Structural Characteristics of the Filipino Family

What is a family?

Nuclear Family

composed of a father, mother and children

What is a family?

The Filipino Family

The Christian Filipino Family is described as a large family group.

What is a family?

The Filipino Family: Extended Family

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

close proximity 

What is a family?

The Filipino Family: Joint Family

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

spouses and offspring in one household  Among the

Muslims, the more

common type is the joint family.

What is a family?

The Filipino FamilyBLOOD KINSHIP is very important

in the Filipino family.

Family alliance is

further extended by the 

compadre or

compadrazgo

system

What is a family?

The Filipino FamilyThe Filipino family is said to be

patriarchal in authority.The father is

the autocratic

head of the family. He is

the bread earner and everyone

should obey and listen to

him.

What is a family?

The Filipino FamilyHowever, studies by other sociologists reveal that the

Filipino family is not "patriarchal" but is egalitarian.

A. Although the father is usually the head of the family, the mother is equally vested with authority over the children.

B. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles are also given authority.

C. The children respect and obey all adults.

What is a family?

The Filipino FamilyIn terms of residence, the

Filipino family may be said to be bilocal and neolocal

Bilocal - couple alternates between the wife’s group and the husband’s group in their household arrangements.

Neolocal –living together at a new residence.

What is a family?

The Filipino FamilyIn terms of residence, the

Filipino family may be said to be bilocal and neolocal

Bilocal - couple alternates between the wife’s group and the husband’s group in their household arrangements.

Neolocal –living together at a new residence.

The more influential and affluent family is likely to be a place of

residence of the newly wed couple.

The Filipino FamilyThe Filipinos practice

endogamy, the custom of marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan, or

tribe.

same tribe same religion

The Filipino FamilyIn marriage, monogamy is the norm. Although

polygamy is allowed among the Muslims.

Among the Tausugs,

families who share a

common male may live

together in one household. The

wives must learn to get

along with one another.

The Filipino Family The Filipino, compared with

Westerners, prefers a "structured" way of life rather than one in which

he can be assertive of his own individuality.

Thus, a Westerner will find the Filipino less autonomous and more dependent. This is because of the social concept of the Filipino self-esteem. His concept of self is

identified with his family.

The Filipino Family Right from childhood he 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 admonished 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.

The Filipino Family

The Philippine society may be characterized as familial. This means

that the influence of kinship, which centers on the family, is far-reaching. The persuasive influence

of the family upon all segments of Philippine

social organization can be illustrated in many ways.

The Filipino Family

Religious responsibility, for example, is familial rather than church-centered.

Each home has a family shrine.

The Filipino Family The influence of the

family upon economic and entrepreneurial business activities is also great. The so-

called "corporations" found in urban areas are generally family

holdings. The prevailing family structure emphasizes loyalty and support of the family, not of any higher level of social

organization.

The Del Rosario Family, owner of

Fisher Mall in Quezon City

The Filipino Family

The Filipino family is the nuclear unit around which social activities are organized – it is the basic unit

of corporate action. The interests of the individual in Philippine society

are secondary to those of the family.

Filipino Family Values

All happy families resemble one another, but each

unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. - Leo Tolstoy

Filipino Family Values Values can be inculcated but are

more enduring when caught. 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.

Filipino Family Values

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

fulfill some of the basic needs of

people.

Filipino Family Values: Paggalang

“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 behavior 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.

Filipino Family : Customs and

TraditionsThe 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 opt to live close to each other.

Filipino Family : Customs and

TraditionsIf 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. Why, you may ask? This is said to bring

good luck and prosperity to the

household.

Filipino Family : Customs and

TraditionsThe 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.

Filipino Family : Customs and

Traditions 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. This simply means that the people

who they greet will be blessed too. This is why you will notice that most Filipino households have statues of Jesus, Mary or

both of them greeting you by the front door.

Filipino Family : Customs and

TraditionsWhen 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.