Understanding Filipino
Adolescents: Research Gaps and
Challenges
JOSEFINA V. CABIGON, PH.D.*
ABSTRACT
Maiksi subalit masalimuot ang panahon ng kabataan sa buhay ng
tao. Ang suliranin ng pagsasaayos sa mga problemang kaakibat nito
ay nangangailangan ng ganap na pag-unawa sa kabataang Pilipino ng
kasalukuyang panahon. Nais ibahagi ng papel na ito ang pagtutukoy
sa mga mahahalagang isyu na karaniwang di natugunan sa mga nauna
nang pag-aaral. Ilan sa mga suliraning pampananalikssik ay binigyang
pansin at inaasahang mapupunan ang mga puwang na patuloy pa ring
naiiwan sa larangan. Ang mga kakulangang nais tugunan ay ang mga
sumusunod na usapin: pagkakaisa sa pagpapakahulugan sa konsepto
ng “kabataan” at sekswalidad; di-kumpletong datos ukol sa ugnayan
ng bilang ng kabataan at bilang ng kabuuang populasyon; antas ng
kamalayan ng mga stakeholders at kabataan mismo tungkol sa paglaki
ng bilang ng huli; ang pangangailangan ng mga stakeholders ng
napapanahon at bagong pagkaunawa tungkol sa antas, mga
tagapagtakda, at kahihinatnan ng sekswalidad ng kabataan, pati ng
kanilang fertility at reproductive health; at, ang kanilang kamalayan at
pakikilahok sa mga gawaing panlipunan. Ilan sa mga rekomendasyon
ay ang pagkakaroon ng pambansang sarbey sa mga bagong erya ng pag-
aaaral kaakibat ang kwalitatibong pananaliksik, pananaliksik pampatakaran
(policy research) at operations research. Ang artikulo ay isang
pagtatangka sa paghahanap ng mga pamamaraan upang maimulat sa
mga kabataan at sa lipunang Pilipino ang kahalagahan ng maturidad
at pagbibigay ng mga safety nets sa ating mga kabataan bilang gabay sa
transisyunal na panahong ito sa pagitan ng kanilang pagiging mamamayan
na may sapat na gulang.
* Director at the Population Institute, College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-
Diliman.
,vol. 56 nos.1-4, jan-dec PHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW
1999
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should
go and when he is old, he will not depart
from it.
I. INTRODUCTION
Adolescence is a fleeting period in an individual’s life. It is
a short but enjoyable time in one’s life when there is a social
safety net. For instance, there is the assurance of universal
education which prevents adolescents from being forced to
work since they are supposed to be in the schools. They are
guided along a path that is controlled or governed by laws
that provide them with good and clean leisure, thus
preventing them from being led to undesirable activities like
prostitution and drug addiction. The reality, however, is that
the social and economic problems besetting the country and
the materialistic world they live in expose these adolescents to
rape, incest, drug addiction, forced prostitution, child labor,
dropping out from school and problematic parent-child
relationships. To what extent have we been providing the
social safety network to adolescents in the midst of these
social and economic ills?
Adolescence is also the crucial stage in which values of
maturity have to be introduced. It is a very short segment in
one’s life compared to adulthood or maturity. Yet during this
short period, an adolescent is expected by society, especially
adults and hopefully by adolescents themselves, to: (1) fully
develop his/her self — acquiring full knowledge of one’s
growth changes (physical, psychological, emotional, social),
building self-esteem and confidence, and maintaining
healthy relationships with parents and peers; (2) undergo skill-
building particularly critical and analytical thinking, firm
decision-making, leadership; (3) be fully aware of social,
political, economic and cultural issues and have the
corresponding concerns; and (4) be active in community and
political affairs. Considering all these expectations, it is thus
necessary to address the question: How far have we been able
to guide the Filipino adolescents today in their quest to
become matured individuals for the society?
II. THE FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVE
1
, FILIPINO ADOLESCENTS’ REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL Josefina V.
Social research is a powerful tool to provide answers to the
two questions posed earlier. It also unravels the complexity of
adolescent life and the problems associated with it. It
responds to the need for a more complete understanding of
Filipino adolescents especially with regard to their sexuality,
fertility and health which are the global concerns at present.
1
, vol. 56 nos.1-4, jan-dec PHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW
1999
A lot of studies and programs have been focused on
adolescents. However, given the complexity and the
dynamic nature of the issues, it is helpful to keep on
updating and identifying research gaps and challenges in
understanding Filipino adolescents and in shaping a better
Filipino society. As the philosopher John Stuart Mill (1947)
stated, no one holds the complete picture of the truth but
everyone holds a bit of the truth. For social science
researchers, to complete the picture of this truth is the
ultimate goal. All the stakeholders engaged in adolescent
development from various areas, focuses, strategies and
interests contribute to the molding of young adults so that
they will be ready to assume later the responsibilities of
mature individuals. Self development, skills building, awareness
and concern of social, economic and political issues and active
community participation are the immediate goals of all
concerned stakeholders, and well-being is the ultimate goal.
Specifically, the policy makers, program planners and
implementors are always in need of newer and richer insights
as they formulate policies, plans and specific strategies to
address the rapidly changing problems of adolescents today.
This article aims to identify research gaps and challenges
related to Filipino adolescents in accordance with the two
questions raised earlier with regard to social safety
networking and the introduction of values of maturity. It also
attempts to suggest some ways to fill these gaps and to meet
these challenges.
III. RESEARCH GAPS AND CHALLENGES IN ASSESSING
CURRENT ADOLESCENT STATUS
A. On definition
1. Who are the adolescents?
The gaps and challenges on the definition of adolescents
refer to the varying definitions of adolescence in terms of
age group in years. As synthesized by the Commission on
Population (POPCOM) task force organized for the Status of the
Philippine Population Report 2001 (n.d.:2), the government
implementing agencies have differing definitions as follows:
Department of Health (DOH) -10-24 years
1
Adolescents: Research Gaps and
Challenges
JOSEFINA V. CABIGON, PH.D.*
ABSTRACT
Maiksi subalit masalimuot ang panahon ng kabataan sa buhay ng
tao. Ang suliranin ng pagsasaayos sa mga problemang kaakibat nito
ay nangangailangan ng ganap na pag-unawa sa kabataang Pilipino ng
kasalukuyang panahon. Nais ibahagi ng papel na ito ang pagtutukoy
sa mga mahahalagang isyu na karaniwang di natugunan sa mga nauna
nang pag-aaral. Ilan sa mga suliraning pampananalikssik ay binigyang
pansin at inaasahang mapupunan ang mga puwang na patuloy pa ring
naiiwan sa larangan. Ang mga kakulangang nais tugunan ay ang mga
sumusunod na usapin: pagkakaisa sa pagpapakahulugan sa konsepto
ng “kabataan” at sekswalidad; di-kumpletong datos ukol sa ugnayan
ng bilang ng kabataan at bilang ng kabuuang populasyon; antas ng
kamalayan ng mga stakeholders at kabataan mismo tungkol sa paglaki
ng bilang ng huli; ang pangangailangan ng mga stakeholders ng
napapanahon at bagong pagkaunawa tungkol sa antas, mga
tagapagtakda, at kahihinatnan ng sekswalidad ng kabataan, pati ng
kanilang fertility at reproductive health; at, ang kanilang kamalayan at
pakikilahok sa mga gawaing panlipunan. Ilan sa mga rekomendasyon
ay ang pagkakaroon ng pambansang sarbey sa mga bagong erya ng pag-
aaaral kaakibat ang kwalitatibong pananaliksik, pananaliksik pampatakaran
(policy research) at operations research. Ang artikulo ay isang
pagtatangka sa paghahanap ng mga pamamaraan upang maimulat sa
mga kabataan at sa lipunang Pilipino ang kahalagahan ng maturidad
at pagbibigay ng mga safety nets sa ating mga kabataan bilang gabay sa
transisyunal na panahong ito sa pagitan ng kanilang pagiging mamamayan
na may sapat na gulang.
* Director at the Population Institute, College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-
Diliman.
,vol. 56 nos.1-4, jan-dec PHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW
1999
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should
go and when he is old, he will not depart
from it.
I. INTRODUCTION
Adolescence is a fleeting period in an individual’s life. It is
a short but enjoyable time in one’s life when there is a social
safety net. For instance, there is the assurance of universal
education which prevents adolescents from being forced to
work since they are supposed to be in the schools. They are
guided along a path that is controlled or governed by laws
that provide them with good and clean leisure, thus
preventing them from being led to undesirable activities like
prostitution and drug addiction. The reality, however, is that
the social and economic problems besetting the country and
the materialistic world they live in expose these adolescents to
rape, incest, drug addiction, forced prostitution, child labor,
dropping out from school and problematic parent-child
relationships. To what extent have we been providing the
social safety network to adolescents in the midst of these
social and economic ills?
Adolescence is also the crucial stage in which values of
maturity have to be introduced. It is a very short segment in
one’s life compared to adulthood or maturity. Yet during this
short period, an adolescent is expected by society, especially
adults and hopefully by adolescents themselves, to: (1) fully
develop his/her self — acquiring full knowledge of one’s
growth changes (physical, psychological, emotional, social),
building self-esteem and confidence, and maintaining
healthy relationships with parents and peers; (2) undergo skill-
building particularly critical and analytical thinking, firm
decision-making, leadership; (3) be fully aware of social,
political, economic and cultural issues and have the
corresponding concerns; and (4) be active in community and
political affairs. Considering all these expectations, it is thus
necessary to address the question: How far have we been able
to guide the Filipino adolescents today in their quest to
become matured individuals for the society?
II. THE FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVE
1
, FILIPINO ADOLESCENTS’ REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL Josefina V.
Social research is a powerful tool to provide answers to the
two questions posed earlier. It also unravels the complexity of
adolescent life and the problems associated with it. It
responds to the need for a more complete understanding of
Filipino adolescents especially with regard to their sexuality,
fertility and health which are the global concerns at present.
1
, vol. 56 nos.1-4, jan-dec PHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW
1999
A lot of studies and programs have been focused on
adolescents. However, given the complexity and the
dynamic nature of the issues, it is helpful to keep on
updating and identifying research gaps and challenges in
understanding Filipino adolescents and in shaping a better
Filipino society. As the philosopher John Stuart Mill (1947)
stated, no one holds the complete picture of the truth but
everyone holds a bit of the truth. For social science
researchers, to complete the picture of this truth is the
ultimate goal. All the stakeholders engaged in adolescent
development from various areas, focuses, strategies and
interests contribute to the molding of young adults so that
they will be ready to assume later the responsibilities of
mature individuals. Self development, skills building, awareness
and concern of social, economic and political issues and active
community participation are the immediate goals of all
concerned stakeholders, and well-being is the ultimate goal.
Specifically, the policy makers, program planners and
implementors are always in need of newer and richer insights
as they formulate policies, plans and specific strategies to
address the rapidly changing problems of adolescents today.
This article aims to identify research gaps and challenges
related to Filipino adolescents in accordance with the two
questions raised earlier with regard to social safety
networking and the introduction of values of maturity. It also
attempts to suggest some ways to fill these gaps and to meet
these challenges.
III. RESEARCH GAPS AND CHALLENGES IN ASSESSING
CURRENT ADOLESCENT STATUS
A. On definition
1. Who are the adolescents?
The gaps and challenges on the definition of adolescents
refer to the varying definitions of adolescence in terms of
age group in years. As synthesized by the Commission on
Population (POPCOM) task force organized for the Status of the
Philippine Population Report 2001 (n.d.:2), the government
implementing agencies have differing definitions as follows:
Department of Health (DOH) -10-24 years
1
