17 The

Family
A family starts with a
marriage.

Filipinos see family as their

main support and source of
strength.

The family is the first human

Society in
General
Society is a moral union of
men for the purpose of
attaining a common end
(Panizo: 172).
Man by nature is a social
animal.

He cannot survive alone.

He needs other men.

Society helps people grow,
develop, and find happiness

Life has many needs.

True progress happens
when people support each
other.
Kinds of society:

1. Natural and Positive

- A natural society comes from
basic human needs, like
families and governments. A
positive society is created by
human positive laws, like
Kinds of society:

2. Necessary and Unnecessary

- Some societies, like the family
and the state, are essential for
human existence and cannot be
avoided. Others are optional, and
individuals can choose whether
to participate in them or not.
The Family

The family is the first and the

most fundamental unit of
society.
It is made up of the father,
The family is an essential
society based on natural law,
originating from the love
between husband and wife.

This love sustains the family

as it works towards its goals.
Aristotle believed that
the state (or city-state) is
naturally prior to the
family. He argued that the
state is the ultimate form of
human community, which
evolves from smaller units like
families and villages.
St. Thomas Aquinas, on the
other hand, viewed marriage
and family life as deeply
connected to human nature. He
emphasized that marriage is
essential for the upbringing and
education of children, which
aligns with the natural law and
The Ideal
Family
Parents and children are bound to
each other, not only by the laws
of genetics, but by the law of
love.
It’s a mistake to think that
having material things and
luxuries makes a family
happy. Without real love,
family relationships
become empty and only
exist out of convenience
Real love between parents and
children creates a strong and
happy home. Love inspires
parents to be caring, patient,
kind, and forgiving. It helps
them see the good in bad
situations, beauty in ugliness,
and something special in
everyday life.
The Family and
the Child
Marriage is not the pleasure of
marital sex. The end of nature
is not pleasure. Nature’s goal
isn’t pleasure, but pleasure
motivates spouses to take on
the challenging task of
A child is born from love
and should be raised
with love. Every child
deserves to be loved
and taught how to love
"The true, the great, the
only right of the child is to
have a real family and, as
always, divine and human
laws are united in making
it a holy right", says Jean
de Fabregues (Christian
A child’s most
important right is to
have a real family.
Both divine and
human laws agree
The greatest tragedy is
failing to provide a loving
family for a child. Jean de
Fabregues wouldn’t call the
five thousand youngsters
who caused chaos in
Stockholm “criminals” or
Instead, he saw them as
the result of a society
lacking religious and
intellectual values, and
most importantly, the
absence of family (ibid.
The Education of
the Child
The education of the child is
the primary responsibility of
the parents.
Parents must care for their
child, ensuring not only
their physical survival but
also their integration into
the community. Every child
has the right to education
and a fulfilling, dignified
Parents must educate their
child. St. Thomas Aquinas
states that “nature intends not
merely the generation of the
offspring, but also its
development and advance to
the perfection of man
considered as man, that is, to
St. Thomas Aquinas means that
nature’s goal isn’t just to create
children, but also to help them
grow and develop into virtuous
adults.
This duty continues up to the
time the child is able to provide
for himself
Society or the state
has a supportive role
in helping families
educate their
children.
The State has the responsibility
to protect children’s rights if
their parents fail to do so due
to physical or moral
shortcomings. Parents’ right to
educate their children is not
absolute; it is governed by
natural and divine law, and is
subject to the authority of the
Parents have the right to
educate their children,
and the State cannot
take this right away or
force parents to educate
their children in a way
Parental
Authority
- Parental authority is
natural and essential for the
governance of the family.
It is natural because it
comes from the
responsibility of having and
raising children. It is
essential because, without
it, the family’s goals cannot
be achieved.
The Family Code states that
parents share parental
authority over their
children, who must respect
and obey them (Art. 211).
This authority cannot be
given up or transferred
Parental authority includes
“caring for and rearing children
for civic consciousness and
efficiency, and developing their
moral, mental, and physical
character and well-being”
(Art. 209)
Emancipation of the
Child

- Emancipation is the state of

independence from parental
authority.
Emancipation is also attained
when (1) a minor enters
marriage; (2) parents and
minor, at least 18 yrs. Old,
enter into an agreement for
such purpose and properly
executed through public
instrument with the Civil
Filial Piety
While human laws allow children to
become independent from their
parents, natural moral law always
requires children to respect and love
their parents. This respect and love,
known as filial piety, comes from the
Latin word “filius,” meaning son.
Filial piety is a natural duty of
children. Children are flesh and
blood extension of their parents.
They owe parents, not only a debt
of gratitude, but a sacred
obligation of homage. The
Decalogue as the expressed desire
of God exhorts everyone to honor
mother and father.
Filial piety is important
in all human cultures.
In Confucianism, it is
the highest virtue.
Hsiao Ching writes:
“One who loves and respects their
parents will not hate or act
contemptuously towards others.
By fulfilling their duties to their
parents with love and reverence,
they set a moral example for
others. This is the filial piety of the
Son of Heaven” (R.C. Zachner, The
Catholic Church and World
Filipinos value respect,
loyalty, and devotion to
their parents. Neglecting
parents, especially when
they are sick or elderly, is
seen as a serious
wrongdoing deserving of
"Ang hindi marunong
lumingon sa kanyang
pinanggalingan ay di
makakarating sa
kanyang paruruonan"
sounds more like a curse
Rights and Duties
of Parents
The Family Code sums up
the following rights and
duties derived from parental
authority (Art. 220):
1. To keep children in their
company, to support, educate
and instruct them by right
precept and good example,
and to provide for their
upbringing in keeping with
their means;
2. To give them love and
affection, advice and counsel,
companionship and
3. To provide them with moral and
spiritual guidance, inculcate in
them honesty, integrity, self-
discipline, self-reliance, industry
and thrift, stimulate their interest
in civic affairs, and inspire in them
compliance with the duties of
citizenship;
4. To enhance, protect, preserve
and maintain their physical and
5. To furnish them with good and
wholesome educational materials,
supervise their activities,
recreation and association with
others, protect them from bad
company, and prevent them from
acquiring habits detrimental to
their health, studies and morals;
6. To represent them in all matters
affecting their interests;
7. To demand from there respect
and obedience;

8. To impose discipline on them as

may be required
undercircumstances, and

9. To perform such other duties as

are imposed by law upon parents
Duties of
Children
The duties of the children
are implied in the above
rights of parents and
1. Children must love, revere and
obey their parents;
2. They must obey all the lawful
commands of the parents;
3. They must submit to the
parents’ authority and
decisions;
4. They must honor their parents
at all times, must not speak ill
5. They must never harm their
parents physically or morally,
6. They must consult and seek the
advice of their parents in their
activities;
7. They must help and support
their parents in times of need,
such as in sickness and weakness
of old age.
The Exploitation of
Children
The child is a person. He has a
right to his physical and mental
health. These human rights of the
child are often violated by society
itself through various forms of
indirect exploitation.
Exploitation involves persuading
someone to act against their own
interests. It can be direct, like
forcing a child to steal, or indirect,
like TV shows that portray
violence. These shows, meant for
entertainment, can desensitize
people and distort their values.
The American Academy of
Pediatrics states that repeated
The evil of mental conditioning is
pointed out by Letizia R.
Constantino:
“Becoming numb to violence and
unable to feel anger towards its
perpetrators is as dangerous as
resolving conflicts through violence.
The latter creates victims, while the
former leads to a society indifferent to
those victims” (Children as
Consumers, Issues Without Tears,
Children are exposed to
TV commercials
promoting poor eating
habits. Nutritionists know
the harm of junk foods,
but the overwhelming
influence of mass media
Child
Prostitution
Child prostitution is a tragic reality in
our country. Sexual exploitation and
abuse of children are deeply immoral.
Those who exploit children sexually
deserve the harshest penalties.
Unfortunately, many pedophiles are
Extreme poverty does not
justify forcing a child into
prostitution. A child’s body
and soul are their own,
given by God, not their
parents. Neither parents nor
the child can sell the child’s
body for sexual purposes,
Child prostitution
highlights the poor
conditions in our country.
Extreme poverty leads to
many crimes and abuses
against children.
Child Labor
A child’s laughter brings joy,
but their cries of pain
deeply hurt us. We can’t be
truly happy while millions of
children are hungry and
starving on the streets.
In Filipino culture, especially
in farming, it’s common for
children to work with their
parents. When done wisely,
this work is commendable
as it teaches children the
value of work and helps
In Manila and many cities, children
often sell cigarettes, clean
windshields, beg, scavenge, or
even engage in prostitution. It’s a
serious problem when children
must work to survive. The State
must care for all citizens, including
abandoned children. How we treat
street children reflects our
If children must work, there should
be laws to protect them from
abuse and exploitation. Employers
must ensure the child’s health and
safety, provide fair pay and rest,
and allow time for recreation,
games, and studies. Employers
should act as surrogate parents,