FILIPINO

CHARACTERISTI
CS

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 FILIPIN Dr. Tomas Q. D.
Andres (1986) would define
values as “things, persons,
ideas or goals which are
important to life; anything

O VALUE
which enables life to be
understood, evaluated, and
directed.”
On the other hand,
Edgar Sheffield Brightman
defines value as “whatever

SYSTEM is liked, prized, esteemed,

desired approved,
enjoyed by anyone at any
time. It is the actual
or

WHAT ARE VALUES? experience of enjoying a

desired object or activity.
Before delving into the discussion of values – Hence, value is an existing
Filipino values, in particular – it is worth analyzing the realization of desire.”
word itself. The word “value” has its root in the Latin Collectively, the
values of a society would be
the standards or principles
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 in a 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.

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 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 The shaping of the Philippine
ultimate realization of his life, society into a successful and
regarding his person and in relation to progressive nation would depend
his family and society in general. on understanding and appreciating
the positive side of Filipino values
SIGNIFICANCE OF and how they are applied to attain
such goal. Thus, it is imperative
STUDYING that a full understanding and
appreciation of the positive side of
FILIPINO VALUES our very own principles be made
and used for our personal and
national success.
Several studies have been made
The purpose of this chapter,
on Filipino Values. They have always
therefore, is to help us understand
been interested in examining Filipino
our Filipino values to enable us to
values because it influences a
put the positive side of Filipino
Filipino’s behavior in particular, and
values in use and to disregard the
shaping the Philippine Society in
negative ones. Thus, in the end,
general. How Filipinos feel and
through the development and use
motivated to do a specific task is
of positive Filipino values, we may
directed and evaluated by his set of
bring out the best in the Filipino
values. In order to understand the
society in general and the
Filipino culture and the development
individual in particular.
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.

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 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 practiced 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 Philippine society 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 values of 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
Constitution deemed it proper to include it as a State Policy and a chapter of
the fundamental law of the land. Thus, Article XV, Section 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 Filipino family 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
the extended 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 a disgrace to
the family. In times of misfortune, he is assured of his family’s support,
sympathy and love.

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