 Basic unit in society, and is The Filipino Family

shaped by all forces surround it.

 Values, beliefs, and   Based on the Philippine
customs of society Constitution, Family Code with
influence the role and focus on religious, legal, and
function of cultural aspects of the
the family (invades every definition of family.
aspect of the life of Section 1
the family)
 Is a unit of interacting persons  The state recognizes the
bound by ties of blood, Filipino family as the
marriage or adoption. foundation of the nation.
Accordingly, it shall strengthen
 Constitute a single its solidarity and actively
household, interacts with promote its total development
each other in their
respective familial roles Section 2

and create and maintain

 Marriage, as an inviolable
a common culture.
social institution, is the
 An open and developing foundation of family and shall
system of interacting be protected by the state.
personalities with structure and Section 3
process enacted in relationships
among the individual members The state shall defend –
regulated by resources and
stressors and existing within the 1. the right of spouses to found
larger community (Smith & a family in accordance with
Maurer, 1995) their religious convictions and
 Two or more people who live in the demands of responsible
the same household (usually), parenthood
share a common emotional 2. the right of children to
bond, and perform certain assistance including proper
interrelated social tasks care and nutrition, and special
(Spradly & Allender, 1996) protection from all forms of
 An organization or social neglect, abuse, cruelty,
institution with continuity (past, exploitation and other
present, and future). In which conditions prejudicial to their
there are certain behaviors in development
common that affect each other.
 3. the right of the family to 8. Children not only have to
a family living wage income respect their parents and obey
4. the right of families them, but also have to learn to
or family associations to repress their repressive
participate in the planning and tendencies
implementation of policies and 9. The older siblings have
programs of that affect them something of authority of their
parents.
Section 4

Types of Family
 The family has the duty to care
for its elderly members but the  There are many types of family.
state may also do so through They change overtime as a
just programs of social security consequence of BIRTH, DEATH,
MIGRATION, SEPARATION and
The Filipino Family and its Characteristics
GROWTH OF FAMILY MEMBERS
The basic social units of Philippine A. Structure
society are the nuclear family
 NUCLEAR- a father, a mother
1. Although the basic unit is the with child/children living
nuclear family, the influence of together but apart from both
kinship is felt in all segments of sets of parents and other
social organizations relatives.
2. Extensions of relationships and  EXTENDED- composed of two
descent patterns are bilateral or more nuclear families
3. Kinship circles is considerably economically and socially
greater because effective range related to each other.
often includes the third cousin Multigenerational, including
4. Kin group is further enlarged by married brothers and sisters,
a finial, spiritual or ceremonial and the families.
ties. Filipino marriage is not an  SINGLE PARENT-divorced or
individual but a family affair separated, unmarried or
5. Obligation goes with this widowed male or female with at
kingship system least one child.
6. Extended family has a profound  BLENDED/RECONSTITUTED-a
effect on daily decisions combination of two families
7. There is a great degree of with children from both families
equality between husband and and sometimes children of the
wife newly married couple. It is also
 a remarriage with children from  MATRIARCHAL – full authority
previous marriage. of the mother or any female
 COMPOUND-one man/woman member of the family, e.g.
with several spouses eldest sister, grandmother
 COMMUNAL-more than one
monogamous couple sharing
resources
 EGALITARIAN- husband and
 COHABITING/LIVE-IN-
wife exercise a more or less
unmarried couple living
amount of authority, father and
together
mother decides
 DYAD—husband and wife or
other couple living alone
without children
 GAY/LESBIAN-homosexual  DEMOCRATIC – everybody is
couple living together with or involve in decision making
without children
 NO-KIN- a group of at least
two people sharing a
 AUTHOCRATIC-
relationship and exchange
 LAISSEZ-FAIRE- “full
support who have no legal or
autonomy”
blood tie to each other
 MATRICENTRIC- the mother
 FOSTER- substitute family for
decides/takes charge in
children whose parents are
absence of the father (e.g.
unable to care for them
father is working overseas)
FUNCTIONAL TYPE:  PATRICENTIC- the father
decides/ takes charge in
 FAMILY OF PROCREATION- absence of the mother
refers to the family you yourself
C. Decent (cultural norms, which affiliate a
created. person with a particular group of kinsman for
 FAMILY OF ORIENTATION- certain social purposes)
refers to the family where you
came from.  PATRILINEAL – Affiliates a
person with a group of relatives
B. Decisions in the family (Authority) who are related to him though
his father
 PATRIARCHAL – full authority  BILATERAL- both parents
on the father or any male  MATRILINEAL – related
member of the family e.g. through mother
eldest son, grandfather
D. Residence
  PATRILOCAL – family resides / responsibility for
stays with / near domicile of the behavior and supporting
parents of the husband individual creativity and
 MATRILOCAL – live near the initiative.
domicile of the parents of the
wife Universal Function of the Family by
Doode
Ackerman States that the
 REPRODUCTION – for
Function of Family are:
replacement of members of
1. Insuring the physical survival of society: to perpetuate the
the species human species
2. Transmitting the culture,  STATUS PLACEMENT of
thereby insuring man’s individual in society
humanness  BIOLOGICAL and
MAINTENANCE OF THE YOUNG
 Physical functions of and dependent members
the family are met  Socialization and care of the
through parents children;
providing food, clothing  Social control
and shelter, protection
against danger provision The Family as a Unit of Care
for bodily repairs after Rationale for Considering the Family as a Unit of Care:
fatigue or illness, and
through reproduction  The family is considered the
 Affect ional function – natural and fundamental unit of
the family is the primary society
unit in which he child  The family as a group
test his emotional generates, prevents, tolerates
reactions and corrects health problems
 Social functions – within its membership
include providing social  The health problems of
togetherness, fostering the family members are
self esteem and a interlocking
personal identity tied  The family is the most frequent
to family identity, focus of health decisions and
providing opportunity action in personal care
for observing and  The family is an effective and
learning social and available channel for much of
sexual roles, accepting the effort of the health worker
The Family as the Client 

Characteristics of a Family as a Client  A family is a unit in

which the action of any
 The family is a product of member may set of a
time and place- whole series of reaction
within a group, and

entity whose inner
strength may be its
 A family is different from
greatest single
other family who lives in
supportive factor when
another location in many
one of its members is
ways.
stricken with illness or
 A family who lived in the
death.
past is different from
another family who lives
 The family accommodates the
at present in many ways.
needs of the individual
members.
 The family develops its own
lifestyle 


 An individual is unique
human being who needs
 Develop its own patterns
to assert his or herself in
of behavior and its own
a way that allows him to
style in life.
grow and develop.
 Develops their own
 Sometimes, individual
power system which
needs and group needs
either be:
seem to find a natural
 Balance-the balance;
parents and
1. The need for self-
children have
expression does
their own areas of
not over shadow
decisions and
consideration for
control.
others.
 Strongly Bias-
2. Power is equitably
one member
distributed.
gains dominance
3. Independence is
over the others.
permitted to
 The family operate as a group flourish.
 The family relates to the without
community either
contributin
 g to it or
demanding
 Family develops a stance
changes to
with respect to the
it.
community:
 The family has a growth cycle
1. The relationship
between the 
families is
wholesome and  Families pass through
reciprocal; predictable development
the family utilizes stages (Duvall & Miller,
the community 1990)
resources and in  STAGES:
turn, contributes
to the  Stage 1:
improvement of MARRIAGE &
the community. THE FAMILY
2. There are families
who feel a sense  Involves
of isolation from merging of
the community. values
brought
 Families into the
who relationshi
maintain p from the
proud, “We families of
keep to orientation.
ourselves”  Includes
attitude. adjustment
 Families s to each
who are other’s
entirely routines
passive (sleeping,
taking the eating,
benefits chores,
from the etc.), sexual
community and
 economic repr
aspects. odu
 Members ctive
work to life
achieve 3 plan
separate ning
identifiable
tasks:  Stage 2: EARLY
CHILDBEARING F
1. Esta AMILY
blish
a  Birth or
mut adoption
ually of a first
satis child which
fyin requires
g economic
relat and social
ions role
hip changes
2. Lear  Oldest
n to child: 2-1/2
relat years
e
well  Stage
to 3: FAMILY WITH
their PRE-SCHOOL
fami CHILDREN 
lies  This is a
of busy family 
orie because
ntati children at
on this stage
3. If demand a
appl great deal
icabl of time
e, related to
eng growth and
age developme
in nt needs
 and safety ADOLESCENT
considerati CHILDREN 
ons.
 Oldest  A family all
child: 2-1/2 ows the
to 6 years adolescent
old s more
 Stage freedom
4: FAMILY WITH and
SCHOOL AGE prepare
CHILDREN  them for
their own
 Parents at life as
this stage technology
have advances-
important gap
responsibili between
ty of generation
preparing s increases
their  Oldest
children to child: 12-
be able to 20 years
function in old
a complex
world while  Stage 6: THE
at the LAUNCHING
same time CENTER FAMILY 
maintainin
g their own  Stage
satisfying when
marriage children
relationshi leave to set
p. their own
 Oldest household-
child: 6-12 appears to
years old represent
the
 Stage breaking of
5: FAMILY WITH the family
  Empty  Maintain and create
nests constructive and responsible
community relationships
 Stage  Able to grow with and through
7: FAMILY OF children
MIDDLE YEARS   Ability to perform family roles
flexibly
 Family retu  Able to help oneself and to
rns to two accept help when appropriate
partners  Demonstrate mutual respect for
nuclear the individuality
unit of family members
 Period  Ability to use a crisis experience
from as a means of growth
empty nest  Demonstrate concern
to of family unity, loyalty and
retirement interfamily cooperation

 Stage Family Health Task

8: FAMILY IN
RETIREMENT/OL  Health task differ in degrees
DER AGE  from family to family
 Stage 9: PERIOD  TASK- is a function, but with
FROM work or labor overtures
RETIREMENT TO assigned or demanded of the
DEATH OF BOTH person
SPOUSES   Duvall & Niller identified 8 task
essential for a family to
12 Behaviors Indicating a Well Family function as a unit:

 Able to provide for physical Eight Family Tasks (Duvall & Niller)

emotional and spiritual needs
of family members 1. Physical
 Able to be sensitive to the maintenance- provides food
needs of the family members shelter, clothing, and health
 Able to communicate thought care to its members being
and feelings effectively certain that a family has ample
 Able to provide support, resources to provide
security and encouragement 2. Socialization of Family–
 Able to initiate and maintain involves preparation of children
growth producing relationship to live in the community and
 interact with people outside  Providing care to all members
the family. of the family
3. Allocation of  Maintaining a home
Resources- determines environment conducive to
which family needs will be met health maintenance
and their order of priority.
4. Maintenance of Order– task Family Roles

includes opening an effective

 Nurturing figure– primary
means of communication
caregiver to children or any
between family members,
dependent member.
integrating family values and
 Provider – provides
enforcing common regulations
the family’s basic needs.
for all family members.
 Decision maker– makes
5. Division of Labor – who will
decisions particularly in areas
fulfill certain roles
such as finance, resolution, of
e.g., family provider, home
conflicts, use of leisure time etc.
manager, children’s caregiver
 Problem-solver–
6. Reproduction, Recruitment,
resolves family problems to
and Release
maintain unity and solidarity.
of family member
 Health manager– monitors the
7. Placement of members into
health and ensures that
larger society –consists of
members return to health
selecting community activities
appointments.
such as church, school, politics
 Gate keeper-Determines what
that correlate with
information will be released
the family beliefs and values
from the family or what new
8. Maintenance of motivation
information cam be introduced.
and morale– created when
members serve as support
people to each other

5 Family Health Tasks (Maglaya, A., 2004)

 Recognizing interruptions of
health development
 Making decisions about
seeking health care/ to take
action
 Dealing effectively health and
non-health situations