FILIPINO CHARACTERISTICS

• T h e F i l i p i n o Va l u e S y s t e m

• W h a t A r e F i l i p i n o Va l u e s ?

• S i g n i f i c a n c e O f S t u dy i n g F i l i p i n o Va l u e s
• Filipino Characteristics
• S t r e n g t h s A n d We a k n e s s e s O f T h e F i l i p i n o
Characteristics
 THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM
 It refers to the set of values or the value system that majority

of the Filipino have historically held important in their lives.

 It is defined by the way of people live their life as an influence

of one’s culture. Philippines, having been an archipelago, have

not become a hindrance towards having a singe values system
throughout the country.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VALUES AND
CHARACTERISTICS
 The most basic difference between traits

and values is that traits are descriptive variables

whereas values are motivational variables. That is, traits
describe how individuals tend to feel, think, and behave.
They are therefore summaries of an individual's
responses and behaviors.
What Are Filipino Values?
 Hospitality

 Fa m i ly O r i e n t at i o n

 Fa i t h A n d R e l i g i o s i t y

 Respect

 L oya l t y

 G e n e ro s i t y A n d H e l p f u l n e s s

 L ove A n d C a r i n g
 What Are Filipino Values?
 H O S P I TA L I T Y – r e f e r s t o t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n g u e s t

and the host. Although Filipinos are not the only people in
t h e wo r l d w h o c a n b e f r i e n d ly a n d we l c o m i n g, t h e i r at t i t u d e
towards other people is said to exceptional.

 THE Filipinos are very hospitable when it comes to their

fellowmen. They will inv ite their v isitor s to come into their
homes and offer treats such as snacks and drinks after a
l o n g j o u r n e y.
 What Are Filipino Values?
 FA M I LY O R I E N TAT I O N – T h e P h i l i p p i n e s i s k n o w n t o b e a

family centered nation. They recognize their family as an

impor tant social str ucture that one must take care of. They
g i v e i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e s a f e t y a n d u n i t y o f o n e ’s f a m i l y.

 Filipino family are so intact that upon tur ning 18 years old

are not oblig ed to move out of their house, even the elder s
are not sent to nursing homes because they believe that
w h e n t h e i r e l d e r s a re p owe r l e s s t o l i ve a l o n e, i t i s t i m e f o r
t h e m t o pay t h e i r re s pe c t s a nd b e a bl e t o s e r ve t h e i r
p a r e n t s j u s t a s t h e y n u r t u r e d w h e n t h e y w e r e y o u n g e r.
 What Are Filipino Values?
 FA I T H A N D R E L I G I O S I T Y – T h e P h i l i p p i n e s i s

approximately 85% Christian (mostly Roman Catholic), 10%

Muslim, and 5% other religion. This is a reflection of the
Filipinos’ strong faith in God as seen in their various
pra c t i c e s. T h i s i nc l ude s t h e num e rous c h urc h h ol i day s t h ey
obser ve, the influence of the church on the minds, actions,
a n d o p i n i o n s , t h e e x t r e m e p r a c t i c e s d u r i n g H o l y We e k , a n d
so on.
 What Are Filipino Values?
 R ESP EC T – like other Asian countr ies, show

their respect to the elder population by gestures and by

t h e wo r d s t h ey u s e b e f o re t h e p e r s o n ' s n a m e. B e i n g yo u n g e r
than someone and calling them by their first name is
considered impolite and an act of rudeness and when
someone ask something they simply response and add “ po”
and “opo” which is also a sign of respect in the Philippines.
 What Are Filipino Values?
 L OYA LT Y – T h i s i s s h a r e d s e n s e o f i d e n t i t y a n d

consciousness of the other person. It is treating others with

the respect and dig nity as an equal and not someone below
individual.

 Filipinos are said t o be ver y loyal t o t heir fr iends and

f e l l ow m e n , a s we l l a s t o t h e i r p a r t n e r s , i n o r d e r t o
g u a r a n t e e t h e p e a c e i n t h e g r o u p. T h i s e v i d e n t i n t h e i r
fundamental sense of justice and fairness and concern for
o t h e r ’s w e l l b e i n g.
 What Are Filipino Values?
 G E N E R O S I T Y A N D H E L P F U L N E S S - When other people think

about the Filipino culture the first thing that pops into their mind is the kindness.
The Filipino culture is all about showing respect to others and being helpful to them
as well. Filipinos are known for helping others ahead of themselves because they
want to make other people happy and successful. They feel like it is better to give out
to someone else than to receive especially when it comes younger kids. Most Filipino
parents want to see their kids successful and to have a better life than they ever had.
Even if the family is poor they will make the sacrifices for a loved one whether if its
to get an education or starving for food to eat they will do their best to help out a
loved no matter how tough it is for them. Filipinos will but others ahead of
themselves and help out that person no matter what the obstacle is.
 What Are Filipino Values?
 L OV E A N D C A R I N G – I t i s n o t a h i n d r a n c e t h a t w h e n y o u

talk about love and care Filipinos are mentioned.

“ As a Filipino, it’s also part of us the traits of being caring and loving
specially with our love ones. We care for them more than we care for our own selves,
we will sacrifice everything that we have just to provide all their needs. We are
usually not the type of person who are very vocal in telling them how much we care
and love them but we show them by our actions and our own little ways.”
Significance Of Studying Filipino Values
 It makes us who we are, it differentiate us from others, its
what makes us unique and different to others......
Filipino Characteristics
 Bahala Na
 Utang Na Loob
 Ningas Cogon
 Mañ a na Habit
 Delicadeza
 Hiya(Shame)
 J oy A n d H u m o r
 F l e x i b i l i t y, A d a p t a b i l i t y, A n d C r e a t i v i t y
 H a r d Wo r k A n d I n d u s t r i o u s n e s s / S t r o n g Wo r k E t h i c
 A b i l i t y To S u r v i v e
 Filipino Time
 Filipino Characteristics
 B A H A L A N A – “ Tr u s t i n G O D ” o r t h e c o n c e p t o f B a h a l a N a

is a pr inciple used when a per son does not know what to

accomplish or is too slothful to do anything at all.

 T H I S b e l i e f t o p u t f a t e i n G o d ’s h a n d s m a y b e a s i g n o f h o w

re l i g i ous Fi l i pi nos m ay b e.
 Filipino Characteristics
 U TA N G N A L O O B – i n e n g l i s h t e r m , G r a t i t u d e , i s a v e r y

fashionable Filipino Characteristic. One does not fail to

re m e m b e r t h e fi ne a c t i ons t h at ot h e r s m ay h ave done
par ticularly at times of great need.

 THIS debt of g ratitude is at times abused by those who have

d o n e we l l t o o t h e r s. T h ey m ay re q u e s t favo r s o r t h i n g s t h at
m ay e i t h e r b e di ffi c ul t t o b e de a l w i t h or b eyond t h e m e a ns
of the one in debt.
 Filipino Characteristics
 NINGAS COGON – Means the fast burning of cogon, which

s i g ni f i e s Fi l i pi nos ’ way of e a g e r ne s s only at t h e b e g i nni ng

but then quickly losing enthusiasm soon after to continue
i t , o r t h e l a c k o f a f o l l o w - u p. I t i s u s u a l l y o b s e r v e d a s a
negative value.
 Filipino Characteristics
 MAÑANA HABIT – this habit is something that the

F i l i p i n o s ’ h ave l e a r n e d f ro m t h e S p a n i a r d s. T h e wo r d m a ñ a n a
m e a ns t om or row or fut ure t i m e, i t m e a ns “ m a m aya n a ” i n
F i l i p i n o.

 This trait was instilled to the Filipinos during Spanish era

i n w h i c h t h ey u s e t h i s h a b i t i n wo r k a n d s e r i o u s bu s i n e s s a s
a silent objection to the invaders.
 Filipino Characteristics
 DELICADEZA – It is defined as an act of being refined or

delicate in taste or manners. In simple ter ms, it is the sense

of g ood manner s or how to behave r ig htly in all situations.

 It could also mean proper decorum or strict adherence to

w h a t ’s r i g h t , m o r a l , o r e t h i c a l .
 Filipino Characteristics
 H I YA ( S H A M E ) – I t i s a s e n s e o f s o c i a l p r o p r i e t y a n d

c o n f o r m i n g t o s o c i a l n o r m s o f b e h a v i o r. F i l i p i n o s b e l i e v e
they must live up to the accepted standards of behavior and
if they fail to do so they bring dishonor not only upon
t h e m s e l v e s , b u t a l s o u p o n t h e i r f a m i l y.

 MOST Filipinos just tur n silent and kept their mouths shut

to cor r uption in both business and g over nment ‘para walan g

m a p a h i ya ’
 Filipino Characteristics
 J OY A N D H U M O R – T h i s f a m o u s t r a i t i s t h e a b i l i t y o f

F i l i p i n o s t o f i n d j o y a n d h u m o r i n e v e r y t h i n g. I T s h e d s l i g h t
on the optimism and positivity of the Filipinos in whatever
situation they are in so as to remain deter mined in going
through str uggles or challenges.

 Filipinos have a c heerful, optimistic , and fun -lov ing

approac h to life and its ups -and-downs.

 Filipino Characteristics
 F L E X I B I L I T Y, A DA P TA B I L I T Y, A N D C R E AT I V I T Y - Filipinos
have a great capacity to adjust and to adapt to circumstances and the surrounding
environment, both physical and social. Unplanned and anticipated events are never
overly disturbing or disorienting as the flexible Filipino adjust to whatever happens.
We posses a tolerance for ambiguity that enable us to remain unfazed by uncertainty or
lack of information. We are creative, resourceful, quick learners, and have the ability to
improvise and make use of whatever is on hand in order to create and produce.

 This quality of the Filipino is manifested in the ability to adapt to life in any part of the

world, in the ability to make new things out of old scraps, in the capacity to keep old
machines running and of course in the creative talent manifested in the cultural sphere.
It is likewise seen in the ability to accept change.
 Filipino Characteristics
 H A R D WO R K A N D I N D U S T R I O U S N E S S – F i l i p i n o s a re

very deter mined and persevering in accomplishing whatever

t h e y s e t t h e i r m i n d s t o. F i l i p i n o s o v e r t h e y e a r s h a v e p r o v e n
time and time again that they are a people with an
industrious attitude.

 THIS is the main reason why there are a lot of

entrepreneurs in the Philippines.

 Filipino Characteristics
 A B I L I T Y T O S U RV I V E – F i l i p i n o s h a v e t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y

ability to make something about of basically nothing, the

ability to sur vive with whatever they have.

 This ability has been manifested in their capacity for

endurance despite difficult times in their ability to get by

on so ver y little. Filipinos make do with what is available in
the environment.
 Filipino Characteristics
 FILIPINO TIME – is a coined phrase for the embarrassing
affliction of tardiness among Filipinos. It has become a
phenomenon and impression for Filipino Schedule, making
i t a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f F i l i p i n o s t o b e g e n e r a l l y L AT E .

 THIS trait is also a root of “ mañana habit”.

Strengths And Weaknesses Of The
Filipino Characteristics