Culture

and
Values
Highlighting Filipino Culture and Values

Lecture in VED 203 Values Education

Lecture Objectives
At the end of the lecture, the students should:

Be able to define and understand

01 Culture and Values.

Be able to identify the different

02
Filipino Values.
values
 Values are principles, morals, standards, and
ideals that we consider dear and precious in our
life.
-something important, to be treasured-
 Kinds of values
01 02 03

biological social rational

values values values

04 05

aBSOLUTE MORAL CULTURAL

VALUES VALUES
 PRIMARY values

SECONDARY values
 PRIMARY values
Set of values that are first formed in the child, from
the moment of inception of consciousness until the
age of 12.
They define one’s sense of values: what is right or
wrong, what is beautiful or unappealing
 secondary values
Values that are formed as the person gets more
mature and interacts with society. Secondary values
are borne out of deliberate choices.

Secondary values can change as the person gathers

objective proof for or against one’s current scale of
values.
Culture
 Culture
-Sociologists-

The sum total ways built up by a group of human

beings (skills, beliefs and knowledge) and
transmitted from generation to another.
 Culture
-Edward Taylor (1976)-

...complex whole that includes knowledge,

beliefs, arts, work, laws, customs, and any other
capabilities acquired by man as a member of
society.
 Culture
-Tenedero (1993)-
...the composite or learned behaviors, attitudes,
beliefs, ideals, and values held by a particular
society.
Characteristics of Culture
-(Tulio, 2000)-

People have varied cultures

Culture is learned
Culture is a group product
Culture is transmitted from generation to generation
Culture is adaptive
 Filipino Culture

Is the culmination of local factors

and outside influences that have
had varied degrees of impact on
the people throughout the last
many centuries.
Filipino Culture

Diversity is given in the

Philippine culture, owing to
more than 100 indigenous
groups, the archipelagic
setting, and the varied cultural
influences in its history
(Gripaldo, 2013, 2007, 2005;
Quito, 1990).
A. Belief System
Filipino are believers in religion.
They believe so much in supernatural powers and
viewed themselves as only a speck in this wide universe.
Success is considered a blessing from above, as a
result of good luck and faith
Good is considered relative.
Happiness and success differ from one person to
another.
Hospitality is practice.
B. Value System
Cultural values are shared assumptions of what is right,
good, or important.
 Guide man’s behavior and action as he relates himself
in most situations in life.
Can best be seen from the aspects of personal and
social relationships.
THREE AIMS WHICH MOTIVATES AND CONTROLS THE FILIPINO BEHAVIOR

1. Social acceptance where it is “being taken by one’s fellows for what

one is, or believes he is, and being treated in accordance with his status”
(p.80).

2. Economic security is “the ability to meet ordinary material needs

without borrowing; that is, through one’s own resources or those of his own
segment” (p.80).

3. Social mobility which is the “advancement up the social class, to

another class, perhaps, or to a higher position within the class of which one
is a member” (p.81).
 filipino values

Filipino values are universal

human values that took on a
distinctively Filipino flavor,
meaning or application, best
expressed in a native language.
 filipino values

Filipino values are said to

be centered at
maintaining social
harmony and social
acceptance and on the
ideals
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JAIME BULATAO’S
FOUR BASIC
FILIPINO VALUES
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
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1. Emotional closeness and security in a family

The Filipinos are noted for manifesting close ties in the
family. In different societies,, especially in the Philippines
the home is considered to provide the love
understanding, acceptance, a place where, no matter
how far or how wrongly one has wandered he can always
return.
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2. Authority Value
(approval from authority and of society)

Authority figures must be respected and obeyed within

limits.
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3. Economic and social betterment

Refers to the desire to raise the standard of living of one's

family. Often this involves repayment of debt of gratitude
to parents and relatives.
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4. Patience, Suffering, and Endurance

Associated with values related to spirituality, as

individuals seem to call to God when other means fail.
SMOOTH INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP
SMOOTH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

A faculty at getting along with others in such a way as to avoid

outward signs of conflict

It means being agreeable even under difficult circumstances

and keeping quiet or out of sight when discretion passes the
word. It means a sensitivity to what other people feel at any given
moment, and willingness and ability to change tack (if not direction)
to catch the lightest favoring breeze. (Lynch 1962:89).
 Three ways to retain SIR:
① Pakikisama; ② Euphemisms; and, ③ Go-between.
① Pakikisama
Whether agreeing or not, it is to go along with someone’s view.
Lynch (1962) states as “giving in”, “following the lead or
suggestion of another”, or concession.
As for Jocano (1985) and Kikuchi (1985, 1991) state that it is a
willingness to subordinate one’s interest in favor of others, in the
spirit of harmony, friendship, cooperation, and deference to
majority decision so that group goals can be easily achieved.
② Euphemism
Lynch (1962, 1983, 2004) defines it as stating an
unpleasant truth, opinion, or request as pleasantly
as possible.
As much as no one would be pleased by a
correction or complaint, according to the quotes
mentioned by Lynch (1962, 1983, 2004), Filipinos
would prefer a beating to a scolding or insults.
③ Go-between
This is the involvement of a third party to avoid shame
when asking a favor or request.
As Lynch (1962, 1983, 2004) states, go-between “is used
preventively in several common situations:
embarrassing request, complaint, or decision is often
communicated through a middle-man, to avoid the
shame (hiya) of a face-to-face encounter” (p.94).
The Ambivalence of Filipino Values

Filipino values tend to be ambivalent, in the sense

that they have the potential to work for good or evil
(Gorospe, 1988).
 Utang-na -loob
it is a technique of reciprocity of debt of gratitude to
others within the family circle or primary group,
sometimes unlimited in nature, emotional rather than
financial or rational.
 Hiya
Controls a large extent the behavior of the individual.
Dependent on others will think, say, and do. Because
of hiya, a Filipino cannot say “NO” even if it is against
his will to do what is requested.
 Bahala na
A common expression among Filipinos and this rest
on the fatalistic outlook and strong dependence on
the “spirits” who will take care of everything if
they are really meant for a person.
The Filipino
Character
Strengths and Weaknesses
STRENGHTS
Pakikipagkapwa Tao

Family Oriented

Hard Work and Industry

Spirituality

Ability to Survive
Pakikipagkapwa Tao
Refers to pakikiramay or to the Filipino’s
ability to emphasize with others
Helpfulness and generosity in times of need.
Bayanihan or mutual assistance
Pakiramdaman, Pagtitiwala or trust, and
sense of gratitude or utang na loob
Family Oriented
Concern for the family is shown by the Filipino’s high regard
accorded to the elderly, the care given to women and children,
sympathy towards relatives and sacrifices they endure for their
family’s well-being.
Sense of Humor
Ability to laugh even in the worst circumstances
Flexibility, Adaptability,
Creativity
Propensity to improvise new systems and products out of
whatever resources are available. His flexibility makes him easily
adaptable to the foreign work environment
Hard Work and Industry
Filipinos’ willingness to take risks also stubborn will (“pag gusto
may paraan”) and effort to survive in the most challenging times
Spirituality
Strong faith in God gives a strong moral conscience.
“Bahala na ang Diyos,” and “God will provide”
It is an expression of full trust to fate, that everything will turn
out for the best.
Ability to Survive
Filipinos can survive and live through the most challenging
economic and political situations.
Ability to remain strong despite the worst disasters
WEAKNESS
Extreme Personalism

Extreme Family Centeredness

Lack of Discipline

Kanya-kanya Syndrome

Lack of Self-Analysis
Extreme Personalism
Pakiusap (request), palakasan (power and influence), nepotism
and favoritism.
This leads to graft and corruption
Extreme Family Centeredness
Families go to extreme measures to protect their members.
For protective reasons, like saving face, crimes in the family or by
family members do not get reported or acknowledged, even for
generations.
POLITICS: Political dynasties, “compadrenism”, kamag-anak
incorporated
Lack of Discipline
Filipino time
Palusot syndrome
Pwede na iyan syndrome
Ningas Cogon
Mañana Habit or mamaya na habit or saka na iyan attitude
Kanya-kanya Syndrome
Crab Mentality
Lack of Self-Analysis & Self-Reflection

The Filipino’s emphasis on form rather than substance misleads

them into believing that impossible things can be or are already
made possible.
Flowery but meaningless arguments and assumptions