Holding a Family Reunion as Filipino Tradition

The good thing about having an extended family is the fun of holding a family reunion. It is one Filipino tradition where a great number of family members hold a one day family togetherness. Infusing a lot of fun activities during the celebration; first there is the introduction of kid’s name to elderly member, welcoming the newly-born to the family clan and acknowledging the eldest living member of the clan, then followed with parlor games, singing contest, dances and gift-giving. These are things that make the reunion an exciting event to remember. There is this spirit of bonding that kindle family relationship. Most reunion are held during Christmas vacation where there is long period of vacation from school and work.

Characteristic of Filipino Family

Filipinos has a closely-knit family ties. The member will try to search for his family root and find ways to meet a distant relative, introduce himself to create familiarity and invited the newly-known relative to his home to meet other member of his family. When I was a kid my father used to bring us to his hometown to meet my cousins and we were introduced to them. We would take a vacation for one month to familiarize ourselves to our uncles and aunts and to the rest of the relatives. In one occasion, I remember that one customer in our store happened to be my mother’s distant relative. Upon knowing it, he invited my mother’s family to have dinner with them. It seems that there is this leap of joy when somebody discovered that he has distant relative on a certain place.

The spirit of “bayanihan” or cooperation within a Filipino family is one exemplary value and tradition that enable them to surpass any crises that may befall on them. An office mate of mine unluckily has his house burned down with nothing left on them., but his brother’s family came to his rescue and temporarily housed them in one of their guest room, until he can afford to separate his family from his brother’s home. Other relatives also extended help by providing his family of their necessities.

The family-first mindset is a strong Filipino value that embodied in his heart and mind. The saying that “blood is thicker than water” is very much true to Filipino tradition, that is the practice of giving the first priority and favor to the member of his family than the rest of individuals who are also in the same queue