HOW do we know that the Filipino culture of care is slowly diminishing to the point that legal reinforcements must be done? 

Filial piety is a deeply rooted value for Filipinos–it is a value that honors parents and elderly people, a symbol of gratitude that lasts. This topic has become the center of discussion on the internet, after Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson filed a bill that legalizes criminal offense for children who neglect their elderly parents.

On July 15, Lacson filed the proposed “Parents Welfare Act of 2025,” which aims to ensure that elderly parents would be supported by their children in their time of need. It seeks to penalize those who fail to provide necessary support for their aging, sick, and incapacitated parents. 

Clarifying misconceptions about the bill, the lawmaker explained that those who are neglected, abused, or abandoned by their parents will be exempted from this proposed bill. It is said that the bill wants to strengthen the family ties of Filipinos, as it is a shared responsibility of the family and the state.

A young breadwinner’s view

Daniel Josh Aranda, 22-year-old student and the breadwinner of their family, expressed that while he acknowledges the bill’s good intentions, he has concerns about the nuances of some terms stipulated in it. 

“‘Yung definition na ‘incapacitated,’ the term they’re not capable of supporting themselves as parents is very broad. It maybe [sic] it may really lead to abuse,” Aranda told RepublicAsia.

However, he said he is open to understanding the bill better, provided that it includes more specific parameters and standards to prevent any potential abuse.

As a breadwinner himself, Aranda admitted the bill adds another layer of concern. He shared that he is also planning on building his own family in the future, as well as saving for his personal and emergency funds. The divide in his priorities and choices challenges both his personal aspirations and supporting his parents. 

“I don’t believe that legally, it [supporting the parents] should be an obligation—like by law, because it will exert more pressure into giving it,” he stressed. “It’s much better to be given simply because of love.”

Aranda believes that care should come from genuine intent, not from a legal obligation. For him, there is an unspoken word to provide for his parents because he believes that Filipinos always have the intention to care. After all, it is a culture that Filipinos will always have.

From a parental perspective

As parents of two children, Recielle Jacinto, 52, and Cesar Jacinto Jr., 54, described the bill as a “double-edged sword,” which can encourage compassion but also spark division depending on family circumstances.

For the married couple, it should not be a legal punishment to the children; instead, it should focus more on promoting reflection and empathy, serving as a wake-up call for the younger generation to value and support their parents.

“Actually, I’m not in favor of the ‘utang na loob’ culture. Hindi siya absolute to everyone, it’s up to you to help ‘yung magulang mo. I think wala naman siya [Parents Welfare Act of 2025]  kinalaman doon sa utang na loob na norm, pero siguro nakikita ng framers of the law na sa Pilipinas, ang Pilipino, ‘di sila mabubuhay based sa SSS [Social Security System] or sa retirement sa opisina. At most, pambili lang siya ng gamot,” Mrs. Jacinto told RepublicAsia.

Ultimately, Mrs. and Mr. Jacinto stressed that support should come both from the family and the state. 

Not all family situations are the same. The bill may serve as a reminder of moral duty, but it must also be accompanied by better eldercare systems, sustainable pension programs, and accessible healthcare.

Meanwhile, Josie S. Reyes, 65, sees that there is a need for a bill like this, so that the elderly parents will be tended, especially those who are abandoned on the streets. 

For her, the proposed Parents Welfare Act is a step toward dignity—not just legal accountability. 

“Maganda ‘yung panukala, kasi maraming matatanda ngayon ang napapabayaan. Nakikita mo sa kalsada, namamalimos, natutulog kung saan-saan,” Reyes shared with RepublicAsia.

She also believes that the bill should come with practical support, especially for families who want to help but lack the means.

“Hanggang sila ay nabubuhay, bigyan mo ng suporta at pagmamahal,” Reyes said.

Looking at the bigger picture

Maricel Yson, LPT, a high school teacher who teaches Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) and a parent, notes that there are certain layers that need to be studied from this bill. 

While she acknowledges that the proposed measure provides assurance to the aging parents that they will not be left behind, she also believes it oversimplifies a deeply complex cultural and economic issue.

“Paano kung ang anak ay sapat lang din ang kanyang kinikita? May pamilya rin ba siya?” Yson told RepublicAsia.

Yson then emphasized a deeper issue: reducing familial care to a matter of legal obligation that risks and weakens the cultural values that bind Filipino families. She mentioned that the bill would benefit if it relied on studies about the behavior and pattern trends of the current generation to reflect the realities of Filipinos.

“Baka kasi ‘yung kultura natin ng pagmamahal sa magulang, hindi na siya maging culture, compliance na lang siya,” she said.

Yson also pointed out that the emotional pressure and legal obligation could backfire, leading to compliance-driven support and even higher mental health strain for both parents and children. 

Another point that she wanted clarification on is the ambiguity of the scope, such as how the law will handle situations where once-abusive or neglectful parents reconcile with their children later in life. While the bill exempts children from supporting parents who abused or abandoned them, she stressed that Filipino culture often leans toward forgiveness.

“Ano ‘yon ‘pag nagbago sila, ‘pag nagkaroon ng reconciliation, ‘Ay, mother, pasok po pala kayo ulit,’ ‘Ay, mother, hindi po pala ulit kasi nanakit kayo sa anak niyo’,” Yson shared. 

For her, the bill must consider how emotional healing and restored relationships can blur legal definitions.

In her view, the better path forward is education. She has observed that many young people are already burdened too early by adult responsibilities. She calls on the government to strengthen support for the elderly and invest in long-term cultural education, especially for those in marginalized sectors.

Finding common ground

In 2019, the statistics from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) indicated that there are 33 homes for the aged that are government-owned facilities and accredited private social welfare agencies. Despite the low number of elderly care homes, many families in the country are the primary providers of support for their members, and co-residence is the most common living arrangement for Filipino families.

As the current generation navigates survival and support, does this bill call for upholding family values, or is it a subtle indication that government support is no longer enough and progressive for the needs of the elderly?

Despite the differing roles in society, there is a shared belief that taking care of parents is a culture rooted in love, not an obligation that should be dictated by laws. From the previous conversations, all of them reflect a call for a grounded scope and deeper research. True care must be supported by education and understanding of the Filipino dynamics.

With reports from Eunice De La Cruz