LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

 THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM
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 orprinciples 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 ina 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 havealways been interested in examining
Filipino values because it influences a Filipino‟s behavior in particular, and shaping the Philippine
Society in general. How Fil1ipinos feel and motivated to doa 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
attainsuch 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.

The purpose of this chapter, therefore, is to help us understand our Filipino values to enable us to

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

 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 practised 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
Philippinesociety 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 valuesof 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

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
eitherbe positive or negative in polarity.

The value of utang na loob

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 Filipinofamily 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 theextended 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 adisgrace to the family. In times of misfortune, he is assured
of his family‟s support, sympathy and love.

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

 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.

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
understoodor 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.

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.

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.

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

 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
indebted to him. And when elections come, he recites the litany of his projectsand 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, wouldyou
wish to become indebted in return? And when indebted, would you want that person to act the same
way when they are demandingthe return of the favor?

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 Beingwho
will take care of things for them. The Filipino is very religious who has a saint to pray to each day of
the week.

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

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

OTHER STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Strengths of the Filipino Results

Character
Camaraderie and feeling of closeness to

1. Pakikipagkapwa–Tao one another; foundation for unity as wellas sense of social justice.
 Feeling of belongingness and rootedness and a basic sense of
2. Family Oriented
security.
 Emotional balance, optimism, a healthy
3. Joy and Humor disrespect for power and office and thecapacity to survive.
 Productivity, innovation, entrepreneurship, equanimity and
4. Flexibility and survival.
Adaptability
 Productivity and entrepreneurship for
5. Hardwork and Industry some and survival despite poverty forothers.
 Courage, daring, optimism, inner peace,as well as the capacity to
6. Faith and Religiosity genuinely
accept tragedy and death.
 Bravely live through the harshest economic and social
7. Ability to Survive
circumstances.
OTHER WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Weaknesses of the Results

Filipino Character
1. Extreme Personalism Leads to graft and corruption.
2. Extreme Family  Lack of concern for the common good and acts as the block to
Centeredness national consciousness.
3. 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-
4. Passivity and Lack of through.
Initiative  Easily resigned to one‟s fate and thus easily oppressed and
exploited.
 Basic feeling of national inferiority that makesit difficult for them
5. Colonial Mentality to relate as equal to Westerners.
6. Kanya-kanya  Dampening of cooperative and community
Syndrome spirit and in the trampling upon of the rights ofothers.
7. Lack of Self- Analysis  Emphasis on form more than substance.
and Self – Reflection

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

REFERENCES:

MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NSTP MANUAL

LEARNING MATERIAL: CHAPTER 3-THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM