Filipino Way. Strengths and Weaknesses

1. The Filipino Way
Presented by: Ronn Joseph J. del Rio, LPT

2. Filipino Moral Characters: Strengths and
Weaknesses
 Filipino cultural morality especially that which
concerns social ethics, centers on ideally having a
“smooth interpersonal relationship (SIR) with
others.
 The definition of “smooth interpersonal
relationship” in Philippine culture is principally
supported by and anchored on the following
Filipino values and Filipino traits and values.

3. Filipino Values
 Values are those aspects in life that include customs,
traditions, etc., which the people regard as necessary
and important in their dealings with one another.
 Filipino values is ‘pakikisama’ or sense or
togetherness. It refers to doing somebody a good
deed, such as helping a relative or neighbor build a
house without asking for compensation, or helping
someone looking for a job and so on.

4. Filipino Values
 It is not only practiced in neighborhood but also at
work and school. Helping other people even in small
little way may show ‘pakikisama.’
 According to De Guzman et al. 2017, ‘pakikisama’ is
having and maintaining ‘good public relations.’ This is
usually being practiced to avoid clash with other
people or a certain group. Just like other Filipino
values, ‘pakikisama’ can work either positively or
destructively.

5. Filipino Values
 To elude open displays of conflicts, clashes, and
confrontations, Filipinos, because of
‘pakikisama,’ may submit to group opinion,
overgenerous praise one another, using
metaphorical language rather than candid terms,
concealing negative feelinsg or unhappy spirits
underneath a pleasant demeanor, smiling even
when things go wrong, avoiding to say ‘no,’ and
refraining from venting anger or losing temper

6. Filipino Values
 ‘Utang na loob’ or dept or gratitude is very important
to Filipinos. It is recognizing and returning the favor
to that person in the same measure who help them in
times of need.
 According to Arcega et al., (2018), Filipinos may have
‘utang na loob’ if other people help them during
sickness, medication, sending their children to
school, finding a job, or they were saved in a life
threatening situation.

7. Filipino Values
 Once Filipinos surpass those challenges in life, they
will return to the person whom they have debt of
gratitude to give back the favor they received or they
will help that person in times of need.
 However ‘utang na loob’ may not be good if the
person is forced to do somethings even against his/
her will or against the law just to pay the debt of
gratitude.

8. Filipino Values
 The person will do this to avoid being reproved or
having confrontations, clashes and conflicts with
the person whom they have ‘utang na loob.’

9. Filipino Values
 ‘Hiya’ or ‘kahihiyan’ or sense of shame is another
Filipino values (Agoncillo et al., 2010). ‘Hiya’ may
be observed to Filipinos in accepting the food
that are offered to them.
 Even though they are hungry, they will feel sense
of shame accepting the food given to them or
they will say that they are not yet hungry.

10. Filipino Values
 They also feel ‘hiya’ in approaching higher authorities
like school principal, teachers/ professors, deans, and
executives. They will look someone whom they think
have the courage to approach higher authorities.
 On the other hand, ‘kahihiyan’ maybe observed in the
Filipino families. They try to avoid doing things that
may dishonor their family’s name and reputation.

11. Filipino Values
 If problems arise in the family, as much as they
could, they will hide it within the family because
for them, the stink of a member will be the stink
of the whole family.

12. Filipino Values
 Like ‘hiya,’ the Filipino value of ‘amor propio’ is
derived from the concept of ‘face.’ Although
commonly translated as self-respect or self-
esteem, ‘amor propio’ has been characterized as
the high degree of sensitivity that makes a person
intolerant to criticism and causes him to have an
easily wounded pride.

13. Filipino Values
 Concerning this Filipino value, some observe that
Filipinos learn to withstand a loss of face in some
situations, particularly when they perceive
themselves to be a fault, but it is devastating to
be publicly criticized, insulted, belittled, or
humiliated or to lose one’s self-respect.

14. Filipino Values
 According to De Guzman et al., (2017), ‘amor
propio’ comes from the person’s tendency to
protect is or her dignity and honor. Because of
pride or amor proprio, for instance, a person may
refuse offers even if he/she wants to accept
them.

15. Filipino Traits
 Trait is a distinguishing feature or character of a
person or a group of people.
 One of the common traits among Filipino is
hospitality or keeping the strangers feel warm and
welcome.

16. Filipino Traits
 Filipinos are known by other nations through this trait
because they really make an effort to welcome their
guests. It is not only applied to foreigners but it also
applied to everybody.
 New kitchen utensils, bed sheets and pillow covers,
bath towels etc., are used by their guests. They also
cook delicious foods for them. They want their guests
happy, contented and comfortable.

17. Filipino Traits
 Family is the unit of society and consists, at least
very recent times, of the parent, grandparents,
and the children (Agoncillo et al., 2010).
 Filipinos are also known for having close family
ties. As much as possible, they want to live in a
house together with their grandparents, parents,
children and grandchildren.

18. Filipino Traits
 Father is the head and the provider of the family. All
of his salary will be given to his wife to budget all the
expenses and needs of the family. He will fix anything
that are damaged in their house.
 On the other hand, mother is the light of their home.
She will guide their children in their assignment and
school activities. She will do the house chores like
going to market, cleaning the house, cooking dishes,
washing and ironing the clothes and etc .

19. Filipino Traits
 On the other hand, this Filipino trait may not be good
sometimes if daughters and sons who have their own
family still live under their parents’ custody.
 Their aging parents who should be enjoying their
retirement age, still support their children and
grandchildren in many ways such as providing them
basic needs, shoulder the payment of utilities, or
even support grandchildren in their studies because
the former either have no capacity to support their
family, have no stable job, are immature parents or
used to be dependent to parents even they have their
own family.

20. Filipino Traits
 Respect for the elders is also observed to the
Filipinos. They obey elderly and consider their
suggestions in major life decisions like choosing a
course in college, marriage, burial, changed of
residents and others.
 Saying po and opo as well as mano po are taught to
children as sign of respect to elders. Children are also
taught not to interrupt or mingle with the elders
while they are having conversations.

21. Filipino Traits
 Calling kuya or ate the person who is older in age
even they are not biologically related is also a
way of showing respect (Arcega et al., 2018).
 When excessive, nonetheless, respect to elders
make one dependent or irrationally obedient to
parents or elders (De Guzman et al. 2017).

22. Filipino Traits
 These Filipino social values are important to
maintain harmony in Filipino relationships in
social institutions such as family, school, and
community.
 The ‘smooth interpersonal relationship,’ together
with Filipino ‘pakikipagkapwa-tao,’ has been
deemed as a central core of essential cultural
traits that form and define an almost stereotypic
Filipino character and mora behavior (De Guzman
et al. 2017).

23. Thank you!
Ronn Joseph J. del Rio, LPT
ronnjoseph.delrio@g.batstate-u.edu.ph