Family Values

The practice of family values of the people is in constant change from time to time. Of course, this is not questionable considering nowadays the countless factors affecting one's practice on the traditional family values. We are in a society which is continuously upgrading and changes are everywhere. The practice of these traditional family values from the past generation differs from the present-day, the modernized era.

("Filipino family," 2010) exerts that the Filipino cultures can be traced down by the colonization of the Spaniards in the Philippines. It is one of the great influences in the development of family values by the Filipinos. Whatever these Spanish friars' demands, the Filipinos are obliged to follow their rules no matter what they say according to ("Filipino family"). This means that, whether the demand is for the benefit or for the drawback of the Filipino people, they had to obey their commands may they like it or not. The friars prevented the Filipino people from developing intelligence and reasoning as stated by the article and they put the Filipinos in slavery. This is one factor which paved way for the Filipinos in developing the value of being obedient. One example stated by the article presenting a specific situation nowadays, is the parents forcing their children to do what others are doing such as watching ""Wowowee". The children however, do what is being told by their parents. Parents wanted their children to belong to the peers around them. Furthermore, bad habits are sometimes passed from generation to generation by strong authoritarian means. Such as the chiding of fathers when their daughters has a boyfriend. On the other hand, Stone (1994) asserts that the historical perspective of the family was god-fearing, patriotic, and respectful. Stone also added that the family values in the past were piety, obedience, lack of ambition and the self-improvement model of the enlightenment. Stone concluded that it is obedience which is the most highly prized of family values in the past and not all of our individual self-improvement and independence of thought. Traditional values describe how people live and survive in this competitive society. Most of them believe that by treasuring these values, the future generations would be able to show and be proud to what had their ancestors done in the past generation Catseye (2004) asserted that Filipino families, practice closed tie relationship among all members of the household, they valued one another's existence and they respected different types of people especially the elderly ones. Catseye also added that Filipino families observed and followed the traditional traits which were cherished by the older generation bestowing them to the younger ones. Most conservative Filipino parents are strictly implementing these values to their children despite of the altering ways of treating adults nowadays. Using of "Po" and "Opo" when talking to elders, said Catseye (2004), was one of the common gestures which were practiced by the younger generation of Filipino families.With Catseye assertion, we can say that children were expected to moderate their tone of speaking when talking to elders and they should not be harsh in answering questions. They weren't allowed to speak if the conversation was restricted only for elderly. Another way of showing respect to elders is "kissing of hands or placing their parents or elder family member's hand to their foreheads" and say "Mano Po" to the elders once the children arrived home, added Catseye (2004). Catseye (2004) reflected that even though many other cultures seemed to dominate the valued cultures and traditions in the Philippines, especially to children and to youth, several parents and grandparents were still trying their best to preserve and to encourage younger generations to practice the basic traditions and values of the country. They haven't certainly forgotten the essence of the culture and how it shaped them, Filipinos, into a better and stronger relation to one another in the family as a whole. These traditional manners by Filipinos stated above were the evidences on how they give significance to all the people related to them and how they value the existence of one's life. A study was done by Ms. Julie Ann Alberto to increase the knowledge of the Filipinos to their own traditional values. The researcher considered that Filipino values could be one of the aspects why Philippines have been in contact with the other nearby countries. But because of the susceptibility of the Filipinos to changes, the manners that were being cherished by the older generations are now slowly fading from one's behavior and culture. Subsequently, Alberto (n.d.) then formulated the sub problems that trigger the crisis: (1) "the qualities of Filipinos as of today", (2) "some of the traditional family values" and (3) "the factors behind the slowly fading of Filipino values" (p. 2). The limitations of the study and the scope focused on the effects of the deteriorating Filipino values to politics and any other factors. In this modernized society, it is evident that Filipino values are now undermined by the influences of other countries and the changing traditions of today's youth. The cultures were being pulled out from the youth's mind in replace to the foreign ethnicity. This realization is related to "urbanization" (Alberto, 2012) and to all that correlates with the idea. Furthermore, the study of Alberto stated that "urbanization" is one of the major root causes of the predicament. The way youths respect elders today has changed because of the uncontrolled existence of unexpected variations of culture from other countries especially to those who are the main source of modern occurrences such as technologies. But despite of the imminent changes and alteration of the youth's behavior towards older people, the study (Alberto) asserts that the values were not really completely diminished. There were some who still practice good behavior and still follow the tradition to show the significance of all people related to them. However Alberto added, "It is a fact that many Filipinos succumbed to cording foreign influences". That means, it cannot be denied that there yields a foreign custom in every tradition of Filipinos. The researcher (Alberto) believed that "the suggestion is within us in which the solution may lie." Moreover, Filipinos have still much to consider and be proud of despite of the circumstances they are now dealing. Possible changes of values to immigrant Filipino families were being done to attain knowledge about how they were able to adjust from their former community and society to a different customs and ethnicity. Herrera (n.d.) hypothesized that there are changes among Filipino's way of life when they were living in the United States, in spite of the traditional values that had been taught by older generations. The traditional responsibilities of every member of the family and the superstitious beliefs that were concealed through the minds since then are some of the supposed ideas the researcher thought would answer the problem. Herrera (n.d.) concluded based on her findings that the values that were implanted on Filipino families' minds were still in their culture no matter what community and society they are living in. The researcher leaved a question at the end if this will be forever or "Will the recent wave of Multiculturalism be enough to make people remember their heritage? Or will the traditions and customs of various ethnic groups be regaled to the history books and anthropology classes?" (p. 18). The paragraphs above show how the society around an individual affects his or her practice with the traditional family values. On the other hand, society is not merely the only main factor as to how children develop, uphold and practice family traditional values up to this modernized era of time. Children's practice of these values purely starts at home, in the family specifically where the child belongs. The society, the school, the churches are simply the second speculators in developing what they had learned at home. They exclusively learn from what they see, and would barely do things that are only spoken. Children prefer to have role models which they can follow. Popenoe (1998) asserts that, when families are unstable, when parents are absent, emotionally distant, or preoccupied, or when parents themselves are immoral, the learning of moral values by children is greatly hindered. This statement of Popenoe suggests that the children needs guidance particularly, guidance from their parents all the way to be able to practice good values until they've grown up. One certain example is that when children see their parents not greeting older individuals with due respect, they would also do the same. They thought that what was done wrong seems to be right. Closeness in the relationship between the parents and the children is also a determinant as to how the children practice family values. Popenoe (1998) upholds that parents should voluntarily provide time for their children. One example is involving in regular family activities jointly; consider contact with their children and interaction within the family and the relatives as well. Broken families can also affect children's practice of family values said Popenoe (1998). When parents' marriage is broken, it affects the child's emotional being and might also shake their attachment to their parents. With this, there can be a possibility that they will no longer listen to the advices and constructive criticisms from their parents. "More than from anyone else children learn values from their parents, and they learn best by copying their parents` actions", Popenoe (para. 34 ). This suggests that, the modeling of the parents to their children is a very important element to develop good practice of family value. The family where a child belongs is the very aspect considered in developing his or her moral character and practice of family values. In connection with the assertions above, the society and the parents are not the only factors in upholding the practice of the traditional family values of the students. Lanuza's journal particularly specified the UP students in DIiliman. According to the journal of Lanuza (2000), "Based on the present study, the assertion that the general character of a particular youth culture varies according to the interplay of the different agents of socialization in a given period of time, needs to be qualified by a subsidiary presupposition"(para. 25). Presupposition here has to do, according to Lanuza, the articulating of youth culture within the dialect of tradition, modernity, and post modernity. Lanuza also specified different subcultures which are incoherent and often mistaken to be the prevalent agent to the supremacy of the culture in the students of the said institution. Lanuza identified these subcultures to be; the subcultures of the cyberkids, the unbelievers, and radical culture of the student activists, sexually active students, and the subculture of the organizational students. These subcultures mentioned have great effects on the religious and family practice of the students. There are also numerous mass media influences enumerated in the research of Lanuza (2000), and according to it, this mass media's are the most powerful stimulus to the students. Aside from the mass media's, the liberalizing process of the students in the school and the peer groups asserted by Lanuza, are also elements in the practice of the traditional family values of the students. However, this does not generalize that all UP students in the UP system have the same effect and outcome to the factors mentioned above. Nonetheless, several mentioned factors could also be a triggering factor to the religious and family practices of a UP student in some campuses. Television is one of the very influential mass media nowadays. Undeniably, almost all of the houses have this telecommunication medium as one of the sources of entertainment. We see, hear, and learn things through this media. However, the shows which are being aired in the television are beyond the watchers' control. People who watch television cannot manipulate the station as to what shows should be publicized. The shows could be for general patronage or it may need parental guidance. Television has psychological effects on children and even on adolescents. It could be considered good or bad. According to Schramm (1997), one must know something about the television and something about the child in order to predict the effects of television. Furthermore, children and adolescents are aggressive and they may try things which they see in the television without proper knowledge about it. With this, they may develop bad habits and values. One specific example stated by Schramm, is that any children and adolescents may learn from television crime programs such as hold ups. Persons with psychopathic tendencies were particularly pointed by Schramm as an example. These persons may acquire the knowledge and ability in conducting such crime and use these information's they've learned in gangs were they were involved in. They may also develop values of being disrespectful and un-obedient to their parents. They may perhaps be rebellious and unruly. Television is a way of relaxation to children and adolescents. However, individuals are unique in their own ways and we perceive things differently. Things have different certain effects on each one of us. Schramm (1997) stressed that; it could be hard for the children and adolescents to differentiate the world of fantasy from the reality by watching television. By this, when they see that the reality is the diverse of what they see in the television, it might affect their relationship towards their families, friends and to the people around them. Overall, the television as a telecommunication medium serves as a good and bad example in developing one's values and behavior. It's also a good source for the current happenings and events in the society. Nonetheless, it could affect one's practice of the traditional family values but the proper guidance of the parents is also a great factor. What they see in the television can provoke delinquency if improperly misunderstood. One should have proper and enough knowledge about what they see in the television and to the television itself to clearly differentiate good and bad stimulus. Internet also is one of the identified mass medias. A study made by Katherine Ballew (2011) centered on the effects of internet use to family values. Ballew began her research by formulating a set of "attitudes to examine" (p. 1). The researcher explained that these "Attitudes concerning family and morality issues are on micro - level indicators with macro level impacts" (p. 1). In other words, attitudes are the gauges on how human beings greatly affected the humanity. The researcher used family values as the dependent variables. While the independent variables were the usage of internet, the attitudinal controls and the socio - demographic variables. Attitudinal controls refer to the religion of an individual. Values are influenced by the culture and the religion that the people believed in. Socio - demographic variables refer to the educational attainment and how an individual does in his/her life, financially. Being educated, people are able to acquire new knowledge which could affect the beliefs in a culture and this could possibly alter the faith and principles in life. Ballew (2011) used the results of Baylor Religion Survey in data gathering. This survey focuses on how the people understand the ideas about the present issues in relation with their notions concerning sexual morals. The corresponding questions of the survey indicate if these sexual values are indecent or barely acceptable to society. Prior to the results of the survey, Ballew (2011) formulated some hypotheses that could possibly be right pertaining to the topic: (1) there are destructive effects to the family values if internet usage would increase, (2) destructive effects of increased education to the family values signify the evolution of the traditional values, (3) the coalesce of internet use and increased education will yield negative effects to family values perceived by the people, (4) "Males' and females' family values will have different influences" (p. 21). The findings revealed that some of the hypotheses mentioned above were exact and supported by whatever the researcher theorized. Internet, really, has something to do with the revolutionized way people now are communicating. It changes the lifestyle. The study showed that males were more prone to changes than females because they have the ability to do the sexual values learned and saw on internet sites without hesitance, unlike with the females. Though females are also influenced by the upshot existence of the internet usage, they still practice traditional values. It is through education and income why females vary their perception and diminish their practice to traditional family values. However, there is still much to doubt about the findings that came up. Males and females, though they vary in sexes, are expected to have the same ideas and practices in a culture. The result above could be discrimination to males or even to females. Discrimination because males are not the only ones who do some sexual behavior with regards to internet, females are also involved in this type of morality. And also, with regards to education, males are also affected by the knowledge they've acquired, not the females alone. Though females are quite more responsible in studies, it does not imply that males learn and understand less than females. To sum it up, the gender of an individual does not greatly affect the practice of traditional family values. It is the individual himself that chooses to change his lifestyle and all of the any other factors correlating to the unrestrained transformation of values in this modernized time. The survey that was used to find the result of the study was not at all credible because it only focused on the religious aspects of the individual and not on any other factors like the family background of the respondent. Nevertheless, we cannot say that these values developed and stated are still alive in this modernized era of time considering the numerous influencing factors in the society. Everything is in constant change as it is. This needs further study and experimentation to conclude if these values learned from the past are still in practice.