THE FILIPINO family is revered worldwide for its many values, its unity, and the mutually supportive and harmonious love between parents and children.
Such a family has wise Filipino parents who have respectful, positive and caring relationships with their children. They neither dominate nor neglect their children. They are not punishers and scolders, and they never emotionally or verbally abuse their children. They encourage their children to be independent, love freedom and serve their community.
Close-knit families are resilient and bound by these values, and they endure and overcome struggles and poverty. Dire poverty is caused by corrupt politicians and their cronies involved in graft, fraud, nepotism and cronyism.
The Filipino family, in general, is resilient and is the heart and strength of the nation. Good and dedicated parents strive to protect and teach their children to be upright and have compassion for their neighbors.
The United Nations’ theme for the International Day of Families this year was “Families, Inequalities and Child Wellbeing.” It is a particularly timely reminder for the Filipino family, which must remain strong as it faces the challenges posed by corruption that feeds an unequal society, leaving 17.5 million families in poverty out of 117.5 million people, according to government statistics. But surveys by Social Weather Stations and other research firms indicate that roughly 50 percent of Filipino families rate themselves as poor.
There are an estimated 2.19 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The Filipino diaspora roughly number 10.7 million; they left for a better life abroad, unable to endure the corruption, social inequality and lack of opportunities for themselves and their children at home.
These 2.19 million OFWs provide critical financial support for their families through massive money transfers monthly. In 2025, they sent home a record $35.63 billion in cash remittances. Including informal remittances, this figure increases to $39.62 billion.
Besides the daily struggles of so many Filipino families to cope with worsening poverty, especially during oil crises, they are also faced with the onslaught of negative content on social media. Traditional family unity is under severe threat.
The historical roots of this unity and togetherness are found in the “balangay,” the wooden boat that traveled across seas for weeks, carrying families bound by their desire to survive. These families arrived on the islands, where they lived and worked in mutual cooperation. Working together came to be known as the “bayanihan,” or community, spirit. This community cooperation and togetherness was a life-saving experience for an intelligent and proud people.
From this precolonial heritage emerged a culture in which teamwork is strongly present in Filipino family traditions today. “Utang na loob,” or debt of gratitude, evolved from a tribal system of mutual help and reciprocity into a deeper moral binding obligation.
Teamwork for prosperity beyond survival, known as “pakikisama” or getting along with others, arose from a need to maintain peace and order and cooperation in small communities, so all could thrive.
An important family value is respect for parents, which also came from early tribal living in which age denoted wisdom and knowing traditional herbal medicine that helped people survive for thousands of years. (To be continued)/PN
