SAN JOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
San, Jose Malilipot, Albay
Popular Philippine Culture
Strength of Filipino Values
1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao: Opening yourself to others and
feel one with others with dignity and respect life as fellow
human being.
-Sense of fairness and justice
-Concern for others
-Ability to empathize with others
-Helpfulness and generosity
-Practice hospitality
Sensitive to other feelings and trust
2. Family Orientation: A genuine and deep love for family.
-Commitment and responsibility
-Honor and respect
-Generosity and sacrifice
-Sense of trust and security
3. Joy and Humor: Filipinos have a cheerful and fun-loving
approach to life and its up and down, pleasant disposition,
a sense of humor and propensity for happiness that
contribute not only to the Filipino charm but also to the
Filipino Spirit.
-Laughing or smiling at those we love and hate
-Tend to make joke about our good and even bad fortune
-Smiling and heads up even in the most trying of times
-Emotional balance and optimism
-Healthy disrespect for power and office
4. Flexibility, Adaptability and Creativity: Easy adapt,
blend to other culture, practice other tradition, speak and
study other languages and even different environment or
climate.
5. Hard work and Industry: Capacity for hard work given to
raise one’s standard of living of a decent life for one’s
family.
6.Faith and Religiosity: Faith in God-accepting reality to
comprehend as a human created by God. “Pampalakas-
loob”
7. Ability to survive
Weakness of Filipino Values
1.Extreme Personalism
-Always trying to give personal interpretation to actions
(Mahilig sa “baka”).
-Thank you with “but” (compliment-criticism-complement)
2.Extreme Family Centeredness
-Very strong family protection whether it is in good or bad
condition and situation (consentidor) (overprotected)
3.Lack of Discipline: Very relaxed attitude but poor time
management (the famous Filipino time)
-Impatient and unable to delay gratification or reward
-Love to take short-cuts or ‘palusot system’
-Carelessness
4.Passivity and Lack Initiative: Strong reliance to others
fate (Makapag-asawa ng mayaman or Manalo sa Lotto)
(Mayaman-mapera-abroad naman si Mommy and
Daddy/Lolo and Lola or Tito or Tita or Pinsan or Ninong,
etc.)
-The famous Filipino Pride-it is because of the race
(nationality/blood) not by person’s attitude, hard-work,
dream and perseverance etc.
-Claiming someone achievement even they are not
representing the same flag just because of ethnicity.
(mabuhay ang mga Pinoy kahit American Citizens na and
they representing other country na)
-Very complacent (relax) but their rarely is a sense of
urgency. (It’s OK we have 1 day left to finished, just relax)
-Strong personality but Lack of Self-Confidence and strong
determination to achieve goals
-Good at start but No sense of continuity (ningas cogon)
sometimes no direction at all or no plan at all.)
-Too patient without any plan ar action (matiisin) “Bahala
na System”- No matter what, At least we tried
(paconsuelo).
-Doubt and Debate or Argument or Objection first than to
study, discuss until planning and action.
5.Colonial Mentality: Patriotism vs. Active awareness
( mas maganda and magaling kasi ang ibang bansa, mas
masarap)
-To much appreciation to other nationality and foreign
products than native one (local vs. imported)
-Lack of love and appreciation on what they have
-Open outside but Side-open or Close inside (it’s OK and
Best to Received more than to Share)
6.Kanya-kanya Syndrome: Self serving attitude that
generates feeling of envy and competitiveness towards
others (status vs. prestige)
-Crab mentatlity (Hilahan and Inggitan System)
-Lack of appreciation resulting unhealthy competition
7.Lack of Self Analysis and Reflection
-Superficial and flighty or dreamy.
For additional ideas regarding the positive side of the Filipino Values refer to Quito(1994) notes.
Positive Traits Negative Traits
1.Hospitality 1.Fatalism
2.Respect 2.Crab Mentality
3.Strong Family Ties and Religions
4.Generosity and Helpfulness
5.Strong Work Ethics
6.Love and Caring

In Quito’s paper, she presented an exposition of the Filipino traits as an ambivalence of positive and negative aspects.
Presented here are positive aspects only:
“Hiya” (Shame): it contributes to peace of mind and lack of stress by not even trying to achieve.

“Ningas-cogon”/procrastination: in a way, it makes a person non-chalant, detached, indifferent, and nonplussed should
anything go wrong, and hence conducive to peace and tranquility.

“Pakikisama”/group loyalty: one lives for others; peace or lack of dissension is a constant goal.

Annotation: What is greater than peace? Peace of mind, peace with oneself and peace with others. Peace is what
most people pray or crave for.

“Patigasan” /test of strength: it is assign that we know our rights and are not easily cowed into submission. It is
occidental in spirit, hence keeping with Nietzche’s “will to power”.

“Bahala na”/resignation: one relies on a superior power than on one’s own. It is conducive to humility, modesty and
lack of arrogance.

“Mañana or Bukas na/procrastination: one is without stress and tension; one learns to take what comes naturally. Like
the Chinese wu-wei, this traits makes one live naturally and without undue artificiality.

Annotation: Strength that comes from within ourselves, or from a belief that something is more superior than us?
It makes us more human and humane.

“Kasi” (because,i.e., scapegoat): one can see both sides of the picture and know exactly where a project failed. One will
suffer from guilt or self-recrimination.

“Saving Face”: One’s psyche is saved from undue embarrassment, sleepless nights, remorse of conscience. It saves one
from accountability or responsibility. This trait enables one to make a graceful exit from guilt instead of facing the music
and owning responsibility for an offense.

Annotation: Why delve into a guilt-trip? Guilt is unhealthy if it becomes our only passion. With hiya, at least we
truly know our own faults and failings. That should be enough!

“Sakop”/inclusion: one cares for the family and clan; one stands or falls with them. This trait makes a person show
concern for family to which he belongs.

“Utang na loob”/indebtedness: It is a recognition of one’s indebtedness. This trait portrays the spirit behind the Filipino
saying,” He who does not know how to look to the past will never reach his destination”.
“Kanya-kanya”/self-centeredness: one takes care of oneself and one’s family; “Blood is thicker than water”.

Annotation: Families make communities, without which nations cannot exist. As Dancel (2005) notes: “the
Filipino is nothing if he is not grateful…The Filipino sense of gratitude is uniquely Filipino, just as we are uniquely Filipino
because of our sense of gratitude”.