Project In Values Education

De Leon, Irish Nicole N.

In the lives of The Filipinos, culture is indeed very significant. Appreciation

for the elderls is the Filipino culture that is valued the most, because it is what
characterizes us as Filipinos out of all our moral standards. Elders have long been
held in high esteem in societies, not just for their wisdom and knowledge, but also
for their experience in life and level of understanding. Compassion toward the
elderly is a natural inclination that Filipinos inherited from our ancestors. Filipinos
highly value what we end up receiving from our elders on a regular basis through
additional advantages provided to children whose grandparents have loves and cares
for them for years or more, as well as by helping and supporting in the connections
between younger and older generations' children by ensuring a comfortable haven.

Cultural beliefs are maintained through the teaching of some of these attitudes
and practices. Some of these virtues that we have are being enthusiastic and friendly.
1
Filipinos practice pagmamano due to the fact that this has been famous for showing
love and appreciation of the elders (kissing of the hand or reaching for the hand of
the elder and pressing it to the forehead). Pagmamano are taught to youngsters as a
show of appreciation and respect, so that the traditions of genuine love and concern
are passed onto the next generations.

This is how we usually welcome our older relatives or close family members.
Grabbing the elder's hand and placing the back of it on their forehead is our way of
showing respect.  I couldn't find a straight Accurate translation, but the short English
term that matches up to pagmamano is 'bless,' as it does in "There is your
grandfather, go ahead and bless him,"   So, whereas other cultures greet one other
with forehead-to-forehead, nose-to-nose, and kiss-to-cheek welcomes, we greet each
other with pagmamano.

Filipinos have always placed significant importance on their values. Every

time they talk about these traditions, they feel a feeling of pride. COVID-19, on the
other hand, has had a consequence on how Filipinos consider our own traditional
practices today. The several consequences of the pandemic have impacted the lives
of numerous people. As a result of these consequences, society has been damaged,
including the foundation of society, the values and traditions. During the COVID-19
pandemic, these values and behaviours were critical contributing components in
straightening the curve. Cultural understanding might help the government develop
appropriate health practices and regulations. Politicians in the Philippines are
investigating traditional influences that may be adjusted for Filipinos to significantly
minimize physical contact.

1
Medina B. The Filipino Family. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 2001
 2
In consideration of these traditions, Filipino politicians submitted House Bill
8149, also referred to as the Bating Filipino para sa Kalusugan Act (A Filipino
Greeting for Health Act), as a way to potentially reduce coronavirus spreading. This
law demands that Filipinos lay their right hand delicately over the center of their
chest while bowing their heads with open or closed eyes. The gesture's primary
purpose is to "impart healthcare awareness via the encouragement of a preferable
alternative to the traditional practices such as pagmamano and therefore preserve
Filipino people's health and well-being." According to HB 8149, the administration
should “established standards of social interaction such as an adequate and
comfortable gesture to show and convey appreciation, kindness, or gratitude among
individuals.” It advocates a creative manner of greeting people while sustaining
social distance all throughout the pandemic. If this contactless gesture is maintained
and performed, the transmission of virus can be minimized. When this bill becomes
law, all Philippine government agencies will be obligated to spread information and
promote the use of this new gesture. The law, however, would not try and enforce
any penalties on individuals that would not perform the proposed gestures.

Critics of the bill, on the other hand, believe that the government should
concentrate on more immediate and important problems, including transportation
congestion, increasing costs of essential goods, and vaccination preparedness.
Despite these complaints, the possibilities that this measure might bring to
individuals should not be underestimated. It not only strengthens Filipino culture, but
it also has the opportunity to bring a long-term answer to the virus's dangers. It is not
directly under the control of medical frontline workers to address this problem.
Every individual must play an important role in preventing and responding to the
pandemic by considering a society's core characteristics. Attempting to hold on to
tradition for the sake of conservation and restoration might sometimes put one's
people's lives at risk. As a result, it's extremely important to review previous cultures
in order to redefine them for the current moment.

2
Cepeda, M. As pandemic rages, House OKs bill on ‘safe’ Filipino way of greeting. 20 January
2021. https://www.rappler.com/nation/house-approves-bill-new-safe-filipino-gesture-respect (25 January 2021, date last
accessed)