FAMILY AS FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY

By

 Klaus Döring

 -

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

ARTICLE XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation and requires the State to strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its development. It declares marriage an inviolable social institution, protects the rights of the family, and mandates care for children and the elderly.

The family is considered the fundamental unit and bedrock of society, essential to social stability, continuity, and the early socialization of individuals. It shapes personalities, instills values such as honesty and love, and provides essential emotional and practical support. Strong family units contribute to greater social solidarity and can help reduce crime and poverty.

Having lived permanently in the Philippines since 1999, I have come to understand this more deeply. I have learned many things from being part of a Filipino family. I was born in a parish house in Germany, but years later, I also experienced what it meant to survive in a broken family.

My Philippine mentor, Hermogenes E. Bacareza, former chaplain of the Philippine community in Berlin and author of German-Philippine Relations, taught me in 1988 that the Christian family is also called to be a sacrament. Like the Church, family members are called to be Christ to one another as well as to the broader community. By becoming what they are called to be, families live a sacramental life, allowing the sacred to emerge through the ordinary things of everyday life.

What on earth can be a greater sign of God’s grace than the authentic, self-giving love of a fully committed married couple whose love for each other brings forth life, embraces their children, and ultimately reaches beyond the family? This, I believe, is the new vision of the Christian family for the 21st century.

Authority, stability, and a life built on relationships within the family provide the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity in society. The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and learn to use freedom responsibly.

Families are central to God’s plan for His children. They are the fundamental building blocks of strong societies. Families are where we experience love and learn how to love others. Life can be tough, and we all need people we can lean on.

What, then, is the purpose of family? Family bonds are important because they help us through both the most difficult and the happiest moments of our lives. Family can provide support, security, and unconditional love. Family members can also see and bring out the best in us, even when we cannot see it ourselves.

Since residing in the Philippines, I have experienced how important family is to Christians. Family bears witness to the Lord’s faithful love for the Church and for all humanity. It makes present, in a concrete and daily way, the reciprocity and beauty of the love that characterizes God’s life. Family is a rich school where we learn to be humane and generous, patient and steadfast, just and merciful, faithful and committed. It teaches us how to live together and remain connected.

Whether headed by a single parent or by a mother and father; childless or with children; living in big cities or in the countryside; in harmony or struggling with conflict and domestic violence; living in their home country or as refugees; at peace or caught in war; married, cohabiting, separated, or remarried; healthy or dealing with illness or addiction; free or in prison; living in a house or experiencing homelessness; able-bodied or disabled; working locally or away from home; with or without pets — whatever form a family may take, all families are precious in the eyes of God.

***

Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or X (Twitter), or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN

FAMILY AS FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY

 

Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation, requiring the State to strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its development. It declares marriage an inviolable social institution, protects family rights, and mandates care for children and the elderly.

The family is considered the fundamental unit and bedrock of society, vital for social stability, continuity, and the initial socialization of individuals. It shapes personalities, teaches values like honesty and love, and provides essential emotional and practical support. A strong family unit leads to lower crime, poverty, and higher social solidarity.

Living in the Philippines since 1999 for good, I found out about this. I learned so many things being a part of a Philippine family.  I was born in a parish house in Germany  but experienced years later how to survive in a broken family.

My Philippine mentor, Hermogenes E. Bacareza, former Chaplain of the Philippine community in Berlin and author of German-Philippine Relations,  taught me in 1988: The Christian family is also called to be a sacrament. They are called, like the Church, to be Christ to one another, as well as to the broader community. By becoming what they are called to be, the family lives the sacramental life, and the sacred can bubble up through the ordinary things of everyday life.

What on earth can be more of a sign of God’s grace than the authentic self-giving love of a fully committed married couple whose love for each other brings life and spills out upon their children and with them onto those beyond the family? This, I believe, is the new vision of the Christian family for the 21st century.

Authority, stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity within society. The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom.

Families are central to God's plan for His children. They are the fundamental building block of strong societies. Families are where we can feel love and learn how to love others. Life is tough, and we need people we can lean on.

What's the purpose of family? These bonds are important because family helps us get through the most disastrous times and the best times. Family is important because they can offer support and security coupled with unconditional love; they will always look to see and bring out the best in you even if you cannot see it for yourself.

Since residing in the Philippines, I experienced that family is important to Christians because family is about witnessing to the Lord’s faithful love for the Church and for the whole of humanity; family is about making present, in a concrete and daily manner, the reciprocity and beauty of the love that characterises God’s life. Family is a rich school where we learn to be humane and generous, to be patient and steadfast, to be just and merciful, to be faithful and committed, to be together and to connect.

Single parented or mother-father; childless or fertile; in big cities or in the countryside; in harmony or in conflict/domestic violence; in home country or refugees; at peace or at war, married or cohabitating, separated or remarried; healthy or in illness/addiction, free or in prison, in a house or homeless, able or disabled, working locally or away from home, with or without pets; whatever the family… all families are precious in the eyes of God.

FAMILY AS FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY

 

By Klaus Döring

Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation, requiring the State to strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its development. It declares marriage an inviolable social institution, protects family rights, and mandates care for children and the elderly.

The family is considered the fundamental unit and bedrock of society, vital for social stability, continuity, and the initial socialization of individuals. It shapes personalities, teaches values like honesty and love, and provides essential emotional and practical support. A strong family unit leads to lower crime, poverty, and higher social solidarity.

Living in the Philippines since 1999 for good, I found out about this. I learned so many things being a part of a Philippine family.  I was born in a parish house in Germany  but experienced years later how to survive in a broken family.

My Philippine mentor, Hermogenes E. Bacareza, former Chaplain of the Philippine community in Berlin and author of German-Philippine Relations,  taught me in 1988: The Christian family is also called to be a sacrament. They are called, like the Church, to be Christ to one another, as well as to the broader community. By becoming what they are called to be, the family lives the sacramental life, and the sacred can bubble up through the ordinary things of everyday life.

What on earth can be more of a sign of God’s grace than the authentic self-giving love of a fully committed married couple whose love for each other brings life and spills out upon their children and with them onto those beyond the family? This, I believe, is the new vision of the Christian family for the 21st century.

Authority, stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security, and fraternity within society. The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom.

Families are central to God's plan for His children. They are the fundamental building block of strong societies. Families are where we can feel love and learn how to love others. Life is tough, and we need people we can lean on.

What's the purpose of family? These bonds are important because family helps us get through the most disastrous times and the best times. Family is important because they can offer support and security coupled with unconditional love; they will always look to see and bring out the best in you even if you cannot see it for yourself.

Since residing in the Philippines, I experienced that family is important to Christians because family is about witnessing to the Lord’s faithful love for the Church and for the whole of humanity; family is about making present, in a concrete and daily manner, the reciprocity and beauty of the love that characterises God’s life. Family is a rich school where we learn to be humane and generous, to be patient and steadfast, to be just and merciful, to be faithful and committed, to be together and to connect.

Single parented or mother-father; childless or fertile; in big cities or in the countryside; in harmony or in conflict/domestic violence; in home country or refugees; at peace or at war, married or cohabitating, separated or remarried; healthy or in illness/addiction, free or in prison, in a house or homeless, able or disabled, working locally or away from home, with or without pets; whatever the family… all families are precious in the eyes of God.