Pinakafinal Thesis

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Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Childlessness or infertility is a global reproductive issue for both sexes yet often
neglected and not discussed in public. It is generally believed that many couples suffer from
infertility worldwide. There are varying opinions on the definition of infertility.
In Philippines, childless couples are often questioned or in some cases bullied. In
Philippine culture, childlessness is often considered shameful, pitiful, unproductive, and in some
cases a failure. Some couples are even forced to adopt foster children just to fill in the gap that
society set for them to fill in. Some couples even feel stressed in response to the pressure they
are being put into, both by their family and the society they live in. On the other hand, there are
also childless couples who claim to be rather happier to be childless because for these couples,
having no children means fewer expenses and fewer liabilities.
As the researchers observed that in some countries, it is normal to see childless couples
and nobody even bats an eye. Some of these couples are not even barren or has reproductive
issues; they are childless by choice because they are happier that way. If this kind of thinking is
to be shown in the current mind set of Filipinos, it could cause uproar, or may even lead to stress
directed to the childless couple.
The researchers also observed that childlessness appears to have strong impact on the
emotional state of infertile couples. Many women consider infertility to be the most serious
emotional problem of their life. Reproductive medical treatment can involve major additional
emotional stress. These contradicting ideas about childless couples are what motivate the
researchers to conduct this study, in order to clarify everything.

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BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
According to Dr. Walker (2012), being a childless couple has advantages and
disadvantages. Advantage, because a childless couple have time for self-care and for other
relationships, can dedicate their time to their career or to other interests that will help the world
as a whole, and the world will be less crowded and resources less depleted. Being childless is a
disadvantage, in a sense that a childless couple will be a misfit among your peer group, will miss
out of what many consider to be a crucial life role, and won’t have anyone to take care of them in
their old age.
According to Stanley, (2015), stated that couples who do not have children also had
decline in quality of marriage life and satisfaction after sometime. Although when baby comes
they experience satisfaction in their relationship, in which the most important time period is soon
after the birth of a child and his/her adjustment in the world of experience.
According to P. Palha, and M. F. Lourenco (2011), in a society that encourages and
promotes parenthood, with its current social norms and culture, childlessness can be
stigmatizing. The idea couples should reproduce and want to reproduce remains widespread
around the world, specifically in Asian countries like Philippines. Childlessness may be
considered deviant behavior in marriage and this may lead to adverse effects on the relationship
of the couple, as well as their individual identities when pertaining to the lack of children being
involuntary.
According to L. Lechner, C. Bolman, and A. Van Dalen (2006), people trying to cope
with involuntary childlessness may experience symptoms of distress that are similar to those
experienced by bereaved people, such as health problems, anxiety and depression. Also,
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childlessness has varied consequences through its effects on societies and on the lifestyles and
life chances of individuals.
In definition of being “Childfree” Joshua M. Gold (2012), stated that individuals in
childfree families is defined as individuals who neither have nor desire to have children. This is
also known as childless by choice. This term is a modification of the older usage of ‘‘childless,’’
which included those individuals who did want to have children but were unable to do so.
On the other hand, Dr. Furnham, (2015), early studies made various distinctions. It is
estimated around a third of childless/free adults to be early articulators: those who make the
decision independently and early in life, perhaps even in childhood. They are more likely to
show a stronger commitment to remaining childless. The label of postponers was given to those
who decide later in life – people who may have assumed they would have children one day but
postpone the decision and eventually decide not to.
According to F. Van Balen and W. Bos (2009), “Approximately 70-80 million couples
worldwide are currently infertile and it can be estimated that tens of millions of couples are
primary infertile or childless. For most people, having children is immensely important; not
being able to have children is a major life problem. A considerable body of research in Western
countries has shown that involuntary childlessness has strong psychological impact. The most
frequently mentioned effects are distress, raised depression and anxiety levels, lowered self-
esteem, feelings of blame and guilt, somatic complaints, and reduced sexual interest.
Hodgekiss (2013), stated that men without children are more likely to suffer depression
about the issue than their female counterparts. British researchers found that men are almost as
likely as women to want children, and they feel more isolated, depressed, angry and sad than
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women if they don't have them. The research, due to be presented at the British Sociological
Association annual conference in London , also found out that the influences on men and women
who wanted to have children varied. Childless women were more likely to cite personal desire
and biological urge as major influences compared to men. Men were more likely to cite cultural,
societal and family pressures than were women. However, no men had experienced guilt because
they did not have any children although 16 percent of women had.
According to Dr. Gaither (2015), in the past, a child-free lifestyle was often a political decision
for many couples. During the 1950s and 1960s, many couples chose this because they feared a nuclear
holocaust. By the 1970s, the issue of overpopulation became the motivating factor for the choice. For
example, research at Cornell University recently concluded that the world's population must be
reduced from its estimated six billion to roughly two billion by the year 2100. However, population
predictions for that year, given current fertility trends, are for roughly 15 billion. Once we factor in
available natural resources, energy reserves, and arable land, a world population of that size would
throw the majority of individuals living at that time into "absolute misery, poverty, disease, and
starvation.”
According to Prof. D. Schneider (2015), the one mistake people can make is to think that
having children will somehow make them happy or fulfilled. That does work for some couples,
but only those in the "right" frame of mind. Having children is not about what it does for parents,
and for those who value their freedom and abilities to spend money as they wish, to travel, etc.
may well be happier without kids. The culture tends to preach that not having children
(deliberately) is selfish, but a better way to look at it is that people understand themselves and
their values, and act accordingly -perhaps preferring what they are as opposed to the
uncertainties of children. Children can bring real joy to a couple, but that's not the purpose of
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having them. Only if a couple is willing to make a real commitment sometimes to sacrifice their
own needs for their children's, of course, that in it can be a learning experience.
According to Barbara Fletcher (2014), “It’s a tough thing to say out loud: I’m a happy
non-mom. I grew up in an era where life’s end goal was to find wedded bliss and have a family,
and an awkward procreation question can still surface when meeting new people at parties.
Being a non-mom can feel peculiar when 99 percent of your friends are parents — and really
great ones: the kind of attentive, loving moms and dads who pour all of their energy into making
their children’s lives enriched and, well, pretty damned amazing. I suspect that I’m the kind of
person that married parents might not want to hear about: married, on the other side of 40,
childless and happy. Not happy because I am childless, but happy in my childless life.”
Conceptual Framework
This study was anchored to the concept of marriage by Rahim Shinwari (2011).
According to him, marriage is the approved social pattern whereby two to more persons establish
a family. It involves not only the right to conceive and rear children, but also a host of other
obligation and privileges affecting a good many people. Shinwari also said that one of the major
functions of marriage is procreation of children, may it be legitimate or adopted. Shinwari also
proposed that without these functions our whole social system would fail and would result in
many social problems. Then marriage alone has helped in maintaining high moral standards of
which any society can really feel proud.
The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of childless couples. The
whole process of data collection started with the listing of childless couples and getting the
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informants’ permission to participate. In order to achieve the goal, the researchers needed to
gather data from the informants through a face-to-face interview and recorded accounts of
experiences simultaneously. The informants were asked one grand question followed by follow-
up questions. Through the gathered data, experiences of childless couples were extracted and
through this data, the goal of the study was concluded.

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Lived Experiences of Childless

Couples will be explored then data
will be gathered through the
Validated Questionnaire Interview
Guide.
Answered will be gathered through

face-to-face interview and recorded
accounts of experience
simultaneously
The Grand Question will be asked,

and follow-up questions will be
asked afterwards
Experiences of Childless Couples
Figure 1 Flow Chart of the Study

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Statement of the purpose
The study explores the life of a childless couple.
Assumptions
The following assumptions are formulated by the researchers for the study: (1) The
researchers assumed that childless couples have varied experiences in their years of childless
relationship (2) The informants will respond to the interview questions in an honest manner. (3)
The inclusion criteria of the sample are appropriate and therefore, assure the informants have
experienced the same or similar phenomenon of the study.
Significance of the Study
This study is useful to the following group of people.
Informants. This study opens up an opportunity to reach out to the childless couples who needs
guidance and understanding. It serves as a gateway to express their concerns and possibly seek
emotional support.
Fellow Childless Couples. This study will let other childless couples know that they are not
alone and that other couples with the same case as them may also be experiencing the same
concerns. This gives those couples the sense of comfort and lessens the societal pressure they
have been experiencing.
Psychologists. This study is beneficial to the psychology society because it can help them
acquire ideas on how to tackle such case in their future clinical encounters, and family married
counseling sessions.
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Public/Community. This study raises awareness towards public about the existing situation of
childless couples. This helps the society to have a better understanding and establish acceptance
to the childless couples.
Future Researchers. This study can serve as source of information for future researchers’
studies.
Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study was focused on the lived experiences of childless couples. The research was
scope only to the childless couples from Claver, Province of Surigao del Norte. The researchers
limit the informants to five couples. Lastly, informants have to be childless for at least half a
decade or more. The study was conducted within the scope of Claver, Surigao del Norte,
Philippines culture and was applied best to people following the same culture and or to other
countries with somewhat similar culture as Philippines. The study only had 5 informants so there
was a chance that the information gathered may or may not coincide with the whole population.
Although stated during interview, any information not related to the topic will not be taken into
account.
Definition of Terms
Childless Couples. Two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship
people but do not have any children (Longman Dictionary). In this study, the informants are the
childless couples. They are the main source of information for this study.
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Infertility. Refers to inability to reproduce not able to reproduce not able to produce children
(Longman Dictionary). In this study, infertility refers to the type of childless couples chosen as
informants, also known as involuntary childlessness.

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CHAPTER II
METHODOLOGY
This chapter shows and presents the research method, informants, research instrument,
research procedure, and data analysis.
Research Design
This study utilizes the qualitative research-design. Specifically, Giorgi’s (2003),
descriptive phenomenological research design. The researchers found this method appropriate
because this study aims to explore the life of childless couples in Claver, Surigao del Norte.
The approach of Giorgi’s (2003), descriptive phenomenology is descriptive- reflective.
The approach begins with expression and description by the childless couples of their lived
experience so that they share phenomenal story, according to Giorgi “life text” can be created.
Informants
The informants of this study are the selected childless couples- wife and husband in the
Municipality of Claver. In this study five informants were selected through purposive sampling.
The informants must be married for at least half a decade. Purposive sampling relies in the
judgment of the researchers when it comes to selecting informants.
Instrument
The source of the data for this study is the interview process consisting of the face-to-face
interview and the recorded accounts of life experiences. In gathering the pertinent information
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about the informants, a researcher-made interview guide which consist of a grand tour question
and follow up questions. The researchers made an interview guide that has beene validated by
the experts in the field of Psychology.
Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers have sent a letter of consent to the Dean of College of Health and
Sciences to conduct the study outside of the school premises. Next, letters of permission were
given to the childless couples. Upon approval, the researchers have personally administered the
questionnaires. The researchers used an audio and a video recorder during interview. During the
interview the researchers have been as non-directive as possible. On the first meeting, the
researchers made sure to get all the data that will answer the questions of the study. The
succeeding meetings were used for some clarifications and verifications of the researcher with
regards to the answers of the informants. The researchers made it to a point that the informants
have answered the questionnaire honestly and sincerely.
Data Collection
Interview Process
Face-to-face Interview & Recorded

Accounts of Experience
Figure 2: Data Gathering Procedure Model

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Collect Data through Interview
Psychological Transformed Meaning Units of Informants
Concept analyzed from the Psychological Transformed Meaning Units
Categories from the Concepts of the Informants' ExperiencePsychological

Transformed Meaning Units of Informantss
Themes
Figure 3: Flowchart of the Procedure

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Data Analysis
The researchers will use Giorgi’s (2003), descriptive phenomenological approach in
interpreting the data with these steps:
First step is to read the entire description in order to get the sense of the whole statement
by each informant. The researchers will thoroughly read the entire data to gain the sense of the
whole phenomenological perspective.
Second step is dividing the description: Establishing meaning units. The researchers will
discriminate the different unit or blocks that express a self-content meaning. The units will
divide by looking at the different key terms, aspects, attitudes or values that the researchers
expresses in the description. In this way, the researchers will be aware of the changes in topics
and meanings in the descriptions.
Third step is transforming the meaning units into a more psychological sensitive
expression. The researchers will state their own language in a simplified form. Using a mode of
psychological sensitivity means that the researchers intend to locate and elucidate the
psychological meanings content in the data.
The fourth and last step is determining the structure. The purpose of this procedure is
grounded in the phenomenological concept of parts and wholes. The constituents are to be
determined by viewing the transformations of all of the informants for the convergent meanings.
Still using imaginative variation, the researchers sees the shared meanings of the informants
pertaining to their general psychological consistencies.

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Read the entire description in order to get the

sense of the whole statement by each
informant
Establish meaning units
Transform the meaning units into a more

psychological sensitive expression
Determining the structure
Figure 4: Flowchart of the Analysis

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Ethical Consideration
The researchers came up with this set of guidelines to ensure the privacy of the
informants. It will help secure the relationship between the researchers and the informants. The
following are the ethical considerations:
The researchers will give a formal letter to the informants to certify that they are willing
to be part of the study, and that they were eager to answer questions regarding the research
matter.
The researchers will assure that the informants will not disclose informations to other
people, and that it will only reflect on the research paper and other research activities.
The researchers will ask permission to the informants to record the session so that the
data will be concrtete.
The researchers will respect the emotions of the informants and will not discriminate the
status of their relationship.
The informants’ privacy will be protected and respected by the researchers. All
information about the informants will be kept confidential. The informants will feel free to
answer and comfortable throughout the conversation in answering the questions honestly and
clearly.
All recorded data exposing the identity of the informants except pictures may not be
shown to anyone except the researcher upon requested by the informants to minimize the
exposure of their identity thus, maintaining confidentiality. Gathered data that do not coincide
with the main purpose of the study may not be included in the data analysis.
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CHAPTER III
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter presents the results and discussions of this study. Results of the
analysis offer realizations about the lived experiences of the informants as childless couples
synthesized through a matrix showing their live experiences.
Lived Experiences of the Informants
Giorgi’s (2003) phenomenological research methodology serves as the foundation
in the analysis of the data derived from the informants involving the four key steps. Moreover,
the categories had been determined to come up with a theme. All transcriptions were read
throroughly by the researcher to be submerged with the informants’ feelings. Significant
meaning units were extracted from the incidents relevant to the research phenomena. In addition,
concepts were constructed from the psychological meaning units and were arranged into
categories which then developed into themes. The results were incorporated into a rich and
exhaustive description of the informants’ experiences as to the use of the program.
From the interview transcripts or incidents, 244 meaning units were extracted
from the childless couples which evolved into the development of meaning units reflecting the
life of the informants. From these psychological meaning units, 32 concepts, 17 categories, and 7
themes were drawn from the informants’ narrative data (see Appendix H). Table 1 below
presents sample concept, categories and themes.

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Table 1. Concepts, Categories and Themes Derived from the informants’ Transcription
REFERENCE PSYCHOLOGICAL
NUMBER TRANSFORED CONCEPTS CATEGORIES THEME
MEANING UNITS
G3 G is affected by CHALLENGES:
seeing her pregnant Experiencing Undergoing
colleagues difficulties as a Struggles trials and
G4 G is jealous of her childless problems in the
pregnant colleagues couple life of
childlessness
The concepts describe explicitly the life of childless couples. It shows the lived
experience of childless couples. It illuminates the experiences of informants, the childless
couples, about how their condition affects their relationship. It can also uncover their personal
feelings when they experience struggles.
Moreover, experiencing difficulties and struggle in entering a childless life will
show that it is not easy and that is the time for them to realized that they need to work harder in
preserving their sworn relationship. Table 1, illustrates the sample of the first emergent theme
surfaced from different categories, concepts and meaning units (see Appendix H).
Table 2. Theme 1. CHALLENGES: Undergoing trials and problems in the life of childlessness;
Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G3 G is affected by
seeing her pregnant
colleagues
G4 G is jealous of her CHALLENGES:
pregnant colleagues Experiencing Undergoing
G11 G experienced that on difficulties as a Struggles trials and
the first 5 years of childless problems in the
their marriage couple life of
A6 A is jealous because childlessness
of fear of losing his
wife
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A18 A thinks jealousy is

their only issue
B36 B doesn’t want to
adopt
O10 O is worried about
their future as
childless couples
N1 N was lonely for not Experiencing
having children difficulties as a Struggles
N58 N pity themselves childless
N38 N’s effort were in couple
vain
N23 N longs to have
children
N27 N is concerned of not
having a successor to
their wealth
N28 N prefers having their
own children over
nephews and nieces CHALLENGES:
N31 N once thought of Undergoing
adopting a relative trials and
G2 G anticipated to be problems in the
pregnant in their early life of
years of marriage childlessness
G5 G thought she was
pregnant because of
the symptoms
G10 G kept her
miscaculation from
her colleagues to
avoid mockery
G25 G’s goal of having 5
children was never Being drawn to Trials
accomplished false hope
A21 A recieved the good
news
A28 A’s wife’s pregnancy
led to miscarriage
B9 B explains how many
times his wife has
experienced
miscarriage
N17 N experienced failure
and tried again
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N18 N’s last attempt was

16 years ago
N19 N’s doctor jokengly Being drawn to
expressed the bad false hope
news
G14 G started losing hope
for pregnancy after
her operation on her
right ovary
G16 G thinks she is not
fertile enough
G18 G encountered
another problem 9
years after her last
operation
G20 G found out from her
Dr. About the her
condition
G21 G underwent surgery CHALLENGES:
against her will for Experiencing Undergoing
the removal of her medical trials and
uterus problems snd Trials problems in the
G49 G’s condition is not seeking for life of
their choice remedy childlessness
A22 A explains each
others condition
B2 B also points the
blame to medicines
taken when
experiencing body
pain
B4 B thinks that
medicine directly
affects pregnancy
B6 B thinks that fatigue
is not the excuse
B7 B thinks that
miscarriage is caused
by the entrance of
external heat into the
womb
B8 B thinks that a
stopper cannot shield
the body from heat
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N5 N and her husband

both have problems
N6 Mr. N has low sperm
count
N7 Mrs. N has irregular
menstrual cycle
N8 N have no children
because of that reason
N11 N’s first hospital visit Experiencing
did them no good medical
N12 N’s second hospital problems snd
still can’t help them seeking for
with their case remedy
N13 After a month there,
they still haven’t got
the result they want to
hear
N14 2 year of waiting and
they still got no good
news
N15 N is down to their last CHALLENGES:
resort Undergoing
N16 N underwent trials and
Artificial Trials problems in the
insemination. life of
N57 N feels like an outcast childlessness
in family gathering
because of being
childless
G27 G was introduced to
adoption and recieved
an offer
G29 G recieved another
offer of adoption
from Cantilan
B33 B hears rumors about Societal
his condition pressure
O4 O is experiencing
societal pressure
G41 G recieved an offer of

adoption for the last
time but she refused
because of her age
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N21 N encountered an
opportunity to resort
to adoption
N50 N experienced societal
pressure
N54 N experienced being
mocked by other
people
N22 N thinks they are
obliged to adopt
A14 A’s wife was affected
by rumors
B35 B is emotional
towards negative Trials
rumors Societal
B36 B thinks rumors make pressure
them look like
failures because of
their condition
N45 N is challenged by CHALLENGES:
societal pressure Undergoing
chose to accept it than trials and
to feel stressed. problems in the
N48 Society thinks that N life of
prioritized their house childlessness
N51 N hides their true
feeling in front of
other people
N52 N thinks people
wouldn’t understand
their shortcomings
N53 N want to keep some
things private
A48 A questions the
choice of childfree
couples
B1 B points the blame on
cooking bingka
Being
B16 B states that their first
defensive,
and second child have
indenial, and
the same fate Denial
negligent
B31 B is worried for the
expense of having her
wife’s uterus cleaned
O6 O didn’t try other
ways to have a child
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Table 2 shows Theme 1: CHALLENGES: Undergoing trials and problems in the life of
childlessness. This theme was formulated based from the categories struggles, trials, and denial.
The childless couples’ response said based from the raw data presented in the appendix E that
they experienced difficulties in their life as childless couples and encountered struggles, trials,
and developed certain defense mechanism to protect themselves and pressures. Table 2,
illustrates the sample of the first emergent theme surfaced from different categories, concepts,
and meaning units (see Appendix H).
Struggles define as exerting a continuous effort in facing difficulties and challenges in
being childless.
“Our experiences… at first, in the first few years of our marriage, I said to myself that I
will get pregnant. Then, whenever I see my colleagues getting pregnant, I often pity
myself. I often think, “Why just them?” I did my best, and even have regular consultation
with my doctor yet I still can’t get pregnant.” G2-G4
“The only factor that causes conflict between us is jealousy since we don’t have children.
Before, I get jealous maybe because I’m afraid of losing her.” A4-A6
“I told her, “What a waste! 4 months? 3 months? It’s also because of the medicine. I can’t
do anything, I would not force he anyways. B28-B29
“We were just waiting patiently, that someday, God will allow us to have one. We also
want to have children… Being childless has sometimes affected our relationship.” O7-O9
“When we think about our past experiences, it was lonely because we were not able to
conceive a child. It was sad to think that we don’t have someone to play with. We were
very determined to bear a child.” N1-N3

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Sally Robertson, BSc (2015) stated that infertility has many potential causes, which may
involve the man, the woman or both partners. In some cases, no cause of the problem can be
determined, in which case the infertility is described as “unexplained.” Of the causes that are
known, the most common among women are irregular ovulation, endometriosis and blockage of
the fallopian tubes. Among men, the most common cause is a sperm disorder.
Infertility represents a major crisis for most couples, with both partners experiencing loss
in ways that affect them as individuals, as family members and as members of society as a
whole. Examples of these losses include: Loss of the experience of pregnancy and birth; Loss of
opportunity to pass on family genetics; Loss of chance to contribute to the next generation; Loss
of chance to parent or become a grandparent; Low self-worth and self-esteem; Loss of family
stability; Loss of sense of control over destiny; Loss of sense of hope for the future; and Loss of
work productivity
Infertility can have a highly negative impact on self-esteem, with individuals who
previously had successful and well-planned lives, suddenly feeling they have lost control of their
destiny. A combination of the body failing to respond as expected, a sense that life has been put
on hold and having to face the disappointment of failure to conceive month after month, can
leave both partners at an increased risk of depression.
Table 3. Theme 2. DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their needs as a

childless couple; Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
TRANSFORED MEANING
NUMBER UNITS CONCEPTS CATEGORIES THEME
B20 B thinks that their Blaming the DISCORD:
relationship was circumstance Lacking of
affected by their each other for the Conflicts agreement in terms
condition discord of the of handling their
relationship needs as a childless
B22 B puts the blame on
couple
his wife
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B23 B thinks his body is

on a better shape than
his wife
B24 B thinks his job is
more important than
his wife
B25 B thinks that his
wife’s work is not
hard
B26 B thinks his wife
prefers working
which he thinks is the
result of her
miscarriage
B27 B points out the Blaming the DISCORD:
number of circumstance Lacking of
miscarriages his wife each other for the Conflicts agreement in
underwent discord of the terms of handling
B28 B continues to scold relationship their needs as a
his wife and once childless couple
again blames the
medicine
B29 B thinks he is not
forceful
B30 B thinks that her wife
already lost hope
because of her uterus’
condition
B32 B always warns her
wife but her wife is
stubborn
O9 O thinks that being
childless affects their
relationship
A4 A and his wife
sometime have
conflicts concerning
jealousy
A8 A’s wife also
experienced being the
jelous one Jealousy
A9 A confronts his wife
and questions her
jealousy
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A11 A still gets jealous

even after 5 years of Jealousy
marriage
A13 A’s wife became the
jealous one
G44 G seemed unaware of
her husband’s
faithfulness Doubt
G53 G is somehow
doubtful
N24 N is doubtful
G28 G’s husband dislikes
the idea of adoption
G30 G’s husband is
skeptical towards the Conflicts
idea of adoption and Conflict of
continue to reject it desires
G34 G stays positive and
tried to convince her
husband
G6 G believed she is CHALLENGES:
pregnant and acted Undergoing trials
accordingly and problems in
A31 A isn’t aware of how the life of
other people handle Misunderstanding childlessness
their relationship
N47 N thinks people don’t
understand their
situation
A25 A regrets his
condition Regret
A29 A is full of dismay
G8 G denied her
colleague’s claim
B10 B defends himself
from blame
B13 B thinks that t he’s Denial Self-
not the dysfunctional preservation
one acts
B14 N exclaims how
potent he is
B21 B is worried for their Worrying for the
future future
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Table 3 shows Theme 2: DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their
needs as a childless couple. This theme was formulated based from the categories conflicts, and
self- preservation acts. These two categories conflict, and self- preservation acts were
experienced and portrayed by the childless couples and resulted to discord. Table 3, illustrates
the sample of the second emergent theme surfaced from different categories, concepts and
meaning units (see Appendix H).
Conflicts were behaviors that lead to argument because of strong disagreement of
something, the reason of having conflicts of the childless couples was discord or lack of
agreement in small issues like jealousy, etc.
“But my husband was quite picky. He said, “I don’t like those kids because we don’t
know their background.” but my husband told me, “Let’s pass Ding, who knows which
bloodline that child came from, for all we know that kid might be from the bloodline of
crazy people.” We wouldn’t know. I tried to convince him that it’s a case to case bases. I
don’t know about my husband. I don’t know for certain.”G28,G30,G34,G44,G53
“The only factor that causes conflict between us is jealousy. since we don’t have
children. Her jealousy may be fueled by other people’s rumors saying I should just find
another woman or resort to adoption if my wife couldn’t provide me a child” A4-A5, A14
“It’s not my fault, it’s hers. I told her, “What a waste! 4 months? 3 months? It’s also
because of the medicine.” B10-B28
28
Lise Brix (2014) stated that when couples go to fertility treatment, they usually come
with a burning desire to have a baby. If this wish cannot be fulfilled, the couple has a far greater
risk of becoming divorced than couples whose fertility treatment results in baby, according to a
new study of 47,515 Danish women in fertility treatment. The new study shows that childless
couples have an increased risk of leaving each other up to 12 years after they first contacted a
doctor to be evaluated for fertility problems.
Sally Robertson, BSc (2015) stated that Infertility generally refers to a failure to become
pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The clinical definition of “regular”
intercourse is every two to three days.
After one year of regular sex, approximately 84% of couples will have conceived
naturally, with this figure rising to 92% after two years and to 93% after three years. After three
years of not conceiving, the likelihood of a couple achieving pregnancy in the following year
falls to 25% or less. About one in seven couples in the UK have difficulty conceiving, which
translates as 3.5 million people.
Table 4. Theme 3. ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take challenges through attuning with each other;
MEANING UNITS
G22 G finally gave up and
face the truth
G26 G’s wish ended there
G23 G has no regrets and Accepting ACCEPTANCE:
kept her faith strong failure and Willing to take
G37 G gave up on problems in Endure challenges
adoption and resorted the relationship through attuning
to taking care of their with each other
nephews and nieces
G39 G lost all hope and just
let time to pass by
29
G40 G reached the

menoposal age and
finally stopped
G42 G explains that she
can no longer handle
the role of a full time
parent
G51 G is not guilty
G56 G thinks that wives
like her didn’t chose
to be in that condition
B17 B gave up and
resorted to searching
for a job
B18 B and his wife
decided to stop trying
after 9 years
B19 B thinks that any
further attempt would
only result to
miscarriage
B42 B thinks it’s better to
accept the inevitable Accepting
if it is God’s will failure and ACCEPTANCE:
N20 N finally stopped problems in Willing to take
N40 N accepted the truth the relationship Endure challenges
N41 N thinks that you through attuning
won’t be happy if you with each other
won’t accept the truth
N44 N accepts that
everything is
according to God’s
will
face the truth
G39 G lost all hope and
just let time to pass
by
G40 G reached the
menoposal age and
finally stopped
parent
30

only result to
miscarriage
accept the inevitable
if it is God’s will
N40 N accepted the truth
N41 N thinks that you
won’t be happy if you
won’t accept the truth Accepting
N44 N accepts that failure and
everything is problems in
according to God’s the relationship Endure
will
N63 N thinks that if you
can’t accept the truth,
you can’t be truly
happy
A7 A realized that he
musn’t be jelous
considering the
faithfulness of his
wife ACCEPTANCE:
A47 A respects the Willing to take
individuality of other challenges
people through attuning
N43 N thinks that if it is with each other
not given to them, it
is not meant to be.
can’t accept the truth, Adjusting for
you can’t be truly each other’s Flexibility
happy sake
N70 N respects the
childfree couples’
choices
G23 G has no regrets and
kept her faith strong
G51 G is not guilty
31
musn’t be jelous
considering the
faithfulness of his
wife
A47 A respects the
individuality of other
people
B18 B and his wife Adjusting for
decided to stop trying each other’s
after 9 years sake
N43 N thinks that if it is ACCEPTANCE:
not given to them, it Flexibility Willing to take
is not meant to be. challenges
N70 N respects the through attuning
childfree couples’ with each other
choices
G37 G gave up on
adoption and resorted
to taking care of their Resorting to
nephews and nieces other options
B17 B gave up and
for a job
Table 4 shows Theme 3: ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take challenges through attuning
with each other. This theme was formulated based from the categories endure, and flexibility.
These two categories endure and flexibility transpired in the life of childless couples in their
acceptance. Table 5 illustrates the sample of the third emergent theme surfaced from different
categories; concepts and meaning units (see Appendix H).
Acceptance defines as an agreeing either expressive or by conduct to an act so that a
relationship is concluded and the parties become legally bound.
“That’s when I finally gave up, because no matter what I say, it’s impossible to bear a
child without a uterus. So that was it, but I wasn’t regretful though, because I wasn’t my
decision to not have children - it’s God’s will.” G22-G23

32
“but then I realized, “why would I be jealous when her faithfulness is obvious and
prominent?” In my part, It doesn’t affect our relationship because we accepted the reality
of our situation.” A7-N40
“We’ve tried many ways for her to get pregnant. But as much as possible do your best
and take case of yourselves.” B12, B44
“Our way of coping up is to appreciate each other. Although we don’t have children, we
want to stay together.” O2-O3
Neff and Beretvas (2012) stressed that self-compassionate individuals can to a large
extent meet needs for comfort, kindness, and belonging. They should be more able to grant their
partners more freedom in their relationship without being overly controlling. At the same time,
the open-hearted, connected stance of self-compassion should facilitate the display of caring
actions toward relationship partners. Compassionate acceptance of the imperfect human
experience should also soften defensive tendencies, allowing for greater mutual acceptance
within romantic relationship.
One person alone cannot make a relationship work. Both partners have to want it
to work and be willing to work on it. Each must have the same goal and each must try to achieve
that goal. On must allow each other to grow and change and not restrictions or rules on each
other to force acceptance or one’s own principles or beliefs. Partners must accept one another “as
is” and leave room for growth or change.

33
Table 5. Theme 4. CONQUER: Surmounting problems through asking God’s guidance and
doing their best by facing the challenges; Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the
Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G17 G believes in God’s
will
A38 A advices to pray
everyday
A39 A surrenders their
fate to God and wants
to resort to taking
care of their nephew
and nieces
A41 A thinks prayer is
essential despite the Praying to God Praying to God
condition
O11 O advises couples
like them to just pray
O14 O believes that CONQUER:
everything is Surmounting
according to God’s problems
plan through asking
N30 N thinks everything is God’s
according to God’s guidance and
plan doing their
G13 G still waited best by facing
G12 G remained hopeful the challenges
and waited Staying hopeful
A26 A’s doctor convinced and patient
them to never lose
faith
G15 G found hope when Patience
she knew she can still
get pregnant with just
one ovary Perseverance
A19 A tried their best
A33 A and his wife strived
even more
G50 G thinks that if they

chose to be childfree, Overcome trials Overcome
they would feel guilty
34
A27 A and his wife finally

succeeded in
concieving a child Overcome trials
B34 B proclaims the
rumors to be fake CONQUER:
B39 B advices that they Surmounting
should prioritize their problems
well-being Overcome through asking
B40 B thinks the wife God’s
should take care of guidance and
themselves more doing their
B41 B thinks unnecessary Taking care of best by facing
drinking medicine, self the challenges
and exposure to stress
should be avoided
O5 O didn’t mind the
pressure they are
experiencing
Table 5 shows Theme 4: CONQUER: Surmounting problems through asking God’s
guidance and doing their best by facing the challenges. This theme was formulated based from
the categories praying to God, patience, and overcome. The three categories according to the
childless couples were modes of surmounting hardships that comes along their lives. Overcome
is to successfully deal with something difficult. Table 5 illustrates the sample of fourth emergent
theme surfaced from different categories; concepts and meaning units (see Appendix H).
Conquer defines as surpassing successfully a problem particularly a product of
consciousness from experiences.
For the next 6-10 years… I was still hopeful of getting pregnant, I still waited.That’s it, I
still waited. But they say that, women can still get regnant even with just one functioning
ovary. This aside, I still believe that if it is God’s will that I get pregnant, then I will.
G12-G13, G15, G17

35
“The doctor told us to never lose faith and always pray. And so around 2016 we were
finally able to conceive a child.” A26-A27
“We were pressured by the people around us, but we didn't mind them.” What can we do
if God still won’t give it to us? O4-O5, N30
Noreen Mokuau (1991) reiterated that Filipinos have a deep faith in God and an innate
religiosity that enables them to accept reality in terms of God’s will. This faith can be seen in
their ability to accept failure without their sense of self being destroyed. Filipino faith related to
the concept of “bahala na,” which tends to be incorrectly equated with an “expression of
fatalism” and “resignation to faith”
Mokuau (1991) stated that the Filipino sense of joy and humor is evident in their
optimistic approach to life and its travails. Being able to laugh at themselves and their
predicament is an important coping mechanism for Filipinos. The result is emotional balance,
adaptability, and creativity was manifested in Filipinos’ ability to adjust to circumstances and to
the physical and social environment.
Table 6. Theme 5. COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through spending time with
each other and helping one another and sticking to their goal; Concepts, Categories, and
Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G45 G is confident of her COMMITMENT:
faithfulness Building a strong
G48 G did not give in to Avoiding relationship
the temptation of cheating through spending
cheating time with each
A17 A is not affected by Faithfulness other and helping
rumors one another and
A2 A doesn’t consider Loving the partner sticking to their
money as a thing to despite the goal
circumstances
argue about
36
O13 O advices other

couples to stay Loving the partner Faithfulness
despite the
together despite the circumstances
circumstances
G24 G dreamed of having
at least 5 children
G47 G never gave up until
the very end Trying to
A34 A constantly reminds conceive a
himself of their child as much
condition as they can
B12 B have tried many
ways to get her wife
pregnant
G19 G had annual
checkup with Dr.
Abalos
A20 A went to cebu for
checkup
N4 N underwent medical COMMITMENT:
checkup to determine Building a strong
the problem relationship
N10 N have visited several Seeking for through spending
hospital medical help Decisiveness time with each
N33 N seek for advice other and helping
N34 N resorts to other one another and
options sticking to their
N35 N underwent work- goal
out session by their
OB
N36 N Tried artificial
insemination once
more
G61 G thinks that the
essence of getting
married is having
children
G60 G thinks that the Strong belief
children are the and relationship
family’s happiness
G31 G is positive
G58 G thinks that
childfree couples are
self-centered and
wouldn’t share their
blessings
37
A49 A thinks that children

should be considered
treasures
B11 B and his wife had
been married for 17
years
B43 B thinks that if there
is a chance they
should never stop
trying
O3 O hopes that they
won’t get separated
despite being
childless
O17 O hopes that childfree
couples would dream
to have children
because O thinks that COMMITMENT:
children can give Building a strong
happiness unlike any relationship
other Strong belief through spending
N9 By that time, N has and relationship Decisiveness time with each
been married for 15 other and helping
years one another and
N60 N thinks that to sticking to their
become a parent, goal
having children is
highly required
N61 N realized the need to
have children later in
their lives
N64 N thinks that a couple
should do their best to
conceive a child
N65 N thinks that the
purpose of marriage
is having a child
N66 N thinks that to get
married is to see your
offspring
N67 N thinks that couples

should try there best
from the beginning of
their marriage
38

earlier they try, the
earlier they’ll see
their children Strong belief
N71 N thinks that being and relationship
childfree is not right
N72 N thinks that the main
point to getting COMMITMENT:
married is building a Building a strong
family relationship
O7 O is still waiting until Decisiveness through spending
God grants them time with each
children other and helping
O8 O wants to have one another and
children sticking to their
N2 N wants to have goal
children to play with
N3 N tried their best to Strong desires
have children
N42 N tried hard to
conceive a child
N59 N dreams of having
children
Table 6 shows 5: COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through spending time
with each other and helping one another and sticking to their goal. This theme was formulated
based from the categories faithfulness, and decisiveness. The category faithfulness was used I
terms of avoiding the act of cheating or giving in to temptation. Decisiveness is the commitment
to their duty as a couple to build what they believe is an acceptable form of relationship; it also
refers to doing their best and never giving up. Table 6 illustrates the samples of the fifth
emergent theme surfaced from different categories; concepts and meaning units (see Appendix
H).
Commitment defined as a promise to be loyal to someone and the attitude of someone
who works very hard to do or support something.

39
“Some couples are prone to temptations leading to cheating fueled by the urge to have
children, but in our case in God’s mercy we did not end up like them. Despite being
childless, we haven’t resorted to cheating.” G46-G48
“We tried our best to conceive a child. Yes, we even went to Cebu for check-up.” A19-
A20
Miller (2011) stated that commitment is enhanced when individuals experience
relationship satisfaction, and is increase when individual invest important or numerous resources
in the relationship. One such resource is the amount of time that the partners have devoted to the
relationship.
Mokauau (1991) emphasized that for Filipinos, the family is the source of one’s personal
identity and emotional support and is the focus of one’s primary duty and commitment.
Table 7. Theme 6. SATISFACTION: Accepting the situation of being a childless couple in order
to be contented; Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
A30 A’s relationship
wasn’t affected by
their condition
Staying strong
A36 A’s sex life wasn’t
affected by their
condition SATISFACTION:
A43 A advices to just love Self- Accepting the
their partners and stay awareness situation of being
together Contentment a childless couple
O2 O prefers in order to be
understanding in their contented
relationship
N49 N didn’t mind the Understanding
pressure since they each other’s
did their best flaws
40
N55 N knows what they Understanding

went through more each other’s Contentment SATISFACTION:
than anyone else flaws Accepting the
A35 A prepared for their situation of being
future a childless couple
A40 A thinks that their Future in order to be
nephew and nieces preparedness Preparedness contented
can help them in the
future
Table 7 shows Theme 6: SATISFACTION: Accepting the situation of being a childless
couple in order to be contented. This theme was formulated based from the categories
contentment, preparedness. The category contentment refers to how the couples cope from their
loss by being happy of what they have, thus being contented. Preparedness refers to how the
childless couples worries about their future thus plans ahead and visualize what to expect
considering their condition. Table 7 illustrates the sample of the sixth emergent theme surfaced
from different categories; concepts and meaning units (see Appendix H).
Satisfaction defined as the act of providing what is needed or desired. In this study it
meant being contented of what they have by looking on the bright side.
“Being childless hasn’t really affected our relationship,” A30
“Our sex life hasn’t been affected too.” A36
If it really is God’s will for you to not be able to have children, then you should just take
care of your nephews/nieces instead.” A39
“Our way of coping up is to appreciate each other.” O2
“But we didn’t mind it, we’ll just try our best.” N49
41
Cordova et al., (2005) stressed that due to high relationship satisfaction typical for both
partners to disclose to each other emotionally, to trust and share emotional pain with each other,
are able to communicate to their needs, and have a feeling of being understood in relationship.
Sprecher & Hendrick (2004) emphasized that relationship satisfaction can also be
measured by the emotional disclosure within the relationship. Self-disclosure is the process of
telling another about one’s intimate feelings, attitudes and experiences.
Table 8. Theme 7. LOVE: Cultivating a deeper sense of intimacy; Concepts, Categories, and
Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G52 G is relieved to think
that her husband is Staying
Strong
faithful faithful to
relationship
A1 A rarely agues with each other
his wife
G55 G thinks that
childless couples like LOVE:
them should Cultivating a
understand each other deeper sense of
A24 A and his wife are intimacy
meant for each other
A32 A’s relationship stood Understanding
Bonding
strong each other
A44 A thinks whoever
rettires first can take
care of the other
O16 O respects the choice
of other couples to
stay childless
Table 8 shows Theme 7: LOVE: Cultivating a deeper sense of intimacy. This theme was
formulated based from the categories strong relationship, and bonding. These two categories
strong relationship and bonding were two fundamental attributes in love. Strong relationship is
the way two people were strongly connected. Bonding is developing a close emotional
42
connection with another person. Table 8 illustrates the samples of the seventh theme surfaced
from different categories, concepts and meaning units (see Appendix H).
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection that is hard to sum up in word. It can also be
great interest and pleasure in something.
“For other childless couples with the same situation as us, all I could say is… please
understand each other.” G55
“Our experiences as a childless couple? My wife and I never really quarrel and we don’t
argue about money matters.” A1
“We’re unfortunately meant for each other.” A24
Mokuau (1991) stressed that the family orientation of Filipinos is evident in their
possesions of a deep and sincere love for not only spouse, children, parents, and siblings but also
for other relatives such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Concerns for one’s family is
expressed in the honor and respects bestowed on parents and other relatives, the care provided
for children, and the sacrifices that one is willing to endure for the family.
43
Table 9. Thematic Map of the Study Emerged from the Emergent Themes
Themes Categories
Theme 1: CHALLENGES: Undergoing STRUGGLES
trials and problems in the life of TRIALS
childlessness DENIAL
Theme 2: DISCORD: Lacking of agreement

CONFLICTS
in terms of handling their needs as a
SELF-PRESERVATION ACTS
childless couple
Theme 3: ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take ENDURE
challenges through attuning with each other FLEXIBILITY
Theme 4: CONQUER: Surmounting PRAYING TO GOD
problems through asking God’s guidance PATIENCE
and doing their best by facing the challenges OVERCOME
Theme 5: COMMITMENT: Building a
strong relationship through spending time FAITHFULNESS
with each other and helping one another DECISIVENESS
and sticking to their goal
Theme 6: SATISFACTION: Accepting the

CONTENTMENT
situation of being a childless couple in order
PREPAREDNESS
to be contented
Theme 7: LOVE: Cultivating a deeper sense STRONG RELATIONSHIP
of intimacy BONDING
44
Probing further on the meaning of the seven existing emergent themes, this global theme
emerged: Into the Life of Childless Couples: Strengthening the Relationship through Facing the
Trials and Hardships and Prevailing with Love. The couples’ response based from their
experiences shows that the challenges and trials brought by being childless and love made their
relationship stronger. Childlessness brought about challenges and trials unto the couples. In
childlessness, there were instances that conflicts, and misunderstanding could be encountered.
Through commitment to one another all obstacles can be overcome by the guidance of God and
by exerting effort of the couples. In addition, love made them satisfied and contented with each
other that created a strong relationship.

45
CHAPTER IV
SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION
Summary
The study investigates the life of childless couples in the Municipality of Claver. The
researchers’s objectives were to explore the life of childless couples, to know the reason behind
their condition, to know their principles and belief towards beling childless and to inform the rest
of the society about the real situation the childless couples really are in. As a phenomenological
research, it follows the framework of Georgi (2003) on Descriptive Phenomenology.
Five childless couples were considered informants in this study. They were identified
based from the criteria and objective of the study. They were identified using the urposive
random sampling.
Findings
Following the process of the phenomenological descriptive method of Giorgi’s (2003),
244 meaning units were extracted from the childless couples which evolved into the
development of meaning units reflecting the experiences of the informants. From these meaning
units, 32 concepts, 17 categories, and 7 themes were drawn from the informants’ narrative data
(see Appendix H).
According to Maslow & Frager (1987), every human being has different levels of needs
and wants. It consists of physiological needs, safety needs, love and belongingness, need for
recognition or self-esteem, and self-actualization.
The researchers’ result from the gathered data of the informants, the childless couples
were not satisfied with their needs as a couple at first because of those challenges, difficulties,
46
and trials and so on but they moved to the level of love and belongingness because they have
overcome those challenges by means of acceptance of the problems, commitment and love in
their relationship, acceptance of the situation as a childless couple, exerting effort and by God’s
guidance.
According to Sternberg (1986), the theory of lve describes three different scales of love:
Intimacy is characterized by friendship and interpersonal relationship; Passion is characterized
by suffering and love; and commitment is characterized to have contract or marriage. There are
different stages and types of love, liking, infatuated love, empty love, romantic love,
compationate love, famous love and consummate love.
In relation to this study, childless couples fell in romantic love with intimacy, passion,
commitment and marriage but their relationship was affected by their being childlesnes since
they consider have children to be essential in a functional married relationship. Knowing about
these components of love may help couples avoid conflicts in their relationship.
47
• CHALLENGES: Undergoing trials and problems in the

Theme 1 life of childlessness
• DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling

Theme 2 their needs as a childless couple
• ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take challenges through

Theme 3 attuning with each other
• CONQUER: Surmounting problems through asking God’s

Theme 4 guidance
• COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through

Theme 5 spending time with each other and helping one another
• SATISFACTION: Accepting the situation of being a

Theme 6 childless couple in order to be contented
• LOVE: Cultivating a deeper sense of intimacy

Theme 7
INTO THE LIFE OF CHILDLESS COUPLES: STRENGTHENING

THE RELATIONSHIP THROUGH FACING THE TRIALS AND
HARDSHIPS AND PREVAILING WITH LOVE
Figure 5. Emergent Model of the Childless Couples’ Lived Experiences

48
Theme 1: CHALLENGES: Undergoing trials and problems in the life of childlessness and
Theme 2: DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their needs as a childless
couple would answer the grand tour question. “What are your Experiences as a childless
couple?”
1. Theme One: CHALLENGES: Undergoing trials and problems in the life of
childlessness. This theme was formulated based from the categories struggles, trials, and defense
mechanism. The childless couples’ response said based from the raw data presented in the
appendix E that they experienced difficulties in their life as childless couples and encountered
struggles, trials, and developed certain defense mechanism to protect themselves and pressures.
For the Childless couples, societal pressure is one of the main factors leading for the
problem to arise in their relationship. The couples were affected by this pressure hence
disrupting the balance in their relationship. The couples tend to resort to defensive act to regain
control and keep discord as minimal as possible.
Another factor is having medical problems. This condition turned their efforts into false
hope. At some point, the couples used this handicap to strive harder for the sake of the
betterment of their relationship.
Struggles define as exerting a continuous effort in facing difficulties and challenges in
being childless.
2. Theme Two: DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their needs as a
childless couple would answer the grand tour question. This theme was formulated based
from the categories conflicts, and defense mechanism. These two categories conflict, and defense
mechanism were experienced and portrayed by the childless couples and resulted to discord.
49
The participants showed unpleasant behaviors towards each other like doubting their faith
and blaming each other for their condition. Misunderstanding is the failure to understand
something and usually minor argument. The informants’ misunderstandings were the reason for
the existence of discord in their relationship.
Theme 4: CONQUER: Surmounting problems through asking God’s guidance and doing
their best by facing the challenges and Theme 5: COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship
through spending time with each other and helping one another and sticking to their goal would
answer the first follow-up question. “Have you tried methods to break away from being
childless? If yes, which methods? If no, why?”
1. Theme 4: CONQUER: Surmounting problems through asking God’s guidance and
doing their best by facing the challenges. This theme was formulated based from the categories
praying to God, patience, and overcome. The three categories according to the childless couples
were modes of surmounting hardships that comes along their lives. Overcome is to successfully
deal with something difficult.
Conquer defines as surpassing successfully a problem particularly a product of consciousness
from experiences.
2. Theme 5: COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through spending time
50
to their duty as a couple to build what they believe is an acceptable for of relationship, it also
refers to doing their best and never giving up.
Theme 2: DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their needs as a
childless couple will answer the second follow-up question. “Is being childless affecting your
relationship as a couple? If yes, in what way?”
1. Theme 2: DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their needs as a
childless couple. This theme was formulated based from the categories conflicts, and defense
mechanism. These two categories conflict, and defense mechanism were experienced and
portrayed by the childless couples and resulted to discord.
The participants showed unpleasant behaviors towards each other like doubting their faith
and blaming each other for their condition. Misunderstanding is the failure to understand
something and usually minor argument. The informants’ misunderstandings were the reason for
the existence of discord in their relationship.
Theme 3: ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take challenges through attuning with each other,
Theme 5: COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through spending time with each other
and helping one another and sticking to their goal, Theme 6: SATISFACTION: Accepting the
51
situation of being a childless couple in order to be contented, and Theme 7: LOVE: Cultivating a
deeper sense of intimacy would answer the third follow-up question. “What can you say/advice
to couples with the same condition as you? To barren couples? To Childfree couples?”
1. Theme 3: ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take challenges through attuning with each
other. This theme was formulated based from the categories endure, and flexibility. These two
categories endure and flexibility transpired in the life of childless couples in their acceptance.
Acceptance defines as an agreeing either expressive or by conduct to an act so that a relationship
is concluded and the parties become legally bound.
2. Theme 5: COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through spending time
to their duty as a couple to build what they believe is an acceptable for of relationship, it also
refers to doing their best and never giving up.
3. Theme 6: SATISFACTION: Accepting the situation of being a childless couple in
order to be contented. This theme was formulated based from the categories contentment,
preparedness. The category contentment refers to how the couples cope from their loss by being
happy of what they have, thus being contented. Preparedness refers to how the childless couples
52
worries about their future thus plans ahead and visualize what to expect considering their
condition.
Satisfaction defined as the act of providing what is needed or desired. In this study it
meant being contented of what they have by looking on the bright side.
4. Theme 7: LOVE: Cultivating a deeper sense of intimacy. This theme was formulated
based from the categories strong relationship, and bonding. These two categories strong
relationship and bonding were two fundamental attributes in love. Strong relationship is the way
two people were strongly connected. Bonding is developing a close emotional connection with
another person.
Love is an intense feeling of deep affection that is hard to sum up in word. It can also be
great interest and pleasure in something.
Conclusion
Based from the findings of the study, the following conclusion is drawn:
The childless couples are strengthening the relationship through facing the trials and
hardships and prevailing with love for they encountered challenges and trials in their
relationship, experienced misunderstanding between the two of theme, faced all the challenges
together, conquered all there trials and obstacles in their relationship, built a strong bond to make
their relationship last, accepted and understood each others misfortunes, and lastly shared their
truthfulness and loyalty in their untold love.
Implications
In the light of the foregoing findings and conclusions, the following implications were
offered:
53
The Couples. The findings of the study would help them attain sympathy and support
from other people and from their loved ones, and the acceptance of the society.
To the society. The findings of this study would enlighten the society of the possible
experiences in being childless.
The teachers. The findings of the study would encourage them to give additional insights
and learning for explaining to the students clearly on the possible outcomes and cause of being a
childless couple. This is essential since students may get married in the future and may
experience the same fate, they will be able to prepare for the possibility hence plan ahead on how
they could cope for it.
Psychology students. The findings of this study would help them in understanding new
knowledge and ideas in the field of psychology in relation to the life of childless couples
especially in the Filipino context.
School Administration. The findings of the study would be helpful to the school
administration in giving ideas for future researchers of the institution.
Future Researchers. The outcomes of the study would serve as a future reference to those
who would like to study in-depth ideas about the phenomenon.

54
REFERENCES
Books:
Gold Joshua M., et al. (2012) The Experiences of Childfree and Childless Couples in a
Pronatalistic Society: Implications for Family Counselors. The Family Journal:
Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families 21(2) 223-229 The Author(s)
Giorgi, A. P., &Giorgi, B. M. (2003) The descriptive phenomenological psychological method.
Qualitative research in psychology: Expanding perspectives in methodology and design
(13) 243-273
Lechner, L.; Bolman, C.; van Dalen, A. (2006). "Definite involuntary childlessness: associations
between coping, social support and psychological distress". Human Reproduction.22 (1):
288–294.
Maslow, A. & Frager, R. (1987). “Motivation and personality. New York: Harper and Row.
Mokuau, N. (1991), “The Filipino family: A text with selected readings.” Univ Philippines Pr.
Pacheco Palha, A., and Mario F. Lourenco."Psychological and cross-cultural aspects of infertility
and human sexuality." Sexual Dysfunction: Beyond the Brain-Body Connection. Vol.
31.Karger Publishers, 2011.164-183.
Sternberg, R.J. (1986) A triangular theory of love. “Psychological Review,” 93, 119-135
Sternberg, R.J. (1988) “The Triangle of Love: Intimacy, Passion, Commitment,” New York:
BasicBooks
Webster, Noah. New Collegiate Dictionary. A Merriam-Webster. Springfield, MA: G. & C.

Merriam, 1953. Print.
55
Online Electronic Resources:
Adrian Furnham Ph.D., Psycholgy Today, (2015) “Choosing to Be Child-free” Retrieve from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sideways-view/201504/choosing-be-child-free
Anna Hodgekiss (2013) ” Men without children are 'more depressed and sad' than childless
women” Retrieve from:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2302954/Men-children-depressed-sad-
childless-women.html
Barbara Fletcher (2014) “Happy Marriage Without Kids” Retrieved from:
http://www.ozy.com/true-story/a-happy-marriage-without-kids/31043
BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board (2016), “The emotional impact of fertility problems”
Retrieve from:
https://www.babycenter.com/0_the-emotional-impact-of-fertility-problems_3933.bc
Cordova et al., (2005) “Difference In Relationship Satisfaction And Adult Attachment In Married
And Cohabitating Couples” Retrieve from:
http://www.anthropos.si/anthropos/2011/1_2/03_juric.pdf
David Schneider, Retired Professor of Psychology (2015) “Does being childless have an effect
on emotional strength of a couple?” Retrieved from:
https://www.quora.com/Does-being-childless-have-an-affect-on-emotional-strength-of-a-
couple
Ellen Walker Ph.D. (2012) Advantages and Disadvantages of Being Childfree Retrieved from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/complete-without-kids/201204/advantages-and-
disadvantages-being-childfree
F. van Balen and H. M. W. Bos(2009),“The social and cultural consequences of being childless
in poor-resource areas” Retrieve from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4251270/
Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH (2015) Child-Free Living Retrieved from:
http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/child_free_living#1
Keith E. Davis, Ph. D. The Relationship Rating Form (RRF) Retrieve from:
http://people.cas.sc.edu/daviske/LoveFriendsMeasure_rrf.pdf
56
Kendra Cherry (2016), Intimacy vs. Isolation - Stages of Psychosocial Development
Stage Six of Psychosocial Development. Retrieved fom:
https://www.verywell.com/intimacy-versus-isolation-2795739
Lise Brix (2014) Childless couples have more divorces: Couples who receive treatment for
fertility problems are up to three times more likely to end in divorce if they fail to
produce a child. Retrieved from:
http://sciencenordic.com/childless-couples-have-more-divorces
Longman Dictionary (2016), Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Retrieved fom:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/childless
Longman Dictionary (2016), Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Retrieved fom:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/infertility
McLeod, S. (2016). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
Retrieved 24 April, 2016, from:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Neff and Beretvas (2012) “The Role of Self-compassion in Romantic Relationships”
Retrieve from:
http://self-compassion.org/wp-content/uploads/publications/Neff.Beretvas.pdf
Rachel Gurevich (2016) , “15 Signs Infertility Has Hijacked Your Life” Retrieve from:
https://www.verywell.com/signs-infertility-has-hijacked-your-life-1960006
Rhiannon and Holly (2013) “Why is the happily childless woman seen as the unicorn of
society“Retrieved from:
http://www.newstatesman.com/lifestyle/2013/07/why-happily-childless-woman-seen-
unicorn-society
57
Sally Robertson, BSc (2015) “ Infertility Social Impact” Retrieved from:

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Infertility-Social-Impact.aspx
Sprecher & Hendrick (2004) “Self-disclosure” Retrieve from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-disclosure
Stanley, S. N.D (2015) “Comparison Of Parents And Childless Couples: Life Satisfaction, Social
Support, And Personality Traits Among Married Couples With And Without Children.”
Retrieve from:
http://www.ejbss.com/Data/Sites/1/vol04no08november2015/ejbss-1637-15-
comparisonofparentsandchildlesscouples.pdf
Shinwari, Rahim (2011) “Concept of Marriage”
Rethrieve from:
https://hubpages.com/relationships/Concept-of-Marriage
58
59
APPENDIX A
LETTER OF CONSENT IN CONDUCTING THE RESEARCHER

60
APPENDIX B
LETTER OF VALIDATION OF THE INTERVIEW PROTOCOL

61
62
63
.ST. PAUL UNIVERSITY SURIGAO

Corner San Nicolas & Rizal Streets
8400 Surigao City, Philippines
November 3, 2017
DR. ROWENA SALAS, RGC, RPm, RPsy

Gestalt Psychological Services & Review Center
Capitol Road, Surigao City
Dear Dr. Salas:
Pauline peace to you!
The undersigned are presently conducting a research study entitled: “Into the life of childless couples.” This
research is a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree on Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
With your expertise, the researchers are humbly asking your permission to validate the attached research documents
containing transformed meaning units, which will be used in the study. Whatever comments and suggestions you
may give to improve the said document will be highly appreciated..
Thank you so much for the favorable response on this regard.
Respectfully yours,
DEOFELZAN RYAN SOLIS

Researcher
GILLA DAISY BELLE CAPUCANAN

Researchers
Noted by:
MS. MARIA KRISTINE ELIZABETH MANGYAN, MAEdGC, LPT, RPm

Research Adviser
MR. KRISTOPHER M. NGILANGIL

Research Instructor
Approved by:
DR. ROWENA SALAS, RGC, RPm, RPsy

Psychologist, Gestalt Psychological Services & Review Center
Action Taken : _____________

Date : _____________
64
APPENDIX C
INTERVIEW PROTOCOL
.ST. PAUL UNIVERSITY SURIGAO

Research Title: Into the Life of Childless Couples
Statement of the Purpose: The study will explore the life of childless couples
Grand-tour Question:
1. What are your Experiences as a childless couple?
(Uno may ijo mga kaagi isip isa ka mag-asawa na wayay anak?)
Follow-up Questions:
1. Have you tried methods to break away from being childless? If yes, which methods? If no,
why?
(Nagtesting ba kamo nan mga pamaagi para magka-anak? Kun oo, uno man na mga
pamaagi? Kun waya, uno ma’y rason?)
2. Is being childless affecting your relationship as a couple? If yes, in what way?
(Naapektohan ba nan ijo pagka-wayay anak an ijo relasyon isip isa ka mag-tiajon? Kun oo,
sa uno na pamaagi?)
3. What can you say/advice to couples with the same condition as you? To barren couples? To
Childfree couples?
(Uno ma’y ijo mahiestorya/mahitambag sa mga mag-tiajon na parehas sa ijo na kahimtang?
Sa mga baog? Sa mga magtiayon na kagustohan ang pagka wayay anak?

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APPENDIX D
LETTER TO THE INFORMANTS

66
APPENDIX E
VERBATIM RESPONSE OF THE INFORMANTS
INFORMANT G
Spokesperson: Wife
Uma’y ato mga kaagi Ben? Hehehe huyat anay… Ag among kaagi… Sa permero pa
kuan, first years sa paminjo nag-laong gajod ko na makabdos. Tapos, makakita gani ko’g
mangabdos na mga kaibanan na mga maistra, magself-pity ko. Laong ko, “Nah! Uman sila
raman? Ag ako, grabi na naho’gpaajon-ajon, balik-balik na ko’g doctor, waya man gihapon ko
nikabdos.
One time diadto na ya na ko nag-mens, mga… Kuan mga five… Eight days na siguro ‘to,
laong ko, “Basi’g amo na ni!” Aw waya gajod! Mura’g niabot na ug ten days! Mao ‘to… Sus
pagka eleven, hinay-hinay na ko maglakaw, giingnan man gani ko ni ma’am Enaldo nga, “Ding,
kabdos ka?” Waya ko magsaba, “Dili man ma’am.” Pero waya na ko nagsaba. Pagka ika-eleven
days… Nagmens man ko! Nah! Nafrustrate nasab ko! Pero dili ko magestorya sa mga kaiban, an
ako ra, kay basig kun… Kuan-kuanon ko nila ba, amo adto na… First five years gajod to.
Next, another kuan 6-10 years… Hopeful gihapon ko diadto na magkabdos ko. Yan na,
sige ra lamang ko’g paabot. Human diadtong 10 years nilabay, kuan ra… Plus! Naoperahan na
dajon ko, Permero sa ovary, sa right ovary, so mura ra og kanang… wa na’y chance, mura’g
gamay rakan an chance na manganak kay... pero laong sila, naa man kuno’y uban na bisag isa
rakan ka ovary… manganak. Para sa aho na case… kay mura’g dili man kun… kung sa lupa pa
dili kun taba na lupa- kaitan, kinahanglan gajod og kanang fertilizer. So ako nilaong, “sige ra
lamang kay basig manganak pa ko kun an ginoo na gajo’y magbuot.”

67
Imbis na operahan ko og sa right ovary- after pag-opera naho niabot ko og 9 years gikan
pag-opera sa right ovary, nagkaproblema nasab ako sa ako uterus o bahay-bata- ang cyst nikanat.
Mao to pag… kay yearly man gajod ko magpacheck-up sa Cebu, didto nakita ni Dr. Abalos na
daghan na’y ahong cyst nan aka-kuan sa ako uterus. Mao to na… no choice na kay nilaong man
si doktora na, “kuhaon namn natu gajod ni kay dili naman…” Gikuha rakan gajod tanan. So
didto na ko nihunong kay bisag unhon pa naku paglaong ko na, “Manganak gajod,” di naman
kay ya namay kapuy-an sa bata. Na wa na, pero waya sab ko nagmahay kay dili man na kun amo
pag-buot, Ija man, kay kun ako’y magbuot gani, sauna mulaong ako, “Kun ako’y maminjo, ako
bata lima kabuok para bibo!” Amo ako ambisyon. So ang nahitabo, an lima nahimong zero.
Amo to na… Waya na ko dajon, ni-end na an ako… pag-wish na magka-anak, sunod
human ato, daghay mag-offer sa amo mag…kanang adopt, pero kining akong bana arang
kapilian isahay, mulaong sija, “Nah! Dili ko Diana kay wa ta kabayo sa background ana. May
gajod nanawag sa ako taga Cantilan na, “Jari bata diri adapa!” kay lajo lagi kuno. Laong sab si
Ruben na, “Di lamang ta Ding, basi kun kanin-o jaon kaliwatan, basi kun kaliwat jaon nan mga,
jaon ba mga lang-on ta lamang na kaliwatan nan boangon.” Dili man natu mahibaw-an. Ok ra
kun… Amo dajon to laong ko na, “Nah, sagdi ra sab lamang Ben kay, basig swertehan baja ta!”
Kay aho sab to sa iya gishare tong sa didto pa ako sa Cantilan nagskwela may ija kuan kanang
Engineer sija sa kanang CPA, way ila anak ba. Nangadopt sila og kanang bata na gikan gajod sa
manila na waya hibay-I kung kinsay ginikanan. Pagkahuman, tagpaskuyla kinta nila siyempre
buhos man gajod sa mga panginahanglanon kay sija raman, waya pa may sauna uso an computer,
ang ijang room puno ma’g mga libro, mini library gajod tan-awon nimu, pero grabi gajod sija ka-
ubos ug kanang IQ.

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Amo to nilaong ko na… ahong giestorya sa ija, “Pero dili man tanan Ben,” laong gani si
Dr. Abalos naa raman kuno sa ato, kay kita man an nagpadako. Naa po’y akong madunggan na
mga adopted na, mura na noon sila og kanang, kung makabalo na gani na adopted sila, mura sila
nan kanang magrebelde, magkaproblema nasab nuon ka. “Sagdi rakan Lord,” naa may sab pag-
umangkon naku basta ok sab lamang imo dealng sa ilaa dili sab ka kun indifferent sa ila na dili
nimu sila kanhi-kanhion, mulook-up raman siguro gihapon na kun matiguyang ta, di pud ta
pasagdan kay wa man ta magkuwang nila.
Mao to na wa na jud ko na ‘ya na! Hangtod niabot na lamang ko’g kuan ni-edad na ko’g
45. Pag-abot gajod og 50, wan a gajod, dili na ko mangadopt kay tiguwang na ko. Pero last gajod
nay nianhi diri, laong ko na, “Nay,di na man ko pwedi, di na an gani ko kaangot magbilar, na
kung nay batang gamay masakit, magbilar man ka.” Dili na gajod ako. Ya na ni-end gajod an ako
kuan di na.
Naapektohan ba nan amo pagka-wayay anak an amo relasyon? Inday… sa… inday kang
Ruben sa part sa ako, murag wa’ man ko apektohi. Kuan man prone kanang iban bitaw mag…
mangabit, maghanap og anak, pero kintahay kaluoy sa Diyos, i-ampo gajod lamang nimo na, kay
naa man gajo’y diha mga temtasyon nimo… Bisang way kinta amo anak, way lamang mga
estorya ba nga sugilanon na kabit kay nanginahanglan sija og anak. Sa ako, ok ra ako kay dili
man mulaong na ya man di, sa ako mulaong man gajod ako na aya man naku tujoa nay a ko
kaanak. Kun tagtujo siguro namu na dili manganak ako mismo ma-guilty ko, nakay dili man ko
guilty, kun sa ija sab, kaluoy sa Diyos faithful man sab sija. Inday lamang sab kinta kay waya
kita kabayo… hehehe sa ako ra, di man mi iban sa tanan panahon, inday lamang sa ija.
69
An ako malaong sa iban nga parehas namo na kahimtang, magsinabtanay rakan kamo.
Parehas sa ako na akoy depektado, magsinabtanay rakan kay in the first place dili man nato
tinuyoan, kinsa ma’y gajod mag-minjo na dili magkinahanglan nan anak? An ako malaong sa
mga di gajod gusto magka-anak, kuan kanang self-centered ra sila, dili sila mu-share og
blessings. Basta magminjo kinahanglan gajod magka-anak mintras kaya, kay kalipay man nijo an
mga anak. Kay an “essence of having a family is having children” man.
INFORMANT A
Spokesperson: Husband
Kaagi namu sa ako asawa, sa amu gajud di gajud kami mag-away, dili kami mag-away sa
kwarta, kay murag ang kwarta sa amu kay dili murag ok ra tapos. Kun mag-away kami dili sa
kwarta… mag-away kami jaon selos-selos ra, isa sab siguro jaon kay waya may bata lagi namu.
Ako sauna magselos ko kay kuybaan ko pero narealize naku na uman magselos man ako na
nakita man naku na waya sija nagbinuang, tapus nareverse nasab sija nasab hinua an nagselos sa
ako taglang-an naku, “uman magselos man kaw?”
Nagkataas amu relasyon… kay 12 years naman kami mi 13 na kibali sa December…
2004 man mi ge-kasal mga 5 years siguro magselos pa ako jaon sa ija kay bata pa man lagi sija
sa ako. Manghud ko raman sija nan 11 years… So pagabot sa punto na nakasabot sab ako 6 years
pataas amo sab jaon magselos sab lagi sija sa ako… Hamok man sab lagi estorya-estorya na,
adto sa lain kun di kaw kaanak sa imo asawa didto kaw sa lain ug pang-adopt rakan… Oo amu
jaon mga estorya-estorya sa mga silingan namu... Pero dili jaon bahala kon dili… ayang-ayang
magpakamatay kami kun way amo bata… bahala na kun amoy abtan namu sa amu pagka-
menjuon amu raman jaon selos-selos ra.

70
Nagtesting kami para makaanak… Oo nagpacheck-up kami sa Cebu na kay…
pagpacheck-up namu didto laong gajod ang doctor na makaanak kami duha, puro lamang
gajod… kibali ako sperm sakto sa kahamukon pero weak lamang sija, ang ija sab kuno ovary ba
tawag jaon… or eggcell pagsaka kuno sa ako spermcell pagsugat sa ija eggcell jaoy kuno
nakaharang tungod sa ija kadakuon… taba ba sa ilayom… nagkapares gajud kami… kay kung
ang isa kuno active kuno maka-anak kuno mi.
Laong ang doctor , “iagi lamang sa ampo na maka-anak ra lagi mo”… Mga 2016
nikabdos anay sija after 11 years na kabdos sija 3 months napunit mao to siya, saying gajod…
Waya maka-apekto sa amo relasyon ang wayay anak pero ambot lamang sa iban… amo ra
gihapon amo paghinigugmaay. Naningkamot na nuon kami… kay mabutang man samo
hunahuna na waya rabay amo bata. Kailangan gajod nato na jaoy ato kwarta kay pag-abot na
matiguyang ta, kay majaw ra lamang jaoy mag-silbi... among sex-life amo ra gajod gihapon. Ako
mahikalaong sa pareho sako na sitwasyon na gusto magka-anak… kuan siguro ako madvice
ampo ra lamang siguro.
Kun dili itugot sab sa Ginoo na dili kamo hatagan ug bata mamahimo man sab siguro na
nimo itabang sa imong mga pag-umangkon kay siguro man gajod ug ma-feel nimo na motabang
sila sa imo pakatiguyang... kun may bata o waya basta ampo ra lamang gajod siguro. Kun sa mga
magti-ajon na maingnan na gajod ng doctor na waya na gajoy chance. An ako gajod mahilaong
na higugmaon gajod nila ila partner kay kuan, magstick-to-one rakan gajod kay total kun sin-oy
mauna jaon musilbi ang isa ang mabilin sa isa mo silbi man gajod pundar kaw sa imo pag-
umangkon. Jaon magtiayon nga tagpili nila na dili mag-kaanak gikan pag menyo. Jaon siguro
makalaong gajod siguro mga tawo gajod lahi na panghuna-huna siguro. Uman mupili man sila na
way anak o bata kagana ratun may bata, treasure gud tun.
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INFORMANT B
An amo kaagi, ini namn laging pagluto-luto, gumikan lagi sa pagluto-luto pagbingka, isa
sab naku kakuanan inin lain ato lawas tapos mutumar, syempre an tablitas jaon adto sa ija tijan.
Dili man kun laong ta jaon na an kinabdosan dili kun lain na tablitas an magdaya. Irelax ra kuan
kalma ra ba dili kun laong na pasmo jaon sija na syempre mapunit gajod jaon sija kay an
kalangka adto sa ija tijan kun magluto. Bisan mugamit pa sija nan stopper musibaw gihapon an
kalangka. Kaduha na mahitabo, amo ra gihapon, uno pa may ato mahimo? Di kun ako sajop,
sajop nija!
17 years na kami minjo. Nagtesting na kami nan lain pamaagi para makaanak. Di man
kun laong na ako’y daot! Nakabata man gani ako sa manila- isa sa lain na baji. Kun buhi pa an
amo maguyangi, amo na jaon kan tiya Lalay EJ. Pagka ika-duha, ya gihapon na ya na, nanarbaho
rakan ako nan ako. 9 years na since nisuko kami sa pagtesting. Sa pagkakuman, amo na gajod
desisyon na di rakan musuway na magkaanak kay amo ra man gihapon mapunit ra man.
Naapektohan gajod sa amo pagkawayay-anak an amo relasyon. An ako kakuanan, kun
matiguyang kami, simay sa amo mualalay? Amoy jaon tagalong naku sa ija, “ jaon na sa imo,
ikaw, di kaw mag-amping sa imo lawas, ako nag-amping ako nan ako!” Nanarbaho gud ko, jaon
ija luto-luto abag-abag ra man jaon, di gajod mamati. Jaon trabahoa dali raman jaon, amo jaon ija
kada adlaw ikonsomo, mas ipalabon man gud nija an trabaho kaysa pag-amping sa ija lawas- nah
kaduha lagi kapuniti. Laong ko, “kasayang,” 4 months? 3 months? Tablitas ra’y nagdaya. Waya
nay ato mahimo, di man sab ako manlugos.

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Naway-an na sab sija nan paglaom, kay an ija matres niubos na. gusto man gani naku na
ipalimpyo nakay madak-an naman sab. Permi bitaw naku jaon sija sagdahon pero di gajod
mamati. Mulaong man an mga tawo na ako kuno an daot, pero umay pagkadaot naku na nakabuo
gani, napunit lamang. Isahay masakitan sab kita inin ipanlaong sa mga tawo kay amora naman
hinuon kita ini nan inutil sanglit ra kay wayay anak. Di sab mi ganahan mangampon kay kanin-o
ra kaha jaon anak ya ta kabayo sa background.
An malaong naku sa mga parihas namu na kaso, palihog ra pag-amping sa ijo lawas kay
jaon ra na sa baji kun mag-amping sija, maglikay nan mga tumar-tumar sanan stress. Sa mga
iban sab na baog na gajod gikan sugod, dawaton rakan an kamatuoran na waya gajod aw pagbuot
na jaon sa Ginoo pero mintras kaya pa, ariglar ra gajod sa lawas. Di ko mutuo na jaoy di ganahan
magka-anak.
INFORMANT O
Kaagi namu isip mag-asawa na way anak... Ang amu na lamang is mag kasinabtanay ra
lamang bisan way amu anak sana dili kami mag buyag. Jaoy mga preasure sab sa amu na sinati
sa iban na mga tawo.. Pero waya ra lamang namu tag- mind… waya sab kami mo testing nan
mga pamaagi para mag-kaanak , nag paabot ra lamang sab kami kung hatagan nan Ginoo.
Gusto sab namu mag kaanak... maka apekto sab sa amu relasyun usahay an pagkaway
anak labi na kay mag katiguyang ta syempre adto mn gajud ta mapasingod tas mag katiguyang
nata way mu-alaga alaga sa ug magka sakit.
Ang ma-advice naku sa pareho sab sa amo ba sitwasyon is “mag ampo ra lamang sa
ginoo”… ug sa mga tawo nga ni suko na or nawad.an na ug paglaom, an ako lamang ma advice
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bisan pa ug waya sila hatagi ug anak mag iban gihapun sila bisag magka-unsa… padajun ra
lamang kun amoy plano sa kahitas.an… Ako ka advice sa way gajud plano na magkaanak sagud
pa… Para sa ako ok ra sab sa ako respetohan natu ila desisyon kon amu gajuy ila gusto…Pero
unta panganduyon nila na magka-anak kay lain ra man gud an kalipay na maihatag nan mga
anak.
INFORMANT N
Spokesperson: Both
Kaagi namu isip mag asawa sauna medyo lonely kay waya may amu bata tapos waya say
amu kaduwa-duwaan di mingaw gajud… Tapos naningkamut kami namagkaanak, so amu
gihimu nag pa check-up kami sa doctor… para madetermine namu kon uno gajuy problema… so
after examination nafound out namu na may kanya kanyang problema kami sa amu kaugalingun,
sa part nan ako bana medyo kuyang ang ija sperm cell… an ako sab may problema sab sa ako
dugo irregular man ako dugo maong waya mi kaanak…
It’s 15 years na. Hamuk nay amu nakadtuan na hospital, first diha kami sa medical
hospital sunod in 6 months kay waya man gihapun… so didtu na sab kami sa Cebu sa Chunghua
amu ra gihapon. After 1 month examination wayay nahitabo gihapon 2 years na lamang balik-
balik didto waya gihapoy nahitabo…
Pagkakuan gajud kay tungod sa pag paningkamut na mag kaanak… nag Davao Doc
kami. Nag undergo na kami ng artificial insemination, Bisan dili gihapon successful, naghanap
gihapon kami nan lain-lain doctor . Last namu sa doctor 2001,Matud pa ni doktora Bullo na “dili
na taka dawatun kay nag shopping nakag OB”

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So amu na tag stop adto tapos niabot ang panahon may nag kuan sa amu na mag adopt
kami or willing ba kami… May amu intention na mag adopt kay lahi ra gajud na jaoy imu
alagaan pero nag-duhaduha pa gihapon kami... Pero an premero pa namu ok ra gajud na way
amu anak total enjoy man kami happy man kami… Pero ni abot ang panahon ni kuan sa ako isip
na lahi ra gajud nga naa kaw anak nungka sige kaw paningkamot apan simay imu kabinlan ng
imu mga hinaguan…Naa lage mga pag-umangkon lumon pero lahi ra gajud ang imu bata na
gajud ingn-ana ni sangtop sa ako isip na gana gajod na jaon na usnaon taman waya paman lagi
hatagi ng ginoo…
So amu adtung time na may nag gusto tana namu mag kuan ampon sa mga kadugo namo
pero waya may sa kadugo namu, nagpa-advice rakan kami… testing kami nan mga lain
pamaagi… So amu lagi adtu sa OB gi-work out kami. Nag kuan nasab kami nag artificial
insemenation- ang ako bana tag kuwaan sija ng ija semen tapos tag process then tag inject sa
ako.. amu adto pagpaningkamut nasab namu pero waya rasab gihapun di hundred percent
succesful so waya gajud..
Naapektuhan ba ang amu relasyon nan pagka-way anak? Sa ako waya man kay syempre
dawat ko unoy kamatooran gajud… kay dili kaw ma-happy kon dili nimu dawaton ang
kamatooran gajud no? Total namingkamut man kami na mag-anak so kun waya gajud taghatag,
di gajod siguro para sa amo…ang amu taghatag na time gidawat nako na amu adtoy pagbuot sa
Ginoo.
Sa social factors dili man malikayan na usahay ma-challenge kaw pero dawat gihapun
kaysa ma stress rakaw… pero magbati gajud kaw syempre abi siguro nila waya kami
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maningkamot dili baja malalim tapus kun ok ra ba kami kay tag-una namu ang bayay pero waya
namu na gi-mind kay ang amu maningkamot gajud kami.
Nag-agi sab kami ng preasure sa society dili man jaun natu malikayan pero ako tag-huna
huna gwatsi-gwatsi raba pero may meaning sab sie usahay sab ma challenge kaw... pero ok
rmaan sa ako kay kami man ang mas naka-bayo kun amu na… ayang-ayang ibandilyo ko…
waya ug magkuan sila usahay mag biay-biayun kaw pero ok raman sa ako kay mas kami man
ang naka-bayo kun unoy amu tag buhat...
Sa close family member nako usahay mag self-pity kami, labi na kon jauy mga gathering
kanya-kanya man gajud mga anak hu…. Usahay muabot ang time na mag self-pity kami..
syempre mangandoy sab gajud kaw na mas gana ra gajud kon jauy sab imu anak tapos ang imu
sab bation gana sab kay makuan nimu na parents gajud kamo… Kadugayan mo abot ra jaon sa
imo huna-huna pero sinugdan waya kay syempre 15 years nagud…
Amo ika advice sa pareho sa amu case na mga couples kung dili kaw mo accept sa
kamatooran dili gjud kaw ma happy dapat kabayo sab kaw modaya madawat nimu… Ug mag
sabot sab kamo magtiayun maningkamot gajud na mag-kaanak… waya may lain purpose an
marriage is to have a child man gajud ugsa diba mag-menyo kaw para maka kita nan liwat, so in
the 1st 2 years maningkamut na kamu na magka-anak para atleast saju ra nimu makita ang iju
mga liwat… pero sa amu maningkamut man...
Sa mga couple na choice nila ang dili mag kaanak ang amu insight kung choice gajud nila
na dili mag ka-anak… aw kung choice gajud nila na dili sila mag ka-anak ila man kalipay go
ahead… pero sa ako kung in my opinion murag dili saktu jaun kay ang marriage kon sa word na
marriage ang main point ana is to build a family.

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APPENDIX F
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS ON THE RESPONSE OF THE INFORMANTS
INFORMANT G
Spokesperson: Wife
What’re our experiences Ben? Hehehe wait a sec… Our experiences… at first, in the first few
years of our marriage, I said to myself that I will get pregnant. Then, whenever I see my
colleagues getting pregnant, I often pity myself. I often think, “Why just them?” I did my best,
and even have regular consultation with my doctor yet I still can’t get pregnant.
One time, my regular menstruation suddenly stopped. It hasn’t come for around 5-8 days
so I thought, “This could be it!” 10 days passed, and on the 11th day I started moving and
walking slowly and carefully. Ma’am Enaldo, a colleague of mine, even noticed and asked me if
I’m pregnant or something, and I denied and said no. On the 11th day, my mens came, so got
frustrated again but I kept it from my colleagues because I’m afraid they might mock me for
being too presumptuous. And so I was like that for the first 5 years of our marriage.
For the next 6-10 years… I was still hopeful of getting pregnant, I still waited. That’s it, I
still waited. After 10 years, I underwent surgery in my right ovary, so I was like… there’s no
hope- there’s little to no chance of me getting pregnant. But they say that, women can still get
regnant even with just one functioning ovary. But in my case, if I would be compare to soil, I’m
not rich enough to sustain life or plants can’t grow on me. I need fertilizer… This aside, I still
believe that if it is God’s will that I get pregnant, then I will.

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9 years since my last operation on my right ovary, another problem came- apparently, the
cyst from my ovary spread into my uterus permanently damaging it beyond repair. I knew this
because I have yearly check-up with Dr. Abalos at Cebu. She saw that cyst rapidly multiplied
and invaded my uterus. I had no choice but to undergo surgery for the removal of my uterus.
That’s when I finally gave up, because no matter what I say, it’s impossible to bear a child
without a uterus. So that was it, but I wasn’t regretful though, because I wasn’t my decision to
not have children- it’s God’s will. If it was me, I have always wished to have children when I get
married because it was my ambition to have at least 5 children. Well… 5 became 0 then huh…
It all ends there… my wish to have children. Then, a lot of people came to us asking if
we would lie adopt children. But my husband was quite picky. He said, “I don’t like those kids
because we don’t know their background.” There was someone from Cantilan who offered us a
child to adopt but my husband told me, “Let’s pass Ding, who knows which bloodline that child
came from, for all we know that kid might be from the bloodline of crazy people.” We wouldn’t
know. Then I said to him, “ it’s ok Ben, we may be lucky.” I also shared to him a story of a
couple who also cannot have children. They’ve adopted a child from manila whose background
they didn’t know about. Back when computers weren’t popular yet, that kid’s room was full of
books that you would think it’s a mini library at first glance. But unfortunately, the child’s IQ
was very low.
My husband’s way of thinking was influenced by that story, but I tried to convince him
that it’s a case to case bases. Dr. Abalos said that it’s up to the parents on how they raise their
child. I also heard about adopted children who tend to rebel once they know that they are
adopted. It poses problems for the couple. I said to myself, “ Never mind Lord, we will just take
care of our nephews and nieces. As long as we treat them well and avoid being indifferent to
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them they’ll eventually look up to us and may be able to care for us when we grow old. They
won’t neglect us since we never neglected them.
So that’s it, we lost all hope! Until I aged 45… when I reached 50, it all ended there. I
even last person offered me to adopt a child but I refused since I’m too old for it. I can no longer
stay up late at night specially when in instances that the child may get sick. I couldn’t do it
anymore. It all ends there.
Has being childless affected our relationship? I don’t know about my husband but in my
part, I don’t think it did. Some couples are prone to temptations leading to cheating fueled by the
urge to have children, but in our case in God’s mercy we did not end up like them. Despite being
childless, we haven’t resorted to cheating. I could say that we did not choose to be childless. If
we did, I would feel guilty, but I’m not guilty. As for my husband, fortunately he is faithful to
me. That’s at least what I know, I don’t know for certain since we’re not together all the time.
For other childless couples with the same situation as us, all I could say is… please
understand each other. Just like in my case, you should understand that it is not your wife’s fault
since she didn’t do it on purpose. What kind of couple wouldn’t want to have children? For those
couples who chose to not have children, all I could say is they are being self-centered, they
wouldn’t share their blessings. If you plan to get married, as much as possible, your goal is to
build a family and have children because they are you happiness, it’s because the essence of
having a family is having children.

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INFORMANT A
Our experiences as a childless couple? My wife and I never really quarrel and we don’t
argue about money matters because money isn’t really something to argue about. When we
argue, it’s not about money. The only factor that causes conflict between us is jealousy, since we
don’t have children. Before, I get jealous maybe because I’m afraid of losing her, but then I
realized, “why would I be jealous when her faithfulness is obvious and prominent?” There was
also one time when she’s become the jealous one, so I asked her, “Why would you get jealous?”
Our relationship went with time and we’ve been married for 12 years, as a matter of fact
we’re celebrating our 13th anniversary this coming December, 2017, since we’ve been married
since 2004. 5 years after marriage, I still get jealous since she’s a lot younger than me, she’s 11
years younger than me.
Just when I finally understand her and stopped my jealousy, she became the jealous one.
Her jealousy may be fueled by other people’s rumors saying I should just find another woman or
resort to adoption if my wife couldn’t provide me a child, yes that’s what our neighbors say, but
that’s not the case for me. I wouldn’t resort to drastic measures just because we can’t have
children of our own. Whatever will be will be. Jealousy is our only issue aside from being
childless.
We tried our best to conceive a child. Yes, we even went to Cebu for check-up. There we
knew from the doctor that we have the potential to have children but it’s a 50-50 chance. It’s like
this: In my case, I have sufficient amount of sperm but they were weak and can barely reach the
fallopian tube; As for my wife, her egg is too thick with fat that its wall can only be penetrated
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by a strong sperm. We’re unfortunately meant for each other. If only my sperm is stronger, we
can conceive a child. The doctor told us to never lose faith and always pray. And so around 2016
we were finally able to conceive a child. But after 3 months it was unfortunately led to
miscarriage. So that’s it, what a waste.
Being childless hasn’t really affected our relationship, but I don’t know about others. Our
love for each other remained as is. We even strived harder, since it was constantly set in our
mind that we still have no children. We need to strive and earn money so when we get older we
can afford a caregiver. Our sex life hasn’t been affected too.
For couples like us, all I can say is uhm… pray every day. If it really is God’s will for
you to not be able to have children, then you should just take care of your nephews/nieces
instead so they could help you too when you get old. With or without children, just pray. For
couples who are medically confirmed to be incapable of having children, just love your partner,
stick to one so that if either of you retires first, the other can take care of you. Or you can invest
to your nephews/nieces. For couples who chose not to have children, I could say that there really
are people who think differently. Why would they choose not to have children when they are our
happiness? They are our treasure, I would say.
INFORMANT B
Our experiences? It was because of cooking, it’s because of baking “bingka”. One more
thing that concerned me is when our body aches we drink medicine right away, of course when
medicine enters the stomach it directly affects pregnancy. Just relax and rest calmly, it’s not
fatigue. One of the causes of miscarriage is the heat from the furnace that is directly absorbed by
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the body especially since the womb is facing it directly. Even if she uses a stopper, it will not
help block the absorption of heat. It happened not just once but twice. What can we do? It’s not
my fault, it’s hers.
We’ve been married for 17 years. We’ve tried many ways for her to get pregnant. We
can’t say that I’m the dysfunctional one! I am capable of impregnating a woman, I even have a
child from another woman way back when I was at Manila. If my first born from my current
wife was alive, he would have been the same age as Aunt Lalay’s daughter EJ. It was the same
case for her second successful pregnancy so that’s it, I just searched for a job. 9 years after her
last miscarriage, we finally stopped trying. As of now, it has become our decision to stop trying
since it would only end in miscarriage no matter what.
Being childless really affected our relationship. What I’m concerned about is when we
grow old, who would support us? That is what I kept on telling her that it is her fault for not
taking care of her body while pregnant, unlike me who kept my body in shape! I work to support
our needs, but her cooking is just a hobby or in the very least, just a little financial support. Her
work is not hard, that’s what she does every day. She would rather work than take care of herself
which leads to miscarriage, see! She had two consecutive miscarriages. I told her, “What a
waste! 4 months? 3 months? It’s also because of the medicine. I can’t do anything, I would not
force he anyways.
She also lost hope since her uterus has already descended. I wanted to have her uterus
cleaned, but having it cleansed would cost us a fortune though. That’s why I used to always warn
her but she won’t listen. Other people would say that I’m the defective one, but how can that be
if I was able to impregnate he more than once? Though it all ended in miscarriage, I sometimes
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get hurt by the things other people say about us, because it makes us look like failures just
because we can’t have children. We won’t resort to adoption since we don’t know the full
background of those children.
All I can say for those who are of the same case as us, please take care of yourselves, but
mostly for the part of the wife. Avoid drinking medicine unnecessarily and avoid stress. For
those couples who could never have children, just accept the inevitable, it would be God’s will.
But as much as possible do your best and take case of yourselves. I don’t believe that there are
couples who would choose not to have children.
INFORMANT O
Our experience as a childless couple was lonely. Our way of coping up is to appreciate
each other. Although, having no child is saddening, our goal was to stay together. We were
pressured by the people around us but we didn't mind them. We haven't tried ways to have a
child. We were just waiting patiently, that someday, God will allow us to have one.
We sometimes argue caused by the pressure and stress. Having a child means that our
wealth will be pass on to them. When we grow old, they will take care of us. These are some of
the advantages of having a child.
To couples whose situation is similar to ours, we advise you to keep trying and to keep
praying. To couples who have already given up, we advise you to always stick up for each other
and to be patient on what God's plan will be. To couples who have no plans on having a child, let
us just respect their decisions.

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INFORMANT N
Spokesperson: Wife
When we think about our past experiences, it was lonely because we were not able to
conceive a child. It was sad to think that we don’t have someone to play with. We were very
determined to bear a child; we were determined to know the reason behind the situation we were
in. We always consult our Doctor. After some examinations, we were able to find out that my
husband and I had some problems. We found out that we are both sexually dysfunctional- my
husband was diagnosed having low sperm count while mine was irregular menstrual cycle.
That’s why we can’t have children.
For almost 15 years, we have visited several hospitals. Within 6 months, we have regular
check-ups at Surigao Medical Hospital but they weren’t able to fix the problem. Our desire to
conceive a child drives us to depart from Surigao to Cebu just to look for a specialist in
Chunghua Hospital but same thing happened, after a month nothing happened, and for two years
still no progress.
Our last resort was artificial insemination at Davao Doc. We underwent Artificial
insemination. Although it’s stil a failure, we still seek for other doctors. Our last attempt was on
2001 “Doctor Bullo, whom was our obstetrician, jokingly said “I cannot afford to admit you
because it seems that you are having shopping sprees in clinics.” So we stopped. Other people
also tried to extend their help by advising us to resort to adoption.
We feel obligated to have one just to fulfill our longing to have a child but we are still
doubtful. At first, we are ok, we were fine , but, time came that we realize that having a child of
your own brings you a different feeling, If you don’t have a child, who will succeed your hard-
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earned wealth? Although we find joy in seeing our nephews and nieces, it doesn’t give us the
right satisfaction that we need, that’s what we thought. What can we do if God still won’t give it
to us?
There was also a time when we thought of adopting from our relatives, but we can’t find
one. We tried other means to improve our chance of bearing a child... And so we seek for advice.
We tried other ways. We had work-out sessions with our OB and we once again undergone
artificial insemination- my husband’s extracted semen was processed and was injected directly
into my uterus. Those efforts of ours never resulted to fruition. It doesn’t have a hundred percent
chance of success so yeah, it’s a failure.
Does being a childless couple affect our relationship? In my part, It doesn’t affect our
relationship because we accepted the reality of our situation. I you won’t accept it, you won’t be
happy, besides we always did our best. If it’s not God’s will, it’s not meant to be. I accepted that
all those times we spend were all part of God’s plan. When it comes to social factors, it can’t be
avoided that we become challenged. The pressure is there but we don’t pay much attention to the
people around because it will result to stress and self-pity… But still we sometimes feel pain
especially when people doubt and mock our perseverance in trying our best to have children.
They may also think that we prioritized our house over children. But we didn’t mind it, we’ll just
try our best. We often experience societal pressure, but it’s ok- it can’t be avoided; they don’t
know the real story behind our struggle so why bother. We can’t announce everything. We’re the
only ones who knew what’s going on in our relationship; we can’t do anything about them
Within our family members, we often feel like an outcast and have self-pity, considering
during family gatherings, unlike them we still don’t have children…Time comes that we feel
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self-pity. Of course we would wish to have children. It somehow feels like we haven’t fully
fulfilled our marriage. It will eventually come…it has been 15 years of being childless.
So, the advice we can give to other people that have the same case as us is… that we
should accept the reality of it if you want to be happy. And as much as you can, never stop
trying. Marriage has no greater purpose than to have children. Don’t we get married to have
family and procreate? So in the first 2 years of marriage you should start working. So as early as
possible, you can already see your decendants.
For those couple who actually chose to not have children, I would respect their decision.
If it’s their happiness to not have children than go ahead! But in my opinion that is wrong,
because for me, the purpose of marriage is building a family and that includes children.
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APPENDIX G
TRANSFORMED MEANING UNITS OF THE INFORMANTS
Table 1. Psychological Transformed Units of Informant G
REFERENCE TRANSCRIPTION WITH LINES PSYCHOLOGICAL

NUMBER IN STABLISHING MEANING TRANSFORED MEANING
POINTS UNITS
G1 What’re our experiences Ben? Hehehe G asked her husband for assistance in
wait a sec… recalling their experiences
(Uma’y ato mga kaagi Ben? Hehehe
huyat anay…)
G2 Our experiences… at first, in the first G anticipated to be pregnant in their
few years of our marriage, I said to early years of marriage
myself that I will get pregnant.
(Ag among kaagi… Sa permero pa
kuan, first years sa paminjo nag-laong
gajod ko na makabdos. )
G3 Then, whenever I see my colleagues G is affected by seeing her pregnant
getting pregnant, colleagues
(Tapos, makakita gani ko’g
mangabdos na mga kaibanan na mga
maistra, magself-pity ko. )
G4 I often pity myself. I often think, G is envious of her pregnant
“Why just them?” I did my best, and colleagues
even have regular consultation with
my doctor yet I still can’t get G is envious of her pregnant
pregnant. colleagues
(Laong ko, “Nah! Uman sila raman?
Ag ako, grabi na naho’gpaajon-ajon,
balik-balik na ko’g doctor, waya man
gihapon ko nikabdos.
G5 One time, my regular menstruation G thought she was pregnant because
suddenly stopped. It hasn’t come for of the symptoms
around 5-8 days so I thought, “This
could be it!” 10 days passed,
(One time diadto na ya na ko nag-

mens, mga… Kuan mga five… Eight
days na siguro ‘to, laong ko, “Basi’g
amo na ni!” Aw waya gajod! Mura’g
niabot na ug ten days! )
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G6 and on the 11th day I started moving G believed she is pregnant and acted
and walking slowly and carefully. accordingly
(Mao ‘to… Sus pagka eleven, hinay-
hinay na ko maglakaw,
G7 Ma’am Enaldo, a colleague of mine, G ‘s colleague noticed a change in her
even noticed and asked me if I’m behavior, and made an assumption
pregnant or something,
giingnan man gani ko ni ma’am
Enaldo nga, “Ding, kabdos ka?” )
G8 and I denied and said no. G denied her colleague’s
(Waya ko magsaba, “Dili man claim(speculation)
ma’am.” Pero waya na ko nagsaba. )
G9 On the 11th day, my mens came, so got G’s theory was proven false by the
frustrated again return of her menstruation
Pagka ika-eleven days… Nagmens
man ko! Nah! Nafrustrate nasab ko! ) G’s assumption was proven false
when her period came
G10 but I kept it from my colleagues G kept her miscaculation from her
because I’m afraid they might mock colleagues to avoid mockery
me for being too presumptuous.
(Pero dili ko magestorya sa mga
kaiban, an ako ra, kay basig kun…
Kuan-kuanon ko nila ba, amo adto na)
G11 And so I was like that for the first 5 G experienced that on the first 5 years
years of our marriage of their marriage
(First five years gajod to).
G12 For the next 6-10 years… I was still G remained hopeful and waited
hopeful of getting pregnant, I still
waited
(Next, another kuan 6-10 years…
Hopeful gihapon ko diadto na
magkabdos ko. )
G13 That’s it, I still waited G still waited
(Yan na, sige ra lamang ko’g paabot. )
G14 After 10 years, I underwent surgery in G started losing hope for pregnancy
my right ovary, so I was like… there’s after her operation on her right ovary
no hope- there’s little to no chance of
me getting pregnant.
(Human diadtong 10 years nilabay,

kuan ra… Plus! Naoperahan na dajon
ko, Permero sa ovary, sa right ovary,
so mura ra og kanang… wa na’y
chance, mura’g gamay rakan an
chance na manganak kay... )
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G15 But they say that, women can still get G found hope when she knew she can
regnant even with just one functioning still get pregnant with just one ovary
ovary.
(pero laong sila, naa man kuno’y uban G found hope with the possibility of
na bisag isa rakan ka ovary… getting pregnant even with just one
manganak. ) ovary as what others claim.
G16 But in my case, if I would be compare G thinks she is not fertile enough
to soil, I’m not rich enough to sustain
life or plants can’t grow on me. I need
fertilizer…
(Para sa aho na case… kay mura’g
dili man kun… kung sa lupa pa dili
kun taba na lupa- kaitan, kinahanglan
gajod og kanang fertilizer. )
G17 This aside, I still believe that if it is G believes in God’s will
God’s will that I get pregnant, then I
will.
(So ako nilaong, “sige ra lamang kay
basig manganak pa ko kun an Ginoo
na gajo’y magbuot. )
G18 9 years since my last operation on my G encountered another problem 9
right ovary, another problem came- years after her last operation
apparently, the cyst from my ovary
spread into my uterus permanently
damaging it beyond repair
(Imbis na operahan ko og sa right
ovary- after pag-opera naho niabot ko
og 9 years gikan pag-opera sa right
ovary, nagkaproblema nasab ako sa
ako uterus o bahay-bata- ang cyst
nikanat. )
G19 I knew this because I have yearly G had annual checkup with Dr.
check-up with Dr. Abalos at Cebu Abalos
(Mao to pag… kay yearly man gajod
ko magpacheck-up sa Cebu, )
G20 She saw that cyst rapidly multiplied G found out from her Dr. About the
and invaded my uterus her condition
(didto nakita ni Dr. Abalos na daghan
na’y ahong cyst na naka-kuan sa ako
uterus)
G21 I had no choice but to undergo surgery G underwent surgery against her will
for the removal of my uterus for the removal of her uterus
(Mao to na… no choice na kay
nilaong man si doktora na, “kuhaon
namn natu gajod ni kay dili naman…”
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Gikuha rakan gajod tanan. )

G22 That’s when I finally gave up, because G finally gave up and face the truth
no matter what I say, it’s impossible to
bear a child without a uterus G finally gave up and faced the truth
(So didto na ko nihunong kay bisag
unhon pa naku paglaong ko na,
“Manganak gajod,” di naman kay ya
namay kapuy-an sa bata. )
G23 So that was it, but I wasn’t regretful G has no regrets and kept her faith
though, because I wasn’t my decision strong
to not have children - it’s God’s will
(Na wa na, pero waya sab ko
nagmahay kay dili man na kun amo
pag-buot, Ija man, )
G24 If it was me, I have always wished to G dreamed of having at least 5
have children when I get married children
because it was my ambition to have at
least 5 children.
(kay kun ako’y magbuot gani, sauna
mulaong ako, “Kun ako’y maminjo,
ako bata lima kabuok para bibo!”
Amo ako ambisyon. )
G25 Well… 5 became 0 then huh… G’s goal of having 5 children was
(So ang nahitabo, an lima nahimong never accomplished
zero. ) G’s goal of having 5 children was
never attained
G26 It all ends there… my wish to have G’s wish ended there
children
(Amo to na… Waya na ko dajon, ni-
end na an ako… pag-wish na magka-
anak, )
G27 Then, a lot of people came to us G was introduced to adoption and
asking if we would lie adopt children. recieved an offer
(sunod human ato, daghay mag-offer
sa amo mag…kanang adopt, ) G received adoption offers
G28 But my husband was quite picky. He G’s husband dislikes the idea of
said, “I don’t like those kids because adoption
we don’t know their background.”
(pero kining akong bana arang
kapilian isahay, mulaong sija, “Nah!
Dili ko diana kay wa ta kabayo sa
background ana. )
G29 here was someone from Cantilan who G recieved another offer of adoption
offered us a child to adopt from Cantilan
(May gajod nanawag sa ako taga

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Cantilan na, “Jari bata diri adapa!”

kay lajo lagi kuno. )
G30 but my husband told me, “Let’s pass G’s husband is skeptical towards the
Ding, who knows which bloodline that idea of adoption and continue to
child came from, for all we know that reject it
kid might be from the bloodline of
crazy people.” We wouldn’t know
(Laong sab si Ruben na, “Di lamang
ta Ding, basi kun kanin-o jaon
kaliwatan, basi kun kaliwat jaon nan
mga, jaon ba mga lang-on ta lamang
na kaliwatan nan boangon.” Dili man
natu mahibaw-an. )
G31 Then I said to him, “ it’s ok Ben, we G is positive
may be lucky.”
(Ok ra kun… Amo dajon to laong ko
na, “Nah, sagdi ra sab lamang Ben
kay, basig swertehan baja ta!” )
G32 I also shared to him a story of a couple G shared a story about a couple who
who also cannot have children. resorted to adoption
They’ve adopted a child from manila
whose background they didn’t know
about.
(Kay aho sab to sa iya gi-share tong
sa didto pa ako sa Cantilan nagskwela
may ija kuan kanang Engineer sija sa
kanang CPA, way ila anak ba.
Nangadopt sila og kanang bata na
gikan gajod sa Manila na waya hibay-
I kung kinsay ginikanan. )
G33 Back when computers weren’t popular G shared that the adopted child was
yet, that kid’s room was full of books poured with learning matterials but
that you would think it’s a mini library turns out to have low IQ
at first glance. But unfortunately, the
child’s IQ was very low. G shared that despite of being well-
(Pagkahuman, tagpaskuyla kinta nila equipped with learning materials, the
siyempre buhos man gajod sa mga adopted child has a low IQ
panginahanglanon kay sija raman,
waya pa may sauna uso an computer,
ang ijang room puno ma’g mga libro,
mini library gajod tan-awon nimu,
pero grabi gajod sija ka-ubos ug
kanang IQ.)
G34 I tried to convince him that it’s a case G stays positive and tried to convince
to case bases. her husband
(Amo to nilaong ko na… ahong
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giestorya sa ija, “Pero dili man tanan

Ben,” )
G35 Dr. Abalos said that it’s up to the G’s doctor told them that the
parents on how they raise their child development of the child is
(laong gani si Dr. Abalos naa raman influenced not only by it’s nature but
kuno sa ato, kay kita man an also on how it is nurtured
nagpadako. )
G36 I also heard about adopted children G hears about adopted children who
who tend to rebel once they know that turn rebelious upon knowing they are
they are adopted adoption
(Naa po’y akong madunggan na mga
adopted na, mura na noon sila og G is skeptical about adoption upon
kanang, kung makabalo na gani na hearing about adopted children who
adopted sila, mura sila nan kanang turned rebelious upon knowing they
magrebelde, magkaproblema nasab are adopted
nuon ka)
G37 I said to myself, “ Never mind Lord, G gave up on adoption and resorted
we will just take care of our nephews to taking care of their nephews and
and nieces nieces
(“Sagdi rakan Lord,” naa may sab
pag-umangkon naku)
G38 As long as we treat them well and G expects their nephew and nieces to
avoid being indifferent to them they’ll treat them the way they treat them
eventually look up to us and may be
able to care for us when we grow old. G hopes that their nephews and
They won’t neglect us since we never neices will not forsake them as long
neglected them. as they treat them well
(basta ok sab lamang imo dealng sa
ilaa dili sab ka kun indifferent sa ila
na dili nimu sila kanhi-kanhion,
mulook-up raman siguro gihapon na
kun matiguyang ta, di pud ta
pasagdan kay wa man ta magkuwang
nila. )
G39 So that’s it, we lost all hope! Until I G lost all hope and just let time to
aged 45… pass by
(Mao to na wa na jud ko na ‘ya na!
Hangtod niabot na lamang ko’g kuan
ni-edad na ko’g 45. )
G40 when I reached 50, it all ended there G reached the menoposal age and
(Pag-abot gajod og 50, wa na gajod, finally stopped
dili na ko mangadopt kay tiguwang na
ko. )
G41 I even last person offered me to adopt G recieved an offer of adoption for
a child but I refused since I’m too old the last time but she refused because
for it of her age
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(Pero last gajod nay nianhi diri, laong

ko na, “Nay,di na man ko pwedi, )
G42 I can no longer stay up late at night G explains that she can no longer
specially when in instances that the handle the role of a full time parent
child may get sick. I couldn’t do it
anymore. It all ends there
(di na man gani ko kaangot magbilar,
na kung nay batang gamay masakit,
magbilar man ka.” Dili na gajod ako.
Ya na ni-end gajod an ako kuan di na.
)
G43 Has being childless affected our G confirms the question
relationship?
(Naapektohan ba nan amo pagka-
wayay anak an amo relasyon? )
G44 I don’t know about my husband G seemed unaware of her husband’s
(Inday… sa… inday kang Ruben sa faithfulness
part)
G45 but in my part, I don’t think it did G is confident of her faithfulness
(sa ako, murag wa’ man ko apektohi. )
G46 Some couples are prone to temptations G thinks that some people are prone
leading to cheating fueled by the urge to temptation because of being
to have children, childless
(Kuan man prone kanang iban bitaw
mag… mangabit, maghanap og anak,
)
G47 but in our case in God’s mercy we did G never gave up until the very end
not end up like them
(pero kintahay kaluoy sa Diyos, i-
ampo gajod lamang nimo na, kay naa
man gajo’y diha mga temtasyon nimo)
G48 Despite being childless, we haven’t G did not give in to the temptation of
resorted to cheating cheating
(Bisang way kinta amo anak, way
lamang mga estorya ba nga sugilanon
na kabit kay nanginahanglan sija og
anak. )
G49 I could say that we did not choose to G’s condition is not their choice
be childless
(Sa ako, ok ra ako kay dili man
mulaong na ya man di, sa ako
mulaong man gajod ako na aya man
naku tujoa na ya ko kaanak. )
G50 If we did, I would feel guilty G thinks that if they chose to be
(Kun tagtujo siguro namu na dili childfree, they would feel guilty
manganak ako mismo ma-guilty ko, )
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G51 but I’m not guilty G is not guilty

(nakay dili man ko guilty, )
G52 As for my husband, fortunately he is G is relieved to think that her
faithful to me. That’s at least what I husband is faithful
know,
(kun sa ija sab, kaluoy sa Diyos
faithful man sab sija. )
G53 I don’t know for certain (Inday G is somehow doubtful
lamang sab kinta kay waya kita
kabayo… hehehe)
G54 since we’re not together all the time G and her husband are not togather
(sa ako ra, di man mi iban sa tanan all the time
panahon, inday lamang sa ija. )
G55 For other childless couples with the G thinks that childless couples like
same situation as us, all I could say them should understand each other
is… please understand each other
(An ako malaong sa iban nga parehas
namo na kahimtang, magsinabtanay
rakan kamo. )
G56 Just like in my case, you should G thinks that wives like her didn’t
understand that it is not your wife’s chose to be in that condition
fault since she didn’t do it on purpose
(Parehas sa ako na akoy depektado,
(magsinabtanay rakan kay in the first
place dili man nato tinuyoan, )
G57 What kind of couple wouldn’t want to G questions the choice of childfree
have children? couples
(kinsa ma’y gajod mag-minjo na dili
magkinahanglan nan anak? )
G58 For those couples who chose to not G thinks that childfree couples are
have children, all I could say is they self-centered and wouldn’t share their
are being self-centered, they wouldn’t blessings
share their blessings
(An ako malaong sa mga di gajod
gusto magka-anak, kuan kanang self-
centered ra sila, dili sila mu-share og
blessings. )
G59 If you plan to get married, as much as G adresses the advice to couples who
possible, plans to get married
(Basta magminjo kinahanglan gajod
magka-anak mintras kaya, )
G60 your goal is to build a family and have G thinks that the children are the
children because they are you family’s happiness
happiness,
(kay kalipay man nijo an mga anak. )
G61 it’s because the essence of having a family is G thinks that the essence of getting
94
having children. married is having children

(Kay an “essence of having a family is having
children” man. )
Table 2. Psychological Transformed Units of Informant A

POINTS UNITS
A1 Our experiences as a childless couple? A rarely agues with his wife
My wife and I never really quarrel and
we don’t argue about money matters
(Kaagi namu sa ako asawa, sa amu
gajud di gajud kami mag-away, dili
kami mag-away sa kwarta,)
A2 because money isn’t really something A doesn’t consider money as a thing
to argue about to argue about
(kay murag ang kwarta sa amu kay
dili murag ok ra tapos)
A3 When we argue, it’s not about money. A sometime argue about other things
(Kun mag-away kami dili sa kwarta…) but never about money
A4 The only factor that causes conflict A and his wife sometime have
between us is jealousy conflicts concerning jealousy
(mag-away kami jaon selos-selos ra, )
A5 since we don’t have children A is childless
(isa sab siguro jaon kay waya may
bata lagi namu. ) A thinks being childless is one of the
reason of their conflicts
A6 Before, I get jealous maybe because A is jealous because of fear of losing
I’m afraid of losing her his wife
(Ako sauna magselos ko kay kuybaan
ko)
A7 but then I realized, “why would I be A realized that he musn’t be jelous
jealous when her faithfulness is considering the faithfulness of his
obvious and prominent?” wife
(pero na-realize naku na uman

magselos man ako na nakita man naku
na waya sija nagbinuang, )
A8 There was also one time when she’s A’s wife also experienced being the
become the jealous one jelous one
(tapus na-reverse nasab sija nasab

hinua an nagselos sa ako)
A confronts his wife and questions
A9 so I asked her, “Why would you get her jealousy
jealous?”
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(taglang-an naku, “uman magselos

man kaw?” )
A10 Our relationship went with time and A states the timeline of their marriage
we’ve been married for 12 years, as a
matter of fact we’re celebrating our
13th anniversary this coming
December, since we’ve been married
since 2004
(Nagkataas amu relasyon… kay 12
years naman kami mi 13 na kibali sa
December… 2004 man mi ge-kasal)
A11 5 years after marriage, I still get A still gets jealous even after 5 years
jealous since she’s a lot younger than of marriage
me
(mga 5 years siguro magselos pa ako
jaon sa ija kay bata pa man lagi sija
sa ako. )
A12 she’s 11 years younger than me. A is 11 years older than his wife
(Manghud ko raman sija nan 11
years…)
A13 Just when I finally understand her and A’s wife became the jealous one
stopped my jealousy, she became the
jealous one.
(So pagabot sa punto na nakasabot
sab ako 6 years pataas amo sab jaon
magselos sab lagi sija sa ako…)
A14 Her jealousy may be fueled by other A’s wife was affected by rumors
people’s rumors saying I should just
find another woman or resort to
adoption if my wife couldn’t provide
me a child
(Hamok man sab lagi estorya-estorya
na, adto sa lain kun di kaw kaanak sa
imo asawa didto kaw sa lain ug pang-
adopt rakan…)
A15 yes that’s what our neighbors say A confirms what there neighbors said
(Oo amu jaon mga estorya-estorya sa
mga silingan namu... )
A16 but that’s not the case for me A thinks that it is not like that in his
(Pero dili jaon bahala kon dili… case
A thinks that it’s different in his case
A17 I wouldn’t resort to drastic measures A is not affected by rumors
just because we can’t have children of
our own
96
(ayang-ayang magpakamatay kami

kun way amo bata…)
A18 Whatever will be will be. Jealousy is A thinks jealousy is their only issue
our only issue aside from being
childless.
(bahala na kun amoy abtan namu sa
amu pagka-menjuon amu raman jaon
selos-selos ra. )
A19 We tried our best to conceive a child A tried their best to conceive
(Nagtesting kami para makaanak…)
A20 Yes, we even went to Cebu for check- A went to cebu for checkup
up
(Oo nagpacheck-up kami sa Cebu na
kay)
A21 There we knew from the doctor that A recieved the good news
we have the potential to have children
(pagpacheck-up namu didto laong
gajod ang doctor na makaanak kami
duha, )
A22 but it’s a 50-50 chance. It’s like this: A explains each others condition
In my case, I have sufficient amount
of sperm but they were weak and can
barely reach the fallopian tube
(puro lamang gajod… kibali ako
sperm sakto sa kahamukon pero weak
lamang sija, )
A23 As for my wife, her egg is too thick A continues to explain their condition
with fat that its wall can only be
penetrated by a strong sperm
(ang ija sab kuno ovary ba tawag
jaon… or eggcell pagsaka kuno sa ako
spermcell pagsugat sa ija eggcell jaoy
kuno nakaharang tungod sa ija
kadakuon… taba ba sa ilayom…)
A24 We’re unfortunately meant for each A and his wife are meant for each
other other
(nagkapares gajud kami…
A25 If only my sperm is stronger, we can A regrets his condition
conceive a child
(kay kung ang isa kuno active kuno
maka-anak kuno mi. )
A26 The doctor told us to never lose faith A’s doctor convinced them to never
and always pray lose faith
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(Laong ang doctor, “iagi lamang sa

ampo na maka-anak ra lagi mo” )
A27 And so around 2016 we were finally A and his wife finally succeeded in
able to conceive a child concieving a child
(Mga 2016 nikabdos anay sija)
A28 But after 3 months it was A’s wife’s pregnancy led to
unfortunately led to miscarriage miscarriage
(after 11 years na kabdos sija 3
months napunit)
A29 So that’s it, what a waste A is full of dismay
(mao to siya, saying gajod…)
A30 Being childless hasn’t really affected A’s relationship wasn’t affected by
our relationship, their condition
(Waya maka-apekto sa amo relasyon
ang wayay anak)
A31 but I don’t know about others A isn’t aware of how other people
(pero ambot lamang sa iban…) handle their relationship
A32 Our love for each other remained as is A’s relationship stood strong
(amo ra gihapon amo
paghinigugmaay. )
A33 We even strived harder A and his wife strived even more
(Naningkamot na nuon kami…)
A34 since it was constantly set in our mind A constantly reminds himself of their
that we still have no children condition
(kay mabutang man samo hunahuna
na waya rabay amo bata. )
A35 We need to strive and earn money so A prepared for their future
when we get older we can afford a
caregiver
(Kailangan gajod nato na jaoy ato
kwarta kay pag-abot na matiguyang
ta, kay majaw ra lamang jaoy mag-
silbi... )
A36 Our sex life hasn’t been affected too. A’s sex life wasn’t affected by their
(among sex-life amo ra gajod condition
gihapon. )
A37 For couples like us, all I can say is A addresses the advice to couples
(Ako mahikalaong sa pareho sako na with the same condition as them
sitwasyon na gusto magka-anak…)
A38 uhm… pray every day A advices to pray everyday
(kuan siguro ako madvice ampo ra
lamang siguro. )
A39 If it really is God’s will for you to not A surrenders their fate to God and
be able to have children, then you wants to resort to taking care of their
should just take care of your nephew and nieces
nephews/nieces instead
98
(Kun dili itugot sab sa Ginoo na dili

kamo hatagan ug bata mamahimo
man sab siguro na nimo itabang sa
imong mga pag-umangkon)
A40 so they could help you too when you A thinks that their nephew and nieces
get old can help them in the future
(kay siguro man gajod ug ma-feel
nimo na motabang sila sa imo
pakatiguyang... )
A41 With or without children, just pray A thinks prayer is essential despite
(kun may bata o waya basta ampo ra the condition
lamang gajod siguro. )
A42 For couples who are medically A addresses the advice to barren
confirmed to be incapable of having couples
children,
(Kun sa mga magti-ajon na maingnan
na gajod ng doctor na waya na gajoy
chance, )
A43 just love your partner, stick to one A advices to just love their partners
(An ako gajod mahilaong na and stay together
higugmaon gajod nila ila partner)
A44 so that if either of you retires first, the A thinks whoever rettires first can
other can take care of you. take care of the other
(kay kuan, magstick-to-one rakan
gajod kay total kun sin-oy mauna jaon
musilbi ang isa ang mabilin sa isa mo
silbi man gajod)
A45 Or you can invest to your A advices to invest to their nephews
nephews/nieces and nieces
(pundar kaw sa imo pag-umangkon. )
A46 For couples who chose not to have A adresses the advice to childfree
children, couples
(Jaon magtiayon nga tagpili nila na
dili mag-kaanak gikan pag menyo. )
A47 I could say that there really are people A respects the individuality of other
who think differently people
(Jaon siguro makalaong gajod siguro
mga tawo gajod lahi na panghuna- A acknowledges the individuality of
huna siguro. ) other people
A48 Why would they choose not to have A questions the choice of childfree
children when they are our happiness? couples
(Uman mupili man sila na way anak o
bata kagana ratun may bata, )
A49 They are our treasure, I would say. A thinks that children should be
(treasure gud tun. ) considered treasures
99
Table 3. Psychological Transformed Units of Informant B

POINTS UNITS
B1 Our experiences? It was because of B points the blame on cooking bingka
cooking, it’s because of baking
“bingka”.
(An amo kaagi, ini namn laging
pagluto-luto, gumikan lagi sa pagluto-
luto pagbingka,)
B2 One more thing that concerned me is B also points the blame to medicines
when our body aches we drink taken when experiencing body pain
medicine right away,
(isa sab naku kakuanan inin lain ato
lawas tapos mutumar,)
B3 of course when medicine enters the B explains how medicine enters the body
stomach
(syempre an tablitas jaon adto sa ija
tijan.)
B4 it directly affects pregnancy. B thinks that medicine directly affects
(Dili man kun laong ta jaon na an pregnancy
kinabdosan dili kun lain na tablitas an
magdaya.)
B5 Just relax and rest calmly. B thinks it’s better to just relax and be
(Irelax ra kuan kalma ra ba) calm
B6 it’s not fatigue B thinks that fatigue is not the excuse
(dili kun laong na pasmo jaon sija)
B7 One of the causes of miscarriage is the B thinks that miscarriage is caused by the
heat from the furnace that is directly entrance of external heat into the womb
absorbed by the body especially since
the womb is facing it directly B thinks that miscarriage is caused by the
(na syempre mapunit gajod jaon sija absorptionof external heat into the womb
kay an kalangka adto sa ija tijan kun
magluto.)
B8 Even if she uses a stopper, it will not B thinks that a stopper cannot shield the
help block the absorption of heat. body from heat
(Bisan mugamit pa sija nan stopper
musibaw gihapon an kalangka.)
B9 It happened not just once but twice. B explains how many times his wife has
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What can we do? experienced miscarriage

(Kaduha na mahitabo, amo ra
gihapon, uno pa may ato mahimo?
B10 It’s not my fault, it’s hers. B defends himself from blame and puts
the blame to his wife
(Di kun ako sajop, sajop nija!)
B defends himself from blame and points
the blame to his wife
B11 We’ve been married for 17 years. B and his wife had been married for 17
(17 years na kami minjo.) years
B12 We’ve tried many ways for her to get B have tried many ways to get her wife
pregnant pregnant
(Nagtesting na kami nan lain pamaagi
para makaanak.)
B13 We can’t say that I’m the B thinks that t he’s not the dysfunctional
dysfunctional one! one
(Di man kun laong na ako’y daot!
B14 I am capable of impregnating a N exclaims how potent he is
woman; I even have a child from
another woman way back when I was
at Manila.
(Nakabata man gani ako sa manila-
isa sa lain na baji.)
B15 If my first born from my current wife B estimates the age of their first born if it
was alive, he would have been the was still alive
same age as Aunt Lalay’s daughter EJ.
(Kun buhi pa an amo maguyangi, amo
na jaon kan tiya Lalay EJ.)
B16 It was the same case for her second B states that their first and second child
successful pregnancy have the same fate
(Pagka ika-duha, ya gihapon)
B17 so that’s it, I just searched for a job. B gave up and resorted to searching for a
(na ya na, nanarbaho rakan ako nan job
ako)
B18 9 years after her last miscarriage, we B and his wife decided to stop trying
finally stopped trying. after 9 years
(9 years na since nisuko kami sa
pagtesting.)
B19 As of now, it has become our decision B thinks that any further attempt would
to stop trying since it would only end only result to miscarriage
in miscarriage no matter what.
(Sa pagkakuman, amo na gajod
desisyon na di rakan musuway na
magkaanak kay amo ra man gihapon
mapunit ra man.)
B20 Being childless really affected our B thinks that their relationship was
affected by their condition
101
relationship
(Naapektohan gajod sa amo
pagkawayay-anak an amo relasyon.)
B21 What I’m concerned about is when we B is worried for their future
grow old, who would support us?
(An ako kakuanan, kun matiguyang

kami, simay sa amo mualalay?)
B22 That is what I kept on telling her that B puts the blame on his wife
it is her fault for not taking care of her
body while pregnant, unlike me who
kept my body in shape!
(Amoy jaon tagalong naku sa ija, “
jaon na sa imo, ikaw, di kaw mag-
amping sa imo lawas,)
B23 unlike me who kept my body in shape! B thinks his body is on a better shape
(ako nag-amping ako nan ako!”) that his wife
B24 I work to support our needs, but her B thinks his job is more important than
cooking is just a hobby or in the very his wife
least, just a little financial support.
(Nanarbaho gud ko, jaon ija luto-luto
abag-abag ra man jaon, di gajod
mamati.)
B25 Her work is not hard, that’s what she B thinks than his wife’s work is not hard
does every day.
(Jaon trabahoa dali raman jaon, amo
jaon ija kada adlaw ikonsomo,)
B26 She would rather work than take care B thinks his wife prefers working which
of herself which leads to miscarriage. he thinks is the result of her miscarriage
(mas ipalabon man gud nija an
trabaho kaysa pag-amping sa ija
lawas)
B27 see! She had two consecutive B points out the number of miscarriages
miscarriages his wife underwent
(nah kaduha lagi kapuniti.)
B28 I told her, “What a waste! 4 months? 3 B continues to scold his wife and once
months? It’s also because of the again blames the medicine
medicine.
(Laong ko, “kasayang,” 4 months? 3
months? Tablitas ra’y nagdaya.)
B29 I can’t do anything, I would not force B thinks he is not forceful
he anyways.
(Waya nay ato mahimo, di man sab
ako manlugos.)
B30 She also lost hope since her uterus has B thinks that her wife already lost hope
already descended because of her uterus’ condition
102
(Naway-an na sab sija nan paglaom,

kay an ija matres niubos na.)
B31 I wanted to have her uterus cleaned, B is worried for the expense of having
but having it cleansed would cost us a her wife’s uterus cleaned
fortune though
(gusto man gani naku na ipalimpyo

nakay madak-an naman sab.)
B32 that’s why I used to always warn her B always warns her wife but her wife is
but she won’t listen. stubborn
(Permi bitaw naku jaon sija sagdahon
pero di gajod mamati.)
B33 Other people would say that I’m the B hears rumors about his condition
defective one,
(Mulaong man an mga tawo na ako
kuno an daot,)
B34 but how can that be if I was able to B proclaims the rumors to be fake
impregnate he more than once?
Though it all ended in miscarriage,
(pero umay pagkadaot naku na
nakabuo gani, napunit lamang.)
B35 I sometimes get hurt by the things B is emotional towards negative rumors
other people say about us,
(Isahay masakitan sab kita inin
ipanlaong sa mga tawo)
B36 because it makes us look like failures B thinks rumors make them look like
just because we can’t have children. failures because of their condition
(kay amora naman hinuon kita ini nan
inutil sanglit ra kay wayay anak.)
B37 We won’t resort to adoption since we B doesn’t want to adopt
don’t know the full background of
those children.
(Di sab mi ganahan mangampon kay
kanin-o ra kaha jaon anak ya ta
kabayo sa background.)
B38 All I can say for those who are of the B addresses the advice to couples with
same case as us, the same condition as them
(An malaong naku sa mga parihas
namu na kaso,)
B39 please take care of yourselves, B advices that they should prioritize their
(palihog ra pag-amping sa ijo lawas) well-being
B40 but mostly for the part of the wife. B thinks the wife should take care of
kay jaon ra na sa baji kun mag- themselves more
amping sija,)
B41 Avoid drinking medicine B thinks unnecessary drinking medicine,
unnecessarily and avoid stress and exposure to stress should be avoided
103
(maglikay nan mga tumar-tumar - intake

sanan stress.)
B42 For those couples who could never B addresses the advice to barren couples
have children,
(Sa mga iban sab na baog na gajod

gikan sugod,)
B43 just accept the inevitable, it would be B thinks it’s better to accept the
God’s will. inevitable if it is God’s will
(dawaton rakan an kamatuoran na
waya gajod aw pagbuot na jaon sa
Ginoo)
B44 But as much as possible do your best B thinks that if there is a chance they
and take case of yourselves. should never stop trying
(pero mintras kaya pa, ariglar ra
gajod sa lawas.
B45 I don’t believe that there are couples B doesn’t believe in the existence of
who would choose not to have childfree couples
children.
(Di ko mutuo na jaoy di ganahan
magka-anak.)
Table 4. Psychological Transformed Units of Informant O

POINTS UNITS
O1 Our experience as a childless couple... O confirms the question
(Kaagi namu isip mag-asawa na way
anak...)
O2 Our way of coping up is to appreciate O prefers understanding in their

each other. relationship
(Ang amu na lamang is mag
kasinabtanay ra lamang)
O3 Although we don’t have children, we O hopes that they won’t get separated
want to stay together. despite being childless
(bisan way amu anak sana dili kami
mag buyag.)
O4 We were pressured by the people O is experiencing societal pressure
around us
(Jaoy mga preasure sab sa amu na
sinati sa iban na mga tawo..)
O5 but we didn't mind them. O didn’t mind the pressure they are
104
(Pero waya ra lamang namu tag- experiencing

mind…)
O6 We haven't tried ways to have a child. O didn’t try other ways to have a
child
(waya sab kami mo testing nan mga
pamaagi para mag-kaanak ,)
O7 We were just waiting patiently, that O is still waiting until God grants
someday, God will allow us to have them children
one.
(nagpaabot ra lamang sab kami kung
hatagan nan Ginoo.)
O8 We also want to have children… O wants to have children
(Gusto sab namu mag kaanak...)
O9 Being childless has sometimes O thinks that being childless affects
affected our relationship. their relationship
(maka apekto sab sa amu relasyun
usahay an pagkaway anak)
O10 When we grow old or sick, who will O is worried about their future as
take care of us? childless couples
(labi na kay mag katiguyang ta
syempre adto mn gajud ta mapasingod
tas mag katiguyang nata way mu-
alaga alaga sa ug magka sakit.)
O11 To couples whose situation is similar O advises couples like them to just
to ours, we advise you to keep trying pray
and to keep praying.
(Ang ma-advice naku sa pareho sab sa
amo ba sitwasyon is “mag ampo ra
lamang sa Ginoo”…)
O12 To couples who have already given O addresses the advice to couples
up, we advise you to who’ve lost hope
(ug sa mga tawo nga ni suko na or
nawad.an na ug paglaom, an ako
lamang ma advice)
O13 always stick up for each other O advices other couples to stay
(bisan pa ug waya sila hatagi ug anak together despite the circumstances
mag iban gihapun sila bisag magka-
unsa…)
O14 and to be patient on what God's plan O believes that everything is
will be. according to God’s plan
(padajun ra lamang kun amoy plano
sa kahitas.an…)
O15 (Ako ka advice sa way gajud plano na O addresses the advice to childfree
magkaanak sagud pa…) couples
105
O16 To couples who have no plans on O respects the choice of other

having a child, let us just respect their couples to stay childless
decisions.
(Para sa ako ok ra sab sa ako

respetohan natu ila desisyon kon amu
gajuy ila gusto…)
O17 But I hope they’d realize the true O hopes that childfree couples would
happiness brought by children and that dream to have children because O
they would strive hard to have them as thinks that children can give
much as possible. happiness unlike any other
(Pero unta panganduyon nila na
magka-anak kay lain ra man gud an
kalipay na maihatag nan mga anak.)
Table 5. Psychological Transformed Units of Informant N

POINTS UNITS
N1 When we think about our past N was lonely for not having children
experiences, it was lonely because we
were not able to conceive a child.
(Kaagi namu isip mag asawa sauna
medyo lonely kay waya may amu
bata)
N2 It was sad to think that we don’t have N wants to have children to play with
someone to play with.
(tapos waya say amu kaduwa-duwaan
di mingaw gajud…)
N3 We were very determined to bear a N tried their best to have children
child;
(Tapos naningkamut kami
namagkaanak, )
N4 we were determined to know the N underwent medical checkup to
reason behind the situation we were in determine the problem
that we always consult our Doctor.
(so amu gihimu nag pa check-up kami
sa doctor… para madetermine namu
kon uno gajuy problema)
N5 After some examinations, we were N and her husband both have
able to find out that my husband and I problems
had some problems. We found out that
we are both sexually dysfunctional-
106
(so after examination nafound out

namu na may kanya kanyang
problema kami sa amu kaugalingun, )
N6 my husband was diagnosed having Mr. N has low sperm count
low sperm count
(sa part nan ako bana medyo kuyang

ang ija sperm cell…)
N7 while mine was irregular menstrual Mrs. N has irregular menstrual cycle
cycle.
(an ako sab may problema sab sa ako
dugo irregular man ako dugo)
N8 That’s why we haven’t have children. N have no children because of that
(maong waya mi kaanak) reason
N9 For almost 15 years, By that time, N has been married for
(It’s 15 years na) 15 years
N10 we have visited several hospitals. N have visited several hospital
(Hamok na’y amu nakadtuan na
hospital)
N11 Within 6 months, we have regular N’s first hospital visit did them no
check-ups at Surigao Medical Hospital good
but they weren’t able to fix the
problem.
(first diha kami sa medical hospital
sunod in 6 months kay waya man
gihapon)
N12 Our desire to conceive a child drives N’s second hospital still can’t help
us to depart from Surigao to Cebu just them with their case
to look for a specialist in Chunghua
Hospital but nothing happened
(so didtu na sab kami sa Cebu sa
Chunghua amu ra gihapon. )
N13 after a month nothing happened After a month there, they still haven’t
(After 1 month examination wayay got the result they want to hear
nahitabo gihapon)
N14 for two years still no progress. 2 year of waiting and they still got no
(2 years na lamang balik-balik didto good news
waya gihapoy nahitabo…)
N15 Our last resort was artificial N is down to their last resort
insemination at Davao Doc.
(Pagkakuan gajud kay tungod sa pag
paningkamut na mag kaanak… nag
Davao Doc. )
N16 We underwent Artificial insemination. N underwent Artificial insemination.
(Nag undergo na kami ng artificial
insemination)
107
N17 Although it’s still a failure, we still N experienced failure and tried again
seek for other doctors
(Bisan dili gihapon successful,
naghanap gihapon kami nan lain-lain
doctor)
N18 Our last attempt was on 2001 N’s last attempt was 16 years ago
(Last namu sa doctor 2001)

N19 Doctor Bullo, whom was our N’s doctor jokengly expressed the
obstetrician, jokingly said,“I cannot bad news
afford to admit you because it seems
that you are having shopping sprees in
clinics.”
(Matud pa ni doktora Bullo na “dili
na taka dawatun kay nag shopping
nakag OB” )
N20 So we stopped N finally stopped
(So amu na tag stop)
N21 Other people also tried to extend their N encountered an opportunity to
help by advising us to resort to resort to adoption
adoption.
(adto tapos niabot ang panahon may
nag kuan sa amu na mag adopt kami
or willing ba kami)
N22 We feel obligated to have one N thinks they are obliged to adopt
(May amu intention na mag adopt)
N23 just to fulfill our longing to have a N longs to have children
child.
(kay lahi ra gajud na jaoy imu
alagaan)
N24 but we are still doubtful N is doubtful
(pero nag-duhaduha pa gihapon
kami)
N25 At first, we are ok, we were fine N was fine of being childless at first
(Pero an premero pa namu ok ra
gajud na way amu anak total enjoy
man kami happy man kami…)
N26 But, time came that we realize that N changed their mind, hence changed
having a child of your own brings you their belief
a different feeling
(Pero ni abot ang panahon ni kuan sa
ako isip na lahi ra gajud nga naa kaw
anak)
N27 If you don’t have a child, who will N is concerned of not having a
succeed your hard-earned wealth? successor to their wealth
(nungka sige kaw paningkamot apan
108
simay imu kabinlan ng imu mga

hinaguan…)
N28 we find joy in seeing our nephews and N prefers having their own children
nieces, but it doesn’t give us the right over nephews and nieces
satisfaction that we need.
(Naa lage mga pag-umangkon lumon
pero lahi ra gajud ang imu bata na
gajod )
N29 that’s what we thought. N think so
(ingn-ana ni sangtop sa ako isip na
gana gajod na jaon)
N30 What can we do if God still won’t N thinks everything is according to
give it to us? God’s plan
(na usnaon taman waya paman lagi
hatagi ng ginoo…)
N31 There was also a time when we N once thought of adopting a relative
thought of adopting from our relatives
(So amu adtung time na may nag
gusto tana namu mag kuan ampon sa
mga kadugo namo)
N32 but we can’t find one N can’t find a relative they can adopt
(pero waya may sa kadugo namu, )
N33 And so we seek for advice. N seek for advice
(nagpa-advice rakan kami…)
N34 We tried other ways. N resorts to other options
(testing kami nan mga lain
pamaagi…)
N35 We had work-out sessions with our N underwent work-out session by
OB their OB
(So amu lagi adtu sa OB gi-work out
kami)
N36 we once again undergone artificial N Tried artificial insemination once
insemination- more
(Nag kuan nasab kami nag artificial
insemination-)
N37 my husband’s extracted semen was N explains the process undergone by
processed and was injected directly them
into my uterus.
(ang ako bana tag kuwaan sija ng ija
semen tapos tag process then tag
inject sa ako…)
N38 Those efforts of ours never resulted to N’s effort were in vain
fruition. It doesn’t have a hundred
percent chance of success so yeah, it’s N’s effort were futile
a failure.
(amu adto pagpaningkamut nasab
109
namu pero waya rasab gihapun di

hundred percent succesful so waya
gajod.. )
N39 Does being a childless couple affect N confirms the question
our relationship?
(Naapektuhan ba ang amu relasyon

nan pagka-way anak?)
N40 In my part, It doesn’t affect our N accepted the truth
relationship because we accepted the
reality of our situation.
(Sa ako waya man kay syempre dawat
ko unoy kamatooran gajud)
N41 I you won’t accept it, you won’t be N thinks that you won’t be happy if
happy. you won’t accept the truth
(kay dili kaw ma-happy kon dili nimu
dawaton ang kamatooran gajud no? ) N thinks acceptance is the key to
happiness
N42 besides we always did our best N tried hard to conceive a child
(Total namingkamut man kami na
mag-anak)
N43 If it’s not God’s will, it’s not meant to N thinks that if it is not given to them,
be. it is not meant to be.
(kun waya gajud taghatag, di gajod
siguro para sa amo…)
N44 I accepted that all those times we N accepts that everything is according
spend were all part of God’s plan to God’s will
(ang amu taghatag na time gidawat
nako na amu adtoy pagbuot sa
Ginoo…)
N45 When it comes to social factors, it N is challenged by societal pressure
can’t be avoided that we become yet she chose to accept it than to feel
challenged. The pressure is there but stressed.
we don’t pay much attention to the
people around because it will result to
stress and self-pity…
(Sa social factors dili man malikayan
na usahay ma-challenge kaw pero
dawat gihapun kaysa ma stress
rakaw…)
N46 But still we sometimes feel pain N still felt emotional pain
(pero magbati gajud kaw syempre)
N47 especially when people doubt and N thinks people don’t understand
mock our perseverance in trying our their situation
best to have children.
(abi siguro nila waya kami
110
maningkamot dili baja malalim)

N48 They may also think that we Society thinks that N prioritized their
prioritized our house over children. house
(tapus kun ok ra ba kami kay tag-una
namu ang bayay)
N49 But we didn’t mind it, we’ll just try N didn’t mind the pressure since they
our best did their best
(pero waya namu na gi-mind kay ang
amu maningkamot gajud kami. )
N50 We often experience societal pressure, N experienced societal pressure
but it’s ok- it can’t be avoided
(Nag-agi sab kami ng preasure sa
society dili man jaun natu malikayan)
N51 In front of them I just laughed it off, N hides their true feeling in front of
but deep inside I also get hurt other people
(pero ako tag-huna huna gwatsi-
gwatsi raba pero may meaning sab sie
usahay sab ma challenge kaw... )
N52 they don’t know the real story behind N thinks people wouldn’t understand
our struggle so why bother. their shortcomings
(pero ok raman sa ako kay kami man
ang mas naka-bayo kun amu na
N53 We can’t announce everything. N want to keep some things private
(ayang-ayang ibandilyo ko…)
N54 Since people sometimes mocks us. N experienced being mocked by
(waya ug magkuan sila usahay mag other people
biay-biayun kaw)
N55 We’re the only ones who knew what’s N knows what they went through
going on in our relationship, we can’t more than anyone else
do anything about them
(pero ok raman sa ako kay mas kami
man ang naka-bayo kun unoy amu tag
buhat... )
N56 Within our family members, we often N feels self-pity
feel like an outcast and have self-pity
(Sa close family member nako usahay
mag self-pity kami)
N57 during family gatherings, unlike them N feels like an outcast in family
we still don’t have children…. gathering because of being childless
(labi na kon jauy mga gathering
kanya-kanya man gajud mga anak
hu…)
N58 Time comes that we feel self-pity. N pity themselves
(Usahay muabot ang time na mag
self-pity kami…)
N59 Of course we would wish to have N dreams of having children
111
children.
(syempre mangandoy sab gajud kaw
na mas gana ra gajud kon jauy sab
imu anak)
N60 It somehow feels like we haven’t fully N thinks that to become a parent,
fulfilled our marriage. having children is highly required
(tapos ang imu sab bation gana sab
kay makuan nimu na parents gajud N thinks that to become a parent,
kamo…) having children is essential
N61 It will eventually come…it has been N realized the need to have children
15 years of being childless. later in their lives
(Kadugayan mo abot ra jaon sa imo
huna-huna pero sinugdan waya kay
syempre 15 years nagud…)
N62 So, the advice we can give to other N addresses the advice to couples like
people that have the same case as us them
is…
(Amo ika advice sa pareho sa amu
case na mga couples)
N63 that we should accept the reality of it, N thinks that if you can’t accept the
if you want to be happy, truth, you can’t be truly happy
(kung dili kaw mo accept sa
kamatooran dili gjud kaw ma happy
dapat kabayo sab kaw modaya
madawat nimu…)
N64 And as much as you can, never stop N thinks that a couple should do their
trying. best to conceive a child
(Ug mag sabot sab kamo magtiayun
maningkamot gajud na mag-kaanak…
N65 Marriage has no greater purpose than N thinks that the purpose of marriage
to have children. is having a child
(waya may lain purpose an marriage is
to have a child man gajud)
N66 Don’t we get married to have family N thinks that to get married is to see
and procreate? your offspring
(ugsa diba mag-menyo kaw para maka
kita nan liwat, )
N67 So in the first 2 years of marriage you N thinks that couples should try there
should start working. best from the beginning of their
st
(so in the 1 2 years maningkamut na marriage
kamu na magka-anak)
N68 So as early as possible, you can N thinks that the earlier they try, the
already see your decendants. earlier they’ll see their children
(para atleast saju ra nimu makita ang
iju mga liwat… pero sa amu
maningkamut man... )
112
N69 For those couple who actually chose N addresses the advice to couples
to not have children, who chose to be childfree
(Sa mga couple na choice nila ang dili

mag kaanak,ang amu insight kung
choice gajud nila na dili mag ka-
anak…)
N70 I would respect their decision. If it’s N respects the childfree couples’
their happiness to not have children choices
than go ahead!
(aw kung choice gajud nila na dili sila
mag ka-anak ila man kalipay go
ahead…)
N71 But in my opinion that is wrong, N thinks that being childfree is not
(pero sa ako kung in my opinion right
murag dili saktu jaun)
N72 because for me, the purpose of N thinks that the main point of
marriage is building a family and that getting married is building a family
includes children.
(kay ang marriage kon sa word na
marriage ang main point ana is to
build a family.)
113
APPENDIX H
DATA ANALYSIS FOLLOWING THE GIORGI’S PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD
Theme 1. CHALLENGES: Undergoing trials and problems in the life of childlessness; Concepts,
Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G3 G is affected by
seeing her pregnant
colleagues
G4 G is jealous of her
pregnant colleagues
G11 G experienced that on
the first 5 years of
their marriage
A6 A is jealous because
of fear of losing his
wife
A18 A thinks jealousy is Experiencing
their only issue difficulties as a
Struggles
B36 B doesn’t want to childless
adopt couple
O10 O is worried about CHALLENGES:
their future as Undergoing
childless couples trials and
N1 N was lonely for not problems in the
having children life of
N58 N pity themselves childlessness
N38 N’s effort were in
vain
N23 N longs to have
children
N27 N is concerned of not
114
having a successor to
their wealth
N28 N prefers having their
own children over
nephews and nieces
N31 N once thought of
adopting a relative
G2 G anticipated to be
pregnant in their early
years of marriage
G5 G thought she was
pregnant because of
the symptoms
G10 G kept her
miscaculation from
her colleagues to
avoid mockery
G25 G’s goal of having 5
children was never
accomplished Being drawn to
A21 A recieved the bad false hope
good news
A28 A’s wife’s pregnancy
led to miscarriage
B9 B explains how many
times his wife has
experienced
miscarriage CHALLENGES:
N17 N experienced failure Undergoing
and tried again trials and
N18 N’s last attempt was Trials problems in the
16 years ago life of
childlessness
N19 N’s doctor jokengly
expressed the bad
news
G14 G started losing hope
for pregnancy after
her operation on her
right ovary
G16 G thinks she is not
fertile enough
G18 G encountered
another problem 9
years after her last
115
operation Experiencing
G20 G found out from her medical
Dr. About the her problems snd
condition seeking for
G21 G underwent surgery remedy
against her will for
the removal of her
uterus
G49 G’s condition is not
their choice
A22 A explains each
others condition
B2 B also points the
blame to medicines
taken when
experiencing body
pain
B4 B thinks that
medicine directly
affects pregnancy
B6 B thinks that fatigue
is not the excuse
B7 B thinks that
miscarriage is caused
by the entrance of
external heat into the
womb
B8 B thinks that a
stopper cannot shield
the body from heat
N5 N and her husband
both have problems CHALLENGES:
Experiencing Undergoing
N6 Mr. N has low sperm
medical Trials trials and
count
problems snd problems in the
N7 Mrs. N has irregular
seeking for life of
menstrual cycle
remedy childlessness
N8 N have no children
because of that reason
N11 N’s first hospital visit
did them no good
N12 N’s second hospital
still can’t help them
with their case
N13 After a month there,
they still haven’t got
116
the result they want to

hear
N14 2 year of waiting and
they still got no good
news
N15 N is down to their last
resort
N16 N underwent Experiencing

Artificial medical
insemination. problems snd
seeking for
remedy
N57 N feels like an outcast
in family gathering
because of being
childless
G27 G was introduced to
adoption and recieved
an offer
G29 G recieved another
offer of adoption
from Cantilan
B33 B hears rumors about
his condition
O4 O is experiencing
societal pressure
G41 G recieved an offer of
adoption for the last CHALLENGES:
time but she refused Societal Undergoing
because of her age pressure Trials trials and
N21 N encountered an problems in the
opportunity to resort life of
to adoption childlessness
N50 N experienced
societal pressure
N54 N experienced being
mocked by other
people
N22 N thinks they are
obliged to adopt
A14 A’s wife was affected
by rumors
B35 B is emotional
towards negative
117
rumors
B36 B thinks rumors make
them look like
failures because of
their condition
N45 N is challenged by
societal pressure
chose to accept it than
to feel stressed.
N48 Society thinks that N
prioritized their house
N51 N hides their true
feeling in front of Societal
other people pressure Trials
N52 N thinks people
wouldn’t understand
their shortcomings CHALLENGES:
N53 N want to keep some Undergoing
things private trials and
A48 A questions the problems in the
choice of childfree life of
couples childlessness
B1 B points the blame on
cooking bingka
Being Denial
B16 B states that their first
defensive,
and second child have
indenial, and
the same fate
negligent
B31 B is worried for the
expense of having her
wife’s uterus cleaned
O6 O didn’t try other
ways to have a child
Theme 2. DISCORD: Lacking of agreement in terms of handling their needs as a childless

couple; Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
B20 B thinks that their
relationship was
affected by their
condition
B22 B puts the blame on Blaming the DISCORD:
118
his wife circumstance Lacking of

B23 B thinks his body is each other for the Conflicts agreement in
on a better shape than discord of the terms of
his wife relationship handling their
B24 B thinks his job is needs as a
more important than childless
his wife couple
B25 B thinks that his wife’s
work is not hard
B26 B thinks his wife
prefers working
which he thinks is the
result of her
miscarriage
B27 B points out the
number of
miscarriages his wife
underwent Blaming the
B28 B continues to scold circumstance
his wife and once each other for the
again blames the discord of the
medicine relationship
B29 B thinks he is not
forceful
B30 B thinks that her wife
already lost hope
because of her uterus’
condition
B32 B always warns her DISCORD:
wife but her wife is Lacking of
stubborn agreement in
O9 O thinks that being terms of
childless affects their Conflicts handling their
relationship needs as a
A4 A and his wife childless
sometime have couple
conflicts concerning
jealousy Jealousy
A8 A’s wife also
experienced being the
jelous one
A9 A confronts his wife
and questions her
jealousy
A11 A still gets jealous
even after 5 years of
119
marriage
A13 A’s wife became the
jealous one
G44 G seemed unaware of
her husband’s
faithfulness Doubt
G53 G is somehow
doubtful
N24 N is doubtful
G28 G’s husband dislikes
the idea of adoption
G30 G’s husband is
skeptical towards the
idea of adoption and Conflict of
continue to reject it desires
G34 G stays positive and
tried to convince her
husband
G6 G believed she is Conflicts
pregnant and acted
accordingly DISCORD:
A31 A isn’t aware of how Lacking of
other people handle Misunderstanding agreement in
their relationship terms of
N47 N thinks people don’t handling their
understand their needs as a
situation childless
A25 A regrets his couple
condition Regret
A29 A is full of dismay
G8 G denied her
colleague’s claim
B10 B defends himself
from blame
B13 B thinks that t he’s Denial
not the dysfunctional Self-
one preservation acts
B14 N exclaims how
potent he is
B21 B is worried for their Worrying for the
future future
Theme 3. ACCEPTANCE: Willing to take challenges through attuning with each other;
120
MEANING UNITS
G22 G finally gave up and ACCEPTANCE:
face the truth Accepting Willing to take
G26 G’s wish ended there failure and Endure challenges
G23 G has no regrets and problems in through attuning
kept her faith strong the relationship with each other
G37 G gave up on
to taking care of their
nephews and nieces
by
G40 G reached the
menoposal age and
finally stopped
parent
G51 G is not guilty
B17 B gave up and
for a job
B18 B and his wife
decided to stop trying ACCEPTANCE:
after 9 years Willing to take
B19 B thinks that any Accepting challenges
further attempt would failure and Endure through attuning
only result to problems in with each other
miscarriage the relationship
N20 N finally stopped
won’t be happy if you
won’t accept the truth
N44 N accepts that
121
everything is
will
face the truth
by
G40 G reached the

menoposal age and
finally stopped
parent
only result to
miscarriage
won’t be happy if you Accepting
won’t accept the truth failure and Endure
N44 N accepts that problems in
everything is the relationship
will
happy ACCEPTANCE:
A7 A realized that he Willing to take
musn’t be jelous challenges
considering the through attuning
faithfulness of his with each other
wife
A47 A respects the
individuality of other Adjusting for Flexibility
people each other’s
N43 N thinks that if it is sake
is not meant to be.
122

happy
N70 N respects the
choices
G23 G has no regrets and
kept her faith strong
G51 G is not guilty
musn’t be jelous
considering the
faithfulness of his
wife
A47 A respects the Adjusting for Flexibility
individuality of other each other’s ACCEPTANCE:
people sake Willing to take
B18 B and his wife challenges
decided to stop trying through attuning
after 9 years with each other
N43 N thinks that if it is
is not meant to be.
N70 N respects the
choices
G37 G gave up on
to taking care of their Resorting to
nephews and nieces other options
B17 B gave up and
for a job
Theme 4. CONQUER: Surmounting problems through asking God’s guidance and doing their
best by facing the challenges; Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’
Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G17 G believes in God’s CONQUER:
123
will Surmounting
A38 A advices to pray problems
everyday through asking
A39 A surrenders their God’s
fate to God and wants Praying to God Praying to God guidance and
to resort to taking doing their
care of their nephew best by facing
and nieces the challenges
A41 A thinks prayer is

essential despite the
condition
O11 O advises couples
like them to just pray Praying to God Praying to God
O14 O believes that
everything is
plan
N30 N thinks everything is
plan
G13 G still waited
G12 G remained hopeful
and waited Staying hopeful
A26 A’s doctor convinced and patient
them to never lose
faith
G15 G found hope when Patience
she knew she can still CONQUER:
get pregnant with just Surmounting
one ovary Perseverance problems
A19 A tried their best through asking
A33 A and his wife strived God’s
even more guidance and
G50 G thinks that if they doing their
chose to be childfree, best by facing
they would feel guilty the challenges
A27 A and his wife finally
succeeded in Overcome trials
concieving a child
B34 B proclaims the
rumors to be hoax
B39 B advices that they
should prioritize their
well-being Overcome
B40 B thinks the wife
124
should take care of

themselves more Taking care of
B41 B thinks unnecessary self
drinking medicine,
and exposure to stress
should be avoided
O5 O didn’t mind the
pressure they are
experiencing
Theme 5. COMMITMENT: Building a strong relationship through spending time with each
other and helping one another and sticking to their goal; Concepts, Categories, and Themes
Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G45 G is confident of her
faithfulness
G48 G did not give in to Avoiding
the temptation of cheating
cheating
A17 A is not affected by
rumors
A2 A doesn’t consider Faithfulness
money as a thing to Loving the
argue about partner despite
O13 O advices other the
couples to stay circumstances
together despite the
circumstances COMMITMENT:
G24 G dreamed of having Building a strong
at least 5 children relationship
G47 G never gave up until through spending
the very end Trying to time with each
A34 A constantly reminds conceive a child other and helping
himself of their as much as they one another and
condition can sticking to their
B12 B have tried many goal
ways to get her wife
pregnant
G19 G had annual Decisiveness
checkup with Dr.
Abalos
A20 A went to cebu for
checkup
125
N4 N underwent medical Seeking for

checkup to determine medical help
the problem
N10 N have visited several
hospital
N33 N seek for advice
N34 N resorts to other
options
N35 N underwent work-out

session by their OB Seeking for
N36 N Tried artificial medical help
insemination once
more
essence of getting
married is having
children
children are the
family’s happiness
G31 G is positive
G58 G thinks that
childfree couples are
self-centered and
wouldn’t share their
blessings
A49 A thinks that children
should be considered COMMITMENT:
treasures Building a strong
B11 B and his wife had Strong belief relationship
been married for 17 and relationship Decisiveness through spending
years time with each
B43 B thinks that if there other and helping
is a chance they one another and
should never stop sticking to their
trying goal
O3 O hopes that they
won’t get separated
despite being
childless
O17 O hopes that childfree
couples would dream
to have children
because O thinks that
children can give
126
happiness unlike any

other
N9 By that time, N has
been married for 15
years
N60 N thinks that to
become a parent,
having children is
highly required
N61 N realized the need to
have children later in
their lives
N64 N thinks that a couple
should do their best to
conceive a child
purpose of marriage
is having a child
N66 N thinks that to get
married is to see your
offspring
N67 N thinks that couples
should try there best Strong belief
from the beginning of and relationship
their marriage
N68 N thinks that the COMMITMENT:
earlier they try, the Decisiveness Building a strong
earlier they’ll see relationship
their children through spending
N71 N thinks that being time with each
childfree is not right other and helping
N72 N thinks that the main one another and
point to getting sticking to their
married is building a goal
family
O7 O is still waiting until
God grants them
children
O8 O wants to have
children
N2 N wants to have
children to play with
N3 N tried their best to
have children Strong desires
N42 N tried hard to
conceive a child
127
N59 N dreams of having

children
Theme 6. SATISFACTION: Accepting the situation of being a childless couple in order to be

contented; Concepts, Categories, and Themes Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
A30 A’s relationship
wasn’t affected by
their condition
Staying strong
A36 A’s sex life wasn’t
affected by their
condition
A43 A advices to just love Self-
their partners and stay awareness
together
O2 O prefers Contentment SATISFACTION:
understanding in their Accepting the
relationship situation of being
N49 N didn’t mind the Understanding a childless couple
pressure since they each other’s in order to be
did their best flaws contented
N55 N knows what they
went through more
than anyone else
A35 A prepared for their
future
A40 A thinks that their Future
nephew and nieces preparedness Preparedness
can help them in the
future
Theme 7. LOVE: Cultivating a deeper sense of intimacy; Concepts, Categories, and Themes
Derived from the Informants’ Transcript
MEANING UNITS
G52 G is relieved to think Staying Strong
that her husband is faithful to relationship
128
faithful each other

A1 A rarely agues with LOVE:
his wife Cultivating a
G55 G thinks that deeper sense of
childless couples like intimacy
them should Understanding Bonding
understand each other each other
A24 A and his wife are

meant for each other
A32 A’s relationship stood
strong LOVE:
A44 A thinks whoever Understanding Bonding Cultivating a
rettires first can take each other deeper sense of
care of the other intimacy
O16 O respects the choice
of other couples to
stay childless
129
APPENDIX I
DOCUMENTATION
130
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name : Deofelzan Ryan S. Solis
Date of Birth : Novermeber 23, 1993
Place of Birth : Daywan, Claver, Surigao del Norte
Address : Purok 3 Daywan, Claver, Surigao del Norter
Civil Status : Single
Religion : Roman Catholic
Parents : Mr. Anatolio A. Solis
: Mrs. Deodelyn S. Solis
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Elementary : Daywan Elementary School
Daywan, Claver, Surigao del Norte
Highschool : Claver National High School
Tayaga, Claver, Surigao del Norte
College : Saint Paul University Surigao

131
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name : Gilla Daisy Belle I. Capucanan
Date of Birth : December 19, 1997
Place of Birth : Butuan City
Address : San Juan Navalca P7 Surigao City
Civil Status : Single
Religion : Roman Catholic
Parents : Modesto I. Capucanan
Ma. Lorena I. Capucanan
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Elementary : San Jose Elementary School
Highschool : Cagdianao National High School
College : Saint Paul University Surigao

132

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1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

infertility worldwide. There are varying opinions on the definition of infertility.

In Philippines, childless couples are often questioned or in some cases bullied. In

having no children means fewer expenses and fewer liabilities.

directed to the childless couple.

researchers to conduct this study, in order to clarify everything.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

their old age.

According to P. Palha, and M. F. Lourenco (2011), in a society that encourages and

life chances of individuals.

In definition of being “Childfree” Joshua M. Gold (2012), stated that individuals in

postpone the decision and eventually decide not to.

functions of marriage is procreation of children, may it be legitimate or adopted. Shinwari also

which any society can really feel proud.

through this data, the goal of the study was concluded.

Lived Experiences of Childless

Answered will be gathered through

The Grand Question will be asked,

Experiences of Childless Couples

Figure 1 Flow Chart of the Study

Statement of the purpose

The study explores the life of a childless couple.

experienced the same or similar phenomenon of the study.

Significance of the Study

This study is useful to the following group of people.

have been experiencing.

to the childless couples.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

informants, also known as involuntary childlessness.

research procedure, and data analysis.

This study utilizes the qualitative research-design. Specifically, Giorgi’s (2003),

The approach of Giorgi’s (2003), descriptive phenomenology is descriptive- reflective.

judgment of the researchers when it comes to selecting informants.

the experts in the field of Psychology.

Data Gathering Procedure

have answered the questionnaire honestly and sincerely.

Face-to-face Interview & Recorded

Figure 2: Data Gathering Procedure Model

Collect Data through Interview

Psychological Transformed Meaning Units of Informants

Concept analyzed from the Psychological Transformed Meaning Units

Categories from the Concepts of the Informants' ExperiencePsychological

Figure 3: Flowchart of the Procedure

The researchers will use Giorgi’s (2003), descriptive phenomenological approach in

interpreting the data with these steps:

whole phenomenological perspective.

and meanings in the descriptions.

psychological meanings content in the data.

pertaining to their general psychological consistencies.

Read the entire description in order to get the

Establish meaning units

Transform the meaning units into a more

Determining the structure

Figure 4: Flowchart of the Analysis

following are the ethical considerations:

data will be concrtete.

status of their relationship.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION