The Parental Obligation

Bringing a child into the world is the beginning of the journey of being a
parent but let us remember that even before the baby is born, parents would
already make sure that they will have everything prepared for the baby’s arrival.
They go to monthly check-ups for assurance that the baby is healthy and
developing properly. The parents, especially the mother, would take extra steps to
be careful and assure that there is nothing that could potentially put the growing
being inside at risk. When the day is near, they buy clothes, diapers, toys and other
necessities for a new born baby.
As the child grows up, they are tasked to enroll the child into school so that
he can get the proper education and training to become independent and be a
contributing citizen in the society. Throughout the child’s life they have a
responsibility to give the child the basic necessities of life, clothing, food and
shelter. In a nutshell, parental obligation or responsibility is the duty of a parent to
provide support for their child.

The parent’s obligation to give support goes beyond an array of lists. Each
child is different and special and the parent will need to see to it that each need is
provided for. Some parents go the extra mile to see to it that their child is happy
and well taken care of.

Under the law, specifically Art. 220 of the Civil Code1, it is provided that
parents and those exercising parental authority shall have with the following rights
and duties:

(1) To keep them in their company, to support, educate and instruct

them by right precept and good example, and to provide for their upbringing
in keeping with their means;
(2) To give them love and affection, advice and counsel,
companionship and understanding;
(3) To provide them with moral and spiritual guidance, inculcate in
them honesty, integrity, self-discipline, self-reliance, industry and thrift,
stimulate their interest in civic affairs, and inspire in them compliance with
the duties of citizenship;
(4) To furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials,
supervise their activities, recreation and association with others, protect
them from bad company, and prevent them from acquiring habits
detrimental to their health, studies and morals;
(5) To represent them in all matters affecting their interests;
(6) To demand from them respect and obedience;
(7) To impose discipline on them as may be required under the
circumstances; and

1Paras, E (2016). Civil Code of the Philippines Annotated Persons and Family Relations. Manila, Philippines:
Rex Book Store
 (8) To perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon parents
and guardians.
As mentioned before, the list of a parent’s obligation as to the custody and
care of their child is not exclusive. Therefore, a parent may go through various
lengths of taking care of their children as their capabilities and resources may allow
them.
The parental obligation could be extinguished once a child is already 18
years of age as this is the age of majority and one is no longer considered a child,
but an adult. Despite that consideration, parents would still provide and care for
their children even beyond those years because of their affection and concern for
their children and in assurance that he is leading a good life.
Aborting the Parental Obligation
Even before a baby is born, the parents of the child are already planning
and preparing for its arrival. This is because they are accepting the responsibility
and duty of becoming a parent.
There is a harsh reality to all this; that not all who become pregnant are
ready to have a child and so they may choose to have an abortion.
Abortion is the medical procedure of ending a pregnancy, through use of
medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus.
The procedure is done by a licensed health care professional.2
In the Philippines, abortion and the sale of medicines to induce it are strictly
illegal and any medical or health care professional and even a midwife or quack
doctor, who performs and offers the procedure may be penalized under the
Revised Penal Code.3
Parents who choose to abort their child are also choosing to end their
obligations and duties as parents. They choose not to become parents even before
the child is brought into the world.
There is a tantamount of reasons why some choose abortion. Some choose
not to become parents because they are not financially prepared for it, the
pregnancy was unplanned and will interfere with their career or studies, there are
partner-related problems, or they are already parents and need to focus on the
needs of their present children. Some who become pregnant may also believe that
they are not mature and good enough to be parents and so they decide to
terminate the pregnancy, along with their parental obligation.4

2 Abortion. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/abortion.html

3Center for Reproductive Rights. (2010). Facts on Abortion in the Philippines: Criminalization and a General
Ban on Abortion [PDF file] Retrieved from
https://www.reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/pub_fac_philippines_1%2010.pdf

4Stacey, D. (2018, December 9). Why do Women Have Abortions?. Retrieved from

https://www.verywellhealth.com