Values are freely chosen beliefs that guide behavior. Filipino values are centered around social harmony and derived from cultural, religious, and family influences. Some key Filipino values include pakikisama (getting along with others), utang na loob (debt of gratitude), and hiya (shame). These values emphasize cooperation, obligation, and avoiding embarrassment to maintain interpersonal relationships and social acceptance. The document provides several examples of how these values shape Filipino behavior and culture.

1. VALUES SYSTEM

2. What we think
determines who we are
Who we are
determines what we do...
“The actions of men are
the best interpreters of
their thoughts.” -John Locke

3. What are Values?
VALUES ARE WHAT WE VALUE

4. What are Values?
Values: are freely chosen,
enduring beliefs or attitudes
about the worth of a person,
object, idea, or action (e.g.
freedom, family, honesty, hard
work).

5. Values frequently derive from a
person’s cultural, ethnic, and religious
background; from societal traditions;
and from the values held by peer
group and family.

6. Values form a basic for Behavior
“purposive Behavior”; The
purposive behavior is based on a
person’s decisions/choices, and
these decisions/choices are based
on the person’s underlying values.

7. Values are learned and are
greatly influenced by a
person’s socio-cultural
environment (e.g.
demonstrate honesty,
sincerity, observation and
experience)

8.  People need societal values to feel
accepted, and they need personal values
to produce a sense of individuality.
 Professional values often reflect and
expand on personal values
 Once a person becomes aware of his/her
values, they become an internal control
for behavior, thus, a person’s real values
are manifested in consistent pattern of
behavior

10. According to values clarification,
values are based on three
processes:
(1) choosing;
(2) prizing; and
(3) acting.

11. Choosing:
(1) freely
(2) from alternatives
(3) after thoughtful consideration of
the consequences of each
alternative

12. Prizing:
(4) cherishing, being happy with
the choice
(5) willing to affirm the choice
publicly

13. Acting:
(6) doing something with the choice
(7) repeatedly, in some pattern of life
(Raths, et al., 1930, p. 30).

25. Filipino Values
Filipino values are social constructs within Filipino
culture which define that which is socially considered to
be desirable. The Filipino value system describes "the
commonly shared and traditionally established system
of values underlying Filipino behavior" within the context
of the larger Filipino cultural system. These relate to the
unique assemblage of consistent ideologies, moral
codes, ethical practices, etiquette and personal and
cultural values that are promoted by Filipino society.

26. The formal study of Filipino values has been
made difficult by the historical context of the
literature in the field. The early scholarship about
the Filipino value system lacked clear definitions
and organizational frameworks, and were mostly
written by foreigners during the Philippines'
American colonial period. The latter half of the
20th century saw efforts to develop clearer
definitions and properly contextualized
frameworks, but many aspects of the scholarship
require further clarification and consensus.

27. The distinct value system of Filipinos has
generally been described as rooted
primarily in personal alliance systems,
especially those based in kinship,
obligation, friendship, religion
(particularly Christianity) and commercial
relationships.

28. Filipino values are, for the most part, centered at maintaining
social harmony, motivated primarily by the desire to be
accepted within a group.[dubious – discuss] The main
sanction against diverging from these values are the concepts
of Tagalog: hiya, roughly translated as 'a sense of shame', and
'amor propio' or 'self-esteem’. Social approval, acceptance by
a group, and belonging to a group are major concerns. Caring
about what others will think, say or do, are strong influences
on social behavior among Filipinos.

29. According to the anthropologist Leonardo
Mercado, the Filipino worldview is basically
'nondualistic'. Based on his linguistic analyses
of Filipino value terms like loob (Cebuano:
buot), he concludes that Filipinos desire
harmony, not only in interpersonal
relationships, but also with nature and religion,
while still remaining nondichotomous.

30. "The Filipino wants to harmonize the object and the subject,
while at the same time holding both as distinct."
— Elements of Filipino Philosophy (1974), Leonardo
Mercado, SVD
Florentino Timbreza, a cultural philosopher, concludes in his
book Pilosopiyang Pilipino (1982) that Filipino values are
based on the significance of the world to man. Life
experiences dictate the philosophy of the Filipino,
augmented by other sources like proverbs, folk sayings, folk
tales, and the like.

31. F. Landa Jocano identified two models of the Filipino
value system. The first is the exogenous model, a
"foreign model", while the second is the indigenous
model, or the "traditional model". The foreign model
is described to be "legal and formal". The indigenous
model is described as a "traditional and non-formal"
model or guide, deeply embedded in the
subconscious of the Filipinos.
Models of the Filipino values

32. The foreign model was inherited by
Filipinos from Western cultures,
particularly from the Spaniards and the
Americans. An example of a foreign or
exogenous influence is bureaucracy
exhibited in the government of the
Philippines.

33. Exposition of the Filipino traits as
an ambivalence of positive and
negative aspects:
“Hiya (shame): it contributes to
peace of mind and lack of stress by
not even trying to achieve.”

34. Filipino Values
“Ningas-cogon (procrastination): in
a way, it makes a person non-chalant,
detached, indifferent, nonplussed
should anything go wrong, and hence
conducive to peace and tranquillity.”
“Pakikisama (group loyalty): one
lives for others; peace or lack of
dissension is a constant goal.”

35. Filipino Values
“Patigasan (test of strength): it is a
sign that we know our rights and are
not easily cowed into submission. It is
Occidental in spirit, hence in keeping
with Nietzsche’s "will to power."”

36. Filipino Values
“Bahala na (resignation): one relies
on a superior power rather than on
one’s own. It is conducive to humility,
modesty, and lack of arrogance.”

37. Filipino Values
“Mañana or Bukas na
(procrastination): one is without
stress and tension; one learns to take
what comes naturally. Like the
Chinese wu-wei, this trait makes one
live naturally and without undue
artificiality.”

38. Filipino Values
“Kasi (because, i. e., scapegoat):
one can see both sides of the
picture and know exactly where a
project failed. One will never suffer
from guilt or self-recrimination.”

39. Filipino Values
“Saving Face: one’s psyche is saved
from undue embarrassment, sleepless
nights, remorse of conscience. It saves
one from accountability or responsibility.
This trait enables one to make a graceful
exit from guilt instead of facing the music
and owning responsibility for an
offense.”

40. Filipino Values
“Sakop (inclusion): one cares for
the family and clan; one stands or
falls with them. This trait makes a
person show concern for the family
to which he belongs. ”

41. Filipino Values
“Utang na loob (indebtedness): it
is a recognition of one’s
indebtedness. This trait portrays the
spirit behind the Filipino saying, "He
who does not know how to look to
the past will never reach his
destination."”

42. Filipino Values
“Kanya-kanya (self-
centeredness): one takes care of
oneself and one’s family: "Blood is
thicker than water."”
REFERENCES
Dancel, Francis. (2005). Utang na Loob: A Philosophical Analysis, Filipino Cultural Traits: Claro R. Ceniza Lectures.
Rolando M. Gripaldo, (ed.) Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 2005. 205p. back to text
Quito, Emerita S. (1994). The Ambivalence of Filipino Traits and Values, Values in Philippine Culture and Education,
Philippine Philosophical Studies I. Manuel B. Dy, Jr., (ed.) Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and
Philosophy, 1994. 205p. back to text
Disclaimer: The posts on this site does not necessarily represent any organization’s positions, strategies or opinions; and unless otherwise expressly stated, are licensed under
a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Philippines License.

43. Traditional Filipino Values
The tradition of bayanihan and
cooperation
The known Filipino hospitality

44. Filipino Values Related to Leadership
To be a leader in the Philippine
setting, a leader must have the
following qualifications:
1. Makatao (humane)

45. 2. Marunong makikipag-kapwa.
“one who took care of his
compnions.”
“isa sa atin”
“para sa lahat”
“pinakamahusay sa lahat”

46. 3. Marunong makisama.
4. Marunong magtrabaho at
magpatrabaho

47. The Characteristic of Filipinos
1. Kabuuan Oriented (wholistic)
2. Gaya-gaya- Imitative
3. Familism. (Kamag-anak oriented)
4. Malambing (Tender and loving)
5. Mahilig sa kasama (Companion oriented)

48. The Characteristic of Filipinos
6. maka-Diyos (Godly)
7. Regionalism or Region-Oriented
8. Maawain (Compassionate)
9. Utang –na-loob Oriented
10. Kapalaran Oriented

49. The Characteristic of Filipinos
49
11. Kapayapaan - Oriented
12. Bayani- oriented
13. Mapagkatha or Filipino Ingenuity
14. Fiesta or Pistahan Oriented
15. Filipino Hospitality

50. The Characteristic of Filipinos
50
16. Galang o Respect
17. Tiyaga or Resiliency
18. Madaling hatakin or Pliancy
19. “Makatao” or Personalism
20. Pakikisama or Harmony Oriented

51. References
Making Filipino Values Work for You
By: Tomas Quintin D. Andres

52. END