Close Family Ties

We all know that being “close family ties” is one of the best values that we Filipinos have. We accustomed to be close to anyone even he or she is not part of the family. In our family every people whom best friend or friends of one of us are consider part of our family. I treat my other sibling’s friends as my friends also. When my brother is not around I can accompany him/her. If one of them has problems we extend our hand to the point that we don’t mind how we help them. Having many family friends has a great advantage where there are people whom you can lean on when you’re on trouble. I didn't mean that if you help family friend you expect that he or she can return a favor in the future. It is normal to help and it’s normal that he or she will return that help you are given. That’s how close family ties all about. 

According to the website “Anti-Pinoy” there is the article entitled “On Filipino Close Family Ties” by an author name himself The Gorgon which point out that Filipino culture and values are damaging its own growth for success. He also said that it will become a product of weakness, laziness, lack of self-respect and a failure to become independent self-determinists.

As I read his article you’ll realize that some part of it was true. But it depends on the person how see things right or wrong. In the end we all have different opinion to everything we usually do. The author told that the “mano” system is pointless he sees that every time

there is family visitor the parents usually tell their children to bless as they expect that maybe they will give money to their children. But for myself I always do the “mano” as sign of respect for elderly. It’s not to show our submissiveness to our elders.

The time after I graduate I want to help my parents they are not forcing me to do anything I do now. But for my own I want to repay what they all did for me. Nothing wrong about helping your other relatives I didn’t mind if they will return it back as long as you make them realize that they also need to do something for their own good. It’s common for me to help everyone who is in need but there’s one thing that I will not forget. Myself.