Family

Structures and
Legacies
.
 Different Family Structures

Family structures are dynamic and diverse,

with various forms evolving to meet the needs
of individuals and society.
1. Nuclear Family

The nuclear family is often

considered the traditional family
structure, consisting of two parents
and their children living together in
a single household. This family unit
has been the cornerstone of many
2. Extended Family

The extended family consists of

multiple generations or a broader
circle of relatives, such as
grandparents, aunts, uncles, and
cousins, living together or
maintaining close connections.
3. Stepfamily

A stepfamily forms when two

separate families merge, often as a
result of remarriage following
divorce or separation. This family
structure typically includes a new
husband and wife, along with their
children from previous relationships.
4. Grandparent Family

In grandparent families,
grandparents take on the
primary caregiving role for their
grandchildren.
5. Adoption

Adoption is a complex and

transformative process where
individuals or couples legally assume
responsibility for a child who is not
their biological offspring.
The Role of Family in Filipino
Culture

In Filipino culture, the family unit is

the cornerstone of societal structure,
deeply influencing both personal and
collective identity. Filipino families are
characterized by their close-knit
nature, where extended families often
Family Care and Nurturing
Strong families create an environment where
individuals feel safe, loved, and cared for, which is
crucial for personal development. Essential
components of familial care include:
1. Learning: Families are the first institutions
where children acquire values, life skills, and
social norms.

2. Loyalty: Loyalty forms the bedrock of family

bonds. Family members are expected to remain
committed and supportive, even during difficult
3. Love: Love is the driving force behind
familial relationships. It is expressed through
actions, words, and time spent together.

4. Laughter: Humor is an essential part of

family life. Positive humor fosters connection
and alleviates tension, while negative or
mocking humor can damage relationships.

5. Leadership: Parents and guardians are the

leaders of the family, setting the tone for
discipline, values, and decision-making.
Genogram: Tracing Family
Patterns
A genogram is a useful tool for
mapping family history and
uncovering patterns in relationships,
behavior, and health. It provides a
visual representation of family
connections, highlighting
intergenerational influences such as
Improving Family Relationships
Building and maintaining strong family relationships
requires ongoing effort and commitment from all
members. Key strategies for improving family dynamics
include:
1. Commitment: Family members must prioritize their
relationships, even during difficult times. A strong family
is built on mutual respect, trust, and love, with everyone
working towards the collective good.

2. Appreciation: Regularly expressing gratitude and

acknowledging the efforts of family members strengthens
bonds and improves self-esteem. Appreciation fosters an
environment of encouragement and positive
3. Communication: Open, honest, and respectful
communication is essential for healthy relationships.
Families need to talk through challenges, listen to each
other’s concerns, and work collaboratively to resolve
conflicts.

4. Quality Time: Spending meaningful time together is

vital for building connection. Shared experiences,
whether through family meals, celebrations, or leisure
activities, create memories and reinforce the sense of
belonging.
5. Spiritual Wellness: A shared sense of spirituality or
belief can bring families closer together, providing a
common foundation for dealing with life’s challenges.
Whether through religious practice or shared values,
spirituality offers families strength and guidance.

6. Coping Strategies: Effective coping mechanisms are

essential for handling family crises. Strong families
approach challenges together, using problem-solving
strategies and supporting one another through stressful
times.
“Family is not an important thing. It’s
everything.
– Michael J. Fox
.
”
Abigail Flores
Joy Dee Garcia
 HEALTHY AND
EFFECTIVE
RELATIONSHIP:
LOVE, COURTSHIP,
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
LIFE.
What is Love?
 It's the foundation of all the
other emotions we feel in
relationships.

 Another one defines love as “a

feeling you feel when you feel that
you are to get to a feeling that you
never felt before.
 Do you know that the shortest and most
profound definition of love?
 Is found in God Himself for He himself is
love. “God is love .“ All true love – parents
for child, husband for wife and vice-verse,
girlfriend for boyfriend and vice-verse –
comes from God. He is the source of love.
And if love comes from God, it can be
comfortable in the presence of God.
Love is different from infatuation.
Often times, infatuation is
misunderstood as love.
“Infatuation” is an unrealistic or
extravagant love or admiration
appealing to the senses and
impulses, sometimes called “lust”.
 Infatuation VS. Love
 Infatuation is ruled by
feelings, but love’s feelings are
ruled by principle.
 Infatuation is blind, love sees
and examines.
 Infatuation is in a hurry, but
love takes time.
 Infatuation VS. Love

Infatuation is childish, but love

is mature.

Infatuation is a human ditch,

but love is a divine ladder. One
goes down, the other goes up.
What is Dating?
 In some part of the
Eastern lands today, it is
their custom that parents
choose spouses for their
children. In such
societies, dating and
Guidelines for Dating
1. Socializing
a. Spend quality time together.
Anything of value takes time, and
something as important as creating a
relationship takes much time.

b. Create a safe environment. The

environment should be conducive to
dialogue. Sometimes the venue be public;
at other times it needs to be private. But
2. Sexuality
Say “No” to sexual
activity. Premarital sex
enjoys popularity today,
and there is much
pressure upon dating
 For some, sex before marriage
encourages disrespect. And if the
partners do proceed to a wedding,
they may be discover that
premarital was robbery, for they
robbed themselves of the precious
mystery of each other causing the
honeymoon to lose much of its
meaning.
 Not only should the sex act be
avoided; activities that have the
potential to lead on to sexual
intercourse’s should also be
shunned, e.g. excessive kissing,
petting and embracing. Every
couple should therefore set up
guidelines of conduct and work
at maintaining the standards.
3. COMMINICATION
A. Ask wise questions. Some dating
partners are quite talkative. Others,
however are shy and silent. Some are
nervous because they are fearful of saying
or doing the wrong thing and losing the
friendship. But the big reason for dating
is to know one another better, and we
cannot know each other unless we
communicate with each other. Effective
B. Learn as you listen. If
one listens long enough,
and observe well enough,
one will learn who his or
her partner really is.
COURTSHIP?
.
 Is the stage preparatory to marriage. It
includes a body of folkways and mores
through which a man and a woman can come
to some point of mutual understanding from
which, a permanent union my emerge.

 Is a process of trial and error undertaken

by individuals to find out who best fulfill
their love requirements; a complex process of
offering and seeking satisfaction, generally
with a calculation of gain as compared with
risk and with a concealment of real motives.
1. Dating – A man and a woman
are provided the opportunity for
friendly relations.

2. Going Steady – refers to the

practice of dating one person
exclusively, although it does not
necessary imply the prospect of
marriage.
3. Private understanding - this
takes place usually the period of
going steady where a man openly
declares his love and affection for the
woman and his desire to have her for
a wife.

4. Engagement – the process of

falling in love develops first in private
understanding and later, culminates
MARRIAGE
?.
Means the acquisition of a whole new
set of duties and responsibilities, as
well as few rights. These duties are:
work roles, sexual roles, and parenting
roles.
The NEW Family Code of 1988 defines
marriage as a special contract of
permanent union between a man and
woman entered into, in accordance
with law for the establishment of
 Requisites for Marriage
1. Legal capacity of the contracting
parties – parties must be male and female
or different sexes.
2. Consent of contracting parties –
presence of an authorized solemnizing
officer, not a parental consent.
3. Valid marriage license – minimum age
requirement is 18 years both male and
female.
 Dissolution of Marriage
1. Annulment – the process by which
marriage is considered null and void due to
defective marriage that has existed on or
before the marriage. In annulment , the
marriage is set aside and the parties can
marry again.
2. Divorce – it is complete dissolution of
marriage wherein both parties can marry
again.
 Problems of the Filipino Family
1. Immaturity- inadequate preparation for
family life and personality incompatibility.
2. Economic instability – average family
earns income, which is below the poverty
line.
3. Movements of the Filipino family to
the city – due to poor income and lack of
job opportunities .
4. The “querida” system – maintaining a
mistress is now common among the
5. Increase in the number of
working mothers – due to insufficient
income , the women is forced to work.
6. Inadequacy of leisure time
activities
7. Unhealthy and unsanitary living
condition – has to satisfy first the
economic needs of his family, hence ,
the situation.
8. Large number of children - means