TH E FILI PINO

VALU E SYSTEM
AND ITS
EFFE CTS ON
BU SINESS
(B ESR)
E C S O. ZAGALA
AT THE END OF THE
LESSON, THE STUDENT
SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
1. Describe how the Filipino value system affects
the attitudes of business constituents;
2. Analyze simple business situations as they are
affected by the Filipino value system and
recommend ways of confronting ethical
challenges in the business setting;
3. Distinguish what is GOOD vs. what is morally
unacceptable among the given Filipino values.
THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM
OR
FILIPINO
A. Utang na Loob
VALUES
B. Filial Piety
C. Padrino
D. Suki
E. Bahala na
F. Mañana Habit
G. Amor Propio
H. Filipino Family Values
I. Negative Filipino Traits
WHAT IS FILIPINO VALUE
SYSTEM OR FILIPINO
VALUES?
Filipino Value System or Filipino Values – refers to the
set of values or the value system that a majority of the
Filipino have historically held important in their lives.
• This Filipino value system includes our own unique
assemblage of consistent ideologies, moral codes,
ethical practices, etiquette, and cultural and personal
values that are promoted by our society.
A. UTANG NA LOOB

“Utang na loob” or Debt of gratitude means that one does

not forget the good deeds that others may have dine to him or
her especially in times of great need.
• The essence of utang na loob is an obligation to appropriate
repay a person who has done one a favor.
• The internal dimension, loob, differentiates utang na loob
from an ordinary utang; being an intenal phenomenon, utang
na loob thus goes much deeper than ordinary debt or even the
western concept of owing a favor.
B. FILIAL PIETY

• Filial Piety is a virtue of respect for one’s parents,

elders, and ancestors.
• Filipinos are family-centered.
• Filipinos recognize their family as an important social
structure that one must take care of. They give
importance to the safety and unity of one’s family.
• Filipinos are taught to become polite and
respectful individuals. This is due to
influence of Christianity that tells them to
honor both parents and elders.
• The use of “po” and “opo” when in
conversation with an elder or someone
who is elder is a manifestation of how
Filial piety may be good or bad for business
depending on a lot of considerations, but it
definitely affects the way business is
conducted especially when the business
person is confronted with ethical issues.
C. PADRINO

Padrino System, or patronage in the Filipino culture,

business, and politics – is the value system where one
gains favor, promotion, or political appointment through
family affiliation or friendship, as opposed to one’s merit.
• The Padrino System in the Philippines has been the
source of many controversies and corruption, both in
government and in the business sector.
• To be in politics in the Philippines one must
have the mastery of the Padrino System. From
the lowest barangay official to the President of
the Republic, it is expected that one gains
political debts and dispenses political favor to
advance one’s career or influence, if not
wealth.
 D. SUKI
Suki – is a Filipino term which means “loyal
customer” .
• This so-called “market exchange partnership “
can be developed into an agreement where one
can be a regular customer and supplier.
• The suki system is also a system o patronage
wherein a customer regularly buys their
merchandise from a certain client.
• In merchandising business, Filipinos often buy
from specific suppliers who will provide their
E. BAHALA NA

“Bahala na” has been loosely translated as “come what

may”. Hence, it is referred to as the Filipino version of
fatalism, that is, leaving everything in the hands of fate.
“Bahala na” actually comes from the word “Bathala
na,” which means God. Hence, the expression “Bahala
na”, actually means, “let God take charge of the affairs”,
or “ I have done my part, let God take charge of the rest;
or “whatever happens, God has willed it.”
• “Bahala na” means , I have done everything, I
have done my part….and whatever is lacking,
whatever is wanting, I am letting God take care
of the rest.”
• However, others use the Bahala na concept
erroneously to mean the person’s state of
helplessness and resignation of one’s fate. Sometimes
it is used to refer to the person’s ignorance.
• The attitude of just let things happen instead of doing
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A
NOT GENUINE “BAHALA NA”
VALUE?
This is a one example.
Spending more time in computer games and gimmicks,
instead of doing studying for the exams while leaving
then chance of passing the exams to luck – is plain
laziness or outright stupidity and not a genuine
“Bahala na” Filipino value.
• On the contrary, “Bahala na” attitude requires
courage from the person to face the challenges or
uncertainties - as in business endeavors.
F. MAÑANA HABIT

“Mañana Habit” comes from the Spanish word “Mañana” which

literally means “tomorrow” or “an unspecified future time”. Hence,
Mañana habit refers to procrastination , or putting off for tomorrow
what can be done for today.
PUNCTUALITY and TARDINESS
• Related to “mañana habit” is the Filipino’s sense of time . Fiklipino
time is minutes or even hours late of the standard time.
• In other words, Filipinos tend to be late in meetings, events , etc.
G. AMOR PROPIO

“ Amor Propio” literally means “love of self” or self-

love.
• Amor propio refers to a person’s feeling of self-respect
and personal worth , or the quakity of being worthy of
esteem or respect , sometimes an inflated feeling of
pride as superior to others or sometimes even feelings
of excessive pride.
• Self-respect and personal worth, or that of being
worthy of esteem or respect is important to Filipinos,
“Hiya” or “Shame” is a related value to Amor
Propio. “Hiya” has a great influence on one’s
behavior for one will do everything, even if it is
beyond his means just to save his reputation as
well as the family’s.
H. FILIPINO FAMILY VALUES

1. Hospitality
Hospitality refersmto the friendly and generous
reception and entertainment of guests, visitors , or
strangers.
2. Humor, Adaptability, and Creativity
Filipino’s sense of joy and humor is evident in their
optimistic approach to life and its travails. The ability to
laugh at themselves and their predicament is an
important coping mechanism that contributes to
emotional balance and a capacity to survive.
3. Resilience, Resourcefulness and the
Ability to Survive
As a people who have been constantly under the
rule of numerous powerful countries overtime,
and as a place that is constantly plagued by
natural calamities, Filipinos have developed a
sense of resourcefulness or the ability to survive
with whatever they have.
4. Faith and Religiosity
The Philippines is approximately 92.5 percent
Christian(mostly Roman Catholic).
• This is a reflection of the Filipinos’ strong faith in God
as seen in their various practices. This includes the
numerous Church Holidays they observe, the
customary (and obligatory) Sunday Mass, the
individual’s basis of their moral standpoints , the
influence of the Church on the minds, actions , and
opinions of the majority, importance of the
5. Hard Work and Industry
• The capacity for hard work and industry among the
Filipinos is widely recognized.
• Filipinos are universally regarded as excellent workers
who perform well whether the job involves physical
labor and tasks or highly sophisticated technical
functions.
I. NEGATIVE FILIPINO TRAITS
These are some observable Filipino traits and attitudes
which are not so desirable in the conduct of good
business.
1. Bribery and Corruption
Bribery is a specific offense which concerns the
practice of offering something , usually money,
to gain an illicit advantage.
Corruption is an abuse of a position of trust in
order to gain an undue advantage.
• Bribery and corruption in the Philippines are
almost a culture whether it is in government
or in business.
2. Double Standard
• A double standard is the application of different sets
of principles for similar situations.
• This attitude of maintaining double standards is
readily observable in the homes and the society in
general particularly in Filipinos treatment of gender,
race and religion.
3. General Disregard for Rules
Many Filipinos have a penchant for breaking
rules.
• Jaywalking
• Loitering
• Falling in line
• Beating the red light
4. Pagtatakpan
“Pagtatakpan” attitude refers to the covering up of the
shortcomings or wrongdoings of another person . This
may involve the whole group justifying the
wrongdoings, or at least providing excuses for them, of
a group’s errant members., if only to preserve group
integrity.
“Pagtatakpan” attitude is an offshoot of
“Pakikisama”, which is not ethically wrong in
itself. While “pakikisama” is viewed as group
cooperation or solidarity in a positive sense,
pagtatakpan is pakikisama to a fault, or
solidarity to the extreme.
5. Gossiping
Many Filipinos are fond of talking about other’s
business. It is not just the women, but men too,
are into gossiping.
• Gossiping is unethical in business and in the
workplace . It inflicts others and destroys the
reputation and relationships of those who are
involved – whether professional or personal
6. Ningas – Cogon
“Ningas- Cogon” is an idiomatic expression
which refers to a burning cogon grass that
quickly burns and quickly burns out too. This
refers to the initial enthusiasm over a new
project or job quickly fades away.
• The enthusiasm or eagerness cannot be
sustained, hence the work is either unfinished
• Consistency, persistence and
or done haphazardly.
hard-work are the desired traits in
the workplace and not “Ningas-