Sandwich Generation: Pinoys caring for kids, elderly parents

Filipinos have come to embrace the responsibility of taking care of their elderly parents while attending to their family.

“Sandwich Generation” is the term used to refer to this group, aged between 30 and 50, who support both their parents and children physically, financially and emotionally, according to a "Stand for Truth" report by JM Encinas.

Sociologist and professor Virgel Binghay said one of the values among parents in Philippine society is to have many children particularly during the early years, noting that their children will serve as their “insurance” in the future.

“Maraming anak kasi parang nakikita nilang insurance nila yan when they become old so their children will help them,” Binghay said.

(They wanted many children because they see them as their life insurance. When they become old, their children will help them.)

Anna de Chavez, author of The Pinoy Sandwich Generation Tool Kit, explained that it could be a combination of support provided for one's own families and parents such as assisting in their daily living, financially, and medical care among others.

“Let us always be positive that it is a phase of life that we have to face. Kasi darating yung time na tatanda yung parents natin, aalagaan natin and we have our own children,” she said.

For accountant Ruby Bravo, helping parents is not an obligation but instead a genuine gesture of giving back for their sacrifices.

“Yung pagbibigay sa parents para sa akin hindi siya obligasyon kusang loob mo. Kasi ako naniniwala na yung giving back to the parents kasi diba noong mula bata ka hanggang makagraduate ka ang laki ng sacrifices nila,” Bravo, part of the Sandwich Generation, said.

Watch the report to know more about the Sandwich Generation.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News