This document discusses what it means to be Filipino and have a Filipino identity. It explores the history of the Philippines and how its colonial past shaped Filipino culture and values today. Some key Filipino values discussed include hospitality, respect for elders, close family ties, and resilience. The document also outlines markers of Filipino culture like proverbs, superstitions, myths and legends, as well as heroes. It provides tips on how to be a good Filipino citizen.

2. UNDERSTANDING
THE SELF

3. Table of Contents
Chapter II – Unpacking the Self
Lesson 1: The Physical and Sexual Self
Lesson 2: To Buy or Not to Buy? That Is the
Question!
Lesson 3: Supernaturals: Believe It or Not!
Lesson 4: The Political Self and Being
Filipino
Lesson 5: Who Am I in the Cyberworld?
(Digital Self)

4. CHAPTER II
UNPACKING THE SELF

5. Lesson 4:
The Political Self and Being
Filipino

6. LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you should be
able to:
1. Develop a Filipino identity;
2. Identify different Filipino values and
traits; and
3. Reflect on your selfhood in relation to
your national identity.

7. ACTIVITY
Who Is a Filipino?
Cut out pictures or illustrations from magazines and
newspapers that show what being a Filipino is about. Paste
them below.

8. ANALYSIS
Answer the questions below in relation to what you have
posted in the previous activity.
1. How do the pictures remind you of your being a Filipino?
2. Are you proud of being a Filipino? Why and why not?
3. Imagine that you were of a different nationality. What
would change in you aside from your citizenship and
origin?
4. How extensive are the effects of being Filipino in your
selfhood?

9. ABSTRACTION
- The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in
the 1890s after over three centuries of colonization of the
Spaniards;
- Liberation from the last colonizers, the Japanese, only
occurred in 1946.
- Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have made
a huge dent on our own by setting a foundation to the
contemporary Filipino identity and culture.

10. • Who Is a Filipino?
- According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino
citizens are:
“…those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the
Philippines, those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino
mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the
age of majority, and those who are naturalized in
accordance with law.”
- Citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino; People
who were born and grew up in the same culture develop
and share common personality traits and values

11. Filipino Values and Traits
The Filipino Hospitality
Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they are their
own brothers and sisters. They always make their guests feel at
home, offering them something to eat, or even a place to stay.
• Respect for Elders
- Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying
“Mano po!” and constantly using “po” and “opo” in
conversations.
- A wide array of references to elder people such as ate for older
sister; kuya for older brother; tito and tita for uncle and aunt;
lolo and lola for grandfather and grandmother; and manong
and aling for older people outside the family.

12. • Close Family Ties
- Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families. They
are fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or fiestas
year-round.
- Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where
everyone can stay together. Nursing homes are almost always
not an option for family members.
• Cheerful Personality
Filipinos smile when they are happy, or sometimes even when
they are sad or angry. Smiling has been a coping strategy for
many Filipinos especially during trying times and calamities.

13. • Self-sacrifice
- Filipinos go out of their way to extend help to their friends,
families, and loved ones.
- Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot. That is why
they are regarded as modern-day Filipino heroes.
• Bayanihan
It is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos.
It is also about giving without expecting something in return.
• “Bahala Na” Attitude
- It is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata,”
meaning no worries.
- The phrase is said to have originated from “Bathala na,” where
Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning leaving
everything into God’s hands.

14. Colonial Mentality
It is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where
Filipinos favor foreign products more than their own; but also
the desire to look more foreign than local and keep up with
foreign beauty trends.
• “Mañana” Habit
Filipino term for procrastination; derived from a Filipino phrase
called “Mamaya na” meaning dawdling things, which could
have been done at an earlier time.
• “Ningas Kugon”
- “Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame and “kugon” is a Filipino
term for Cogon grass that easily burns out after it is put into
flames. It is the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly
losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty.

15. • Pride
Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more
precious than keeping a good relationship with family and
loved ones.
• Crab Mentality
It is a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the
achievement of another, instead of feeling happy for that
person; just like crabs in a container, they pull each other
down.
• Filipino Time
Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at
commitments, dinner, or parties especially if they are meeting
someone close to them.

16. Filipino Markers
1. Proverbs or Salawikain
a. proverbs expressing a general attitude toward life and
the laws that govern life
b. ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and
condemning certain vices
c. proverbs expressing a system of values
d. proverbs expressing general truths and observations
about life and human nature
e. humorous proverbs
f. miscellaneous proverbs

17. 2. Superstitions
- Filipinos’ set of superstitions passed down from generation
to generation
- Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from other
cultures, but Filipinos have retold these superstitions
according to their own experiences.
3. Myths and Legends
- Due to the Philippines’s rich culture and history, numerous
myths and legends have sprung.
- These stories are aimed to explain the origin of things, at
the same time, teach a valuable lesson.

18. 4. Heroes and Icons
- Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and
nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives for the sake
of their country’s freedom and progress.
- Famous Filipino icons such as Lea Salonga, Manny
Pacquiao, and our very own national hero, Jose Rizal, have
made the Filipino name more pronounced worldwide
through their own expertise.

19. How to Be A Good Filipino
1. Be an active Filipino citizen.
2. Study the Philippine history.
3. Support local products.
4. Speak the Filipino language.
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in
engaging with dissent.

20. APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT
1. Make an acrostic below which will describe you in
relation to your being a Filipino.
F
I
L
I
P
I
N
O

21. 2. Discuss how being a Filipino affects your “self.”
How can becoming a better Filipino influence
your duty to becoming a better version of
yourself?

22. LESSON SUMMARY
- The Philippines…emerged in the 1890s after
over three centuries of colonization of the
Spaniards.
- Liberation from the last colonizers, the
Japanese, only occurred in 1946.
- Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and
religion have made a huge dent…to the
contemporary Filipino identity and culture.

23. • Who Is a Filipino?
- According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
Filipino citizens are:
“…those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of
the Philippines; those born before January 17,
1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and
those who are naturalized in accordance with law.”

24. Filipino Values and Traits
• The Filipino Hospitality
- Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they
are their own brothers and sisters;
• Respect for Elders
- Saying “Mano po!” and constantly using “po” and
“opo” in conversations.
- Ate for older sister; kuya for older brother; tito and
tita for uncle and aunt, lolo and lola for grandfather
and grandmother; and manong and aling for older
people outside the family.

25. • Close Family Ties
- Fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or
fiestas year-round
- Opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay
together
• Cheerful Personality
Filipinos smile when they are happy, or sometimes
even when they are sad or angry.
• Self-sacrifice
Filipinos go out of their way to extend help to their
friends, families, and loved ones.

26. • Bayanihan
It is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of
Filipinos. It is also about giving without expecting
something in return.
• “Bahala Na” Attitude
Said to have originated from “Bathala na,” where
Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning leaving
everything into God’s hands

27. Colonial Mentality
Is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the
attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products
more than their own
• “Mañana” Habit
Filipino term for procrastination; derived from a
Filipino phrase called “Mamaya na”
• “Ningas Kugon”
The attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly
losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty

28. • Pride
Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are
more precious than keeping a good relationship
with family and loved ones.
• Crab Mentality
Where one resents the achievement of another,
instead of feeling happy for that person
• Filipino Time
Arriving late at commitments, dinner, or parties

29. Filipino Markers
1. Proverbs or Salawikain
a. proverbs expressing a general attitude toward
life and the laws that govern life
b. ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues
and condemning certain vices
c. proverbs expressing a system of values
d. proverbs expressing general truths and
observations about life and human nature
e. humorous proverbs
f. miscellaneous proverbs

30. 2. Superstitions
Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from
other cultures, but Filipinos have retold these
superstitions according to their own experiences.
3. Myths and Legends
These stories are aimed to explain the origin of
things, at the same time, teach a valuable lesson.
4. Heroes and Icons
Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and
nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives for
the sake of their country’s freedom and progress.

31. How to Be a Good Filipino
1. Be an active Filipino citizen.
2. Study the Philippine history.
3. Support local products.
4. Speak the Filipino language.
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in
engaging with dissent.