The Heavy Burden Of Every First Born Filipino Child
Philippines is known for being a family-oriented country where the whole family loves to live and stay in the same house together. We always put the family at the core of everything. One must not leave the other one struggling. All must stick together through the good times and the bad times.
One thing that the world doesn't even know about is that it is very difficult when you are the first born child of a Filipino family because you are destined for something. Eldest children are born with responsibility laid in their hands. They are the ones who sacrifice for the whole family without any complain.
They are the sole breadwinner of the family
Almost all of the Filipino first born child are breadwinner. They are the one who work to support the family. Sometimes they have to work far away especially overseas in order to totally support the whole family. They are the one who provide financial support to their family. Especially to the education of the siblings, it is the role of the first born child to support the education of the whole family. There are so many first born child who have supported their whole siblings to graduate in college. This is very heart-warming. If the parents failed to support their children's education, the first born child didn't.
The success of the family lies in their hands
If you are a first born Filipino Child, you cannot avoid being pressured because your family relies in you. If you do not strive harder in life, you cannot lift your whole family up however, if you work harder and become successful, your family will also be successful because you are capable to support them in different ways. If you will not strive harder, your family will also lose its way. Think about a lamp post, without it the street will be so dark. This is how the success of the family relies in the first born child. You are the light in the midst of the darkness.
They are the most responsible child
Most of the first born Filipino child are responsible. They are the most hardworking people you'll ever meet and they tend to focus more in working rather than giving themselves some time because they know their family's future lies in their hands. They need to be strong because their family are waiting. They need to be brave because their family really need them. They need to be the most responsible person in this world. They are the hero of the family.
They give everything that they can even it means nothing left for themselves
If you are the first born child in the family, you need to sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of your family. Even it means giving all your hard earned money for the needs of the family and nothing is left for your personal needs. This is the reality for every first born child. They have learned to be patient and understanding all the time. They prioritize family over anything else.
Should the parent let their first child shoulder the world?
Sadly, this is the mindset for many Filipino parents. For them, it is necessary for the first born child to work and support the whole family. If you chose to live on your own without helping your family, you will be called selfish for prioritizing yourself first before your siblings. There's really nothing helping your family but it is so wrong when the parents responsibility are transferred to the first child. I hope every Filipino parents will realize that their eldest child is not the worker of the family.
It is the sad reality here in Philippines. When you are the first born child, it seems like you are carrying the whole world in your shoulder. You have to study very well and work harder because your family 's fate and success are on your hands. If only this mentality will end, there are no first born that will suffer from this kind of fate. I believe it's not bad to help your family but putting the responsibilities in your side is what I can say unrighteous. Every first born child also deserves to enjoy and be happy in life without thinking that they have the biggest responsibility laid in this world. I hope the present generation will break this chain.
August 04, 2022
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This is sad, sometimes I feel sorry to those who are "forced" to do so and set aside their own dreams. What is maddening is when their own families abuse them and just rely on them even when they are healthy and able enough to work and do something too. I'm thankful though that in my family, such is not the case. Siguro depende sa kinagisnan din...