Juan for All, All for Juan: A Case Study on the Resource-Sharing of an Economically Disadvantaged Multigenerational Filipino Household

In a household where the exchange of resources is paradoxical, the experiences of an economically disadvantaged household provide valuable insights into the complex transfers and gains of resources within a co-residential arrangement. This case study examined the resource sharing of an impoverished, multigenerational household in one barangay in the Province of Camarines Sur, Bicol Region. Specifically, it aimed to identify the demographic profile of the key informant, determine household characteristics, identify resource-sharing practices, explore challenges faced by multigenerational households in resource exchange, and identify coping strategies in resource-sharing. The qualitative research method, using a case study design, explored resource-sharing within a poor household through an in-depth interview with a person in the sandwich generation. A researcher-made questionnaire was used in data collection. To identify patterns and themes emerging in the transcriptions, thematic analysis was used. It was found that reciprocity, simple lifestyle, regard for young members’ desires, equity of resources, family caregiving, intergenerational role expectations, emotional support, and disciplinary duties were apparent in an economically disadvantaged multigenerational Filipino household. Corroborating the popular notion that the challenges experienced by a three-generation household are multifaceted, this study further revealed that the primary root cause of problems was dependent on their purchasing power. This may be held true because the economic burden is high amongst large household sizes with negligible income. The household mitigated the impacts of these economic stressors by practicing the widely accepted Filipino concept of being ‘madiskarte’. Frugality and resourcefulness enabled the household to surpass the challenges brought by the scarcity of resources. Their living arrangement, with its seemingly disadvantageous effects in the exchange of tangible and intangible resources, also provides them a strong support system resonating the Filipino adage “one for all, all for one†.