Name: John Niel Tigoy Rev. Fr. Christian Marave, O.Carm.

Seminar on Filipino Philosophy Reflection Paper

Question: Explain Filipino Causality in a very simple word. Do you think it is a

Philosophy?

I have understood that Filipino causality has its roots in psychological perspective rather
than philosophical. However, from what I have observed, it becomes pragmatic rather than
abstractive. Filipino causality differs from a Westerner’s thought since a Filipino thinker would
think of the cause as something related to what was comprehended in his senses, which means
that what a Filipino has perceived is only the sole basis of his judgments to know the causes. But
on some occasions, it is filled with superstitious beliefs. Tracing back from our ancestors from
the pre-colonial period, Filipinos held a strong inclination towards superstition. If the tribe had
experienced a catastrophe, they would think that it was the wrath of the gods. They cried out for
mercy and offered sacrifices to soothe the anger of the gods. Even today, where Christianity
blooms and the expression of such belief is abounding, Filipinos irrational inclinations from what
was perceived. For instance, if you bring food from a lamay in your house, you will be cursed,
and bad things will happen to those in there.
These examples may become factors to discredit Filipino causality as a philosophy. But I
would like to say that it has its erroneous inclination towards superstition because it is observed
through psychological introspection. It needs to be clarified and concretized in the sense that it
reaches a pursuit of living virtuously. One good example is the notion of Bayanihan, where
everyone helps each other back when needed for maximum support. The virtue of charity is
shown from the notion of bayanihan and perfected when contextualized with circumstance. The
aftermath of typhoon Haiyan had caused demoralization of the people that are affected. Where
people struggle for survival and being strong makes one survive, while those who are weak are
doomed to death. But the notion of Bayanihan still prevails and perfected charity has brought to
life. People are no longer superstitious that God had cursed their lands nor blame themselves for
the evilness that they are not capable of controlling. Instead, they see this as another opportunity
to embrace pain and suffering with a smile on their faces.
In the context of a Filipino where psychological observations are the determinants of
knowing the Filipinoness. Virtue is an essential end for every Filipinos; it does not necessarily
requires intellectual greatnesss alone to achieve virtue (since the wrong application of the
intellect can also lead to vice and erroneous perception of reality.) But it necessitates
experiencing unfortunate circumstances gathered by the intellect (per-se) to set the pattern to
achieved a virtuous life.