CHAPTER 4

Filipino Cultural
Values and
Practices
 Positive or Acceptable
Cultural Values and Practices
“Balikatan” System
When an individual is confronted
with a problem or difficulty,
everybody shares the burden of
helping the person who is in need of
assistance.

Example: sharing in the expenses during an emergency or

times of needs, pooling a common fund from which the
members can borrow for their needs; giving relief in the
form of cash or kind to a person struck by calamities.
“Bayanihan” System. A certain task is effectively
and easily completed if everybody shares his
time, effort and money to expedite the
completion of a task.

Example: transferring the whole nipa hut to another place is done by

bayanihan way; digging a drainage canal by the barangay people;
cleaning the area for the putting up of a basketball court.
“Pakikisama” or Conformity. This is a
positive way of yielding to the group’s
unanimous or majority’s decision so as to
complete a task. Without it, there would be
disunity in the group.

To get along well with the group, even with some

important commitment is “magaling makisama”.
Smooth Interpersonal Relationship
(SIR). This is a value based on good
relationship with people. SIR is
characterized by the use of go-between and
euphemism. The user of “go-between”
necessitates the hiring of the third party to
acts as a “bridge” or referee to assuage a
bruise, heal a “wound” in his relations with
people whose goodwill is important.
Examples are to act as a middleman to an embarrassing
request such as a loan, a complaint or to avoid “hiya” or a face-
to-face confrontation.
“Pakikiramay”. This is a sympathetic
attitude to another person and it is
emphasized by the statement “di ka nagiisa.”

This is often practice among friends, neighbors, distant relatives

and among barriomates and townmates. In times of grief or
distress or even the death of a person, the bereaved family is
extended a condolence by other individuals.
“Compadre” or “Comadre” System. The
closeness of family ties is usually extended to
ritual kinship to include “ninong” and “ninang.”

These sponsors to a baptismal, confirmation,

or wedding ceremonies are usually prominent
people in the community who can help their
godchildren (inaanak) in times of needs.
“Utang na Loob” or the sense of
gratitude. One aspect of this is
gift giving, that is, when a gift is
given, it is “utang na loob” of the
recipient.

Another aspect of “utang na loob” that

cannot be repaid in kind and remain
outstanding throughout life are: the life we
owe to our parents; when ones’ life is saved
by another; when someone provides us with
a much-needed job; someone saved the
reputation of a person from being tarnished;
or when someone was saved from a financial
distress without “strings attached.”
Desire for Socio-Economic
Improvement. Every Filipino family
wants to succeed and for the children
to be successful in their aspirations.
Parents fee that education can bring
success to their children as if it is the
only legacy they can give to them.

Parents would sacrifice comfort and spend

their money or even borrow money just so they
can send their children to school. Sometimes
older brothers and sisters forego marriage to be
able to help pay for the schooling of their
younger siblings. In business firms, usually it is
the owner’s children who occupy higher positions
in the firm.
Hospitality value. This value is done by
people welcoming visitors with warmth and
enthusiasm at home, or by inviting them to
visit their homes or wherever circumstances
warrant. Hospitality can promote goodwill
and cooperation.
Fiesta Celebration. Celebration can serve every important
purposes.

1. It strengthens family loyalty and unity; it serves to acquire

new friends and allies; may heal individual’s animosity and
misunderstanding;
2. may serve to strengthen the power structure; may serve to
display the affluence of the host;
3. may reduce the expenses incurred in baptism, confirmation,
marriage, birthday, and other special occasions when tied with
the fiesta celebration or to serve as outlet to reduce work
pressure and work overload;
4. to relieve boredom; and to make people forget their troubles,
problems and difficulties.
 On the other hand, fiesta
celebration has negative effects
when the host incur so much
debt that he could hardly repay.
Sometimes the host borrows
money from lenders who
charge high interest rates; or
when the celebration is
centered more on material
aspects than on its spiritual
significance.
 
Negative or Unacceptable Cultural Values and
Practices
 
Indolence. Many Filipinos are lazy,
lacking of initiative and ambition.

Many still subsist on asking alms, or waiting for

relief or “awa.” Their attitude is like the legenday
“Juan Tamad.” They don’t want to labor and soil their
hands with dirt. Some people are parasites so much so
that even if they are not invited to a party, they come
on their own volition bringing with them too other
members of the family.
 
The “Ningas Cogon” attitude. This is an attitude
with great interest and enthusiasm in the
beginning but eventually dies down at the end.
In an affair/occasion, for instance, there is so much fanfare and
publicity at the start – but at the end of the affair, all the chairs, tables,
used plates and glasses are left in the place of celebration/events.
Nobody volunteers to put the equipment/ utensils on their proper
places. Sometimes, the plates, glasses and all other utensils are left on
the table and feasted by flying insects.
 
“Mañana Habit”. This the
tomorrow-attitude or
procrastination attitude.
People set aside their work for tomorrow what they
can already do today. people can accomplish many
things if they only make use of their time profitably.

 
“Bahala-na” attitude. This is a kind of
fatalism in which the person leaves everything
to fate. He lets fate control his destiny and
decides success.

This term comes from “Bathala na” which

means that God will take care of everything.
Some students, for instance, do not bring
their books, notes or handouts to class, or
read their books, or work on their
assignments. They care less on their studies
but they care more on texting and social
networking. A laborer spends his earning in a
week’s time without any savings at all. He is
then called a “one-day millionaire.”
 
Induldging in Gambling. This is one
favorite pastime of Filipinos which has
more negative effects that positive
ones.
Jueteng, tongits,fronton, cara y cruz, pintakasi (sabong)
mahjong are some of the forms of gambling that bring evil
to society because of negative effects they bring especially
to the young adults.
 
“Hiya” Complex. This is an
uncomfortable feeling of being
found in an unacceptable position
or uncomfortable feeling of doing
something not socially acceptable,
accompanied by a feeling of shame
or embarrassment.
It is stronger when dealing with an
authority figure. When “hiya” is given
too much importance, it becomes a
threat to progress. A feeling of
confidence and personal worth can
reduce the “hiya” complex.
Amor Propio. This is associated
closely with “hiya”. It is a Spanish
term meaning self-love or self-
esteem, the fear of losing social
acceptance.

Once a person has attained social acceptance, he will do

everything to keep that status. A person will certainly feel
hurt and insulted if the criticism is directed against those
qualities that he holds dear or has value to him.
 
“Lagay” and “Areglo”. These are
established socio-political connections
for some material consideration to be
able to obtain favors.
These negative practices often occur in
government offices where special privileges and
favors may be obtained in return for which certain
considerations are exchanged.
 
“Palakasan” scheme. Obtaining a job, getting
a promotion, transfer, and other special
privileges and favors are often are often done by
“palakasan.”

This scheme is manifested in a society where there is

strong family ties and the influence of power and wealth.
Use of euphemistic expressions.
Euphemistic expression is starting an
unpleasant opinion, truth or request as
pleasantly as possible to please another
person so as not to directly hurt is ego. It is
sometimes called “white lies”.
To avoid direct confrontation, one uses the euphemistic
expression like tsaka na lang (later on), okey lang or marahil
(perhaps), seguro nga (could be) or bahala na.
 
The existence of spirits, ghosts, and
supernatural beings. The beliefs on these “unseen
beings” still persist in our thoughts and we imagine
them to be existing in this material world.
Many people believe that spirits possess
supernatural powers and so we pray to them, offer
food to the “anitos” and “anitas” so that they will not
harm us or bring us bad luck to our activities.
Sometimes we ask these spirits to cure our illness or
to provide use safety, good harvest, and luck. Most
of these beliefs and values are already deeply rooted
in our culture. Even young children believe in these
“beings” because of the practice of “yayas”, parents
and elders to frighten children to stop crying or to
let them sleep.
 
The Gaya-Gaya practice. Generally, imitation
is not bad per se because it is one form of
learning especially if there is a good model to
imitate.

On the other hand, “gaya-gaya” has a negative value if it

indicates lack of creativity, imitativeness, pioneering spirit
or as consequence of timidity to go into a new field of
endeavor and just rely on meek imitation. It does not bring
good result to the individual’s ingenuity and resourcefulness.
Karma. Many Filipinos believe in karma, the
Indian word which means “the law of nature”.
The saying “for every action, there is an equal
and opposite reaction” is referred to karma.

There is also saying in Tagalog: “Kung ano ang itinanim

ay siyang aanihin (What you sowed is what you will reap.)”
if you do harm others, that harm goes back to you.
 
 To sum up, most of these values, beliefs and
practices have been integrated or incorporated into
the characteristics of the people in a certain society.
Since they have been ingrained and rooted, they are
very difficult to change or eliminate and thus they
are being repeated from generation to generation.
 Today, we are confronted with many Filipino
cultural values, beliefs and practices, In this
modern age, if we want our society to survive
morally, we must emphasize and build moral age
and ethical standards among the people. The
agents of change in society (parents, teachers,
community leaders, elders) should be proactive in
developing and enriching those values, beliefs and
practices that are desirable, worthy of approval,
satisfying and worthwhile.
Those that are unacceptable, because of their
negative effects to the personality and character of
the individual, should be changed, modified or
entirely eliminated.