LESSON 05: COMMUNAL SOCIETIES

There are two important communities in the Philippine scenario that segregate its population in terms of dwellings,
commercial centers, entertainment and recreation facilities, education institutions that are centers of excellence,
multinational companies and business firms, and access to global competitions. Family life patterns in the city differ
from those who live in far-flung areas where the mode of living is, mostly, naive and stereotype. Some rural folks view
urban life as sophisticated, liberal, and sometimes immoral because there is always a strong possibility to break marital
relationship.

1. URBAN COMMUNITY
Urban community refers to an extensive built-up area where a large number of people live and work. The National
Capital Region, for instance, is composed of thirteen progressive cities such as Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Caloocan, Las
Pifias, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasig, Valenzuela, and Malabon. The nature of
population in the city is heterogeneous for they come from different ethnic communities, dissimilar beliefs and
ideologies, various statuses in life, and diverse thinking.
1.1 Urban family
Members of urban family are work-oriented individuals because the cost of living in the city is quite high and
job competition is stiff. Both parents are working, in general, while the children are in school. The parents or
kasambahay (new humanistic term for katulong, alila, muchacha or tsimay) accompany the children to school in
the morning and fetch them in the afternoon. At night, the children do their assignment or homework, while the
father listens or watches news on their television and the mother does some house chores.
1.2 Urban economy
The amount of income in the city depends on the nature of work of an individual but the common income for a
middle class family ranges between five to seven thousand pesos a month excluding allowances, extra income, or
small time business. If a family with three to five children renting a house, subscribing to electricity and water, and
other unavoidable expenses, that amount of salary may not suffice. This is the reason why there are some
employees who engage in small business or sideline in several offices, schools, and other business firms such as
selling preserved products, ready-to-wear (RTW) clothing, imported canned goods, dried sea foods from Palawan,
and the like. Economic life for many in the city is isang kahig, isang tuka.
1.3 Urban education
Most educational institutions are located in the university belt (UB) where multitude of students in uniforms or
in casual wear are walking to and fro. Throughout the day you can find them in the shopping malls pressing their
keypads, movie houses, and fast food restaurants, parks, light rail transit, and anywhere. Urban students enjoy
their school days full of unexpected experiences, tingling relationships between fellow students and
professor/teacher, gimmicks when they like to skip class, or occupy some computer rental shops to chat over the
Internet. These are the common phenomena in the urban universities and colleges inside or outside the school
premises. However, there are students who are quite serious in learning for they want to get high and competitive
grades for future employment. Modern technologies in the city brought the students to a more advanced and
competitive research and paper works assigned by their teachers. Those who graduated from reputable
universities or colleges in the city may have a "plus factor" in their future employment. There are several
companies who prefer graduates from such colleges and universities.
1.4 Urban festival
Urban festival is very limited in comparison with the festivities in the provinces. The common urban
celebrations are Christmas, Holy Week, San Juan or Manila Day, New Year, Santacruzan, Marian festivities,
Santo Nino de Tondo, All Saints' Day, and Metro Manila Film Festival. Urban festivities are bongga (extravagant)
 for organizers spend a lot of money to make the presentation colorful and artistic. The fireworks display is the most
awaited event during the festival.
1.5 Urban development
Urban development is not impossible because experts, planners, and developmentalists can work competitively
for the expansion and progress of the city. Besides tax collection per annum is high and enough to sustain all
development expenditures. The cities must be the models and images of progress and modernity to other countries.

2. RURAL COMMUNITY
Rural communities refer to a group of people living in the countryside, provinces, or barrios. People living in such
localities are naive, stereotype, and simple. They do not aspire things which they do not have. To breathe fresh air, eat
fresh fruits and vegetables, sleep on a bamboo bed, and stroll in the rice fields or pilapil are enough to them.
2.1 Rural family
Families in the province live a simple life though couples have many children. The father works as a farmer,
fisherman, or tenant while the mother does the house chores with the help of her children. Usually, most of the rural
families own television set or radio that they use to watch, or listen to telenovelas or any soap opera. In several
families, grandparents and other kamag-anak live in the same house. The grandmother (lola), most often than not,
interferes in all plans and decision of the father or mother at home. Conflict would arise if the gradmother's voice is
not considered and followed. Children enjoy themselves through taguang pong, tumbang preso, playing holen,
luksong-baka, and other Filipino games.
2.2 Rural economy
Prices of commodities in several provinces and barrios are a little bit cheaper (say 15 centavos) depending on
the class of a municipality. Remunerations of skilled workers are cheaper compared to the workers in the city.
Salaries of some government employees depend on the local budget of their municipalities that oftentimes come
late because of insufficient tax collection. That is the reason why many provincianos migrate to the city to search
for good employment opportunities. Rural economy cannot help them live a dignified life.
2.3 Rural education
The government runs most educational institutions in the provinces in order to cater to poor candidates that
cannot afford the matriculation fees in private schools. Higher education institutions are rare in the rural areas.
Students who want to continue in college is obliged to go to the nearby city or first class municipality in order to
enroll. In some remote areas it is a blessing for the community if there is one technical school that offers a two-year
training program. Elementary and high schools are usually located in a populated rural area, so if the learner lives
in a far-flung place he has to walk a number of meters or kilometers in coming to school every day. In the rural
areas, there are no malls, no shopping centers, no movie house, and no libraries. The usual route of students is
home to school and school to home. Cellular phones most of the time do not exist, if there is any, for instance, there
might be no signal. Students depend much on the lesson prepared by the teacher for textbooks are not sufficient
for their use. There is no Internet because they do not own personal computers. What the teacher transmits
(knowledge) is what they acquire. Some students who graduate from high school do not pursue college courses
anymore due to their economic insufficiency.
2.4 Rural festival
The Philippines is noted for rural or barrio festivals especially during the month of May. The barrio people,
according to the date established by the parishes or quasi-parishes, venerate Spanish patron saints all over the
country. However, there are some divergences; in one barrio, for instance, there are three different festivals: one
for the patron saint dictated by the parish priest; the other, is intended for the barrio fiesta arranged and established
by hermano/a mayor of the place; another is reserved for pasasalamat or thanksgiving which is related to
bountiful harvest.
 Rural fiesta involves nine consecutive days of novena, candle light procession, banda de musico, carabao
racing, cheaper rides in carnival or perya, singing contest, and a whole day banquet in every home in which all are
invited to eat.
2.5 Rural development
Development in the barrio is decelerated because the local government has not enough budget for the
purpose. As a matter of fact, agrarian reform programs are still questioned by many farmers and tenants. In some
remote areas there is no electricity yet, not even water reservoir; residents have to fetch water away from their
home for daily consumption. Many roads are still rough and difficult to travel. Bus passes only once a day in several
localities. Terrorists and outlaws that threaten the residents infest some outlying barrios.

Summary
There are two important communities in the Philippine scenario, namely urban and rural, that segregate its
population in terms of dwellings, commercial centers, entertainment and recreation facilities, education institutions that
are centers of excellence, multinational companies and business firms, and access to global competitions. Urban
community refers to an extensive built-up area where a large number of people live and work. Rural communities, on
the other hand, refer to a group of people living in the countryside, provinces, or barrios away from the sophisticated life
in the city. People living in such localities are naive, stereotype, and simple.

Key Terms
urban education rural education rural festival
urbanization working couple sophisticated life

Tests
A. True or False
_____________ 1. Urban life is found in the far-flung areas.
_____________ 2. National Capital Region includes only the city of Manila.
_____________ 3. Economic life in the city is more expensive than in the barrio.
_____________ 4. Most urban couples work outside.
_____________ 5. Rural festivals are more gorgeous than the urban festivities.
_____________ 6. Rural education is more competitive than urban education in terms of technologies.
_____________ 7. People working in the metropolis have more time for themselves.
_____________ 8. "Bayanihan" is still in effect among village people.
_____________ 9. The metropolis is the best place for those who are unemployed in the barri6s.
_____________ 10. Life in the provinces is full of expectations.
B. Essay
1.How does urban life affect the learning process of an individual student?
2. How does rural life affect the learning process of an individual student?