Rural communities in the Philippines have undergone changes over time. Houses have transitioned from nipa and bamboo structures elevated above the ground, to those with iron roofs and wooden or concrete walls. While rural people remain closely connected to nature, they aspire to more modern goals like education, land ownership, and jobs. Settlement patterns vary between nucleated communities clustered around poblacións, and dispersed clusters of sitios along rivers or fields. The basic rural family unit is bilateral, with both husband and wife holding authority, though the man is typically considered the head and protector while the woman manages domestic affairs. Traditional practices around courtship still exist alongside modern influences.