[Developing a Filipino Identity: Values, Traits Community and Institutional Factors The Filipino culture is a mix of both eastern and western cultures, The beliefs and traditions of pre-colonial Philippines were mainly an indigenous Malay heritage (Baringer, 2006). The Malays made a large contribution to Philippine history. The Malay temperament isa basic factor of a Filipino personality. It can best be described as “being _ niceand pleasant to others.” Additionally, the important role of family in Filipino culture stemmed from the seeogih of the Malay family clan that served as a strong security unit, ‘When the Spaniards colonized the islands, the Hispanic culture influenced the ives. Christianity became the dominant rell F igion, and a western-based social and political organization was established in the P ippines. ‘The Americans shaped the modern Filipino culture, and this is primarily manifested by the widespread use of the English language in the Phil these influences that formed the es today. It was from Filipino character. The brief occupation of the British (4762-1764) and the Japanese (1942-1945), however, had no cultural influence in the Philippines at all. Psychologist, educator, and (former) chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, wrote that the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino character are rooted in factors, such as: 1. The home environment; Religion; 2. The social environment; ‘The economic environment; 3, Culture and language; eens ‘The political environment;, 4, History; : ‘Mass media; and 5. The educational system; 10. Leadership and role models. * Licuanan said that in the home environment, Filipino children are taught to value family and give it primary importance. The Filipino social environment is characterized by depending on one another to survive. This dependence on relationships and the struggle for survival make Filipinos group-oriented (1994) Meanwhile, Filipino culture and language depict openness to foreign elements with no basic consciousness of our cultural core (Licuanan, 1994). The Filipino colonial inentality, such as the importance of the English language in our educational system, the wider following of Hollywood movies, foreign soap operas/TV shows, and foreign songs/ singers over Filipino movies, shows, and music, is a manifestation of our attachment to foreign elements. Licuanan added that our colonial history is regarded as the culprit behind our colonial mentality. Unfortunately, most Filipino elites are of no help in setting an example of overcoming colonial mentality because they are even more westernized in their ways. Present-day media, on the other hand, reinforced these colonial influences (1994). ‘The Philippine educational system is also instrumental in molding the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino character. Schools are highly authoritarian. Early on, children learn that well-behaved and obedient students are praised and rewarded. This teaches Passivity and conformity. The Filipino is also religious. Religion taught us optimism and resilience; however, it also instilled in us a fatalistic attitude. Since religious communities are also highly authoritarian, this further reinforced our being passive and a conformist (Licuanan, 1994),economic environment. The hard life drove Filipinos to work hard and take risks, such as leaving oNr families to work abroad. This further developed our ability to survive. Unfortunately, ur political environment and government structures and aystems are fraught with problems, For instance, the fact nae political power is mainly in the hands of the elite, and the absence of a strong government presence enhances the Filipino’s already extreme family centeredness Ficuanan, 1994). The economic and political environments are among the elements that have developed the culture of corruption in the Philippines: MMecaute, how dia mass media reinforce our colonial mentality? What did you co ene ets, music, movies, fashion, etc. shown on TV, aired over the radio, printed in the newspapers/magazines, or gone viral online? These wert greatly based on aeann ican pop ealture, The emphasis on the superiority of an imported brand or product through mass media is, in fact, part of a Filipino’s daily life. ‘Since Filipinos highly respect authority, we lean on our leaders and role models. Any person with authority is looked up to. Thus, when our leaders violate the law and when aeene te lack of accountability for leaders who break the law, the Filipino mindset is hugely affected in a negative way (Licuanan, 1994). Several Filipino traits are rooted in our strengths of the Filipino Character “The Filipino traits listed here is certainly not exhaustive, but these are mostly what we have in common. The strong aspects of the Filipino character are: 1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao: 3 2. Family orientation; Joy and humor; Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity; Hard work and industry: Faith and religiosity; and Ability to survive. Pakikipagkapwa-tao is demonstrated in the Filipino's openness, helpfulness, and generosity in the practice of bayanthan oF mutual assistance; and the famous Filipino hospitality (Licuanan, 1994; Guevara & Gripaldo, 2005). Filipinos also possess a genuine love for family. This love is not just for one’s spouse and children but also for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins (even very distant ones), and even ceremonial relatives. This love is shown through giving honor and respect to parents and elders, cate forte children, generosity toward kin, and the personal scrfices tat Filipino srimeation has glen Plipinosa seve ofecongingendaecarty. ne Roe aw ato pe Reesilipinos are also cheerful ‘ aire are mpg neetfal and fun-loving, Our various fiestas and social gatherings dees sokes abour oar and humor. We can laugh at those we love and hate, and we ae ee a cage 8004 oF bad fortune. Even in the most trying times, Filipinos aaa ‘eason to smile or laugh. This pleasant disposition has contributed to cour ability to overcome life's challenges. Filipinos are also tremendous in adjusting and adapting f© any circumstances. We can improvise and make use of whatever is at hand to create and produce, Our flexibility, adaptability, and creativity are reasons many Filipinos thrive in various parts of the world (Licuanan, 1994). inos also value hard work and industry. This trait is most noticeable in our willingness to take risks and work in other countries. Filipinos also value faith and + peligiosity. This can be related to our bahala na mindset. There is actually a positive side to this fatalistic trait. For Filipinos the bahala na attitude could serve as a “kickstarter” or a “pampalakas loob" to move him or her into action Gripaldo, 2005). : - AlltheteportiveFilipintraesmentioned | RAGROISAMeS Ses aera contribute to our ability to survive. The (@. SERRE enna oae salawikain or proverb “matutong mamaluktot a hetpy/www filipiknow.nevinteresting-tacts- habang maikli ang kumot" aptly depicts our airmen ees survival instinct. We can endure, make do, and get by on so little while looking forward to the coming of better days. This trait is the reason why Filipinos continue to carry on even through our harsh economic and. social circuimstances (Tianco & Gripaldo, 2005; Licuanan, 1994). Weaknesses of the Filipino character ‘Aside from identifying the roots and strengths of the Filipino character, Dr. Patricia B.Licuanan also pointed out our weaknesses. This is important because this enables the Filipino to identify the areas that need improvement to grow and develop as a person. ‘An informed and improved Filipino will also result in a stronger and more progressive nation, Generally, these weaknesses are: 1. Extreme personalism: 5. Colonial mentality; 2, Extreme family-centeredness; 6. ‘Kanya-kanya syndrome; and 3. Lack of discipline; 7. Lack of self-analysis and self- 4. Passivity and lack of initiative reflection.Licuanan noted that Filipinos function in the world by personally relating to things, events, and people. We find it difficult to separate objective tasks from emotional involvement. This is where the palakasan system springs from. Filipinos want to get special treatment and will always look for “inside connections” in most (if not all) of his or her transactions. For example, family and friends are given preference in hiring, in ince personal contacts down. Extreme the delivery of services, and even in voting (Licuanan, 1994). are involved, requests of this nature also become difficult to turn personalism is another element that has led to the prevalence of graft and corruption in the country. X ‘The family may bea source of strength for Filipinos, but extreme family-centeredness is also its flaw. Family is valued above anything and everyone else. Thus, concern for the rest of the community and for the common good is less important. Extreme family- centeredness is manifested in our political system where political dynasties lord over our elected government posts starting from the barangay level to the national positions (McCoy, 1994; Licuanan, 1994). ‘The Filipino’s lack of discipline is characterized by our idiomatic expression “ningas cogon.” Projects start out with full enthusiasm and interest, but no sooner has it started that the enthusiasm and interest just as soon dies down (Licuanan, 1994). Another related characteristic is “Filipino time.” Filipinos are known to be always late—we arrive late or we start late. Since global trends strictly follow schedules, this trait that disregards the importance of time is adversely affecting Filipino productivity (Tan, 2016). Filipinos have a very high respect for authority. Unfortunately, this has also led to general passivity and lacking initiative. For instance, there is a strong reliance on leaders and the government to solve the nation’s problems, but ordinarily, Filipinos also do not feel the need to initiate or contribute to the solution. This trait is also related to our lack of discipline. Look at our traffic problem. We expect the government to solve the monstrous traffic jam: yet, traffic rules and regulations are also blatantly ignored every day. Generally, Filipinos love anything foreign. Foreign elements are adapted and incorporat- ed into our image, and in the process, we are also losing our cultural identity. Licuanan noted that this colonial mentality is connected to our general feelings of inferiority, where we think foreigners—especially Westernefs, are superior (1994), ‘The kanya-kanya syndrome is related to the Filipino traits of extreme personalism and extreme family-centeredness. Personal and in-group interests are supreme, and the drive to fulfill these interests is completely insensitive to the common good. The kanya- kanya syndrome has dampened our sense of community and cooperation, and we trample ‘on one another's rights as a result. The expression crab mentality, where we tend to pull others down to climb up, exemplifies the kanya-kanya syndrome. Licuanan further observed that the joyful and fun-loving Filipino also has the tendency to be superficial and somewhat flighty. This means that in times of crisis, 112anation. Establishing a democratic culture Democracy is a government in which the is i i ‘ich the supreme power is vested in and exercised bythe people directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving periodically held free elections. Although democracy has several flaws, it also uniquely possesses a number of features that most people—whatever their basic political beliefs— would consider desirable, For example: 1. Democracy helps prevent cruel and vicious autocrats from ruling. 2. It fosters human development (e., health, education, personal income, and any other indicators) more fully than do other forms of government. 3. Democracy helps protect fundamental individual rights and interests. 4: Democratic societies provide people the maximum opportunity to take moral responsibility for their choices and decisions. +5. Democratic societies offer a relatively high chance of political equality. ‘The adjustment of individual awareness to the collective awareness is achieved through formal and informal ways. The formal way refers to a system of ideas and models that are officially established (.e., policies and laws) whereas the informal way refers to the acceptance of behaviors and thoughts that are not established as the formal way of interpersonal relations. Culture is an informal way of shaping collective awareness. Other than culture, there are also religion, science, morality, and ideology that shape and structure individual awareness.Establishing democratic institutions, however, is not enough for democracy tg flourish. Democracy cannot be sustained if political attitudes and political culture o¢ the citizens do not have a participative attitude. Attitudes, such as having 2 sense of responsibility for society and becoming concerned about human rights and bumay development, are important in establishing a democratic culture. A study showeg that personality traits factor in internalizing political attitudes (Marcovic, 2009). For ‘example, openness to experience and extroversion influence attraction to democrat attitudes about family, education, and freedom of speech (Marcovic. 2009). TRvia, ‘The ideo of democracy (rule of the people) originated in Ancient Greece over two thovsond yeors 090. Theoretically, #t designated a goverment where the people shored in Grecting the Octiviies of the stale. os distinct from governments controlled by @ single class. s010ct GFOUP, oF outocrat: hence, Greece har oiways been labeled as the Cradie of Democracy.The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the 1890s after over three centuries of colonization of the Spaniards. Meanwhile, liberation from the last colonizers, the Japanese, only occurred in 1946. Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have made a huge dent on our own by setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino identity and culture. To date, colonial mentality remains an issue. Given the wide discrepancy between the liberation period and today’s time, would it be safe to say that Filipinos have truly developed an identity of their ‘own? Or are we still living in the shadow of our colonial friends? In this chapter, you will learn that an individual's race, ethnicity, and physical characteristics are not the only factors that make a person's national identity. Values and traits are also important indicators that set apart one nationality from the other. These values and traits may not always be a positive thing, but being able to identify ‘one’s self apart from other nationalities and point out weaknesses and mistakes, paired with unity and commitment, make progress a possibility. Through common goals, principles, and values of its people, anation empowers itself. hw Ath rh ates masnae mPnotonngpnote 1 aze4a/ Who Is a Filipino? Filipinos are often referenced to globally renowned personalities like Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, and Michael Cinco who have made Filipinos recognized around the world through their expertise. However, being a Filipino is far more than just being related to these notable figures. Independence Day and Buwan ng Wika celebrations prompt us to go back to our roots and reflect on the question: Who is. a Filipino? Technically, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens are “...those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines, those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and those who are naturalized in accordance with law." However, citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino. Culture and history have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live, and behave to date. People who were born and grew up in the same culture develop and share common personality traits and values. Generations after generations, common traits and values have been passed on that the Filipinos of today still embody.‘The Philippines is a lush island paradise famous for its grandiose mountain views, pristine beaches, and rich and diverse culture changing from province to province. While the Philippines may be well known for its awe-inspiring beauty, perhaps the Filipinos’ unique traits, reputable values, and laudable talents make the country a place to be. Tourists who have visited the Philippines can never forget the big and bright ‘smiles that greeted them, the colorful and loud jeepneys, the common Filipino phrases such as “Mabuhay!” and “Salamat!” and habits such as saying “po” and “opo” to the elders, leaving shoes or slippers at the front door before entering a house, and the importunate asking of "Kumain ka na ba?” meaning “Have you eaten yet?” Indeed, it is a marvel to experience these unique traits of the Filipinos firsthand. Few of these traits are as follows. The Filipino Hospitality Filipino trait that is known everywhere is the Filipino’s brand of hospitality. Filipinos welcome: their guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers and sisters; they always make their guests feel at home, offering them something to eal, or even a place to stay. They will bring out their best sets of plates and chinaware for their honored guests and would even go as far as spending a lot of money and going into debt just so they can satisfy them. In most local shops, Filipino salespersons will greet their customers with warm welcome and say thank you when they leave even without buying anything. Filipinos also anticipate giving toursto friends who will visit their hometown and treating them to the best restaurants and delicacies for free. During festivals or fiestas, Filipinos serve heaps of festive food and invite the whole barangay over. They are also fond of giving pasalubong or tokens from their travels and pabaon or farewell gifts to their visitors. Respect for Elders Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po!” and constantly using “po” and ‘opo” in conversations. Forgetting to address older people properly will regard them as rude and impolite. There is also a wide array of references to elder people such as ate for older sister; Kuya for older brother: Tito and Tita for uncle and aunt, respectively; Lo/o.and Lola for grandfather and grandfather; and Manong and Aling for older people outside the family. Close Family Ties Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families regardless if the children are old enough and already have families of their own. They are also fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or fiestas year-round. Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay together. Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family members and choose to take care of their elders themselves. Cheerful Personality Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. They smile when they are happy, or sometimes even when they are sad or angry. Smiling has been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during trying times and calamities. For instance, Filipinos smile and wave at the camera while being interviewed even after a fire or flooding incident. They always try to maintain a positive outlook in life Which makes them resilient and able to manage almost everything with a simple smile, Chapter II Unpacking the Self eReetereemenesSelf-sacrifice The self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the Filipino hospitality. Filipinos go out of their way to extend help to their friends, jatter lives for their loved ones indreds of miles away to eam 0 Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot; that is why they are regarded as the moder day Filipino heroes. There are also times when the eldest among the children of the family would give up school to work and provide for the rest of the family and educate his or her siblings. { families, and loved ones. They wish comfort and bé and would even go to the extent of working abroad hut i more money and save up for them. Overseas Filipin | 1 i ; Bayanihan Bayanihan is the spirit of communal also about giving without expecting some! jr friends and loved ones who are in need. It ma} the time and effort they give also count as a form of help ilipinos rally themselves to unity and cooperation of Filipinos. Itis 9 in return. Filipinos are always ready y not always to share and help th be in monetary form, but for them. This trait is particularly manifested in how Fi send aid to those who are severely affected by natural calamities. “Bahala na’ is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata,” meaning no worries. The phrase is said to have originated from “Bathala na,” where Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning leaving everything into God's hands. It can also be viewed as something similar to the cheerful and positive attitude of, j 1 | “Bahala Na” Attitude Filipinos and allowing situations take care of themselves instead of worrying about them. Colonial Mentality Colonial mentality is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products more than their own. This does not only concer goods, but also the desire to look more foreign than local and keep up with foreign beauty trends. It is attributed to the centuries of colonization Filipinos had ‘experienced under the Spanish, American, and Japanese rule.mariana” Habit This is the Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from a longer filipino phrase called “Mamaya na” meaning dawdling things, which could have been done at an earlier time. It is a poor habit of laziness that results in heavier workloads. Ningas Kugon” “Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame and “kugon” is a Filipino term for Cogon grass that easily burns out after it is put into flames. Ningas kugon refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing eagemess soon after experiencing difficulty, just like how fast the fire of a Cogon grass burns out moments after being ignited. Laziness is a common problem among Filipinos; that is why Filipinos are regarded as “Juan Tamad” or Lazy Juan. Pride Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more precious than keeping a good relationship with family'and loved ones. When two parties are not in good terms, they find it so hard to apologize and wait until the other party asks for an apology first. Crab Mentality This is a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of another, instead of feeling happy for that person. Just like crabs in a container, they pull each other down and ruin each other's reputation rather than bringing them up, resulting to no progress. Filipinos should change this troublesome attitude and focus more on their own inadequacies to improve one's self. Filipino Time Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at commitments, dinner, or parties especially if they are meeting someone close to them. They tend to not observe punctuality altogether. The 7:00 pa calll time becomes adjusted to 7:30 pm, and almost everyone arrives at the same time because everyone is using Filipino time, ‘Chapter Il - Unpacking the Self I } I 93Mist aati dai as Filipino Markers truly relish in our being a Filipino? The following are ‘a Filipino? What makes us What then are the hallmarks of our being constant reminders of our nationality. 1 Proverbs or Salawikain Filipino proverbs, just like any other proverbs. 2f° sayings that convey lessons and reflections on Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions, Damiana Eugenio, regarded as the Mother of Philippine Folklore, classified proverbs into six categories (Eugenio, 2000): a. proverbs expressing a general attitude toward life and the laws that govern life; b. ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and condemning certain vices; proverbs expressing a system of values; proverbs expressing general truths and observations about life and human nature: e. humorous proverbs; and f, _ miscellaneous proverbs. ‘An example of a Filipino proverb is the saying “Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga,” whichmeans that hard work will be rewarded if one is persistent. ‘Superstitions Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions passed down from generation to generation. Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from other cultures, but Filipinos have retold these superstitions according to their own experiences and they sometimes end up even more interesting. According to a Filipino superstition, a worrian singing while cooking will end up a spinster so parents remind their daughters to avoid singing while preparing their meals. 10s also avoid taking picture in threes as the one in the center is said to die, according to another superstition.4 Myths and Legends of Due to the Philippines’s rich culture and history, numerous myths and legends have sprung about things that are beyond one's imagination. These stories are aimed to explain the origin of things, at the same time, teach a valuable lesson. Some of these stories stemmed in pre- Christianity period, but have evolved to the stories we know today. ‘A famous Filipino legend is about the origin of the pineapple fruit. It is about a story of a young and lazy girl named Pina who always asked where her mother kept the things she needed without looking for them first. When Pina’s mother got tired of being asked where she hid her things, her mother wished that eyes be planted on Pina's face so she would start using them. To her mother's surprise the next morning, Pina was gone and a fruit sprung in the yard, implanted with “eyes” all around its body which was later called “pinya,”"the Filipino term for “pineapple.” Heroes and Icons Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country’s freedom and progress. Every year, we lend a whole day to celebrate our heroes, usually the last Monday of August, té remember their greatness, bravery, and resilience that has led to the freedom we know today. Famous Filipino icons such as Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, and ‘our very own national hero, Jose Rizal, also serve as important Filipino markers as they have made the Filipino name more pronounced worldwide through their own expertise. ‘Chapter I~ Unpacking the Self f 95