1. Rural communities in the phillipines
The term “rural community” is usually associated with the barrio of yore. The image that comes to mind
are the idyllic scenes rolling hills, majestic mountains, meandering streams or rivers, swaying bamboo or
coconut trees, verdant forest and somnolence and monotony and simple, unassuming and gentle folks.
But such picture is not anymore true. Social changes are taking place in the barrios, and in some places
barrio life is not peace as it is used to be. Mountains and rivers have been denuded, rivers and streams
silted and polluted, the birds and animals decimated by hunters .since the commonwealth period, the
thrust of government administration has been the development of the rural communities; yet, until
now, majority of rural folks remain poor.
In the past, houses in the barrios were mostly made of nipa and bamboo, which were raised about two
to three meters from the ground. At present, most of the houses have galvanized iron roofs and wooden
or concrete walls. Water either comes from a spring or an open or artesian well. Piped water is available
in some barrios, especially those near the poblacion. The fuel used is firewood, kerosene gas, or
electricity. Toilet facilities may be an open pit, a public toilet, or the flush or water sealed type.
In contrast to city folk, rural people have closer contact with the soil and other forces of the nature.
Their existence comes from their closeness to nature, whose vicissitudes, like typhoons, drought, or
plagues they have to meet. They usually attribute calamities to a supernatural power beyond their
control. They have rites before planting, to ensure a bountiful harvest, and after harvesting, to thank
almighty for the crops produced.
Despite their unassuming ways, most barrio folks’ goals and aspiration center on education, land, jobs,
animals, crops, tools, and peace (pal 1973; Guthrie 1970; Castillo 1979). Most would like to see their
children finish schooling, find a job, have their own home lot, get rich and gain some recognition. A few
do not have aspirations, because they feel it is hopeless to aspire for anything since they are in such a
miserable condition.
Spatial patterns of phillipine communities
In the phillipines, the general settlement pattern may be divided into two: the nucleated type and the
dispersed type (university of Chicago phillipines studies program 1956: 376-382)
The nucleated type is shown in the poblacion with the agglomerated barrios. This is common in central
Luzon where the people are engaged in wet-rice agriculture. Also using wet-rice agriculture are the
segmented lineal communities found along roads and rivers in Luzon and the sugar haciendas , which
are large communities with a population of over five million. The pineapple plantations and mixed
garden farms of bukidnon and the lake lanao areas are another type of nucleated community. Common
here is the datu-centered pattern composed of small groupings built around a mosque. They engaged in
dry upland agriculture and follow the datu. The dispersed type of settlement consist of a cluster of sitios

2. where houses are dispersed along the rivers or in the middle of the field. This pattern of settlement is
common in the visayas, especially in southern negros and Iloilo.
The rural family
The family is the basic social unit of society and an important socializing agency. The family is bilateral,
with close ties usually maintained with both sides of the family. The couple can choose where to reside
after marriage, either with bride’s or groom’s family, or independently of either family. Hence, in terms
of residence, the family is either bilocal or neolocal.
While the husband and wife have more or less equal authority, the man considered the head, the
guardian, the breadwinner and protector, while the mother is the keeper of the house, the treasurer,
and manager of domestic affairs. Children are expected to love, obey, and respect their parents. All
children, irrespective of sex, inherit property equally, although there are cases where offspring
experience conflict over the division. Joint decisions by husband and wife are usually made on issues
such as children’s schooling and discipline, house improvement, and choice of purchase of appliances,
family business or investment, and choice of vocation (porio 1974; mendez and jocano 1974; Gonzalez
and hollnsteiner 1976)
Some of the traditional practices regarding courtship still persist, although changes have taken place.
Serenading, a traditional practice to court a girl, is gradually disappearing. Calling on her is a more
accepted practice. Chaperoning is still observed, as charity is a trait highly valued among unmarried
woman. An illegitimate birth will bring scandal and shame to the family. The giving of dowry (bigay-kaya)
and parental arrangement, which had their beginnings in pre-spanish times, still exist in some form,
although they are no longer rigidly observed in many areas. The bigay-kaya may consist of money, a
piece of land, or a gift given by the man to the girl’s parents. It usually entails some kind of negotiation
and bargaining. In case the man cannot afford to give what is asked of him, he renders service in the
girl’s house for a period extending from a few weeks to a few months. This is a gauge of his industry.