COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOLIDARITY, and CITIZENSHIP

Individual Dimensions of a Community (Lesson 3)

Individual and the Community
As individuals, we create situations and opportunities that allow us to interact with one
another and form social relationships and groups within a community. Our relations and
human connections are shaped by the places and meaningful spaces where we exist. The
knowledge, interests, identities, and meanings we share with one another also affect our
interactions. Interrelationships and organizations are mediating elements that connect an
individual with the community.
Interrelationships (Pakikipag-ugnayan)
Individuals associate with other individuals through their commonalities in attributes,
sentiments, histories, and experiences. These associations are referred to as
interrelationships. Interrelationships can be facilitated through familial relations, affinities or
feelings of kinship, and social network.
(Nakikisama ang isang indibidwal sa iba pang indibidwal sa pamamagitan ng kanilang
magkakaparehong katangian, damdamin, kasaysayan, at karanasan. Ang pakikisamang ito ay
tinatawag na interrelationships o pakikipag-ugnayan. Nakikita ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa
pagitan ng mga magkakamag-anak at magkakakilala.)
Families and family networks have figured as a dominant aspect of Filipino communities.
Interrelationships in communities are said to have typically evolved through networks of blood
relations and affinities, or what is known as the Filipino “extended family.” One prominent
social scientist, Alfred McCoy, conducted a study on the role of the family in the socio-political
and historical development in the Philippines. In his study, “An Anarchy of Families: State and
Families in the Philippines”, McCoy emphasized how families play an essential role in the
development of Philippine society, its culture, and politics. He articulated that community
relations are essentially defined by the relations between and among families. Families and
clans play an active role in the cultural, economic, and political aspects of Filipino community
life.
(Ang mga pamilya ang pinaka mahalagang katangian ng mga Filipino communities. Sinasabi
na ang pakikipag-ugnayan daw ay nagsimula sa pagitan ng mga magkakamag-anak at mga
malalapit na kakilala na parang halos kamag-anak na ang turing. Ito iyong tinatawag na Filipino
“extended family.” Example nito ay sa ating pamilya kung minsan ay kahit may asawa na ay sa
magulang pa rin nakatira dahil ayaw mapahiwalay sa magulang. Sa isang bahay ay maraming
pamilyang nakatira na magkakamag-anak. Sa ibang kultura lalo na sa Western culture, kapag
ang anak ay magkakaroon na ng sarili niyang pamilya ay bumubukod na siya sa kanyang mga
magulang.)
(Ayon sa pag-aaral na ginawa ni Alfred McCoy, isang kilalang social scientist, napakalaki at
mahalaga daw ang ginagampanang papel ng pamilya sa socio-political at historical
development sa Pilipinas. Example nito ay, kapag ang isang miyembro ng pamilya ay may
gagawing mahalagang bagay ay ikokonsulta niya muna ito sa kanyang pamilya dahil mahalaga
sa kanya ang opinion nila. Kapag mag-aasawa ang anak ay kinukonsulta niya ang kanyang mga
magulang at kamag-anak. Kahit pagdating sa eleksiyon ay hinihingi niya ang opinyon ng
pamilya kung sino ang iboboto. Ganito kahalaga ang tingin ng mga Pilipino sa kanilang pamilya
kung kaya’t napakalahaga ng papel na ginagampanan ng pamilya sa community.)
There are also circumstances when interrelationships and social connections are formed
and deepened because people find themselves confronted with various issues and problems.
When individuals find themselves in challenging predicaments such as natural disasters and
famine, they come together and join their capacities and efforts in pursuit of common goals or
common interests. It is this “thinking beyond the self” and the sense of community that make
people come together and address the issues and problems they commonly confront.
(May mga pagkakataon din na ang pakikipag-ugnayan ay nangyayari at nabubuo kapag
nahaharap ang mga tao sa ibat-ibang problema. Example nito ay kapag mayroong mga
kalamidad tulad ng bagyo o lindol ay nagsasama-sama ang mga tao at nagtutulungan.)
Organizations
Interconnected individuals strengthen their bonds and form organizations. Each individual
take on a set of roles or tasks in organizations in pursuit of goals and interests. Organizational
structures vary in form. Examples of these are associations, clubs, and local government
agencies.
(Upang lumakas ang samahan ng mga indibidwal ay nagtatatag sila ng mga organization. Sa
loob ng organization ay may kanya-kanyang ginagampanang papel ang bawat miyembro nito.
Example ng mga organization ay mga association tulad ng Homeowners’ Association; Mga club
tulad ng Lion’s Club, Science Club; at mga lokal na ahensiya ng gobyerno.)
Organizations serve as initiators of community action. They are considered instrumental in
operationalizing the goals, objectives, and interests of the community. Since organizations are
purposely created and structured to perform several functions and tasks, their actions shape
the conditions and lives of community members.
(Ang mga organization din ang nagsisilbing initiators of community action. Ibig sabihin, sila
ang nagsisimula o gumagawa ng paraan para simulan ang mga mahahalagang gawain sa
community dahil ang mga organization ay sadyang itinatag upang magsagawa ng mga gawain
na magpapabuti sa kalagayan ng mga miyembro ng community. Example nito ay iyong mga
socio-civic organization tulad ng Rotary Club na pumupunta sa mga mahihirap na community
para maghatid ng tulong at serbisyo na kinakailangan ng isang community. Maski dito sa ating
school, ang Kids for Christ ay pumupunta sa piling lugar dito sa Alupay para makapagbigay ng
tulong gaano man ito kaliit tulad noong nagkaroon ng feeding program sa Aeta community.)
Organizations help and assist community members in various ways such as in resource
pooling and management, representation, and other activities that are meant to uplift the
conditions of communities by giving them a “voice” in decision-making processes, or through
social development and welfare projects.
Take, for example, socio-civic organizations which conduct periodic medical missions in
order to address local health problems. Organizations such as the Philippine Red Cross, for
instance, provide free medical consultations and medicines in the communities they visit.
(Tumutulong ang mga organization sa ibat-ibang paraan na makakapagpa-unlad at
magpapabuti ng kalagayan ng mga tao sa community. Example, maraming socio-civic
organization tulad ng Philippine Red Cross, Rotary Club, Lions Club at iba pa, ang pumupunta
sa mga mahihirap na community para magsagawa ng medical at dental mission kung saan ay
libre ang pagpapakonsulta sa mga duktor at nagbibigay ng libreng gamot.)