Single Parenthood

            Single parenthood is already prevalent here in the Philippines. A lot of children are already accustomed in this kind of family setting. Well, single parenting or sole parenthood according to the Oxford dictionary is a person bringing up a child without a partner. While under the Philippine law, an individual can be considered a single or solo parent, according to Republic Act. No. 8972 or The solo parent’s welfare act of 2000, (1) if a woman who gives birth as a result of rape and other crimes against chastity even without a final conviction of the offender provided, that the mother keeps and raises the child; (2) parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to death of spouse; (3) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood while the spouse is detained or is serving sentence for a criminal conviction for at least one (1) year; (4) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to physical and/or mental incapacity of spouse as certified by a public medical practitioner; (5) Parent left solo or alone with the responsibility of parenthood due to legal separation.

            A lot of children here in the Philippines grew up being raised by only one of his/her parent; it is either his/her mother or father. Being raised by only a single parent has its own advantages and disadvantages. This kind of family setting is still functional, but family members may feel that it is not when something went wrong or something did not fall into place. It is both difficult for the parent and child/ren to be in this kind of set-up, but it also depends on how they end up in this kind of family setting. There are various reasons why they fall into this kind of set-up, as stated in R.A. No. 8972.

            If the child is a product of rape, and the mother does not show any care and love towards the child, instead she showed anger, hatred, and continuous blame to the child for her ruined future, it may not be necessarily good for the upbringing of the child. It may result to behavioral challenges that the child may find difficult to address. On the other hand, if the child is a product of rape, but the mother raised the child with tender love and care, there is a higher possibility of good result that can be seen on the child.

            If the single parenthood is a result of the death of a spouse it is difficult to cope up both for the remaining parent and to the child itself. It will be hard emotionally and also financially. It will be hard for the child because he/she will lose one of the persons who take care and guide him. The person who was always be there for him, the one who taught him/her various values and life lessons. On the other hand, it will also be hard for the widow because he/she will lose the person who is always his/her partner in life in good times and in bad times, his/her lending hand, and the person whom he/she can always rely on. It will not only be hard emotionally for the persons who were left behind, but it will also be hard financially, especially if before both of the parents were working.

            It will be another story if the single parenthood is a result of annulment or separation. It will be more complicated for both the parents and the child. Hearing the news that his/her parents will be separated for good can be devastating for the child. It will be hard to accept that the persons whom you look up to have grown tired of each other and have fallen out of love. It will also be hard to choose between his/her mother and father, who will he/she choose to have his/her custody. And if in the future one of his/her parents will have another family, it will also be hard for the child, maybe he/she cannot bear the pain to see his/her mother or father with another family, the family that he/she wish they have. It may not be that hard financially in this case if the other parent is still giving financial support to his/her child.

            And lastly if the sole parenthood is a result of pre-marital pregnancy and the father of the child does not marry the childbearing mother. It will be hard emotionally and financially. It will be hard for the mother because she will not have a partner in raising the child, and it may also be hard financially if the father does not give financial support for the child. It will also be hard for the child to grow up without a father figure, especially if his father does not want to acknowledge him/her.

            Being a single parent is hard, but the parent is not the only one who feels the difficulty. We should also consider the fact that the child also suffers a great deal of pain. But being a single parent is not really full of negativity, because even though there is only one parent it is still a functional family. And besides it is not only the spouse that can help the parent raise his/her child, his/her family of orientation can help him/her raise the child. We should not bully those children who are product of this kind of family, instead we should treat them normally. We should not judge those people who are single parent, instead we should be proud of them, because they are able to raise their child all by themselves.  

SocSci 10 Z Group 4

Jaeger Dwayne Tamara, 

Mike Gyro Paras, 

Anthony Teofilo Jr., 

GiannaCapacia, 

Faye Mendoza, 

Jerome Gabriel.