POLITICAL SELF

GROUP 7
HARIS T. HADINIL
RAFFY M. ABDURAJI
DEVELOPING A FILIPINO IDENTITY: VALUES,TRAITS,
COMMUNITY,AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS

• The filipino culture is a mix of eastern and western cultures. The belief and traditional
of pre-colonial Philippines were mainly an indigenous malay heritage(baringer,2006)
the malay temperament is basic factors of a filipino personality, it can be described
as “being nice and pleasant to others”
• Psychologist,educator,and (former) chairperson of the commission on higher
education Dr. patricia B. Licuanan, wrote that the strengths and weakness of the
filipino character are rooted in factors, such as:
• The home environment • Religion
• The social environment • The economic environment
• Culture and language • The political environment
• History • Mass media
• The education system • Leadership and role model
• Home environment- filipino children are taught to value family and give it primary
importance
• The social environment- is characterized by depending on one another to survive.
• Culture and language- depict openness to foreign elements with no basic
consciousness of our cultural core.
• History- is the culprit behind our colonial mentality
• The educational system- is also instrumental is molding the strengths and the
weakness of the filipino character.
• Religion-taught us optimism and resilence; however, it also instilled in us a fatalistic
attitude.
• Economic environment- the hard life drove filipinos to work hard and take risk, such
as leaving our families to work abroad.
• Political environment- political environment and government structures and systems
are fraught with problems
• Mass media- reinforce our colonial mentality?what did you notice about the ads,
music,movies,fashion, and etc. these were greatly based on American pop culture
• Leadership and role model- any person with authority is looked up to. Thus, when our
leaders who violate the law and when there is lack of accountability.
the strong aspects of the filipino character
are:
• Pakikipagkapwa-tao
• Family oriented
• Joy and humor
• Flexibility, adaptability, and creativity
• Harwork and industry
• Faith and religiosity
• Ability to survive
 the strong aspects of the filipino
character are:
• Pakikipagkapwa-tao- is demonstrated in the Filipino’s openness,helpfulness, and generosity
• Family oriented- 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, and etc.
• Joy and humor- filipinos are also cheerful and fun-loving. Our various fiestas and social
gatherings demonstrate the filipino joy and humor.
• Flexibility, adaptability and creativity- filipinos are also tremendous in adjusting and adapting to
any circumstances.
• Hard work and industry- filipinos also value hard work and industry. This traits is most
noticeable in our willingness to take risk and work in other countries.
• Faith and religiosity. This can be related to our bahala na mindset.
• Ability to survive- the salawikain or proverb “matutong mamaluktot habang maikli ang kumot”
 WEAKNESS OF THE FILIPINO
CHARACTER
• Extreme personalism • Colonial mentality
• Extreme family centeredness • Kanya kanya syndrome
• Lack of discipline • Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
• Passivity and lack of initiative
• Extreme personalism- take things personally, cannot separate objective task from emotional involvement.
• Extreme family centeredness- excessive care for family entails utilizing one’s office and authority to advance
family interests,resulting, in factionalism,patronage,political dynasties, and the protection of erring family
members.
• Lack of discipline- “undisciplined behavior” lack of willpower, motivation, and ambition are also causes for
lack of self discipline.
• Passivity and lack of initiative- refer to a state of inaction, where an individual is not actively taking steps to
achieve their goals or make change in their life.
• Colonial mentality- is the internalized attitude of ethnic or cultural inferiority felt by people as a result of
colonization
• Kanya kanya syndrome- kanya kanya syndrome or “crab mentality”. Filipino have a selfish, self-serving
attitude that generates a feeling of envy and competitiveness.
• Lack of self-analysis and self reflection- without self-reflection, we simply go through life without thinking,
moving, from one thing to the next without making time to evaluate whether things are actually going well.