AOJPCH

INAUGURAL ISSUE : Volume One - JUNE  2002 -Number ONE
     
CHILD-REARING PRACTICES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN

Leslie E. Bauzon, PhD
Aurora F. Bauzon, MD

Abstract

Objective:
Because of the increasing number of Filipino-Japanese children, this study was done to investigate childrearing of Filipino-Japanese children in terms of caretaker, feeding, discipline, education, health and medical supervision as compared to Filipino and Japanese childrearing patterns.

Subjects and methods:
This is purely a descriptive study carried out by means of questionnaires and interviews. There were two categories of Filipino-Japanese couples in this study: the urban Filipino wife in Manila whose husband is based in Japan but comes to visit 3 or 4 times a year, staying for two to four weeks; and the rural Filipino-Japanese couple staying in Yamagata, Japan. A total of 130 answered the questionnaires representing urban and rural Filipino and Japanese couples.

Results:
The Filipino-Japanese child in the Philippines and in Japan is reared almost exactly the way the Filipino child is brought up, but with some Japanese customs, beliefs and values. The child is breastfed, taken care of by the mother, given weaning foods at almost the same age. During the pre-school years, the mother provides the education at home. The Filipino-Japanese child is taught to speak both Filipino and Japanese languages and some English.
For all the categories of couples, the figure of authority is the father, but it is the mother who is the acknowledged disciplinarian. Physical punishment as a form of discipline is practiced by all categories, highest for rural Filipino and rural Japanese couples.
On the matter of health supervision, more than 90% of Filipino mothers bring their children regularly to a Pediatrician for preventive well-baby care, and be given all the available vaccines, which ordinarily many Filipinos would deem unaffordable. Superstitious beliefs and practices persist even for those who stay in Japan, but the majority of these beliefs are not harmful, and may even give satisfaction and security.

Conclusion:
Children of cross-cultural marriages are reared mostly in the way that the mother is familiar with. In matters where conflicts may arise because of cultural differences, an open mind on both sides, and their agreement to reach a reasonable compromise will help resolve problems in the child’s upbringing.

Correspondence to: Dr Aurora F. Bauzon, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, Department of Medical Education, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Updated 15th August 2005

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