LESSON 3

Filipino Moral Behaviors

Filipino moral behavior is closely connected to ethics, which is the study of what is
morally right and wrong. Filipino moral behavior is shaped by various ethical principles,
including religious, cultural, and social values. Here's a closer look at the connection
between Filipino moral behavior and ethics:
1. Religious Ethics:
● Filipino Moral Behavior: Many Filipinos are devout Catholics, and their
moral behavior often aligns with Catholic teachings and ethics. This
includes attending Mass, following the Ten Commandments, and
adhering to the moral teachings of Jesus Christ.
● Ethical Connection: The Catholic faith provides a clear ethical framework
for Filipinos, guiding their behavior based on religious principles.
Following these religious ethics helps individuals make decisions that are
morally right according to their faith.
● Example: A devout Catholic Filipino attends Mass every Sunday and
follows the commandment "Thou shall not steal." When they find a lost
wallet with a significant amount of money inside, they make the ethical
choice to return it to its rightful owner, even though they could have kept
the money.
2. Cultural Ethics:
● Filipino Moral Behavior: Filipino culture places a strong emphasis on
values like "Bayanihan" (communal cooperation), "utang na loob" (debt
of gratitude), and "pagmamano" (respect for elders). These cultural ethics
influence how Filipinos interact with others and make moral choices.
● Ethical Connection: Cultural ethics form a part of the ethical framework
for Filipinos. These cultural values help shape their moral behavior and
guide them in living harmoniously within their communities.
● Example: During a typhoon, several neighbors in a Filipino community
come together to help repair the damaged roofs of their fellow villagers.
This act of "Bayanihan" reflects the cultural ethics of communal
cooperation and mutual support.
3. Social Ethics:
● Filipino Moral Behavior: Filipinos prioritize family and community
well-being. They often take care of elderly parents, provide support for
younger siblings' education, and engage in acts of kindness within their
social circles.
 ● Ethical Connection: Social ethics, in this context, emphasize the
importance of caring for loved ones and contributing to the welfare of the
family and community. These social values play a significant role in
guiding Filipino moral behavior.
● Example: A Filipino who has recently started working sends a portion of
their salary to support their elderly parents' medical expenses. This
demonstrates their commitment to social ethics by valuing family and
contributing to their parents' welfare.
4. Personal Ethics:
● Filipino Moral Behavior: Filipinos develop their ethics based on their
upbringing, education, and experiences. Personal ethics guide individuals
in making moral choices aligned with their sense of right and wrong.
● Ethical Connection: Personal ethics are an individual's interpretation of
moral values and principles. While influenced by cultural and social
factors, personal ethics are unique to each person and serve as a basis for
their moral behavior.
● Example: A Filipino professional is offered a lucrative job opportunity that
would require them to work for a company involved in practices they find
ethically questionable, such as environmental harm. They decline the
offer based on their moral values, prioritizing their commitment to
environmental sustainability over financial gain.
Activity:
Ethical dilemmas

1. Religious Ethics:
● Dilemma: You are a devout Catholic Filipino, and attending Mass on
Sundays is a significant part of your faith. However, your employer has
scheduled an important work meeting on a Sunday morning. You must
decide whether to attend Mass or prioritize your job.

2. Cultural Ethics:
● Dilemma: You are a member of an indigenous Filipino tribe with a
centuries-old tradition of sacrificing animals during important rituals,
believed to appease ancestral spirits. However, you have recently learned
about animal rights and have become deeply concerned about the ethics
of animal sacrifice. Your community is preparing for a significant ritual,
and your participation is expected. You face a cultural dilemma: do you
uphold your cultural heritage by participating in the ritual or follow your
newfound ethics, which prioritize animal welfare?

3. Social Ethics:
● Dilemma: You are a Filipino who has recently graduated from college and
started your career. Your parents are getting older and are struggling
financially. At the same time, your younger sibling has been accepted to
a prestigious university, but tuition is expensive. You have limited
resources, and you must decide whether to support your parents and
your sibling's education or find a way to balance both responsibilities.
How do you navigate this situation?

4. Personal ethics:
● You are a student who strongly believes in the value of kindness. You
witness a classmate being bullied by a group of students, and you are torn
between joining in with the group to avoid becoming a target themselves or
standing up for the classmate being bullied, which could lead you to face
potential social isolation or backlash from the bullies. What should you do?