Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Submitted to:
Prof. Josephine Q. Benignos
Submitted by:
Victor Benjamin L. Venida
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Respect has great importance in everyday life. Children are taught to respect their parents,
teachers, and elders, school rules and traffic laws, family and cultural traditions, other
people's feelings and rights, their respective country's flag and leaders, the truth and people's
differing opinions. And they come to value respect for such things; when they are older, they
may shake their heads at people who seem not to have learned to respect them. People may
also come to believe that, at some level, all people are worthy of respect. People may learn
that jobs and relationships become unbearable if they receive no respect in them; they may
learn both that their lives together go better when they respect the things that deserve to be
respected and that they should respect some things independently of considerations of how
their lives would go. In the Philippines, like any other Asian countries, people show their
respect or in their terms Paggalang to the elder by gestures and by the words they use before
the person’s name. Being younger to someone and just calling them with their first name is
considered impolite and an act of rudeness in the Philippines. There are many ways of
showing respect in the Philippines, or maybe for Filipino people who are staying in other
In English it means being respectful or giving due respect for a person. Filipinos are
accustomed to using the words “po,” “opo,” and “ho” when they are conversing with older
people or sometimes to people with higher position or status in the society. Using these words
is customary in the Philippines and it shows sign of respect. Paggalang can also be given to
the elders by virtue of kissing their hands before leaving and upon arrival. Younger member
of the family gives due respect to older siblings by calling them kuya (older brother) or ate
(older sister). Henceforth, the term “Paggalang” will be used by the author to mean the
would address or call their older female siblings "ate." If there are more than one older female
sibling, the younger ones would call the older siblings " ate (name)” Ate is also used to show
respect to older cousins just like the way one would call it to address an older sister.
These are few names for daddy for showing respect. Itay, tatay, and papa all means dad and is
used by the siblings to call or address their dad. In cases of step-fathers, still they are shown
respect by being address as itay, tatay, papa, or daddy followed by their first names. Example
would be a young boy addressing his stepdad as, "Tatay Manny" or "Papa Manny."
Just like with dads, Filipino siblings would address their moms as, inay, nanay, or mama.
And in cases of having step-mothers, it is pretty much like with the step-fathers because
Filipino siblings would address their stepmoms by calling them mom and then their first
Filipinos used either of these two to address their aunt. But there are also cases where
Filipinos prefer calling their step-mothers tita. Tita or Tiya is also used to show respect to
people outside of the family. For Example as a person addresses his mom's co-worker and
friend, another example is, A boy went home one day with a friend, who is a girl, and she
And another sign of respect to elders is the gesture of Mano or Pagmamano which is a way of
accepting a blessing from the elder. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting
bows towards the offered hand of the elder and presses his or her forehead on the elder's
hand. Usually performed with the right hand, the person showing respect may ask “Mano po”
to the elder in order to ask permission to initiate the gesture. Typically someone may mano to
his or her older relatives upon entry into their home or upon seeing them. There is also what
Filipino call Beso-Beso which is a replacement for the gesture of Mano. The beso-beso which
originated from the Spanish word for “kiss”, is a common greeting in the Philippines similar
to the “mano.” This kind of gesture is commonly used among the upper classes as a greeting
to relatives and close friends, but is not done usually for an older person unlike the “mano”.
The word “mano” is Spanish for “hand” while the word “po” is often used in Filipino culture
and language at the end of each sentence as a sign of respect when addressing someone older.
Put together, “mano po” literally translates to “your hand please” as the greeting initiates the
gesture of touching the back of the hand of an elder lightly on one’s forehead. The
Philippines is the only country in Asia that holds this specific tradition and its origins evolved
Today, we are now living in a world of the Millennials. Millennials are said to be the most
liberal generation by far. They act, speak, and think based on their instincts, impulses, and
pleasures. Their open-mindedness stems from their evident characteristic – they are spirited.
We cannot blame them. Their era is the age of technology which continues to reinvent and
change so often. Whereas, the world’s political situation and other aspects of life we
Millennials are said to be outward thinking and value fame, money, and career. They are
confident, upbeat, and enjoy self-expression. Pondering on their intrinsic value – which to
Perhaps that leads to the question, is PO and OPO dead? We seldom hear the millennials
utter these words which the older generation value the most. Or are others just too clingy to
tradition and are sincerely respectful that they notice the absence of PO and OPO from the
youth?
To start with, most children nowadays grow up with Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, and
Nickelodeon. For another thing, their orientation gears toward Westernized dreams and
realities. They usually communicate in English. The use of PO and OPO just does not fit in
the situation, and that means no disrespect. To be fair, they are verbally trained by the
The Traditionalists (1900-1945) and Baby Boomers (1946-1964) perhaps cling to tradition.
They keep the words PO and OPO alive. For one, they came of age just in time to experience
the Cold War, series of economic crises, and AID epidemics among others. Also, they saw
and experienced hardship. To add, they remain respectful to elders to show gratitude.
Options are limited or none at all but to give and show respect.
Most would claim the words PO and OPO are dying. Possibly, the younger generation of
today is just reinventing them. Instead of clinging to tradition, they utter HI and HELLO.
The same way most would assert the “mano po” gesture is slowly fading. It maybe but again,
Filipinos are known for being hospitable and caring. They are respectful and courteous even
to those who are not close to them. The younger generation may be changing the ways the
elders do things before. That, though, does not mean disrespect. They are merely themselves
We dare say; it is commendable others are clinging to or perhaps are sincerely respectful. If
you belong to these others who do not want this Filipino custom to vanish or reinvented, we
challenge you. Coach and show the youth how to keep this tradition alive. Another effective
way to teach kids PO and OPO is to model it yourself. Start from within and surely, that
value you’ve instilled in your children will forever be engraved in their system. May they be
1. Let us look at the lives of great men and women. Let us discover their values
that is the many things they considered most important in life. Let us learn from
2. Let us look at ourselves. Let us be willing to set aside some of our time for
silence and reflection. Only then we can be able to listen to our hearts and become
3. Let us not be afraid to live according to our values. In whatever we say or do, let
us act and behave because of the good and beautiful things that are most precious
to us.
What are the positive Filipinos values as of today?
The family is considered the basic unit of our society. It is usually composed of
grandfather, grandmother, parents and children. It may be observed that the Filipino
family is closely-knit.
However, closeness of family members can be readily seen by the way parents
bring up their children. Even when family members are far from each other because of
work situation or demands or when children are married and living in other places. We
also love to care for our old folks until they die. As much as possible, we don’t allow them
This is a sure mean of success run in every Filipino family. Traditionally, parents
try their best always to spend every centavo of earning to send their children to school. If
parents cannot support schooling, usually elder sister or brother shoulder the education
of the younger ones until everyone finishing a career. It is a pride of every Filipino to be
C. Respectfulness
The children have a great respect for their parent and elders. They have been
thought to kiss the hands of the elders. This manifest the due respect we should give to
our elders not only for the holiday but for the rest of the year and the year to come as
well.
Furthermore, Filipinos use “Po” and “Opo” when talking to their elders. The children
are expected to consult their parents about any activity or plan they wish to undertake.
D. Hospitality
offered food or drinks. If the guest stayed overnight, he is made to feel comfortable as if
he were in his own house. Hospitality, on the other hand, has its good and bad sides.
This trait may encourage overdependence and laziness. The trait may also lead to
poverty as a result of lavish spending for fiestas, wedding and anniversaries. However, it
is good if its end is to help a person in need. Thus, the government may utilize this trait in
getting support for its charitable projects, and promoting, cooperation and brotherhood.
E. Humility
This trait may be seemed in the way a Filipino speaks with others. A Filipino does
not drag about himself. Sometimes, we mistake humility with timidity and shyness. Our
F. Courage
The Filipinos are courageous people as attested to by those who suffered and died
for their country. This is a value that should be preserved by our people. The demand
and complexities of modern life can only be met by people with strong hearts and healthy
G. Loyalty to Friends
The Filipinos considered friendship as important to them which means helping each in
times of need. Extending help or doing a good turn to one’s friend will always be valued and
never forgotten. A friend is considered a member of the family that any help he can give is
heartily welcomed.
H. Honesty
Honesty is the virtue and righteousness in deed and in thought. In a person, this
virtue strengthens him against cheating and lying. It results in cooperation and trust
among neighbors, friends and co-workers. In the highest officers of the land, “katapatan”
I. Delicadeza
wrong. A sense of prudence and poverty is implicit in a person with delicadeza. It also
serves as an early warning device in recognizing the traps of graft and corruption,
J. Orderliness
early mental discipline instilled on children by their parents. An order home is an evidence of
this virtue on work in the family in the formative years of life. Kaayusan ripens into the habit
of discipline allocation of time and energy to work and play. It usually results in a citizen with
a sincere respect and adherence for the spirit and the letter of the law.
Filipino people are fond of group work, offering help freely to friends or neighbors
needing a help. A person planting or clearing his fields or moving his house may call
several neighbors for help work done this way is done gaily and cheerfully and without
L. Godliness
Filipino value denotes the religious character of the people who firmly believe in the
M. Hardworking
Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper condition. The desire to race
one’s standard of living and to possess the essential of a descent for one’s family
combined with the right opportunities and incentives makes the Filipino work very hard.
This is manifest most noticeably in willingness to take risk with jobs abroad and there to
work one, two or three jobs. The result is productivity and entrepreneurship for some and
N. Ability to Survive
endurance despite difficult times and our ability to get by on so very little. This survival
instinct is related to the Filipinos other strengths basic optimisms, flexibility and
adoptability, hard work and deep faith in God. It is manifested in the millions of Filipinos
who bravely live through the harshest economic and social circumstances.
Filipinos have a cheerful and fun loving approach to life and its ups and downs. We
have a pleasant disposition, a sense of humor and a propensity for happiness that
contribute not only to the Filipino charm but to incommunitability of the Filipino spirit. This
sense of joy and humor is manifested in the Filipino love for social and celebration, in our
capacity to laugh even in the most crying times, and in appear of political satire.
A. Bahala Na
This trait means leaving everything to chance or “letting the circumstances take care of
itself”. It implies fatalism under the pretext of trusting in Divine providence. By saying “bahala
na”, a person resigns himself to luck as he believes the end-result depends ultimately on
fate. It is a Filipino’s way of avoiding rationalization or good reason. It is the same as saying,
The Filipino’s “bahala na” attitude is everywhere and with everyone. It could apply on big or
small circumstances. For instance, a student who suddenly feels lazy to do his homework
will just say “bahala na”. In this case, he resigns himself to whatever could happen in class
This negative Filipino trait tends to be the cause of laziness by so many people. A lot of poor
people resign themselves to the kind of life they have thinking that it is what God meant for
them to have and He will take care of their needs. Their belief is that life finds a solution for
itself.
B. Ningas Kugon
Filipinos are fond of starting a project with so much enthusiasm. This enthusiasm is so
contagious that it spreads like wildfire. At the first sign of problem or difficulty, this
enthusiasm is consumed as fast as it has spread. This is the quintessential Filipino trait
This trait is the reason for the Filipino’s “show-off” attitude; why so many projects are left
The picture is this: when you put several crabs in a crate, they will all try to climb out in order
to break free. You’ll observe that when one gets a bit ahead, the other crabs will pull him
down. A lot of Filipinos are like these crabs. Whenever one sees another progressing in their
own field, others become resentful and instead of seeing the achievement of that person,
they will try to highlight everything negative about him in an effort to bring him down or
tarnish if not lessen the person’s newly-acquired good image. It is an unhealthy competition
in a way.
Instead of doing things that could help one to develop and become better than his
competitors, Filipinos devote so much of their time gossiping and back-biting. It is their way
C. Patigasan
This means resisting all efforts to a reconciliation. Because of the Filipino “amor propio” or
ego-defensiveness, it is very difficult for them to surrender their pride. It is noticeable that
most Filipinos find it difficult to say the word “sorry”. It’s better for them to act tough
(”matigas”) rather than say sorry because to do the same is to sacrifice their precious pride.
This is the Filipino habit of leaving for tomorrow what they can do today. Most Filipinos have
this habit of postponing their actions for a later time thus reducing accomplishments.
Filipinos are fond of saying “bukas na lang” (I’ll do it tomorrow) due to laziness. As a result,
the work they produce is crammed. This arises from an indolent mentality that a problem will
go away by itself.
D. Kanya-kanya (to each his own)
This is the Filipino self-centeredness and lack of regard for others. This happens when most
people are similarly situated such us in a calamity and in instances where family is involved
In instances however when the others sis not meet the same fate, the Filipino helpfulness
comes out. If one is able to help another without danger to himself and his family, they will
E. Balimbing
A reference to the many-sided star fruit, the term is applied to someone who changes
allegiance for personal convenience. The allusion is that the person is not only double-faced,
but multiple-faced. This was evident in the Marcos downfall where his cronies and enemies
turned against him and embraced the Aquino government. These people are said to be
“balimbing”.
F. Fatalism
An attitude of "what goes around, comes around" or "come what may." We have a tendency
to surrender our future to fate. We often accept bad news or circumstances without trying to
stop or change them. This can sometimes be helpful in adversity, but it can also keep us
from finding ways out of situations. Also, constantly expecting the worst can get pretty
depressing.
G. Filipino Time
Related to the mañana habit, Filipino time refers to the Filipinos’ own unique brand of time,
which is known to be minutes or hours behind the standard time. In other words, we tend
not to observe punctuality at all. This behavior usually drives time-observant foreigners
crazy. While we Filipinos with our easy-going ways have somewhat become used to Filipino
We Filipinos are famous for being onion-skinned or easily slighted at perceived insults. While
it’s perfectly normal for us to taunt and criticize others, we can’t handle the same when it’s
being hurled back at us. Incidents showcasing our extra-sensitivity to insults usually involve
a foreigner making either a bonafide racist remark or a humorous jab at us Filipinos. True to
form, our reactions would range from righteous indignation to excessive grandstanding.
While it is alright to feel incensed, throwing a fit in front of the world would inevitably do us no
good at all.
Why is it so hard for Filipinos to obey the rules? This social phenomenon is not exclusive to
hardened criminals either—a look at everyday life in the country shows Filipinos from the
entire social strata nonchalantly breaking the rules, whether it is something as benign as
An interesting theory goes that the Filipinos’ penchant for law-breaking goes beyond mere
lack of discipline or failure to implement the rules. It is something that is ingrained in our very
culture. Being oppressed under the yoke of colonization for such a long time made our
ancestors defiant of the rules they believed to be discriminatory. Although such “self-
righteous disobedience” may have been alright during their time, the behavior would
continue to manifest itself among the later Filipinos, resulting in an utter lack of respect for
the rules.
J. Colonial Mentality
Probably one of the biggest flaws we have as a nation is our colonial mentality, defined as a
preference for all things foreign over our own, a negative trait we acquired from our days
under the Spanish and the Americans. As a result, we Filipinos have been indoctrinated with
the misconception that our culture is inferior to that of our past colonizers.
Glaring examples of colonial mentality include patronizing foreign instead of local brands,
favoring foreign values over our own, and even desiring to look more “Western” (think
whitening products). If we can’t even have pride in our own country, then unfortunately we
While there is nothing wrong with giving gifts to one’s family and friends (we Filipinos do
highly value them after all), it becomes a different matter when said family and friends either
In local parlance, this has become known as the “Balikbayan box mentality.” People
ingrained with this mentality either become exploitative or jealous of the success of the
OFW, not knowing that he/she is working hard away from his loved ones in a foreign country.
Some also believe that the practice undoubtedly contributes to the Filipinos’ colonial
mentality.
L. Corruption
One of the biggest social ills our country has continued to face since time immemorial is the
issue of corruption. Let’s face it, our “culture of corruption” is embedded deep within our
system and reinforced by a complex web of economic and social factors which include
personal ambitions and a twisted sense of loyalty to friends and kin. The Philippines is in for
a long haul if our officials and we ourselves do not get rid of this very negative habit.
This behavior can be observed in just about every sector of Philippine society, with the most
polygamous man. On the national scale, we see politicians spouting promises of reform and
good governance only to break them in the end. Long story short, some Filipinos are
N. Excessive Partying
Now there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a fiesta and party every now and then, it’s just that
we Filipinos tend to overdo it. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and even somber
funerals are celebrated by Filipinos like there is no tomorrow. Sometimes we even make up
the slightest of reasons just so we could have an excuse to party. What’s more, a host would
sometimes even strain his own finances just to impress his guests.
As for fiestas, it seems that every LGU down to the smallest barangay in the country has a
fiesta to celebrate. Like we said, it’s alright to party, but we should really focus on austerity