THE FILIPINO HIERARCHY OF

NEEDS
A.H. Maslow states that needs exist in a hierarchical sequence and that man must meet the
demands of his lower needs before those of the higher level can emerge. These needs are basic
physiological or physical needs, safety and security needs, belonging or social needs, esteem
needs, and self-realization needs. The Filipino is unique. His hierarchy of needs is not exactly in
the same order nor fits perfectly in Maslow’s framework of hierarchy of needs. In the Filipino
hierarchy of needs, the 1st or the need are met if you have a family or a group. The family in the
Filipino mind is a defense against a potentially hostile world, an insurance against hunger and old
age, an eternal source of foods, clothing and shelter. All your safety and security needs are met if
you have a family thus the need of the Filipino to establish kinship is prolific. He establishes
kinship by affinity, by consanguinity, and even by rituals and religious, civic, and social
ceremonies. The second need of the Filipino is the need to be reciprocated. This is based on the
utang na loob value, a behavior wherein every service received, favor, or treatment accomplished
has something in return. The Filipino has a high sense of personal dignity. His dignity and honor
are everything to him, so that wounding of them becomes a challenge to his manhood. He
respects other people but they must also respect him. Positive critism is definitely acceptable to
the Filipino as long as it is done euphemistic and indirect way. Negative critism should be done
indirectly. Credit and collection is a problem in the Phils. bec. of the need to be reciprocated. If
the lender should press for the repayment of the debt he would cause the debtor hiya, for it
would be implied that the debtor is unwilling to repay the debt and unaware of his obligations.
Reciprocity value affects the Filipino concept of property. He considers his property as his
property, public property as his property because of the sakop system.