THE FILIPINO FAMILY

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Typical or model
- Purpose of defining a model: for comparison and to give an overview
- Rural family 80%
- Christian
Ethnologic groups
- Tagalog, Pampango , Pangasinan, Ilocano, Bicol, Hiligaynon, Cebuano,
Samar-Leyte
Urban/Rural differences
a. Urban Definition
- Cities / province capitals or municipalities with a population density of
at least 1,000 persons per square kilometre.
- Poblaciones / barrio contiguous to the poblacion with at least 1,000
persons / sq. Km. If city and municipalities with population density of
500/ sq. Km.
- All poblaciones / barrios with 2,500 inhabitants if city population at
least 20,000 persons.
- Poblaciones with population of at least 2,500 persons.
Differences occupation, environment, size, density of population,
heterogeneity, homogeneity of culture, social differentiation and
stratification, mobility and system of interaction.

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b. Rural
- Occupation: farming, fishing, food gathering, cottage industries,
cultural back, wardness, poverty, ignorance, drabness, monotony and
open service.
Basic Characteristics
- Solid / stable
- Christian
- Rural
- Large ave. 6
- Extended Bilateral
- Emphasis on consanguinity
- Children centered
- Authority: age and sex
- Low socio - economic conditions
- Emphasis on obedience and kinship obligations therefore submissive
Functions
a. Reproduction: the family regulates sexual behaviour and is the unit
for reproduction. Within the marriage bond, sex expression is socially
recognized. It is an important function because it enables the
continuity of society. It is the only recognized institution for
procreation.
- Implication: Filipinos value children greatly. But if function is left
unchecked, the dependency ratio would increase resulting in greater
basic needs including health.

b. Socialization: the family is the chief agency in socializing the child.

The family transmits the culture of the group, its pattern ways of living
through example, teaching or indoctrination. The child imbibes the
value systems of the society and internalizes the values. The
behaviour, aspirations and expectations of the family become part of
his personality even regarding health and health practices. The family
is called the nursery of human nature. This function is shared by other
agencies like school, church etc. In the Philippines however, the family
remains the major agency.
c. Conferment of status: the family gives its members status. A child is
born into a family which gives him a name and lineage. To which he
belongs affects attitude and values. One born to a poor family would
have to make do with the limited resources available to him. In the
rural areas it is more difficult to change ones status because
everybody knows everybody. In Urban area, the origin is difficult to
trace and one is taken for his own value. But Filipinos are status
conscious.
- Relation to Health: Behaviour is related to status. Life chances of the
poor are impaired because they cant go to the best doctors, the best
hospitals or to buy essential medicines.
d. Economic welfare: the family is an important economic unit. It is an
important production, consumption and distribution unit. It is a
workgroup characterized by cooperation and distribution of labour. In
rural families, self sufficiency is possible. They till the soil (producer)
eat the produce (consumer) and sell whatever excess they have
(distributor). In urban communities, the economic function of the
family is mostly confined to consumption. Production and distribution is
taken over by industries.
- Implications on health: Since most of the members of the family
have to go out and earn a living, different types of occupational
hazards have to be contended with.
e. Affectional or function of biologic maintenance: infant is born
helpless and the parents fill the roles of protectors, providers and
guardians. They look after his physical and material needs, giving him
sustenance, nourishment and protection. The child is dependent on the
family for support. He draws security, affection and guidance from the
primary group, learns tenderness, sympathy, and understanding and
generalized love. The family is also the group responsible for the care
of the aged, the physically incompetent, the unemployed and the
widowed.
- Implication on health: The Filipino is never alone in their misery. He
has doting parents and relations to see him through crises and difficult
times. Thus, it is said that he has no need for a psychiatrist.
f. Protective. The family is an important mechanism for social control.
The family continually exerts pressure to make the members conform

to what the family perceives as desirable behaviour. It keeps its

members within the bounds in their relations with their fellowmen,
morals, control of sex drive, etiquette and type of livelihood. The
Filipino family is overprotective.

g. Religious. It is the family that first introduces the child to religion.

Although the church is the specialized institution performing the
religious function. The child acquires the religion of the parents and
gets the basic moral precepts and norm which guide behaviour.
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Implication on health: Religious beliefs affect health. Superstitious

beliefs are actually religious revivals, beliefs in faith healer and miracle
cures are related to religion.
h. Political. Aspects of the family like authority, decision making, loyalty
and cooperation carry over to the political activity of the larger society,
the parents view are also the childrens view.
i. Recreation. The family used to spend leisure together, exchanging
news and pleasantry and telling stories. With the change in society,
there has been a shift to commercialized recreation and the members
have divergent interests.
- Implication on health: The need to supervise commercialized
recreation rendered by agencies in relation to its ill effect on health.
Video machines: eye and ear strains, disco-accidents; trauma etc.
j. Education. The family takes on the role of educator when it starts the
socialization process on the child. In an informal manner, the family
transmits knowledge, skills, attitude, appreciations and values to its
members.
- Implication on health: the acquisition of knowledge modifies
traditional belief regarding health which is undesirable.
k. Health. The sees to it that members are taken cared of when they are
sick or disabled. The type of health seeking however is related to all of
the above functions.

Submitted by: Jose D. Amaro Jr.