally, students living in an extended
household may experience conflicting expectations from different generations, especially
from relatives.

Moreover, students who live in an extended household are more depressed

because of the environment inside their house, which has many people, and possibly
most of the extended family is having a family feud inside their house. Most of the
students who live in extended households are experiencing family feuds. It is a
complication or trouble for their family. Furthermore, the financial problem is one of the
challenges faced by students who live in extended households. With multiple family
members sharing expenses such as utilities and groceries, students may feel pressure
to contribute financially; possibly, their parents can't meet all the needs of the students
because of the financial problems of the family. To sum up, students living in extended
households face a unique set of challenges that can impact their academic and personal
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Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics
lives. From a lack of privacy to financial constraints, these challenges can pose
significant barriers to success. However, with the support of family members, students
can overcome these challenges and thrive in their academic pursuits.
According to Oiku and Onu (2023), academic attainment is an important
parameter used in measuring students’ success or failure in a particular subject in
school. Success, in an educational institution, is measured by academic performance.
The poor performance of Secondary School students has become a common concern of
parents, legislators, teachers, counselors, and psychologists. Olayinka (2019) pointed
out that the family is the bedrock of society and reported that a stable and well-
developed childhood can be guaranteed by a stable family. The current poor economic
status of most parents and families in the country has exposed children to undesirable
challenges that have negatively affected their academic performance in school.
Whatever may be the reason for these poor performances should constitute a cause for
concern because students’ academic performance plays an important role in producing
the best quality graduates who will become great leaders and manpower for the country,
thus responsible for the country’s economic and social development. There is
documented evidence of the influence of family size on students’ academic performance
in various subjects in school. Large-numbered families, whether rich or poor, are difficult
to maintain; they are characterized by a high number of children and rowdiness, which
does not create convenience for learning. They also create, in the upbringing of children,
some identified problems such as feeding, poor clothing, insufficient funds, lack of
proper attention for children, disciplinary problems, and malnutrition, which impact
negatively on children’s academic performance (Eristwhistle, 2016).

The Purpose of The research will be to understand the experience of Science,

Technology, Engineering and Mathematics students in Alangilan Senior High School
living in extended household, to determine the coping mechanism and the affect in
behavior of such condition and to create a documentary video that specifically made to
highlight their experiences. The importance of this research is to address the complex
social dynamics which has limited information to explore about in context of Filipino
Education and will significantly contribute to the understanding of a specific family
structure, various coping mechanism, well being and educational achievement. The
findings will be beneficial to students, parents, guidance counselor, psychologist and
future researchers. To students, experiencing challenges in an extended household
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Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics
environment, this research will provide information on how to live and cope with their
condition and will help to solve challenges they are experiencing in an extended
household. To parents, our study will improve their understanding and allow them to
improve their parenting strategy, creating a positive environment in their house. For
guidance counselors, this will help them understand students viewpoints and will allow
them to provide a more splendid solution, allowing a positive atmosphere in the school
environment. To psychologists, this will give them a better understanding of the behavior
of students living in extended households. They will learn about the behavior of the
students and how they interact with other people living in the same house. To future
researchers, this study can give them a better understanding about extended family,
potential strategies for intervening and mediating family conflicts, insights into the role of
communication and emotional regulation in family dynamics, and a deeper appreciation
for the challenges faced by the students and their family who live in an extended
household.