Filipino values and cultural products are deeply spiritual in nature. Some key aspects of Filipino spirituality discussed include the indigenous belief in supreme beings like Bathala or Kabunyian. Filipinos also believe in spirits, good and bad fortune, and a common human core connected to a creative and divine goodness. Over 90% of Filipinos are Catholic and integrate Catholic prayers, rituals and traditions into their religious practices and festivals. Their spirituality provides strength and optimism during hard times, and faith in God gives a sense of national and spiritual anchor. However, overreliance on fatalism and the supernatural can also promote backwards thinking at times.

1. Filipino
Values*
As Cultural Products
Maria Glady H. Abogadie

2. I. Terminologies



Practice : patterns of social interactions, behaviors
(Kaugalian)
Perspectives: the philosophical perspectives, meanings,
attitudes, values, beliefs, ideas that underlie the cultural
practices and products of a society. They represent a
culture’s view of the world (worldview) (Pananaw,
pagtanaw)
Ethics: a system of moral principles, a systematizing,
defending and recommending concepts of right and
wrong within a particular race, or culture.

3. Innate and Indigenous Sense
of Spirituality

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Tagalogs believed in a sovereign
being “Bathala,” “Kabunyian (god of
the skies, Kalingas).
The assumption that all of humanity
are rooted in a common core of being
(ubod/kalooban), a creative, living
and divine goodness—thus a belief in
spirits, good or bad; and good or bad
fortune (bipolarism); mabuti/
masamang-loob

4. Filipinos…
IV. Religious
Values
Over 90% predominantly Catholics,
Iglesia ni Cristo, Aglipayans,
Protestants; Islam 5%, Other 1.8%
Unspecified and none 0.7%

Source: wikipedia.com
Filipinos have deep faith in God.
We perceive life and events in
the context of God’s will and
destiny. No matter what religious
orientation a Filipino has, he will
always go back to his spirituality
to explain the affairs of his
national or personal life.

5. Innate and Indigenous
Sense of Spirituality


Tagalogs believed in a sovereign being
“Bathala,” “Kabunyian (god of the skies,
Kalingas).
The assumption that all of humanity are
rooted in a common core of being
(ubod/kalooban);(De Leon), a creative, living
and divine goodness—thus a belief in spirits,
good or bad; and good or bad fortune
(bipolarism); mabuti/ masamang-loob

6. Filipino Religious Values

Madasalin (Prayerful)
-Being predominantly Catholic, we deposited Catholic
prayers, rituals, and traditions that show Filipino
religiosity and pageantry. This could be seen in some of
our religious customs and festivals.
Pasyon : A sung narration of the passion of Christ
during the Lenten season.
Rosary: Repetitive prayers recalling stages of the life
of Christ (glorious, suffering, ascension.)

7. 
Spiritual pageantry : a sense of religious grand, outward
festivity exuded from extreme fatalism. (Extravagant
Patron saints’ feasts, grand cathedrals, Flores de Mayo)
“Ubos-ubos biyaya, pagkatapos ay nakatunganga.”

“Bahala na” (Fatalism): gives “lakas ng loob” to survive
even in the hardest situations like disasters, economic and
political troubles

Indigenous animism: belief in spirits, anitos, in nature as a
holistic setting for spiritual and material existence, good
luck (malas), bad luck (swerte or tsamba); Philippine
mythology

Belief in the after-life: Both Christian, and Animistic roots
point to a belief of the afterlife, the “other” life. One good
example of indigenous afterlife practice is the fire
mummification process.

8. 
Declared as National
Treasures , the Kabayan
Mummies, Ibaloi or Benguet
mummies remained unknown to
history until their rediscovery
--Among the Ibaloi, the deceased
were placed in a fetal position into
oval-shaped wooden coffins with
etched anthropomorphic and
geometric designs.

9. Strengths
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Filipino fatalism provides optimism, courage and
strength in difficult times. Could be viewed as
defeatist resignation, but could also be a posit
for positive energy and psychic determinism
during hardships.
Faith in God gives a sense of national and
spiritual anchor in all seasons of history,
politics, and even daily life filled with financial,
and national troubles. The Filipino has a prayer,
or a spiritual explanation for whatever happens
in history.
Most large-scale and important Filipino social
movements were inspired by a strong belief in
God. (Katipunan, EDSA I, II)
A strong sense of morality despite the rapid
degradation and liberalization in the world
setting (homosexuality, marriage, raising
families and children).

10. Weaknesses
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
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Anti-modern bias, preferring the supernatural
over the scientific and rational, backwards and
regressive thinking.
Religious associations are part of the system of
vital kinship ties, patron-client bonds and other
relationships outside the nuclear family.
(Political endorsements; Ninong-inaanak; Sukob,
etc).
An over fatalistic attitude towards the urgent and
unexpected. Ex. A lavish and lax attitude towards
money vs. being “kuripot” (unique to the
Ilocanos). What an irony that Filipinos becoming
too resilient to floods refuse to act nationally on
typhoons, earthquakes and other natural
disasters perennially plaguing the country!

11. 
1.
2.
Our deep spirituality is a
unique culture, unrivaled in
the world
Our most attractive cultural products
Spanish architecture – old Catholic churches
and cathedrals (Manila Cathedral); old
universities (University of Santo Thomas)
Cultura Festivals – Showcase of Filipino
pageantry in regional religious feasts for patron
saints (Ati-atihan, Moriones Festival,
Dinagyang, -Moriones Festival - Marinduque
(part of Holy Week; commemorates Saint
Longinus) -Pintados-Kasadyaan - Leyte

13. •
Film Festivals

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Movie themes feature the deep spiritual,
superstitious and emotional psyche of the
Filipino imagination.
Cinemalaya

Metro Manila Film Festival

CinemaOne Originals

14. Indigenous Religious Practices:
Psychopathy--Filipino
psychomedicine, or sikomedikal
na sikolohiya , the application of
basic psychology to native
healing practices loosely
considered as 'medicine'.

15. Practiced by Katalonans (priests), faith
healers, babaylansa unique Filipino culture
attractive to the Westerners
 Hilot: The use of massage to aid a pregnant
mother in the delivery of her child.
 Kulam: Hex or bewitchment.
 Lihi: An intense craving for something or
someone during pregnancy. Faith healers or
manghihilot testify that if the craving is not
satisfied, abnormality of the child may result.
 Pasma: A concept that explains how init (heat)
and lamig (cold) together can result in illness,
especially rheumatism.
 Susto: Soul-flight. Derived from Latin American
traditions.

16. Pagtatawas: A method of diagnosing illness wherein alum
(called tawas) is ritualistically used by the albularyo or medicine
man for diagnosis of a variety of health conditions. Faith
healers/Albularyo

Usog: A concept that explains how a baby who has been
greeted by a stranger acquires a mysterious illness. Apparently
derived from the Spanish tradition of Mal de Ojo.
Gabâ or gabaa: The Cebuano concept of negative Karma
Hula: fortune-telling with the use of indigenous medium
talismans and charms