FILIPINO MORAL CHARACTER:
and getting along with others.
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES
Who is a Filipino?
There are two (2) generally recognized forms
of acquiring Philippine citizenship:
1. Filipino by birth -Jus soli (right of
soil) which is the legal principle that
a person’s nationality at birth is
determined by the place of birth (e.g.
the territory of a given state) -Jus
sanguinis (right of blood) which is the
legal principle that, at birth, an
individual acquires the nationality of
his/her natural parent/s. The
Philippine adheres to this principle.
2. Filipino by naturalization which is the
judicial act of adopting a foreigner and
clothing him with the privileges of a native-
born citizen. It implies the renunciation of a
former nationality and the fact of entrance
into a similar relation towards a new body
politic.
Philippine culture is principally
anchored on at least six basic Filipino
values: the concept of “pakikisama”,
“hiya”, “amor propio”, “utang na loob”,
“Filipino Hospitality” and “respect”.
1. “Pakikisama”
• is having and maintaining “good
public relations”.
• usually being practice to avoid clash
with other people or a certain group.
• it characterizes both a value and a
goal that involves keeping good
feelings in all personal interactions
❑ Strength: to elude open display of
conflicts, clashes and confrontations.
❑ Weaknesses: overgenerous praise to
one another; using metaphorical
language rather than candid terms,
concealing negative feelings, smiling
even when things go wrong.
2. “Hiya”
• Is describe as the feeling of
lowliness, shame or
embarrassment, and inhibition or
shyness which is experienced as
somewhat distressing.
• Is related to the concept of “face”
and a concern with how one
appears with how one appears in
the eyes of others.
❑ Strength: afraid to do bad things
as it may damage one
reputation in the sight of other
people.
❑ Weakness: too much “hiya” may
lead of having inferiority
complex, and losing self-
confidence.
3. “Amor Propio”
• Commonly translated as “self-
respect”, “personal pride”.
• Characterized as the high degree
of sensitivity that makes the
person intolerant to criticism and
causes him to have an easily
wounded pride.
❑ Strength: tendency to protect his/her
dignity and honor.
❑ Weakness: a person may refuse
offers even if he/she really wants to
accept them.
4. “Utang na loob” POSITIVE FILIPINO
• Fundamental aspect of
VALUES
upholding group harmony and
relationships that demand the 1. Bayanihan system or spirit
balancing of obligation and debts. of kinship and camaraderie
❑ Strength: the concept of - A Filipino community
“reciprocity” or returning the spirit and cooperation
received favour. wherein a group of
❑ Weaknesses: inability to pay the debt individuals extends a
of gratitude makes a person “walang helping hand without
utang na loob”, sometimes Filipinos expecting any
do things that may be bad (like voting remuneration. It is
of unworthy candidate) just to return characterized by
the believe. communal work towards
one goal exemplified in
5. “Filipino Hospitality” carrying a nipa house or
• Refers to the innate ability and pushing a passenger
trait of the Filipinos to be courteous jeepney.
and entertaining to their guests. 2. Damayan system
- sympathy for people who
❑ Strength: Filipinos are
lost their love ones. In
internationally known to be warm,
case of death of a certain
welcoming and accommodating.
member of the
❑ Weakness: prone to being abused or community, the whole
maltreated. community sympathizes
with the bereaved family.
6. “Respect to elders” Neighbors, friends, and
• Filipinos have a unique ways relatives of the deceased
of expressing respect to elders. usually give certain
• These includes the use of “po” amount of money as their
and “opo” when talking to elders and way of showing
“pagmamano” or putting the elders sympathy.
arms to one’s forehead. 3. Fun-loving trait
❑ Strength: they can advise us in - a trait found in most
handling life challenges Filipinos, a trait that
❑ Weakness: they might take makes them unique that
advantage of your respect. even in time of calamities
and other challenges in
These Filipino social values are life, they always have
important to maintain harmony in something to be happy
Filipino relationships in social about, a reason to
institutions such as family, school celebrate.
and community
 4. Remedyo attitude
- a Filipino trait of being
creative and resourceful.
The ability to do things
that are next to
impossible. Example in
fixing appliances that look
impossible to repair.
5. Compassionate
- a Filipino trait of being
sympathetic to others
even if the person is a
stranger. An example of
this is giving alms to
beggar. This is observed
when we hear Filipinos
saying “kawawa naman
or nakakaawa naman.
Negative Filipino Values
1. Bahala na attitude
- a Filipino trait characterized by
retreating or withdrawal
from certain undertaking
and leaving everything to
God to interfere and
determine the outcome of
his deeds.
2. Crab mentality
- a Filipino attitude
characterized by an
attempt to “pull down”
someone who has
achieved success beyond
the others. This I done out
of jealousy and insecurity.
3. Filipino time
- in reality, it means
“always late”, a Filipino
attitude of impreciseness
towards time.
4. Gaya-gaya attitude
- a Filipino attitude of
imitating or copying other
culture specifically in
mode of dressing,
language, fashion or even
haircut.
5. Jackpot mentality
- a “get rich quick”
mentality of some
Filipinos who would
rather engage in fast ways
of acquiring money than
through hardwork and
sacrifice by getting in
lottery, joining raffle
draws and other
6. Kapalaran values
- a Filipino trait of
accepting his fate by
believing that everything
is written in his palm.
Such traits contributes to
lack initiative and
perseverance among
Filipinos.
7. Mañana habit
- delaying or setting aside a
certain task assigned on
the next day although it
can be done today
8. Ningas-cogon
- being enthusiastic only
during the start of new
undertaking but ends
dismally in accomplishing
nothing. A common
practice observed in some
politicians who are visible
only during the start of
certain endeavor