DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF LAOAG CITY, INC.

LEARNING MODULE
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING
PROGRAM

Module 3:
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS

Prepared by:

CHRISTIAN JAY R. MARCOS

Instructor

[email protected]
[email protected]

+639954062927

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 DATA CENTER COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES OF LAOAG CITY, INC.

CHAPTER IV
FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS

Learning Outcomes:
1. Define Values
2. Enumerate and understand Filipino Values
3. Know the significance of the studying Filipino Values
4. Understand the Filipino Values and Culture
5. Know the different Filipino Characteristics

WHAT ARE VALUES?

Before delving into the discussion of values – Filipino values, in particular – it is worth
analyzing the word itself. The word “value” has its root in the Latin word “valere” which means to be
strong and vigorous. This proceeds from the premise that a human person has to have strength or
valor in every endeavor. It is the basis on which his strength in facing the challenges of life should be
directed.

Dr. Tomas Q. D. Andres (1986) would define values as “things, persons, ideas or goals which
are important to life; anything which enables life to be understood, evaluated, and directed.”

On the other hand, Edgar Sheffield Brightman defines value as “whatever is liked, prized,
esteemed, desired approved, or enjoyed by anyone at any time. It is the actual experience of enjoying
a desired object or activity. Hence, value is an existing realization of desire.”

Collectively, the values of a society would be the standards or principles for which an act is
judged to be what is right or wrong, correct or incorrect. As such, it is the goal set for every member
of the community to attain what is desirable. In other words, values in a society give meaning and
direction to every individual’s life and influence his human behavior.

Based on these definitions, we can say that values are those which are considered by the
society as desirable and important and have attained the status as moral impetus behind every action
of each member geared towards the desired end or goal.

WHAT ARE FILIPINO VALUES?

Significantly, Filipino values would be the standards or principles set forth by the Filipino
society as basis for what is right or wrong, the principles on which every member of the Filipino
society should persevere to attain in order to reach the ultimate realization of his life, regarding his
person and in relation to his family and society in general.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDYING FILIPINO VALUES

Several studies have been made on Filipino Values. They have always been interested in
examining Filipino values because it influences a Filipino’s behavior in particular, and shaping the
Philippine Society in general. How Filipinos feel and motivated to do a specific task is directed and
evaluated by his set of values. In order to understand the Filipino culture and the development of the
Filipino individual, one has to understand the underlying values on which every Filipino acts. Thus, a
study on the Filipino values would provide us a deeper understanding of the Filipino culture.

The shaping of the Philippine society into a successful and progressive nation would depend
on understanding and appreciating the positive side of Filipino values and how they are applied to
attain such goal. Thus, it is imperative that a full understanding and appreciation of the positive side
of our very own principles be made and used for our personal and national success.
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The purpose of this chapter, therefore, is to help us understand our Filipino values to enable us
to put the positive side of Filipino values in use and to disregard the negative ones. Thus, in the end,
through the development and use of positive Filipino values, we may bring out the best in the Filipino
society in general and the individual in particular.

UNDERSTANDING FILIPINO VALUES AND CULTURE

The Filipino society is composed of a mixture of different races and cultures, many of which
influenced the lifestyle and values being practiced in the Philippine community. Among those who
influenced the Filipino culture and values are our ancestors – the Malays and Indons, our colonists –
the Spaniards and the Americans, and nationals of other countries who have dealt with the Philippine
society through trade – the Chinese and the Indians. The resulting blend of this mixture of influences,
which are sometimes conflicting, is uniquely Filipino in character.

Most of the prominent Filipino values are the result of a blend of the rich Christian values of
Europe, the pragmatic and democratic values of America, and the spiritual values of Asia.

The basic social unit in the Philippine society is the family. It is here where values and
principles are nurtured and imbibed in each and every member of the family. The tradition of close
family ties has long been practiced and considered as the foundation of the Philippine society. So
much is the effect of this tradition that the members of the constitutional commission of the 1987
Philippine Constitution deemed it proper to include it as a State Policy and a chapter of the
fundamental law of the land. Thus, Article XV, Section 1 of the said constitution provides that “The
State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.”

It is in the family that the Filipino individual is introduced to the concept of structure and
hierarchy of power. He is always reminded to submit to the authoritarian familial set-up, where roles
are prescribed especially for younger members of the family. The Filipino family is structured in a way
that autocratic leadership rests on the elder members, where the young submit themselves to the
decision of family elders. He is indoctrinated of the tradition of primacy of the extended family over
that of the individual and that the only source of emotional, economic, and moral support is the family.

The Filipino individual identifies himself with his family. Right from childhood he is made to
believe that he belongs to the family. The Filipino individual is always encouraged to get advice from
his parents and submit to his parents‟ direction, counsel and advice. He is admonished to be good
because any disgrace that he commits is a disgrace to the family. In times of misfortune, he is
assured of his family’s support, sympathy and love.

Thus, Filipino society, in contrast with Western societies, prefers a rather "structured" way of
life, and not where he can be assertive of his own individuality.

However, modern era is catching up with the Filipino society. Changes must occur if the
Filipino society is to survive in a changing world. The Filipino society will have to keep up with the
changes brought about by modernization. The society must prepare itself for a serious reevaluation of
its values. In most instances, it will have to break away from its past and adjust itself towards the
future.

FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS

The characteristic that makes a Filipino vary from different society is his uniquely blended
culture and values from different influences. Filipino values, for reason of several influences that
shaped its identity, are bipolar like a coin that has two sides. They may either be positive or negative
in polarity. Let us take for example the value of utang na loob, or debt of gratitude. The value of utang
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na loob, the altruistic drawing of interior goodness of a person by returning a debt of gratitude, is by
itself positive. However, when one is coerced to honor a debt of gratitude and return the favor, then it
becomes negative.

Due to this ambivalence of Filipino values, they have the potential of being used for good or
evil. They may either help or hinder personal and national development, depending on how they are
understood or practiced or lived.

In order to shape the Filipino society into a successful and progressive nation, there is a need
to reevaluate the different values that influence every Filipino individual’s action to a set of
circumstances. We need to identify the positive side of every Filipino value and develop them in order
to yield a more successful and developed society.

According to factsanddetails.com and Philippines Australia Business Council, there are three
(3) main traits that underlie the Filipino values and value-orientation These traits have a strong
influence in the behavior and mentality of the Filipinos. These also have an effect in the Filipinos’
personal beliefs, cultural traditions and practices.

1. Personalism is a Filipino trait wherein they give importance to interpersonal relations or face-
to-face encounters. Filipinos usually extends their work or services through “personal touch” or
handles problem solving through good personal relations.

2. Familialism focuses on the welfare and interest of the family over those of the community. The
family is the basis of group action and almost all community activity centers on the family. In
decision making, it is the family that decides rather than the individual on important matters. It
takes into consideration the welfare of the family and not the individual. The family’s honor, not
the personal image, that is at stake when a family member makes a mistake.

3. Particularism relates to the strong family influence on the individual or group behavior. This is
shown when an individual strive to promote their own and their family’s interest over the
community’s interest. Popularity among peers is prevalent and observable. Thus, Filipinos
make special efforts to entertain friends and relatives. Pakikisama is very important.
Conformity to proper codes of conduct yields rewards of cooperation while non-conformity
results to withdrawal of support.

It is also important to know that there are three (3) main obligations that underlie the Filipino
value orientation namely – relational (pakikipagkapwa), emotional (damdamin) and moral
(karangalan). One or all of these may have influence in Filipinos’ lives and social relationships.

Let us then try to discuss some of the values in the Filipino society and re-evaluate them to
develop a more positive value for the Filipino individual.

A. UTANG NA LOOB

There is no specific translation that can approximate the meaning of this Filipino value of utang
na loob. Debt of gratitude is a lean excuse of a translation because it does not even approximate the
fertile concept of the Filipino loob.

Utang na loob is a situation where an individual is required to return a favor or service

received. However, the return of such service or favor cannot be translated into monetary equivalent,
and may reciprocated in a month of service or even a lifetime.

For example, a congressman proudly gives a town a new chapel, a bridge, or a waiting shed
(no matter whether the money came from his pocket or from the government), this makes the people
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indebted to him. And when elections come, he recites the litany of his projects and people “ought” to
repay these through their votes. Not to repay this form of debt means that those who were benefited
are walang utang na loob. After having been elected, the people would approach this congressman
for return of the favor by seeking employment for them. Thus, this would end into a vicious cycle,
where the person na pinagkakautangan ng loob becomes the giver and the giver becomes the person
na may utang na loob.

However, utang na loob may be interpreted in a positive outlook. If it is used with the concept
of justice, truth and human dignity, it would reflect the beautiful aspect of the Filipino character. Thus,
this altruistic feeling must voluntarily come from within the person himself, kusang loob; and should
not be demanded by coercing the person who has utang na loob, so as blind his sense of judgment.

Furthermore, this value should be used discriminately. The pagtatanaw ng utang na loob
should emerge from within the self of an individual with sense of justice so as to repay the person for
the favor or services rendered.

We should always remember that in demanding for the return of indebtedness, the golden rule
“Do unto other as you would want them to do unto you.” By demanding the return of the favor, would
you wish to become indebted in return? And when indebted, would you want that person to act the
same way when they are demanding the return of the favor?

B. BAHALA NA

Filipinos, by nature, are a religious group of people. They firmly believe in the supernatural and
in all kinds of spirit dwelling in individual persons, places or things. They believe in a Supreme Being
who will take care of things for them. The Filipino is very religious who has a saint to pray to each day
of the week.

The term bahala na comes from the words Bathala na. It reflects the Filipino's dependence on
the supernatural being and on fate. This tends to move toward the commonly conceived
procrastination character of the Filipino.

C. MAÑANA HABIT

Mañana Habit can be traced back in the Spanish colonization era. The term “Mañana” is a
Spanish word that means “tomorrow”. This is a Filipino trait that enforces procrastination - practice of
putting off work to be done in the near future or in the last minute. This habit is exemplified through
the “Mamaya na” or “Bukas na”.

D. NINGAS KUGON

The term Ningas Kugon translates to “burning of cogon grass”. As a Filipino trait, it means that
Filipinos tend to have a strong enthusiasm in the beginning of each work or endeavor but gradually
slows down and lose their drive to work and finish the job. It is said that in work Filipinos tend to do
their job half- baked or leave it unfinished.

E. AMOR PROPIO

As a reinforcement to the Philippine trait of “Hiya” or shame, Filipinos are akin to the traditional
attitude of saving “face”. Amor propio is another Spanish term that means a sense of self-esteem or
self-respect that prevents a person from swallowing his pride. It also means ego defensiveness or
maintaining one’s dignity and personal pride. According to the Philippines Australia Business Council,
amor propio often implies a vindictive reaction to questioning an individual’s action, integrity, or honor.
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F. BAYANIHAN

In an article entitled “Filipino Culture: Bayanihan: The Filipino Value that Must be Retained”, it
describe bayanihan as:

“Bayanihan is a core essence of the Filipino culture. It is helping out one’s neighbor as a community,
and doing a task together, thus lessening the workload and making the job easier. It is also called the
‘community spirit’. It is best exhibited when people wish to move locations in the rural area. The
traditional Filipino house, the ‘bahay-kubo’, can be moved using wooden poles which are carried from
the old place to the new one. This requires a group of people to lift and carry the house on their
shoulders. Able-bodied men usually participated in such feats, while women stood and watched,
casually chatting and cheering the men on. Afterwards, there will be a small gathering as a form of
celebration and socialization.” [SOURCE: https://everything-filipino.com/filipino-culture-bayanihan-
the-filipino-value-that-must-be-retained/]

OTHER STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

FILIPINO CHRACTER RESULTS

Camaraderie and feeling of closeness to one another;
Pakikipagkapwa-tao foundation for
unity as well as sense of social justice
Family Oriented Feeling of belongingness and rootedness and a basic sense
of security
Emotional balance, optimism, a healthy disrespect for power
Joy and Humor
and office and the capacity to survive
Flexibility and Productivity, innovation, entrepreneurship, equanimity and
Adaptability survival
Productivity and entrepreneurship for some and survival
Hardwork and Industry
despite poverty for others
Courage, daring, optimism, inner peace, as well as the
Faith and Religiosity
capacity to genuinely accept tragedy and death
Ability to Survive Bravely live through the harshest economic and social
circumstances

OTHER WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

FILIPINO CHRACTER RESUL

TS

Extreme Personalism Leads to graft and corruption

Lack of concern for the common good and acts as the
Extreme Family
block to national consciousness
Centeredness
Lack of Discipline Inefficient and wasteful work systems, violation of rules
leading to more serious transgressions and a casual work
ethics leading to carelessness and lack of follow- through

Passivity and Lack of Easily resigned to one’s fate and thus easily oppressed
Initiative and exploited

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Basic feeling of national inferiority that makes it difficult for

Colonial Mentality
them to relate as equal to Westerners
Dampening of cooperative and community spirit and in the
Kanya-kanya Syndrome
trampling upon of the rights of others
Lack of Self- Emphasis on form more than substance
Analysis and Self –
Reflection

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