Wesleyan University – Philippines

College of Education

CHAPTER I

The Problem and its Background

Introduction

Over the past fifty years, modern families have been indelibly altered by dramatic

increases in the prevalence of non-marital childbearing, divorce, and remarriage. In many

countries around the world, nearly four in ten births are to unmarried women and the fraction of

children under age 18 living in mother-only families has risen tremendously 2010 (Ventura

2009). This dramatic trend toward father-absent families is happening in most countries around

the world and has focused the attention of policy makers and researchers alike on the important

role that fathers play in child and adolescent development.

Fathers have finally arrived, so to speak. They are no longer the "forgotten parent" as

called by Lamb. They are now the object of many a study in academic circles and received much

attention from media. This is reflective of the recognition of the important role fathers play in the

rearing of children.

Father absence is a term that is not well defined and much of the literature does not

discriminate between father absence due to death, parental relationship discord or other causes.

This article presents a critical review of the extant literature on father absence, particularly as it

relates to adolescent well-being and development. Findings from the literature point to the

importance of father presence in children's lives and suggest that father absence has ramifications

for children and adolescents. The conclusions drawn from this literature review suggest that

father absence and its effects on children and families is an area for further research, with the

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view of developing strategies to ameliorate the impact of father absence on children and

adolescents. (Leah East, Debra Jackson and Louise O`Brien 2006).

Education is essential in this area. The Philippines which was a pre-dominantly

patriarchal society would label shame in stay-at-home dads. The government should address this

issue through dialogues and support groups. The church and NGOs can provide great manpower

and resources on these. Aside from that, educating the people with the important role of a father

must start early on—in school. If families fail to address such need, the government should

mandate educational sector to make students aware of their need of fathering and the

unconscious effects of lack thereof. The government then has to reinforce the need by promoting

model fathers and their family; advocating mentoring from able fathers and providing avenue

and resources for people to have an environment where fathers are lauded, appreciated and

supported.

This study aims to find out the effects of paternal absence to the behavior of adolescent

learners. Particularly, the researchers sought to find how paternal absence affects the relationship

of the adolescent learners to their family and peers as well as their emotional well-being. Finally,

if accounting to the extent of paternal absence will help to further understand the behavior of the

adolescent learners towards education.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to find out the effects of paternal absence to the behavior of adolescent

learners in Nueva Ecija.

Particularly, it sought to find the answers in the following questions:

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1. How may the respondents’ profile be described in terms of:

a. Age

b. Sex

c. Educational Attainment

2. How does paternal absence affect the relationship of adolescent learners to their family

and peers?

3. How does paternal absence affect the adolescent learners’ emotions?

4. What are the lessons learned of the adolescent learners from paternal absence?

Significance of the Study

Understanding the effects of Paternal Absence to the Adolescents’ behavior towards

education is critical because the decision whether to pursue learning or not is always dependent

in the hands of the person, himself. Also, it is of great significance to the following:

 To the Adolescent Learners

This study may help them to be aware of the possible effects of paternal absence

not only to their behavior towards education but also to their life as a whole. It will also

help them to better understand and appreciate the importance of having a complete

family. This study can serve as their basis to have the knowledge of the possible

outcomes not having a father in their lives, how it will change their lives and its effect on

their daily behavior.

 To the Parents

This study will serve as an awareness for them to monitor the behavioral changes

of their children’s life because of paternal absence. It will help them to be knowledgeable

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of the fact that parents have a very important role in raising their children because they

are the foundation of their children’s life.

 To the Teachers

This study will serve as the teacher’s basis to identify the possible issues of the

students in their school performance. This study can help the teacher be aware about the

possible reason why students who experience paternal absence are sometimes having

behavioral issues. Through this study, the teacher will be able to come up with strategies

on how to deal with student who experiences paternal absence and think of ways on how

to encourage them to perform well in school or classroom discussion.

 To the future Researchers

This study will serve as a guide and reference to the future researchers who will

be doing a research about paternal absence or its effect to the adolescents’

behavior.

Scope and Delimitation

This study entitled “The effects of Paternal Absence to the Behavior Adolescent

Learners’ towards Education” was delimited to the purpose of understanding the effects of

paternal absence to the selected adolescents in Nueva Ecija.

The respondents of this study was chosen and selected by referral. Some of them were

friends and relatives of the researchers. In order to protect the identity of the respondents, the

researchers created a written consent that was signed by the respondents.

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The respondents were interviewed using an interview guide. The interview was

conducted in the chosen place of each respondent so that they were comfortably answered each

question.

The study was conducted on May 2017 and enhanced during weekends and available

time of the researchers.

Conceptual Framework

Fathers' involvement with their children is linked to higher academic achievement,

improved social and emotional well-being, and a lower incidence of delinquency, risk taking,

and other problem behaviors. However, it appears to be the quality rather than the frequency of

fathers' interaction with their children that matters. (Bronte-Tinkew et al. 2006).

Fatherlessness is one of the most overlooked areas in the web of our society’s problems.

Fatherlessness behaves like an undetected tumor that has been causing grave repercussions to the

life of a child and eventually to the country as a whole. Fatherlessness is the early stages of the

cancer of the society. It has been a long-time neglected problem, and the society is just dealing

with its full-blown effects. The fact that fatherlessness is not readily being dealt with is because

it is not identified as a problem but it has become a lifestyle (Macasinag, 2011).

The concept of fatherhood from a young child's perspective is fairly unambiguous. In

contrast, the myriad of possible relationships from the perspective of a parent is far more

complex. At one extreme, there may be a short-term relationship that results in a pregnancy and

birth. In such cases, the linkage between the child and father may range from being non-existent

to being fairly extensive, with many fathers maintaining continuing contact with the child even

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though they may never be in residence with the child. Having a strong link with a nonresident

father, as we will show, is not very unusual, among families.

In the Philippines, Education is essential in this area. The Philippines which was a pre-

dominantly patriarchal society would label shame in stay-at-home dads. The government should

address this issue through dialogues and support groups. The church and NGOs can provide

great manpower and resources on these. Aside from that, educating the people with the important

role of a father must start early on—in school. If families fail to address such need, the

government should mandate educational sector to make students aware of their need of fathering

and the unconscious effects of lack thereof. The government then has to reinforce the need by

promoting model fathers and their family; advocating mentoring from able fathers and providing

avenue and resources for people to have an environment where fathers are lauded, appreciated

and supported.

The Filipino must first admit that fatherlessness is a problem that leads to a cycle of

numerous problems in the society. Just like Jack Andraka, we must detect this cancer on its early

stages. Quantitative studies done on this area are not documented or published, although experts

recognize fatherlessness in the country, it has become an accepted occurrence rather than an

alarming situation. Fatherlessness is an issue of the family in the first place, it must resolve

within the family. All of Filipino people has to recognize and take part in this serious condition

of the society, if at all to prevent furtherance of this to a bigger scale and harder to treat. As it is

said, it takes a community to take a child. We all are part of that community and we have

responsibility to raise a child.

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The impact of fatherlessness can still be inhibited if not stopped if we promote unification

of families; providing support groups for fatherhood mentoring and educating our people early

on with their need for fathers and their need to be fathers and support fathers. The government

can only do so much; the rest would be in our hands. The government can provide policies,

provisions, avenues and funding for such programs to promote fatherhood, but the real call

would be in the unity of all the people of the country. First, we need to decide that we will value

our family which could mean that we will not promote self-development at the expense of our

children. This would also mean that we need to adjust our life-style, work and priorities to

accommodate our children’s needs and see to it that they get the necessary parenting. Second, we

must be pro-active in looking for the mentoring we needed and where our parents have failed to

give. We must forgive them for wounding us and decide to turn the table for our children. This

would be very hard task because for some of us admitting these and asking for help is shameful

and is a sign of weakness. This is where we need God to change our hearts and perspectives.

Unless we admit that we also have offended our parents, the cycle will go on. We need to break

the chain. Lastly, we need to come together. We need to be proactive in promoting an

environment of fatherhood by receiving and giving it to others and coming along those people

whom we can journey with. We can help push the government to help provide this kind of

program and environment and at the same time support those groups who are already taking part

in the rehabilitation of family. We can be proactive in looking for practices that works best in

other settings and countries and adjust it in our own contexts. Men, you are needed. We need you

to show us the world as splendid place to journey with you, despite the craziness around us.

Women, we need to move back a little bit from the limelight and make avenue for fathers to

shine. It is time again for the community to raise a child in unity.

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Research Paradigm

INPUTS

1. RESPONDENTS’ PROFILE
2. EFFECTS OF PARENTAL
ABSENCE TO THE
BEHAVIOR OF
ADOLESCENT LEARNERS
TOWARDS EDUCATION

PROCESS

GATHERING AND ANALYSIS OF

INFORMATION

OUTPUT

AWARENESS ON THE EFFECTS OF

PATERNAL ABSENCE TO THE
BEHAVIOR OF ADOLESCENT
LEARNERS TOWARDS EDUCATION

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Definition of Terms

For the better understanding of the study, the following terms were defined operationally;

and conceptually.

Absence – a state or condition in which something expected, wanted or looked for is not present

or does not exist: a state or condition on which something is absent.

Adolescent – in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

Cohabitation – the state of living together and having a sexual relationship without being

married.

Delinquency – failure in or neglect of duty or obligation; dereliction; default.

Indelibly – impossible to remove or forget, producing marks that cannot be erased.

Paternal Absence - the father of a child/children is not existing due to some reasons.

Patriarchal – relating to or characteristic of a system of society or governent controlled by men.

Peers – group of people with the same age or social group as someone else.

Reunification – restoration of political unity to a place or group, especially a divided territory.

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CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature

This chapter present and discuss the related literatures and studies about the effects of

paternal absence to the behavior of the adolescent learners towards education.

Foreign Literatures

This systematic review aims to describe longitudinal evidence on the effects of father

involvement on children's developmental outcomes.

Father involvement was conceptualized as accessibility (cohabitation), engagement,

responsibility or other complex measures of involvement. Both biological fathers and father

figures were included. We searched all major databases from the first dates. Data on father

involvement had to be generated at least 1 year before measuring offspring outcomes.

N = 24 publications were included in the overview: 22 of these described positive effects

of father involvement, whereof 16 studies had controlled for SES and 11 concerned the study

population as a whole [five socio-economic status (SES)-controlled]. There is certain evidence

that cohabitation with the mother and her male partner is associated with less

externalisingbehavioural problems. Active and regular engagement with the child predicts a

range of positive outcomes, although no specific form of engagement has been shown to yield

better outcomes than another. Father engagement seems to have differential effects on desirable

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outcomes by reducing the frequency of behavioural problems in boys and psychological

problems in young women, and enhancing cognitive development, while decreasing delinquency

and economic disadvantage in low SES families.

There is evidence to support the positive influence of father engagement on offspring

social, behavioural and psychological outcomes. Although the literature only provides sufficient

basis for engagement (direct interaction with the child) as the specific form of ‘effective’ father

involvement, there is enough support to urge both professionals and policy makers to improve

circumstances for involved fathering. (Anna Sarkadi and Robert Kristiansson 2007).

The concept of fatherhood from a young child's perspective is fairly unambiguous. In

contrast, the myriad of possible relationships from the perspective of a parent is far more

complex. At one extreme, there may be a short-term relationship that results in a pregnancy and

birth. In such cases, as the data from the NLSY show, the linkage between the child and father

may range from being non-existent to being fairly extensive, with many fathers maintaining

continuing contact with the child even though they may never be in residence with the child.

Having a strong link with a nonresident father, as we will show, is not very unusual, particularly

among black families.

At the other extreme from having no relationship with a father at all are traditional

relationships, where the parents marry prior to the child's appearance and remain married, living

together--in our NLSY sample--at least until the 1988 survey point. In between these two

extremes, there are a wide range of relationship options that incorporate formal marriages and

longer and shorter term non marital cohabitation. In all of these circumstances, the biological

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father of the child may be continuously present, present or never present. We submit that, from

the perspective of a younger child, the critical behavioral dimensions are (1) whether or not the

father of the child is present or available, and (2) the quality of the relationship between the

child, his or her father and of course, his or her mother. To describe these dimensions and their

effects is the thrust of our research: what are the apparent associations between the presence or

absence of a child's father and the subsequent development of that child, regardless of the formal

or legal linkage between the child's father and mother?

They find that adolescent boys engage in more delinquent behavior if there is no father

figure in their lives. Adolescent girls' behavior is largely independent of the presence (or

absence) of their fathers. However, the strong effect of family structure is not explained by the

lack of paternal involvement that generally comes with fathers’ absence, even though

adolescents who spend time doing things with their fathers often have better outcomes. There is

also a link between adult delinquent behavior and adolescent family structure that cannot be

explained by fathers' involvement with their adolescent sons and is only partially explained by

fathers' involvement with their adolescent daughters. Finally, the strong link between adolescent

family structure and delinquent behavior is not accounted for by the income differentials

associated with fathers' absence.

Dramatic changes in the shape of modern families have led to debate about the extent to

which stronger relationships between fathers and their children might help in reducing the

substantial social, economic, and health costs associated with youths' delinquent behavior.

Making progress in developing sensible policy initiatives, however, depends on a much fuller

consideration of the complexity of youths' family relationships and a deeper understanding of

why and how fathers matter. The loss of a father's income seems to result in poorer outcomes for

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example, (e.g. Painter and Levine 2004; Walker and Zhou 2007), though there is only mixed

evidence that young people suffer from the loss of a father's active involvement in their lives per

se (e.g. Kalil et al. 2010; Yuan and Hamilton 2006).

Foreign Studies

Over the past fifty years, modern families have been indelibly altered by dramatic

increases in the prevalence of non-marital childbearing, divorce, and remarriage. In the United

States, for example, nearly four in ten births are to unmarried women (Ventura 2009) and the

fraction of children under age 18 living in mother-only families has risen from 8 percent in 1960

to 23 percent in 2010 (U.S. Census Bureau 2010). Overall, 30 percent of U.S. children are

estimated to spend some time living in stepfamilies. This dramatic trend toward father-absent

families is similar in most countries around the world and has focused the attention of policy

makers and researchers alike on the important role that fathers play in child and adolescent

development. For example, the 1996 welfare reform legislation in the United States places

significant emphasis on family structure by incorporating family formation and the maintenance

of two-parent families as one of its primary components. Most recently, President Obama signed

into law the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, which authorizes $150 million for programs

promoting healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood.

Previous research has shown that fathers' involvement with their children is linked to

higher academic achievement, improved social and emotional well-being, and a lower incidence

of delinquency, risk taking, and other problem behaviors. However, it appears to be the quality --

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rather than the frequency -- of fathers' interaction with their children that matters, making it vital

to study fathers' relationships with their children in depth (see Bronte- Tinkew et al. 2006).

Much of the early research assessed the role of fathers in two-parent families (e.g.

Hofferth 2006; and references cited therein), leaving many questions about the consequences of

living with biological fathers versus stepfathers and the contributions of non-residential fathers

unanswered. In the intervening years, non-residential fathers and stepfathers have become the

focus of substantial research effort (see White and Gilbreth 2001; King 2006; Yuan and

Hamilton 2006), though the literature on each has developed somewhat separately. Research on

stepfathers typically ignores children's relationships with their non-residential fathers, while

research on nonresidential fathers often does little more than simply account for the fact that

mothers may have remarried (King 2006).2 Importantly, the handful of studies which do account

for the full complexity of children's family relationships paint a much more cautious picture

about the positive consequences of fathers' engagement with their young and adolescent children.

Kalil et al. (2010) find that living in closer proximity to ones’ biological father after divorce is

associated with poorer outcomes in young adulthood, for example. Yuan and Hamilton (2006),

conclude that a close, non-conflictual relationship with stepfathers improves adolescent

outcomes, however "involvement with non-residential fathers provides little benefit for

adolescents and may even be detrimental" (p. 1209).

Similarly, economists attempting to unravel the separate effects of family breakdown on

young people often conclude that what matters most when fathers leave is not the loss of their

presence per se, but rather the loss of their income (Painter and Levine 2004; Walker and Zhu

2007).

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Local literatures

Fatherlessness is one of the most overlooked areas in the web of our society’s problems.

Fatherlessness behaves like an undetected tumor that has been causing grave repercussions to the

life of a child and eventually to the country as a whole. Jack Thomas Andraka (TED, 2013)

deliberately made a research on cancer and was able to develop a test to help detect pancreatic

cancer on its early stages. He found out that the most cancer cases are detected very late when

the patient has very slim chance of survival. Fatherlessness is the early stages of the cancer of the

society. It has been a long-time neglected problem, and the society is just dealing with its full-

blown effects. The fact that fatherlessness is not readily being dealt with is because it is not

identified as a problem but it has become a lifestyle (Macasinag, 2011).

Fatherlessness is actually the root of many problems such as teenage pregnancy, drug

addiction, school dropouts, etc. In the same way, fatherlessness is a result of another set of

problems such as poverty, alcoholism, crime, drug addiction and broken families. The cycle

would go on in a like unending loop. The reason why these problems are rampant is because the

number of fatherless homes has increased significantly.

`The DOH and the University of the Philippines-National institute for Health (UP-NIH)

(as cited by UsapangPamilya, n.d.) estimated that 14-15% of the population are solo parents.

This alone is a big number of cases of potential fatherlessness as they have also identified that

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most solo parents are mothers. We have programs for solo parents but we are not promoting

fathering despite the staggering statistics. Slattery (2013) identified the two roles that a father

fills in the life of a child; some of them can never be filled by a mother. Fathers according to her

provide a sense of security and a validation he can only provide. The sense of security includes

financial supplication and physical defense. A child without these could suffer from poverty

while without the father’s validation may cause the child to look for it from others which may

lead to association with bad crowds, crimes or suicide.

Local Studies

Despite these statistics and studies done by experts, there are still movements who claim

that fatherlessness is insignificant in the well-being of the child. Wilson (2002) compiled some

cases and statistics where children are better off without their fathers. She cited that in the USA,

children with fathers have higher risks for substance abuse; higher risk of physical abuse; are

more likely to wed as teenagers and drop out of college; and do better academically. She

continues to claim that absentee father is better than having a bad or inadequate father. While the

cases of abusive fathers are true, so are the cases of abusive mothers. Wilson’s study only proves

that we need adequate and emotionally-present fathers who can lessen the impact of

fatherlessness by providing positive father figures to their non-biological children. Addressing

the problem of fatherlessness can be done by promoting family visa to all OFWs, providing a

mentoring group, and by educating the society about the need for fathers.

The first solution is to encourage OFWs to get family visa for the duration of their

contract in other countries. The Central Bank of the Philippines reported that the personal

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remittances from OFWs greatly increased by 6.1% by May 2014 compared to May 2013. The

total remittances both from the seafarers and land-based workers amounted to P10Billion

(Martin, 2014). This amount has helped the country economically. According to the Philippine

Oversees Employment Administration (POEA, 2014) they processed 2,241,854 contracts for

overseas workers as of 2013. Filipino Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) are deployed to mostly

to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Hong Kong and Qatar.. Saudi Arabia, being

the topmost recipient of Filipino OFWs, its government allows OFWs to “bring their families

with them if they can show that their salaries are enough to support a family. Those earning

SR4,000 or more are usually qualified. Many Filipino professional workers are taking advantage

of this benefit” (Mayor, 2011, para.9).

Although, we have lauded the OFWs as modern-day heroes, the disadvantages of

migration socially outweigh its benefits. (Asis, 2012). Urrutia (2013) identified the effects of an

OFW to his left-behind family are broken relationships, stressed marriages, role reversals of

parents, children lacking the presence and discipline of parents and cases of infidelity whether by

the OFW or the spouse left behind. These effects are grave that we cannot put price on these

losses. It has been common case for OFWs to find comfort in the arms of others which leads to

infidelity and eventually broken homes (Mayor, 2011 &Estimo, 2007).

The stories Saudi Arabia’s OFWs– Dennis and Mylene del Rosario and Jun and Marissa

Bunao were featured in the book of Mayor and his article in Inquirer (2011). It relayed the story

of how the del Rosarios felt estranged to their son Daryl and their decision to raise their children

with them. The Bunaos also brought their children with them and faced the necessary

adjustments living in the country.

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Parents can still raise their children even if they are working overseas is very possible.

Infact, a policy for family reunification is recognized in other countries. The council of Europe

Parliamentary assembly (as cited by Reyes, 2008) recommended to its member countries to help

reunify separated children to their parents even to those who do not have permanent resident

status yet. The Philippine government could push for a policy like this.

The country should promote the benefits of OFWs in exchange to the big remittances

they bring to the country, to include that encouraging OFWs to bringing their family with them

and helping them facilitate family visa. The Philippines, being a major supplier of labor force in

to other countries, could require countries importing manpower from us to make the acquisition

of family visa easier by lowering the standards for filing. Another way that the government can

help is by educating OFWs even on the application process the importance of living with their

families and raising their own children.

The second recommendation is for adults and adolescents to experience fathering through

a mentoring group so that they can father or parent better. John Eldredge, a famous Christian

author, claims that we all need fathering. The kind of fathering that we might have with our

present fathers may not be perfect but God can give us the kind of fathering we needed through

the companionship of older men (Eldredge,J& Eldredge, S.,n.d.). It is not enough just to have

biological father, but we need emotionally-present and committed fathers. Most of us might have

believed that fatherless is normal because it has become a lifestyle.

The pre-industrial revolution times had contributed to the growth of economy without

sacrificing the family set-up. The husband-wife teams are supported by their children. The trade

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practiced by the father is passed on to the eldest boy upon his retirement. Children need to

acquire skills before they can start families of their own. Young men usually leave home for

training or apprenticeship from merchants and artisans and young women receive training as

they become household servants (Fitzgerald, 2000). The industrial revolution broke this kind of

kinship children had with their parents and the mentoring that they had from other skilled people.

The effects could be seen with the independent children having to be proud that they are on their

own but in reality are clueless as how they can live their lives as honorable fathers simply

because they lack good fathering themselves.

The 2011 hit independent movie done by a church in USA, Courageous was inspired to

do a movie on fatherhood primarily because of the example done by the creators’, the Kendrick

Brothers, whose dad is known as a chain breaker. Their dad has an alcoholic father who

wounded them but who in turn decided to love his children unconditionally because he has

already surrendered his live to God. The brothers then had a burden to give a picture of “how

dads are supposed to become honorable and heroic as opposed to what the TV has been

portraying as passive, incompetent, immoral, perverted, goofballs, dominated by wives and

outwitted by children. [They] wanted to show a man going on a journey in trying to figure out

how to be a great dad” (Cantelon’s interview to Kendrick brothers, Story Behind the the Movie

‘Courageous). In a way, this movie is a step towards mentoring the fatherless generation so that

they can also be a chain-breaker.

The fatherlessness status of the present generation can still be redeemed by rallying men

who have received good fathering and who are being fathers to mentor young men how to

become one. The church and other private groups are providing support system on how to do

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this. Infact, one small group of fathers from the International Graduate School of Leadership had

a special Courageous Ceremony (Merritt, 2014) adapted from the Courageous movie to

strengthen their accountability and journey as fathers and to surrender them to God’s guidance.

In a way, we can still bring back the environment that the pre-industrial revolution had provided

not probably by apprenticeship and servant hood but through mentoring in our immediate

contexts. People who are clueless as to how to become honorable fathers must expand their

circles and look for people who can coach them and journey with them how to become fathers.

Women must also support such endeavors by giving their husbands or future husbands the time,

encouragement and empowerment they needed. Most men would not readily identify such needs

or would deny so, but women can help bring about these without dominating or manipulating

them.

Lastly, educating the society for the need of proactive fathers is needed. This education

could be in a form of curriculum integrated in the basic education, parenting and marriage

curricula and through constant promotion for the need of positive father figures. A lot of

churches, non-government organizations (NGOs) and even individuals are advocating for

responsible fathering education. The American government as initiated by President Obama

launched a program to deal with America’s fatherlessness which is called the Fatherhood and

Mentoring Initiative (cited by Xie, 2013). Leving (n.d.) cited various programs in America to

promote parents’ constructive engagement in the lives of their children. First is the Illinois

Council on Responsible Fatherhood, then the Fatherhood Educational Institute launched the

Incarcerated Fathers Project to entrust imprisoned fathers full responsibilities for their children

by educating them to create re-bond with their children and lead proactive lives. The author also

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presented a “proactive father involvement strategies which includes: (1) promoting substantial

positive father imaging through media; (2) providing free parenting education to indigent teen

and incarcerated fathers; and (3) creating a judicial task force to educate judges on the effects of

fatherlessness” (para.7). These can be done in the Philippines too.

In the Philippines, AMMA (as cited by Arkin, 2014) is a program dads to educate stay at

home dads about child parenting, coping with wife breadwinners, financial management and

discipline. Stay at home dads are a rarely accepted fact in the Philippines but is becoming a

reality since many wives and mothers are deployed overseas for work. The Knights of Columbus

(n.d.) gives an award called the Father for Good for deserving fathers. The Family Life

Philippines (n.d.) conducts parenting seminars and support groups in partnership with churches

and other institutions to educate, empower and equip couples and parents about godly family

principles. The Philippines has undertaken some sporadic efforts to build fatherhood in the

country mostly spearheaded by private organizations. This proves that education for positive

father image can be done but needs to be organized and spearheaded by the government.

Education is essential in this area. The Philippines which was a pre-dominantly

patriarchal society would label shame in stay-at-home dads. The government should address this

issue through dialogues and support groups. The church and NGOs can provide great manpower

and resources on these. Aside from that, educating the people with the important role of a father

must start early on—in school. If families fail to address such need, the government should

mandate educational sector to make students aware of their need of fathering and the

unconscious effects of lack thereof. The government then has to reinforce the need by promoting

model fathers and their family; advocating mentoring from able fathers and providing avenue

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and resources for people to have an environment where fathers are lauded, appreciated and

supported.

The Filipino must first admit that fatherlessness is a problem that leads to a cycle of

numerous problems in the society. Just like Jack Andraka, we must detect this cancer on its early

stages. Quantitative studies done on this area are not documented or published, although experts

recognize fatherlessness in the country, it has become an accepted occurrence rather than an

alarming situation. Fatherlessness is an issue of the family in the first place, it must resolve

within the family. All of Filipino people has to recognize and take part in this serious condition

of the society, if at all to prevent furtherance of this to a bigger scale and harder to treat. As it is

said, it takes a community to take a child. We all are part of that community and we have

responsibility to raise a child.

The impact of fatherlessness can still be inhibited if not stopped if we promote unification

of families; providing support groups for fatherhood mentoring and educating our people early

on with their need for fathers and their need to be fathers and support fathers. The government

can only do so much; the rest would be in our hands. The government can provide policies,

provisions, avenues and funding for such programs to promote fatherhood, but the real call

would be in the unity of all the people of the country. First, we need to decide that we will value

our family which could mean that we will not promote self-development at the expense of our

children. This would also mean that we need to adjust our life-style, work and priorities to

accommodate our children’s needs and see to it that they get the necessary parenting. Second, we

must be pro-active in looking for the mentoring we needed and where our parents have failed to

give. We must forgive them for wounding us and decide to turn the table for our children. This

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would be very hard task because for some of us admitting these and asking for help is shameful

and is a sign of weakness. This is where we need God to change our hearts and perspectives.

Unless we admit that we also have offended our parents, the cycle will go on. We need to break

the chain. Lastly, we need to come together. We need to be proactive in promoting an

environment of fatherhood by receiving and giving it to others and coming along those people

whom we can journey with. We can help push the government to help provide this kind of

program and environment and at the same time support those groups who are already taking part

in the rehabilitation of family. We can be proactive in looking for practices that works best in

other settings and countries and adjust it in our own contexts. Men, you are needed. We need you

to show us the world as splendid place to journey with you, despite the craziness around us.

Women, we need to move back a little bit from the limelight and make avenue for fathers to

shine. It is time again for the community to raise a child in unity.

Justification of the study

This study will focus on the effects of paternal absence to the relationship of

adolescent learners and will be finished through data gathering and analysis. The related

literatures were provided which can also serve as a basis and the researchers will get the findings

to be able to get the desired outcomes of this study. The findings of the study will surely aid the

questions and problem being solved. The emotional well-being of the learners and their behavior

towards education will be discovered through the use of instrument of the study and its analysis.

The reviewed literature and studies found to be relevant to the present study particularly

in the methodology and content of the research to certain extent. The researchers found out that

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there were some studies that had been conducted regarding the effects of paternal absence to the

behavior of adolescent learners towards education. Moreover, the studies conducted before has

similarities and relationship with the present research. However, the study defines the present

status of adolescent learners of Nueva Ecija had never been conducted. Hence, there were no

other researches with regards to the respondents and tough content of the research.

Chapter III

Methodology

This chapter discusses the details of the methodologies used to implement the research.

Specifically, the research design, method of research, research tool, data gathering procedure,

and treatment of data were shown.

Research Design

This study is a descriptive-phenomenological type of qualitative research design.

This type of research uses the narratives of the respondents as the primary source of data and

utilized thematic data analysis in finding meaning. The content of this study was focused on the

effects of paternal absence to the behavior of the adolescent learners towards education.

Research Method

The method adopted by the researchers in this study is an in-depth interview method. The

primary objective in employing this method is to conduct interview that is optimal for collecting

data on youths’ personal histories, perspectives, and experiences, particularly a very sensitive

topics. It is a more extensive and encompassing method than any other chosen methods of

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investigation. It assists the researchers in knowing the desired purpose in the shortest period of

time.

In addition, some of the respondents could not express their experiences verbally or

vocally. Instead, they were asked to answer the questionnaire using a pen and a paper to elicit

their responses.

Data Gathering Procedure

The study was conducted in the month of March, 2017. Free time of the respondents was

used in order to collect data. The researchers as well, used their free time and weekends to

enhance the research.

The researchers used an interview method in collecting data. An interview involves direct

interaction between the researchers and a respondent or group. The researchers may have some

initial guiding questions or core concepts to ask about, the interviewer is free to move the

conversation in any direction of interest that may come up. Consequently, interviewing is

particularly useful for exploring a topic broadly.

The researchers recruited participants of this study by referral. Each participant was

informed about the details of the study, initially. This includes privacy, their rights as a

participant and their conditions. Consent was secured before the interview started. It was

conducted through written consent. This signifies that the respondents willingly agreed to

participate in the study and to use the responses in the research while maintaining their

anonymity. Confidentiality was rest assured to the respondents.

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The participants decided where the face to face interview has to be conducted. This must

be a place where the participants will feel free and comfortable to speak. If the respondent could

not express him/her experiences verbally and vocally, the respondent can write up the answers to

the questions on the questionnaire. The researchers must assure the respondents about the

privacy of the interview.

Population and Sampling Procedure

The persons who participated in this study were the adolescents aging 19 years old and

above who experienced paternal absence. The respondents came from different places in Nueva

Ecija and found by the researchers through purposive way and snowballing.

The researchers used this sets of inclusion criteria in searching for respondents: 1.

Adolescent aging 19 years old and above, 2. Had experienced paternal absence, and 3. Resident

of Nueva Ecija.

Research Instrument

The primary tool used in this study was an interview guide in order to obtain information

about suicidal person. All the questions in the interview guide were designed to gather relevant

information to answer the problem statements.

The instrument was piloted and tested to two (Ms. Sarah and Aira) respondents for face

and content validity. Relevant changes in the instrument were done to capture the needed

responses.

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The first part of the interview was pertaining to the personal profile of the respondents.

This includes their personal information, their family background, their social background as

well as their economic background.

The later part of the interview was sought to answer the questions regarding the

respondent’s experiences. This includes the circumstances they were into before they lost their

father, their plans and their views and perspectives after the experience.

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Chapter 4

Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

This chapter presents the interpretation and analysis of participants’ responses to the

questions asked by the researchers.

Major Theme 1: Effects of Paternal Absence to the adolescent learners’ family

The following are narrative discourses of the participants pertaining to how paternal

absence affects the family of the participants. These include sub theme depression and sub-sub

them which are loneliness, hardship, financial problem, and positive effects.

Effects of Paternal Absence to

Emotion of the Adolescent
Learners’ Family

Depression Financial
Problem
Loneliness

Sub-theme 1: Depression

Sub-sub theme 1: Loneliness

“hindi ko masyadong napansin pero siguro mas lalo syang naging mahigpit samin, tapos dati

nakikita ko sya kung pano maging Masaya yung tumatawa sya pero nung nawala ang tatay ko

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naging malungkutin na sya. Pag may ginagawa sya gusto nya siya mag isa ayaw nya ng

iniistorbo sya.” (I didn’t notice it much but I’m sure that she became stricter with us. Back then I

can see that she was happy, that she was laughing, but since my father left she became depressed.

Whenever she was doing something she wanted to be left alone.)

- Participant III

“Sa mama ko, nung nakita kong masyado siyang malungkot at minsan hindi namin siya

makausap ng maayos pero ngayon ok naman na.” (To my mother, I saw her back then that she

was really depressed and sometimes I couldn’t talk to her, but she’s fine now.)

- Participant IV

“Nung una hindi nya makayanan dahil sa biglang pagkawala ng tatay ko. Pero hindi naman

daw pwede habang buhay na malulungkot sya dahil pano kami ng mga nang mga anak nya.

Kaya mas lalo siyang nagpursige para sa amin.” (At first, she had a hard time coping because of

my father suddenly leaving us. But she said that she can’t forever be depressed, that she can’t

just let us be. That’s why she works harder for us.)

- Participant V

“Malungkot, kase hindi na makapag concentrate sa mga bagay na dapat napagtutuunan naming

ng pansin. Kasi hindi pa makapaniwala sa pangyayari. May mga tanong pa na bakit nawala

ganon? Bakit nangyari to? Totoo ba to mga ganon ba.” (It was sad, because I couldn’t

concentrate on the things we needed to focus on because we still haven’t accepted what

happened. There’s still questions on why he’s gone, why it happened, is this true, those things.)

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- Participant VIII

“Kay mama? Strong kase personality nun eh. Siguro dahil nga bago at tsaka nasa adjustment

period pa ung family namin, ano syempre nalulungkot minsan, nasanay kami na ganun parang

iba na ganon. Basta nasa adjustment pa eh. Si momy hindi naman namin nakikita na madalas

umiyak or what. Strong un eh.” (My mother? She has a very strong personality. Still, I can’t say

she’s completely over it because it has only been a few months. Sometimes she’s very lonely, but

we don’t see her cry a lot. Maybe she wanted to show how strong she has to be.)

- Participant X

Based on the verbatim above, almost half of the participants had the effect of loneliness

to their family when they lost their fathers. The family as whole has undergone depression;

particularly being unable to move on for a long time. Based from the interview, the most affected

member of the family is the mother of the participants. They have said different situations their

mother had gone through; being unable to talk for some time, preference to be alone, and

changes of mood as it was before. The remaining participants have said that there is also a good

effect on the family which is being able to be stronger than before.

Fatherless children have more difficulties with social adjustment, and are more likely to

report problems with friendships, and manifest behaviour problems; many develop a swaggering,

intimidating persona in an attempt to disguise their underlying fears, resentments, anxieties and

unhappiness. (Kruk, 2013)

Sub Theme 3: Financial Problem

“Sobrang nahirapan, naranasan naming yung mga bagay na dapat hindi pa naming

nararanasan sa edad naming yon katulad ng paghihirap namin at pagsasakripisyo sa mga bagay

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na kailangan naming mapunan para sa aming lahat.” (It was really hard, we experienced things

that we shouldn’t have at our age, like sacrificing the things that we should have for everyone.)

- Participant VI

“Yon nga, wala kaming bread winner. Parang walang nagpoprovide ng mga kailangan naming

kaya natutunan naming suportahan yung sarili naming. Dapat naming matutunan pano tumayo

sa sarili naming mga paa.” (That’s it, we don’t have a bread winner. It’s like no one’s proving

us our needs so we learned to support ourselves. We needed to learn to stand up on our own two

feet.)

- Participant VII

“Malaki, kasi nung nawala sya nahirapan si mommy kasi nag iisa nalang sya tapos lima pa

kaming magkakapatid. Nahirapan sya itaguyod kame kasi nung una kulang kami sa financial

hindi naman sumasapat dahil lahat kami nag aaral, may mgacollege pa. Pero nung tumatagal

na nakakaya naman. Kayang ka na ngayon.” (Greatly, because when he left, my mother had a

hard time because she’s alone now, and there are five of us siblings. She had a hard time to pull

us through because first of all financially, it wasn’t enough since all of us are studying, and

someone’s at college. But as time goes on it was bearable, we can do it now.)

- Participant VIII

Mahirap kase nung nawala siya, parang yung business namin bumagsak din kase siya ung nag

hohold ng business namin parang hindi na gumanda ung takbo ng business namin. (It’s hard

because when he died, our business shut down as well.)

- Participant XII

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Based on the narrative discourses above, 4 of the participants had the effect which is

financially instability. They said that losing their father has given them some financial problems

that have been hard to deal with because it’s the father who used to provide the said needs. They

also said that the business has started to shut down, and the needs of the children are being

provided by the mother when the father died. They needed someone to provide their needs in

terms of financial. So, in spite of being lonely, they are also problematic because of the financial

problem.

Making progress in developing sensible policy initiatives, however, depends on a much

fuller consideration of the complexity of youths' family relationships and a deeper understanding

of why and how fathers matter. The loss of a father's income seems to result in poorer outcomes

for example, (e.g. Painter and Levine 2004; Walker and Zhou 2007), though there is only mixed

evidence that young people suffer from the loss of a father's active involvement in their lives per

se (e.g. Kalil et al. 2010; Yuan and Hamilton 2006).

Similarly, economists attempting to unravel the separate effects of family breakdown on

young people often conclude that what matters most when fathers leave is not the loss of their

presence per se, but rather the loss of their income (Painter and Levine 2004; Walker and Zhu

2007).

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Major Theme 2: Effects of paternal absence to the adolescent learner’s emotional well-

being

Effects of Paternal Absence to

the Adolescent Learner’s
Emotional Well-being

Difficulties Positive Effects

Lack of
Concentration Changes in
Personality

Adjustments in Realizations
Life in Life

Loneliness
Sub theme 1: Difficulties

Sub-sub theme 1: Lack of concentration

“Epekto nito hindi ako nakapag focus ng mabuti sa pag aaral ko nung nawala ang papa ko kaya

bumaba ung mga grades ko dahil sa lungkot kase lagi siyang andyan para tulungan ako. And

wala ng nag papangaral sakin pag may mali akong nagagawa.”

How did your father’s absence affect you now?

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(Its effect was I wasn’t able to focus on my studies since my father left me, and so my grades

declined because I was so depressed since he was always there to help me, and no one disciplines

me if I do something wrong.)

- Participant IV

“Nawala ako ng motivation tapos uhm hindi ko masasabing naligaw ako ng landas e ang tama

siguro is nag go with the flow nalang ako kase nawalan na ko ng totally nag susupport sa mga

gusto ko. Kasi siya lang taaga yun kung ano yung gusto ko susuportahan na nya ko. Parang

wala na e, nawala na. Parang nabubuhay nalang kasi ako dahil kailangan ko mabuhay, hindi na

ko nabubuhay dahil yun yung gusto kong gawin parang ganon.” (I lost my motivation and I

can’t say that I lost my way but I guess you could say that I go with the flow because I lost the

one who totally supports me in what I want, because he really is the one that when I want

something, he really supports me all the way. But it’s like there’s nothing left, like I’m living

because I need to live, I don’t live anymore because that’s what I want.)

- Participant IX

“Kase dati nung nawala talaga siya, parang ung mga grades ko bumaba ganon kase hindi ako

nakakapag concentrate sa pag aaral ko pero ngayon medyo ok naman na, pero yun nga mahirap

padin talaga ung walang magulang pero yun nga yung pag kukulang talaga ng papa ko si mama

nag pupunan.” (When I lost him, it affected my grades. They got lower because I can’t

concentrate that much. But it’s getting fine now, still a bit hard not to have a father. Good thing

that my mom is always there.)

- Participant XI

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Sub-sub theme 2: Adjustments in life

“sobrang laki ng epekto, kasi si Papa yung lagi kong kakampi, si Papa lang yung nagpupush

lagi sakin na “sige lang anak kaya mo yan” siya lang taong kaya kong mapagsabihan kung gano

ko kasaya o kalungkot o kung galit ba ko ganon.” (It left such an impact on me, because my

father was always my partner, he always cheered me on that I can do it. He was the only one I

could talk to on how I felt.)

- Participant I

“Sobrang dami ng nagbago nung nawala sya. Kase nung una hindi ko pa tanggap na wala siya

parang alone ako lagi tapos hindi ko alam kung pano magdecide para sa sarili ko kase nung

nabubuhay pa sya lagi ko tinatanong sa kanya yung ano ba ang dapat gawin. Tapos nung

nawala sya parang naging paralyze ako minsan hindi ko alam gagawin sa mga bagay bagay sa

buhay ko.” (A lot has changed since he left. At first I couldn’t accept that he was gone, it felt like

I was alone and I didn’t know how to decide for myself because when he was still alive, I always

asked him what I should do. Then when he suddenly left, I felt like I was paralyzed, sometimes I

didn’t know what I should do with what’s happening with my life.)

- Participant III

“Syempre, napakahirap kaya. July lng sya namatay dba. Edi ano, kahit ngayon nahihirapan

parin ako na parang ipagpatuloy ang buhay, syempredumadating ung, walang oras na pinipili

ung pagka miss mo sa magulang mo na parang may mga pag kakataon na parang sya ung

tanging tao na dapat makakatulong sayo. Like ako ano, laging alanganin ang oras ng pasok ko

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minsan mabagal ung punuan ng jeep, so dati nung may dady may nag hahatid sakin sa terminal

ngayon wala na. tapos kung may problema na urgent tatawagan lng ung tatay mo sya na ung

ano, makakatulong sayo tapos mag papalakas ng loob mo, ngayon wala na. ngayon parang

hinahanap ko ung tao nayon kase si dady lng ung parang ano, alam nya kung paano palalakasin

ung loob ko at kung paano nya ko matutulungan. Dba ung mga tao pwede ka nila tulungan pero

hindi dun sa paraan na akala nila nakakatulong sila pero hindi. Pero si dady kase alam nya

kung pano nya ako i mamanipulate ganon.” (Ofcourse it’s really hard. He died in July this year.

It’s still hard for me until now; it’s hard to continue living the way I used to when he’s still here.

There were times when I missed him so much, times when you think he’s the only one who can

help you. For instance, I need to be at school early in the morning. I have to wait for the jeepney

to be filled and when there were times like that, I just need to call my father and he’ll be there,

but now it’s different because he’s already gone. He’s the only one who knows how to make me

feel better. There will be people who can help you and they think they’re helping you but that’s

not the kind of help you need. My dad always knows the exact help I need.)

- Participant X

Sub-sub theme 3: Loneliness

“dati nung elementary ako nagiging emotional ako pag napag uusapan yung family ganyan pag

yung sa tatay, kahit sa classroom umiiyak ako. Nakakainggit kasi, nakakainggit kase na bat bat

yung ibang family buo sila tapos kami hindi.” (I think as of now, none, but before when I was in

elementary I become emotional when we talked about families, about fathers, even inside the

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classroom I cry. I was so envious of other families because why do we have a broken family

while they don’t.)

- Participant II

Based for the verbatim above, regarding the difficulties that the participants have

undergone, 3 of the participants have experiences lack of concentration when they lost their

fathers. They said that it has been hard to focus and that their grades were getting lower during

the hard times, but they were able to make up after some time. Another 3 of the participants have

said that they had some adjustments in life after what happened. They said that they were having

difficulties with accepting the fact that the things their father used to do will be a part of the past

and they have to it themselves. The remaining participants felt loneliness on losing their father.

They said that it has been very lonely and that they really had a hard time and needed a long time

be fine.

71 per cent of high school dropouts are fatherless; fatherless children have more trouble

academically, scoring poorly on tests of reading, mathematics, and thinking skills; children from

father absent homes are more likely to play truant from school, more likely to be excluded from

school, more likely to leave school at age 16, and less likely to attain academic and professional

qualifications in adulthood. (Kruk, 2013)

Sub theme 2: Positive effects

Sub-sub theme 1: Changes in personality

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Mas naging matatag ako bilang ako, bilang anak. Kase wala na yung tatay namin wala ng mag

poprotekta samin, sarili nalang namin. (I became stronger, as his child. When I lost my father,

we lost the one to protect us. So it has to be me.)

- Participant XII

Siguro, ahm masasabi ko na naging epekto sakin ng mga turo ng tatay ko ay, nakatulong ng

maayos sakin lalo na ngayon sa pagiging independent ko bilang studyante, nakatulong lahat sa

akin yun kase lahat ng itinuro niya sa akin noon magagamit ko ngayon bilang isang studyante na

independent na, sarili ko lng yung kailangan ko para makatapos sa isang araw na gastos, sa

isang araw na buhay. (What affects me the most are his teachings. It helped me to become

independent as a student. Everything that he taught me has been very useful.)

- Participant XIII

Sub-sub theme 2: Realizations in life

“Naranasan ko yung totoong hirap ng buhay na walang tatay sa pamilya. Tapos nalaman ko din

yung sobrang kahalagahan ng magulang.” (I experienced the truth that it is hard to live without

a father in a family. Then I realized the value of a parent.)

- Participant VI

Based from the narrative discourses about, regarding the positive effects to the emotional

well-being of the participants, 2 of them have said that they have experienced changes in

personality which made them stronger and being able to readily face the things ahead of them.

They take the lost of their father in a positive way. They felt grief, they cried, but they have had

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realizations that they need to be strong. Another participant realized the importance of having a

parent because of experiencing the lost of one.

Grief can be one of the most powerful agents of change; it offers us an opportunity to

experience tremendous growth. These hard times can truly help us carve out a path to

happiness. The key is we must be active participants in directing this positive change. It will not

happen passively. (Kelli, 2014)

Major Theme 3: Lessons Learned of the Adolescent Learners from Paternal Absence

Lessons Learned of the

Adolescent Learners from
Paternal Absence

Emotional Strength Development

Acceptance Realizations

Sub theme 1: Emotional Strength Development

Sub-sub theme 1: Realizations

“natuto akong tumayo sa sarili kong paa, dapat may paninindigan ako sa mga desisyon ko.

Dapat sigurado ako sa mga desisyon ko bago ko gawin ang isang bagay.” (I learned to stand on

my own two feet. To stand firm on my decisions, that I should be sure on my choices before I do

something.)

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- Participant III

“Natutunan kong maging matatag sa buhay at maging mas ma tyaga sa lahat ng bagay. Lalo na

ung gawin ang best mo sa lahat ng bagay dahil walang permanrnte sa mundo.” (I learned to be

strong and be more patient, and most of all, to give your best in everything because nothing is

permanent in this world.)

- Participant IV

“mas maging matatag ka kahit anong pagsubok ang dumating o problema dahil lahat ng yan ay

matatapos din at may dahilan.” (To be strong no matter what trials or problems may come,

because all of it will end and there’s a reason for it.)

- Participant V

“Mas maging matapang, matatag. Kailangan mas maging mabuti kang tao at lagi kang

makikinig sa mga nagmamahal sayo na nakakatanda dahil mas alam nila kung ano yung dapat

sayo.” (To be strong no matter what trials or problems may come, because all of it will end and

there’s a reason for it.)

- Participant VI

“Natutunan ko talaga na kailangan ng tatay na pamilya kasi siya yung tagaprovide ng bawat

pangangailangan ng bawat miyembro ng isang pamilya.” (I really learned that we really need a

father in the family because he is the one who provides us with our needs.)

- Participant VII

“Huwag kang maging dependent sa ibang tao, sa kaligayahan mo. Kasi dinepent ko talaga sa

tatay ko pag Masaya sya Masaya ako. Tapos parang sakanya na naka depende yung buhay ko

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noon. Natutunan ko na maging independent kase hindi mo na pwede ipahawak sa ibang tao yung

kaligayahan mo kasi kagaya non, nung nawala yung tatay ko anong mangyayari sakin di ba?

Kung iaasa ko ng iaasa yung buhay ko ganon, yung kaligayahan ko so ang natutunan ko para sa

sarili ko is maging Masaya ka para sa sarili mo hindi yung hinahabol mo yung saya ng ibang

tao.” (Don’t be dependent to other people for your happiness, because I was really dependent on

my father, when he’s happy, I’m happy, and it feels like my life depends on him. I learned to be

independent because you can’t let other people handle your happiness like back then, when I lost

my father, what will happen to me? If I will just depend my life like that, my happiness, so I

learned for myself that I should be happy for myself, not chasing other people’s happiness.)

- Participant IX

Sub-sub theme 2: Acceptance

“natutunan ko, ganun talaga walang perpekto sa lahat ng bagay maski sa pamilya. Dapat

tanggapin lahat, kung hindi na talaga pwede wag ng pilitin kase baka mas magbago lang din

ang lahat. Pag magkaiba ang dalawang tao, huwag ng mag pumilit pa. Maging kunteto.” (I

learned that, that’s how it is, nothings perfect in anything, even in a family. We need to accept all

of it, if it’s not meant to be, then don’t force it because it might all change for the better. If two

people are truly different, don’t force it, be contended.)

- Participant II

“Pag may nawawala, huwag mo isipin na katapusan na ng mundo, kahit na napakahalaga ng

tao nayon. Isipin mo nalang na kaya may nawawala kase may sapat na dahilan yon. Mahing

responsible sa lahat ng gagawin. Nung nabubuhay pa sya, alam kong naibigay na nya lahat ng

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dapat nyang ituro samin. Natutunan ko din maging malakas pang lalo. Mahalin sila ng higit pa

andito man o wala na.” (When something is lost, don’t think that it’s the end of the world, no

matter how important that person is. Just think that when something is lost, there’s a good reason

for it. Be responsible to everything you do. When he was still alive, I know he gave us

everything he needed to teach us. I also learned to be stronger, to love them more whether if

they’re here or not.)

- Participant VIII

Based on the verbatim above, regarding the lessons learned of the participants from

paternal absence, the researchers were able to consolidate the main lesson learned which is

development of emotional strength. Six of the participants have experience realizations which

include being able to stand on their own feet, to be strong and always persevere in everything,

being ready to face every problem that may come, and be independent. All of these learning are

their realizations after losing their fathers. The remaining participants were able to learn

acceptance. They said that nothing is perfect, unpleasant situations will come and after having

experienced one, just face and accept that it happened. The other one said that, when you lost

someone, never think that it’s the end. Instead, just think that there is a good reason for what

happened.

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Chapter V

Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations

This chapter presents the summary of the study, the findings drawn, the conclusions and

the recommendations.

Summary

The study was focused on the socio-demographic profile of the respondents, the effects of

paternal absence to them, to their families ,their views and perspectives and the advices that they

can share.

The researchers selected this area for the study because as future educators, they must be

aware of these situations whenever they started to be part of the teaching profession.

This study entitled “The effects of Paternal Absence to the Behavior Adolescent

Learners’ towards Education” was delimited to the purpose of understanding the effects of

paternal absence to the selected adolescents in Nueva Ecija, the possible treatment for this type

of situation as well as its effect on the personality development of an individual specifically,

adolescents.

The study was conducted during the 2nd semester of the school year 2016-2017. The

study was enhanced during weekends and available time of each members of the group.

The respondents were given sets of questions using an interview guide as they undergo to

an interview with the researchers. The respondents were given enough time and let them choose

the way they were comfortable to express their thoughts and experiences. In addition, a

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questionnaire was given to the respondents that can not express their thoughts and experiences

through the verbal way.

The method adopted by the researchers in this study was an in-depth interview method.

The primary objective of employing this method is to conduct an interview that is optimal for

collecting data on individual’s personal histories, perspectives, and experiences, particularly a

very sensitive topic. It is more extensive and encompassing than any other methods of research.

It assists the researchers in knowing the desired purposes in the shortest available time.

Findings

The following are the summary of the findings of the study based on the sequence of the

specific problems:

Socio-Demographic Profile

AGE - All of the 9 adolescent respondents were 19 years old and above on the date when

they were interviewed.

GENDER - For the gender, most of them where females (n=8) while there was only

(n=1).

CIVIL STATUS - For the civil status, all of them stated that they were single and never

been married.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT - For their educational attainment, all of them are in

college level.

Effects of Paternal Absence to Adolescent Learner’s Family

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The effects of paternal absence in the family are, have a hard time in adjusting, some said

their family lost their bread winner, they are not able to do the things that they do before they lost

their father, there was effect at all and lastly, it helped their family to become stronger and whole

again.

Effects of Paternal Absence to the Emotional Well-Being of the Adolescent Learners

The effects of paternal absence are, they became more motivated in pursuing everything

that they want, some lost the one that they can count on, they became a bit insecure about the

other families that are complete, they do not know how to decide for themselves, they do not

know how they would focus on their priorities, they lost the wall and guide of their families, and

lastly, one of the respondents answered, it seemed like they do not lost anything at all.

Lessons Learned of the Adolescent Learners from Paternal Absence

The things that they learned from their experiences are, they learned that they need to be

stronger and braver to face the world ahead, they learned to be contented on what they have, they

learned to accept everything, they learned how to be independent and lastly, the appreciate the

importance of their father.

Conclusions

In the light of the above findings, the following conclusions are drawn:

Majority of the respondents were females, then one male respondent.

The Adolescents received and gained support from their families, their mother and their

relatives.

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The effects of paternal absence in the adolescents can be good or bad, positive or

negative.

The Paternal absence also have effects to the mothers, it can also be a positive or

negative.

The effects of paternal absence in the family are, have a hard time in adjusting, some said

their family lost their bread winner, they are not able to do the things that they do before

they lost their father, there was effect at all and lastly, it helped their family to become

stronger and whole again.

The things that they learned from their experiences are, they learned that they need to be

stronger and braver to face the world ahead, they learned to be contented on what they

have, they learned to accept everything, they learned how to be independent and lastly,

the appreciate the importance of their father.

Their advices to their fellow adolescents are, be strong and brave, do not lose hope, do

not give up, always believe that you can and lastly, just keep on moving on, just keep on

going.

Recommendations

The following recommendations were made based on the conclusion:

1. The local government and educational systems must provide activities for the adolescents

that can help them to boost their self-confidence and self-esteem.

2. The schools and barangays must collaborate to conduct seminar abouts boosting morality

and personal development of their constituents.

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3. Further teachings must be provided in barangay health workers and school teachers to

educate the community on the latest trends in helping Fatherless individuals.

4. The teachers and aspiring future teachers must participate in the government programs

regarding Fatherless Individuals to be equipped and knowledgeable about such cases

whenever they encountered similar situations in the future.

5. The next generation of researchers must conduct another research about the Effects of

Maternal Absence to the adolescents and the result and findings must be published.

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