CHAPTER 4

The STRENGTHS &

WEAKNESSES of the
FILIPINO CHARACTER:
A Socio-Cultural Issue
B EED - 2 A
AGORITA, ARA MAE B.
ALCANTARA, JOSIE C.
SISO, MARK ROBIN S.
TOCLOY, EMALYNN N.
At the end of this Chapter, you should be able to:

- discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino

character, and
- cite ways by which can counteract the weaknesses of
the Filipino character.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The task of building our nation is an awesome one. There is need for
economic recovery. There is need to re-establish democratic institutions
and to achieve the goals of peace and genuine social justice. Along with
these goals, there is a need as well to build ourselves as a people. There is
need to change structures and to change people.

Building a people means eliminating our weaknesses and developing

our strengths; this starts with the analysis, understanding, and
appreciation of these strengths and weaknesses.

A MORAL RECOVERY PROGRAM:

BUILDING A PEOPLE, BUILDING A NATION
by: Senator leticia Shanani, 1988
 Schools are there for society. Their relevance is proven
by their ability to address socio-cultural problems. One of
these issues that the school should help address is the
weaknesses of the Filipino character. However, the strengths
of Filipino character will also be cited so that we can be
aware of how should the school can help capitalizing the
strengths of Filipino character to eliminate the weaknesses.

INTRODUCTION
1. EXTREME FAMILY-CENTEREDNESS
- excessive concern for family means using one’s office and
power to promote family interests and thus functionalism
patronage, political dynasties, and the protection of the erring
family members.
- It results in lack of concern for the common good, and acts
as a block to national consciousness.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

2. EXTREME PERSONALISM
- takes things personally, cannot separate objective task from
emotional involvement.
- Filipino is uncomfortable with bureaucracy, with rules and
regulations and with standard procedures.
- using of personal contacts, and gives preference to family
and friends in hiring, services, and even voting.
- leads to the graft and corruption evident in Philippine
society.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

3. LACK OF DISCIPLINE
- a casual attitude toward time and space, manifested in lack
of precision and compulsiveness
- aversion to following procedures strictly results in
standardization and equality control. Impatience results in
shortcuts, palusot, ningas cogon.
- lack of discipline often results to inefficient work systems,
the violation of rules and a casual work ethic lacking follow
through.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

4. PASSIVITY AND LACK OF INITIATIVE
- waiting to be told what to do, reliance on others (leaders and
government), complacence, lack of a sense of urgency.
- there is high tolerance of inefficiency, poor service, and even
violations of one’s basic right.
- too patient and matiisin, too easily resigned to his fate, the
Filipino is easily oppressed and exploited.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

5. COLONIAL MENTALITY
- lack of patriotism or of an active awareness, appreciation
and love of the Philippines and actual preference for things foreign.
- Filipino culture is characterized by an openness to the
outside-adapting and incorporating the foreign elements into our
image of ourselves, not build around a deep core of Philippine
history and language.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

6. KANYA-KANYA SYNDROME, TALANGKA
MENTALITY
- done by tsismis, intriga, unconstructive criticism.
- it is evident in the personal ambition that is completely
insensitive to the common good
- selfish and self-serving attitude that generates a feeling of
envy and competitiveness toward others, particularly one’s peer who
seem to have gained some status or prestige.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

7. LACK OF SELF-ANALYSIS & SELF-
REFLECTION
- the tendency to be superficial and some what flighty. In the
face of serious personal and social problems, there is a lack of
analysis and reflection, and instead satisfaction with superficial
explanations and solutions.
- joking about the most serious matter prevents us from
looking deeply into the problem.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

8. EMPHASIS ON PORMA RATHER THAN
SUBSTANCE
- this lack of analysis and emphasis on form is reinforced by
an educational system that is more from than substance.
- easily fascinated by the outside appearance rather than what
is in the inside.

WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

 1. The home environment
2. The social environment
3. The economic environment
4. Culture and language
5. History
6. Religion
7. The educational system
8. The political environment
9. Mass media, and
10. Leaders and role models

ROOTS OF WEAKNESSES OF THE

FILIPINO CHARACTER
THE FILIPINO SHOULD DEVELOP:

1. a sense of patriotism and national pride

2. a sense of the common good
3. a sense of integrity and accountability
4. the value and habits of discipline and hard work, and
5. the value and habits of self-reflection and analysis, the
internalization of spiritual values, and an emphasis upon essence
rather than form.

GOALS FOR CHANGE

1. PAKIKIPAGKAPWA-TAO
- basic sense of justice and fairness
- concern for others
- ability to empathize with others
- helpfulness and generosity in times of need

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

2. FAMILY ORIENTATION
- genuine and deep love for family
- sense of family results in a feeling of belongingness and
rootedness in a basic sense of security.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

3. JOY & HUMOR
- having a cheerful and fun-loving approach to love and it’s
ups and downs.
- a pleasant disposition, a sense of humor and prosperity for
happiness that contribute not only to the Filipino charm but also to
the indomitability of the Filipino spirit.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

4. FLEXIBILITY, ADAPTABILITY AND CREATIVITY
- can adjust and adapt to any circumstances and the
surrounding environment, both physical and social; adjust to
whatever happens even in unplanned or anticipated events.
- possession of tolerance for ambiguity that enables to remain
unfazed by uncertainly or lack of information.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

5. HARD WORK AND INDUSTRY
- having the capacity for hard work, given proper conditions.
- the desire to raise one’s standard of living and to possess the
essentials of a decent life for one’s family, combined with the right
opportunities and incentives, stimulate the Filipino to work very
hard.
- this is manifested most noticeably in a willingness to take
risks with jobs abroad, and to work there at two or three jobs.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

6. FAITH AND RELIGIOSITY
- Filipinos have a deep faith in God.
- the faith of Filipino is related to bahala na, which, instead of
being viewed as defeatist resignation, may be considered positively
as a reservoir of psychic energy, an important psychological
support on which we can lean during difficult times.
- faith in pampalakas ng loob allows us to act despite
uncertainty.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

7. ABILITY TO SURVIVE
- the ability to survive is manifested in our capacity for
endurance despite difficult times, and in our ability to get by on so
little.
-ability to utilize what is available in the environment.
- Filipino’s survival instinct is related to bravely carry on
through the harshest economic and social circumstances.

STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. Family orientation becomes in-group orientation
2. In our personalism, we are warm and caring but this leads to lack of
objectivity. Being concerned with the people we know but unfair to people we
don’t know.
3. In flexibility, we compromise precision and discipline.
4. We are a joyful people with sense of humor but we can’t take things with
humor all the time for serious problem need serious analysis.
5. Our faith in God is our source of strength but this makes us dependent on
forces outside us, do nothing that makes us submissive to God’s will.
6. We are good in pakikipagkapwa-tao but we can be envious to others at the
same time.
7. We can be hardworking and yet can be lazy and passive in the workplace.

THE SOURCES OF WEAKNESSES IN OUR

STRENGTHS AS A FILIPINO
WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHT?
Arcangel, C.N., LPT PhD; Corpuz, B.B., LPT PhD; Prieto, N.G., LPT PhD;
The Teacher and the Community, School, Culture and Organizational leadership

https://ourhappyschool.com/esp-values-education/moral-recovery-program-building-
people-building-nation-patricia-licuanan

https://www.slideshare.net/BelindoAguilar/strengths-and-weaknesses-of-the-filipino-
character

https://www.slideshare.net/venxaiimada/lec-7-filipinovalues

REFERENCES:
THANK YOU!!

Submitted to:
DR. RAMON VILLAREY JR.