Self-Awareness and Filipino Values

Introduction

In the course of your life, you have developed a personality. This is brought by your upbringing, school, training,
but also in normal interactions with the people around you. This personality reacts to the signal from your surroundings
according to the pattern that is successful to you, and you try to get and maintain a certain position is also a form of
success for a personality.

Within you, there is still part that is being hidden and that is your inner Self. It is quite presence, which will draw
attention to itself. However, it is only you by your free will that its awareness will come to mind. So, do not expect your
inner Self to blow its horn in the midst of stressful situations, loss, etcetera, to ‘’save’’ you. It requires a conscious
decision to change to focus of your attention.

Your inner Self is a natural part of you, and by recognizing it; you start to actively influence the balance that has so
heavily leaned towards the part of your personality. Your priorities in life will change when you start to give time and
attention to your inner Self.

The key to your inner Self is: awareness. Be consciously aware of the things you do, but do not judge or act on them.
Just be aware of the thoughts and feelings, but do not believe that they are a reality in itself. Let them go by. Do not
hurry this process, because too big a step in one time will induce fear and resistance with your personality.

Your inner Self is subtler; it can easily be overpowered by your personality due to its nature of defenselessness. It will
wait you return to it by free choice. It also takes experience to be able to tell the difference. So do not underestimate
the skills of your personality to disguise itself as your Self.

Nature of Self and self-awareness

According to Birch (1997), one of the most crucial processes of the early year of the child’s life is the development of
sense of self. Gardener (1982) suggests that there are a number of factors that the children should know.

They should:

 Be aware of their own body, its appearance, state and size (body-size);

 Be able to refer to themselves appropriately through language and be able to distinguish descriptions which
apply to self and which do not;

 Be aware of their own personal history, experience they have had, skills and abilities acquired, their own needs
and wishes.

We have self-awareness if we can see ourselves by taking account of the attitudes

and perspectives of others. Self-esteem is that part of self-concept in which we

judge our own competence in comparison to others.

Emotional Self Awareness

It is the ability to recognize our emotion and their effects on us. This means that

we are aware of how we react to environment factors and how our emotions
affect our performance. The person who possesses competency of emotional self-

awareness is one who:

 is aware of his own feelings;

 knows why feeling occur;

 understand implication of our emotion;

 pays attention to the physical signs that are arouse in stressful situations(high blood pressure, sweaty palms,
and

 knows his own strengths and weaknesses and understanding his own emotions and the impact of his behavior
on others in diverse situations.

Accurate Self-Assessment

It is the ability to know our inner resources, abilities and limits and to be aware of

our strengths and weaknesses. We can only know our potentials and limitation if

we are positive to constructive criticisms. We have to develop new perspectives

about ourselves and must always be motivated for professional growth. Hence, we

have the ability to target areas for personal change and improvement.

The person who possesses the competency for Accurate Self-Assessment should:

 have a sense of humor about him or herself;

 be aware of own strengths and weaknesses; and

 be open to feedback.

Self-Confidence

This is the belief in your own self, your capability to accomplish the task. This

competency is an acknowledgment of your potentials that you are the best for the

job. It is also about conveying your ideas and opinions with self-confidence and

having a positive impact on others.

We can develop self-confidence if we are equipped with sufficient knowledge and sure of what we are doing and try to
act decisively. We can change for the better.

The Meaning of Man as a Person

The term ‘person’ cannot be exclusively attached to huma being since not all persons are considered human being and
vice-versa. A business enterprise is a person, although, it is not human being. On the other hand, a slave is a human
being, but he is not a person by virtue of his being divested of his rights as a human being- although he is still a human
being. In this case, a slave is not considered as an existing subject but a mere object.

To speak of a man as a being-with-others is to speak of a man as person. Consequently, ample consideration is rendered
in an inquiry on personalism.

Personalism, as a philosophical movement, was founded by Borden Parker Browne and was developed later by Max
Scheler, Emmanuel Mounier, Henri Bergson, and Martin Buber. As a philosophical movement, personalism is a study of
a man as a person. Thus, it pays much interest on the personhood of a man and not so much on the nature of man.

Since personalism takes a man a its main concern, it rejects the legalistic connotation of the term person as that which
refers to any thing or any reality which is endowed with right since this definition treats of person both in the context of
things, establishments, or institutions and human beings. Thus, in personalism the term person is solely attributed to
man in as much as it requires freedom and rationality as defined by Beothius.

Man as a person, then, means that the man is unique, a who, a subject, and a self, man is never alone in his existence in
the world; man has that indelible trademark of his ‘being-with’ existence in the world.

Since man is a person, his ‘’being-with’’ existence should not be confused with a ‘’being-for’’ kind existence, ‘’Being-for’’
is the opposite of ‘’being-with’’ in the sense that latter is heading to a direction of treating man a person. Thus, in man’s
intersubjectivity, man is called to treat his own fellowman as a person; this is made possible only in the context of man’s
‘’being-with’’ existence.

Man’s personhood should not be contrasted to man’s humanity and individuality. The personhood (pagkatawo or
pagkatwo). And man’s individuality (paka siya sa kanyang pakatawo or pagigin siya sa kanyang pagkatao) manifests
man’s individual unique personhood, in as much as the individual is the person, and the person is the individual.

Man’s ‘’being-with- others’’ can be viewed from two standpoints, viz.: general and specific. Generally, man’s being-with-
others as a person is man’s intrinsic ‘’being-with’’ both things and man’s fellow human person. Specifically, man’s being-
with-others as a person is man’s irrefutable ‘’being-with’’ his fellowmen only because in the specific sphere, man’s
‘’being-with-’’ is treated in the existential perspective. Because things do not exist, man alone has the capacity to co-
exist with fellow human person.

Man’s co-existence or intersubjectivity, in the one hand, does not require a learning process or experience, since man’s
‘’being-with’’ is prior and intrinsic in his being a person. On the other hand, man’s ‘’being-with-others’’ requires a
learning process in the context of the quality or made of ma’s being-with since human relatedness is not immediately
given but needs to be established.
Man establishes a relationship with his fellowman in three levels: I-it, I-He/She, and I – thou.

The Self

Every one of us has an obligation to ourselves, but there are times that we are facing difficulties in understanding these
obligations. One of the reasons is how we understand exactly what ‘self’ is

One way to understand this selfhood, is to conceive it as a personal role that one plays in the general drama of life. In
the totality of a human history,

I have my own unique role to play because of the presence of individual differences. It is a role that includes
responsibilities that are to be faced, decisions that are to be made, relationship and involvements that are to be lived
and work that is to be performed.

In understanding our selfhood, there are certain moral obligations that arise. If a person has a particular life to live the
has a basic responsibility towards that life. He has obligation to see that life is ‘’lived’’ to its fullest. He should play his
role as well as he can and not neglect it.

The Many Faces of the Filipino

We cannot deny the fact that nobody is perfect. All human being possesses strength and weaknesses. Many of our
strong points are also the sources of our limitations.

We are social beings we have to interact with one another, since we are person-oriented. Our relationship with others
brings a very important part of our lives. Thus, we are capable of caring and having concern for others. Our person
orientation lead us to be more concerned for people, and yet unfair to some.

Our family orientation is the source of our strength and weaknesses. It gives us a sense of rootedness and security,
booth very essential to any form of reaching out to others.

Our flexibility, adaptability and creativity are our strength that allows us to adjust to any kind of environment and to
make the best of circumstances.

Our sense of joy and humor serves us well in ups and downs in our lives. It makes life more pleasant, but serious
problems nee also serious analysis, and humor can be destructive

Our faith in God and our religiosity are sources of strength and courage, but they are also lead to become passive to
external forces.
There are other conflicts in the many faces of the Filipino. We find pakikipagkapwa-tao and the kanya-kanya mentality,
which are the opposite, yet so many of us living comfortably with these contradictions. We are other-oriented and
capable of severe empathy, and yet we are self-serving, envious of others with crab mentality, and unconstructively
critical with one another.

We are also noted for being hardworking and lazy as being portrayed by Juan Tamad. Indeed, we that we are capable of
working long and industrious and efficient in any job. However, our casual work ethics as well as our basic passivity in
work setting is also apparent as we wait for instructions and orders rather than taking our own initiative.

Roots of the Filipino Character

These are the factors that greatly affect the roots of the Filipino strengths and weaknesses. These are: 1) the home
environment, 2) social environment, 3) culture and language, 4) history, 5) the educational system, 6) religion, 7) the
economic environment, 8) the political environment, 9) mass media, and 10) leadership and role models.

The family and hone environment. The home plays a vital role in the development of the character of individuals. The
childbearing practices, family relations, and family attitudes and orientation are the main components of the home
environment. The child grows in he family, which full of life, high in nurturance, low independence training, and low in
discipline. With this kind of environment, the child learns security and trust, but dependent on the other hand. In the
Indulgent environment where rigid standards of behavior have to be observed or performance are not imposed, there is
lack of discipline.

Social Environment. We are the social beings and we cannot live without the support of one another, for ‘’no man is an
island’’. No one can survive without depending on another person.

Culture and Language. Filipinos have been noted as warm and our being person -oriented, devoted to family, and with
sense of joy and humor are part of our culture and reinforce by all socializing forces such as the family, school, and the
peer group.

Culture and Language. Filipinos have been noted as warm and our being person -oriented, devoted to family, and with
sense of joy and humor are part of our culture and reinforce by all socializing forces such as the family, school, and the
peer group.

Filipino culture is also characterized by being open minded to he outside forces which easily accepts foreign elements
without being conscious of cultural core. This is brought by our colonial mentality in which we feel the white American
are superior to us, hence the acceptance of the English language as the medium instruction in schools.

The introduction of the English language being use in the Philippine schools de-Filipinized the youth and taught the to
regard American culture as superior. This implies that the Filipinos have no self-confidence. At our early age, we develop
our self-esteem the moment we have the mastery of something foreign.

History. Our mentality is the product of our colonial history, which is regarded as the culprit for our lack of nationalism.
Colonialism developed a mind-set on us, to think of the colonial power as superior and more powerful. With the invasion
of Spaniards and Americans, we developed a sense of dependence on foreign powers that made us believe that we are a
second class citizen to them and we are responsible for our country’s fate.

The Educational System. Going back to our history, our curriculum was patterned from the American educational
system. Problem cropped up because the textbook being use are still dependent on foreign sources. The knowledge
derive from these books is not relevant to the Philippine setting. At present, we still lack suitable local textbooks.

Schools are highly authoritarian, with he teacher as the central focus. The Filipino student is taught to be dependent on
whatever the teachers says. As it is, everything should be written verbatimly by the students by the examination.

With the introduction of innovation in our educational system the central focus now in the teacher learning process is
the pupil. The teacher should be aware of inborn tendencies of the pupils in her class, respect individual differences and
be knowledgeable on the laws of learning, principle and methods of teaching, as well.

Religion. It plays a vital role in the spiritual and moral development of an individual. We, Filipinos, believe in life after
death, hence we practice what the religion teaches. It is the root of Filipino optimism and its capacity to accept life’s
hardships.

The Economic Environment. Poverty is the number one felt problem in our society and it serves as an excuse for graft
and corruption in our bureaucracy. It is also the vital factor in the crime incidence in our country as well as all over the
world.

Our Filipino traits are rooted from poverty and hard life. Our economic difficulties drive us to take risks, impel us to work
very hard and develop in us the ability to survive.

The Political Environment. Our government is obliged to deliver the basic services to the people and in return, we pay
our taxes.

Our Philippine political government is characterized by greed and power during election. There are those who are killed
if they actively participate in political campaigns. The political power and authority are concentrated in the hands of the
elite and the participation of the people is limited only to voting in elections.

Mass Media. They have strong impact of the moral development of the youth. The children idolize young actors and
actresses. If They portray negative values, it is internalized in our children’s mind.

Strength of the Filipino Character

There are some of the strengths of the Filipino character:

 1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao (regard for others) This is manifested in a basic sense of justice and fairness, ability to
emphasize with others, helpfulness and generosity in time of need (pakikiramay) in the practice of bayanihan or
mutual assistance, in the famous hospitality and in concern for others.

Pakikipagkapwa-tao results in camaraderie and feeling of closeness to one another. It is the foundation of unity as well
as social justice. Filipinos possess sensitivity to other’s feelings (pakiramdam), pagtitiwala or trust, a sense of gratitude or
utang na loob.

1. Family Orientation. This pertains to the concern for the family, which is manifested in the honor, and respect
for parents and elders. This further manifested in the care given to children, even up to the extent of extended
family, where married children still reside in their parent’s house. This sense of family orientation results in a
feeling of belongingness and rootedness and in a basic sense of security.

2. Joy and Humor. Filipinos by nature are fond of social celebrations. We inherited this character from Spaniards.
We have a positive attitudes to ups and down in our lives because despite the odds, we still have the capacity to
laugh even at the most trying times and laughing is an important coping mechanism. Often playful, sometimes
cynical, sometimes disrespectful, we laugh at those we love and at those we hate, and make jokes about our
fortune, good and bad.

3. 3. Joy and Humor. Filipinos by nature are fond of social celebrations. We inherited this character from
Spaniards. We have a positive attitudes to ups and down in our lives because despite the odds, we still have the
capacity to laugh even at the most trying times and laughing is an important coping mechanism. Often playful,
sometimes cynical, sometimes disrespectful, we laugh at those we love and at those we hate, and make jokes
about our fortune, good and bad.

4. 4. Flexibility, Adaptability, Creativity. Filipinos have a great capacity to adjust, become creative, resourceful,
adept at learning and have the ability to improvise and make use of whatever is on hand in order to create and
produce anything.

These characteristics of Filipinos are manifested in their ability to adapt themselves to a change of environment
in any part of the world, in their ability to make new things out of scrap and keep old equipment running. We
are open to changes or innovations.

5. 5. Hard work and Industry. This pertains to the desire to raise one’s standard of living by working very hard,
given proper conditions and is manifested by their courage to go abroad, and take the risk or even work at two
or three job.

6. Faith and Religiosity. Filipinos are noted for deep faith in God because of the belief of life after death. Their
ultimate goal is to go to heaven, and they are afraid to the ball of fire or otherwise known as hell.

Filipinos live very intimately with religion and that is very tangible in our
everyday lives. Before we sleep, eat and go to school or work, we pray
because we believe that whatever bad omen, we may face, we will always
be saved by HIM.

The Filipinos’ faith results in courage, daring, optimism, inner peace, as well
as the capacity to genuinely accept tragedy and death.
 7. Ability to Survive. We are known for our ability to survive despite the economic difficulties we are
encountering, Filipinos make the most with whatever is available in the environment, e.g. by eking out a living
from a garbage dump. This is a survival instinct of the Filipinos, which is related to basic optimism, flexibility,
and adaptability.

Weaknesses of the Filipino Character

1. Extreme Personalism. This is manifested in the tendency to give personal interpretations to actions, e.g.
pakiusap (request), lagay and regalo (fixing), palakasan (power and influence), nepotism and favoritism and to
“take things personally.’’ Further, Filipinos become personal in their criticism and praise. Personalism is also
manifested in the need to establish personal relationships before any business or work relationship can be
successful. It is very difficult to turn down something when personal contacts are involved. In hiring, delivery of
service, and even in voting, preference is usually given to family and friends. Extreme personalism thus leads to
raft and corruption, which is very evident in the Philippine society.

2. Extreme Family Centeredness. While it is true that the concern for the family is one of the Filipinos’ greatest
strengths, in the extreme it becomes a serious flaw. (E.g. use one’s office and power as a means of promoting
the interests of the family members, in factionalism, patronage, and political dynasties and in the
protection of erring family members). Excessive concern for the family could be detrimental to the
common good and acts a as block to national consciousness.

3. Lack of Discipline. This is manifested in relaxed attitude towards time, tagged as ‘’Filipino time” and space which
in itself is lack of precision, in compulsiveness in poor time management and delays of work, and in procrastination. We
are impatient and unable to delay gratification or reward, resulting in the use of short cuts, skirting the rules (the palusot
syndrome) and in foolhardiness. We are also noted of “nigas cogon”, starting the projects with full vigor and interest
which abruptly die down, leaving the things unfinished.

4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative. Filipinos are generally passive and lacking of initiative. One has to be told what
has to be done. This is related to a hammer (an authority), Filipinos need for a strong authority figure and feel safer and
more secure if the things that they are going to do come from the instruction of the superior. Filipinos are submissive to
those in authority and are not likely to raise issues or to question decision. There is high tolerance for inefficiency, poor
service, and even violations of one’s basic rights. In other words, Filipinos are too patient and can bear long suffering
(matiisin). Hence, we are easily oppressed and exploited.

5. Colonial Mentality. This pertains to the openness of the Filipinos to the outside – adapting and incorporating
the foreign elements into our image of ourselves. This is manifested to our acceptance of modern mass culture, which is
often Western.

Such mentality is made up of two dimensions: first is lack of patriotism or an active awareness, appreciation, and love of
the Philippines; the second is actual preference for foreign things.

6. Kanya-kanya Syndrome. Filipinos have a selfish, self-serving attitude that generate the feeling of envy and
competitiveness towards others. These Characteristics could be described as “crab mentality”(referring to the tendency
of crabs in a basket to pull each other down), using the leveling instrument of a gossip or “tsismis”; intrigue or “intriga”
and unconstructive criticism to bring others down. There is tendency to pull down those who are on top because of
personal ambition.

7. Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection. This is related to the Filipino emphasis on form(“maporma”) rather
substance. There is tendency to be satisfied with rhetoric and to substitute this to reality.

Filipinos’ tendency is to joke at something even if it is a serious matter

and prevent from looking deeply into the problem.

8. Filipino Indolence. The Filipinos were called by the Spaniards as indolent which means lazy and lack of initiative and
ambition, but Rizal refuted this negative description and explained that:

1. It is unhealthy to work in the Philippines hot climate:

2. The industries during the Spaniards era proved that they were not lazy, but instead the invaders forced labor
and closed down the industris;

3. The Spaniards were the ones who taught gambling to Filipinos;

4. The Filipinos were discriminated and discouraged to pursue their studies.

5. 9. Mañana Habit. This negative attitude was inherited from the Spaniards. This means putting off for
tomorrow what can be done today or procrastination. It has the element of fatalism and is linked with “bahala
na” attitude.

6. 10. The Fiesta Syndrome. This is being celebrated in the rural areas. Filipinos celebrate so many occasions
like feast of the Patron Saint of their place, birthdays, baptismal and confirmation of their child, marriage,
anniversaries, etc.

7. 11. Hospitality. The Filipino families are very much well known for hospitality. The visitor are welcomed warmly
with full of extent of depriving themselves just only to please their visitors.

8.