The Representation of the Filipino Family in Philippine Children’s Stories from 1990 to 2022

Critical content analysis was used to evaluate 100 stories written by Filipino authors and published in the Philippines from 1990 to 2022. The study aimed to determine the issues faced by child protagonists as family members and identify the ideology of the Filipino family as it is represented in the narratives. Findings showed that the Filipino child protagonist faces issues at personal, family, and community levels and is able to deal with such issues not only by relying on her/his own strengths and capabilities, but also through being given support by a relatively stable family environment and other communal groups. A number of the stories seek to empower the target readers by providing them with role models of resilience, diligence, competence, and intelligence. Yet, it is also clear that there is a need to provide greater representation of other Filipino children beyond the depictions of the middle-class urban-dwelling child. Likewise, there is a need to broaden the representations of the Filipino family to other formations and structures, because studies show that such a broader definition also helps in children’s development and well-being and in making them more resilient in times of crisis.