Tutulungan

Tutulungan is a Filipino term that refers to mutual aid and cooperative action among people. It arises from the root "tulong" (help) with a grammatical form that conveys reciprocity, and it is used as both a noun meaning mutual assistance and a verb form meaning to help one another.

In everyday usage, tutulungan emphasizes reciprocal support rather than a one-way act. It can describe informal neighborly acts as well as organized efforts by communities or organizations. The concept highlights that aid is part of a cycle, with giving and receiving occurring within a shared social sphere.

Culturally, tutulungan is closely linked to bayanihan, the traditional Filipino practice of collective effort for a common good. In modern contexts, it appears in disaster response, charity drives, volunteer networks, and social welfare programs, reflecting social cohesion and resilience in Filipino communities.

Examples include neighbors helping to repair a damaged house after a storm, community groups coordinating food distribution to affected families, or volunteers pooling resources to support a local project. While rooted in familiarity and kinship, tutulungan also operates in formal settings where organizations facilitate mutual aid initiatives.

See also: Bayanihan, Mutual aid, Kapwa.