Walay Sala Ang Bata! The Lived Experiences of Illegitimate Children Who Are Products of an Affair

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of illegitimate children born from extramarital affairs in the Philippine context, focusing on their lived experiences, family dynamics, and perceptions on marriage and infidelity. While previous studies have already ventured into the lives of illegitimate children, the population focus was too general, and most of these studies focused on the topics of social stigma and coping mechanisms, leaving room for more discussion on the lives of illegitimate children, particularly those who are born from an extramarital affair. The study employed a phenomenological approach, with seven participants from the province of Cebu interviewed. Using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis, six major themes emerged for illegitimate children’s lived experiences: societal stigma, emotional distress, facing legal and inheritance limitations, seeking social support, learning cognitive and emotional regulation, and utilizing behavioral resilience. Four major themes for their family dynamics: distant relationship caused by separation, close relationship formed through shared living, acceptance from peripheral extended family, and exclusion from family. While the findings of the study revealed that illegitimate children view marriage seriously as something as a foundation of a secure family, connected to happiness, a form of lifelong commitment, and/or it became a source of fear because of the history of their parents. While they show huge scorn towards infidelity, as it is not only harmful to the marital family but also to the children involved, resulting in these children witnessing the collapse of their family and experiencing social stigma.