Kapatid: The Filipino heartbeat of loyalty, family and nation

In every culture, there are words that go beyond mere definition and enter the realm of the sacred. For Filipinos, one of these timeless words is “kapatid” which, at its simplest definition, means “sibling.”

- AMBASSADOR B. ROMUALDEZ

Anyone who grew up in a Filipino home would know that the concept of kapatid is not merely a matter of sharing the same bloodline. It goes beyond being a literal sibling to include a much more profound sense of brotherhood or sisterhood, extending to close friends, members of the same group or community — connoting a strong sense of affection and affinity.

Filipinos grow up in homes where siblings are lifelong allies. In the household, being a kapatid, especially when you happen to be the eldest, comes with significant responsibilities, sometimes akin to that of parents: to protect, to help, to guide, and at times, to sacrifice. The interaction between siblings teaches us loyalty long before we learn the meaning of the word itself. It is a way of life, a profound emotional compass, an invisible thread that binds Filipinos to one another.

And because these lessons inured early in our lives run deep, we carry them with us even as adults. Filipino families remain close through generations. Close friends grow up like siblings; godparents become second parents. Wherever Filipinos go — the US, the Middle East, Europe - they instinctively look for one another. They see another Filipino and feel instantly connected, as if something inside whispers, “kapatid,” and this attribute has largely shaped our national destiny.