The Filipino Family

The Filipino Family

(tvvillaflores)

“Change is the only thing permanent in this world.” Change may be instant or it may sometimes be gradual. Gradual changes do not happen over night; at times, these seem too little to be noticed. However, I believe that in time, these changes will really be noticeable like the Filipino family. Through the years, the Filipino family has undergone some noticeable changes.

Yesterday’s Filipino family is known for being big. Some decades ago, most couples had six to ten children because parents believed that “the more, the merrier.” A big family was equivalent to a happy family. But nowadays, the Filipino family is no longer as big as it used to be. Most couples now have two to three kids only. Filipino parents still believe that children are a treasure from God; however, today’s parents also believe that they can only give their kids the best in life if there is only a limited number of kids in the family.

Another noticeable change in the Filipino family is its way of child-rearing. While yesterday’s Filipino family was known for being strict and conservative, today’s Filipino family is more lenient. In the past, children are not allowed to do things that today’s children can do. An example of this is the way children talk to their parents. Yesterday’s Filipino children talk to their parents in utmost respect to the extent of being afraid to talk to their parents. Today’s Filipino children, however, can always talk to their parents in a friendly manner because there is a more open communication between parents and children

And finally, the Filipino family has changed its outlook in terms of beliefs, customs and traditions, practices and views in life. Yesterday’s Filipino family was content on spending the time together going to church and spending the rest of the day in the house. Today’s Filipino family still goes to church together, but bonding happens in the forms of mall hopping and playing computer games. In addition, yesterday’s Filipino family had a very simple lifestyle. Today’s Filipino family is influenced by the conveniences of modern technology; thus, they put more value on the benefits of material things.

There are still other noticeable changes in the Filipino family. You may have your own observations, but whatever those changes are, let us all hope that these changes are more positive than negative.