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| From the Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC) Hearts Apart: Migration in the Eyes of Filipino Children | |||||||
| The family as a basic unit in society, with a unique function in transmitting cultural and moral values to the younger generations, is a fact that few societies disregard. However, the concept of family and its basic organization is hardly unvocal Idea in the modern world. In fact, family goes to a constant transformation, caused in particular by the requirements of the economic system. The extended family, most common in developing countries, tends to become the nuclear family in economically developed societies. Such transformations are not without costs. In particular, the extended family tends to function as a support system for the dependants in the family, children and elderly. With the switch to a nuclear family, the state has to provide support for the dependants, since both parents are usually working, through welfare schemes, paid for by working population. However, the crisis of the welfare state has laid bare the limits of welfare schemes, cast a bleak shadow on the quality of life of the dependants and questioned the delegation of family roles to the state. Ultimately, what are questioned are the social transformation caused by the mode of production. Such questioning is particularly voiced in Asian societies, which are fast joining the developed countries of Europe and North America. Development brings about internal migration, the young ones move to the city or are employed in factories and do not spend much time at home, wherein the infirm and the elderly remain without support. In addition, the transmission of values system is disrupted. "Children are learning less from their parents and more from other sources like television and their peers." Noted Chatchai Na Chiang Mai, a researcher at the National Institute of Development Administration in Bankok, as reported by Michael Vatikiotis (Far Easter Economics Review, August 1, 1996). In a developing country like the Philippines the social transformation of the family is in a state of transition. However, international migration has touched a large portion of the population and is posing basic questions to society. Specifically, what is asked in the impact that the absence of parents because of migration can have on the education of children. The issue was researched few times in the 1980s. In general, migration was not found very disruptive, and only as small percentage had reported the children had become unrully, or that the education of the children had suffered. On the contrary, remittances had allowed children to attend better schools and improve their education. The few behavioral problems deriving from paternal absence were considered managable by guardians and parents left behind. This additional research was undertaken because previous results were considered not conclusive. The impact of migration on children in previous studies was not the main research focus and migration had also changed from the 1980s. Specifically, a much higher percentage of women are now participating in work abroad, and this was perceived as a potential factor affecting children information. | ||||||||
| A project initiated by discussions in early 2003 to undertake a research on left behind families that would guide the development of more responsive policies and programs. It is a new assessment of how families, especially children, are coping with separation, remittances, children's well-being and many other related issues. A joint project undertaken by: The Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People CBCP/Apostleship of the Sea-Manila Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC) Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) See "Hearts Apart" full document at the Scalabrini Migration Center website. Downloadable PDF file also available. Related Articles: Hearts Apart: Migration in the Eyes of Filipino children | ||||||||
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