General Duties.
ART. 46. General Duties. — Parents shall have the following
general duties toward their children:
To give him affection, companionship and understanding;
To extend to him the benefits of moral guidance,
self-discipline and religious instruction;
To supervise his activities, including his recreation;
To inculcate in him the value of industry, thrift and
self-reliance;
To stimulate his interest in civic affairs, teach him the
duties of citizenship, and develop his commitment to his country;
To advise him properly on any matter affecting his
development and well-being;
To always set a good example;
To provide him with adequate support, as defined in Article
290 of the Civil Code; and
To administer his property, if any, according to his best
interests, subject to the provisions of Article 320 of the Civil Code.
Family Affair.
ART. 47. Family Affair. — Whenever proper, parents
shall allow the child to participate in the discussion of family
affairs, especially in matters that particularly concern him.
In
cases involving his discipline, the child shall be given a chance to
present his side.
Winning Child's Confidence.
ART. 48. Winning Child's Confidence.
— Parents shall endeavor to win the child's confidence and to encourage
him to conduct with them on his activities and problems.
Child Living Away from Home.
ART. 49. Child Living Away from Home. — If by
reason of his studies or for other causes, a child does not live with
his parents, the latter shall communicate with him regularly and visit
him as often as possible.
The parents shall see to it that the child lives in a safe and
wholesome place and under responsible adult care and supervision.
Special Talents.
ART. 50. Special Talents. — Parents shall endeavor to
discover the child's talents or aptitudes, if any, and to encourage and
develop them.
If the child is especially gifted, his parents
shall report this fact to the National Center for Gifted Children or to
other agencies concerned so that official assistance or recognition may
be extended to him.
Reading Habit.
ART. 51. Reading Habit. — The
reading habit should be cultivated in the home. Parents shall, whenever
possible, provide the child with good and wholesome reading material,
taking into consideration his age and emotional development. They shall
guard against the introduction in the home of pornographic and other
unwholesome publications.
Association with Other Children.
ART. 52. Association with Other Children. —
Parents shall encourage the child to associate with other children of
his own age with whom he can develop common interests of useful and
salutary nature. It shall be their duty to know the child's friends and
their activities and to prevent him from falling into bad company. The
child should not be allowed to stay out late at night to the detriment
of his health, studies or morals.
Community Activities.
ART. 53. Community Activities. — Parents shall
give the child every opportunity to form or join social, cultural,
educational, recreational, civic or religious organizations or movements
and other useful community activities.
Social Gatherings.
ART. 54. Social Gatherings. — When a party or
gathering is held, the parents or a responsible person should be present
to supervise the same.
Vices.
ART. 55. Vices. — Parents shall take special care
to prevent the child from becoming addicted to intoxicating drinks,
narcotic drugs, smoking, gambling, and other vices or harmful practices.
Choice of Career.
ART. 56. Choice of Career. — The child shall have
the right to choose his own career. Parents may advise him on this
matter but should not impose on him their own choice.
Marriage.
ART. 57. Marriage. — Subject to the provisions of
the Civil Code, the child shall have the prerogative of choosing his
future spouse. Parents should not force or unduly influence him to marry
a person he has not freely choosen.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
