The Filipino concept of child, family and kinship relationship: From self-awareness to separation

• Main Author: Javier, Roberto E.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Psycholinguistics; Filipino language—Psychological aspects; Families-Philippines; Kinship > Philippines; Children > Philippines; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/1975
• Institution: De La Salle University

Anak/c (the child) and its correlates mag-anak (the family) and magkakamag-anak/an (kinship relationship) were analyzed using the techniques in psycholinguistics. Other than the study of the etymology of anak/c, mag-anak and magkakamag-anak/an, the empirical evidence of the meaningful associations of these conceptions were generated using the method of “asking around” (pagtatanong-tanong) in Filipino Psychology. A mag-anak/c is founded from anak/c and firmed up in Filipino parenting practices or pagmamagulang. The pagmamagulang fosters utang na loob. The anak/c is key to the mag-anak/c and to the magkakamag-anak/c-an. The care and nurturance of everyanak/c is of prime importance in the kamag-anak/c-an. Ritual relationships such as binyag a.k.a pag-aanak/c strengthens the magkakamag-anak/c-an and extends to other magkakamag-anak/c-an. This relationship and mutual understanding is also deeply rooted in utang na loob of the anak/c with the magulang and of the magulang with their ancestors and their whole clan. Thus, in the midst of modernization anak/c remains at the core of the Filipino consciousness as can be experienced in the cycle of utang na loob. © 2018 Humanities Diliman. All rights reserved.