Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Values and
Moral
Devel
opme
nt
Strengths and Weaknesses of
the Filipino Character
Note: This material is from Filipino Values & Moral
Development published by the Economic Development
Foundations in November, 1992 The study was
sponsored by the Philippine Senate and was headed by
Senator Leticia Shahani. It was conducted by a task
force headed by Dr. Patricia Licuanan. The findings
were based on bibliographic surveys and interviews
and consultations with researchers and practitioners in
the behavioral and social sciences, education and
social welfare, journalists and social analysts; a
nationwide survey of 2000 respondents; and, focus
group discussions among residents of an urban poor
resettlement area in Bagong Bayan, Dasmariñas,
Cavite. From the study was developed “A Moral
Recovery Program – Building a People, Building a
Nation” Submitted to the Philippine Senate.
What are there in the
Pinoy Character that
maeks us strong as a
people?
the Filipino
Character
Strengths of the Filipino Character 1/8
Pakikipagkapwa-Tao
Kapwa-tao = a
Filipinos - open fellow human
to others and being
feel one with
others
regard others
with dignity
and respect
deal with them
as fellow
human beings.
Kapwa-tao = a
fellow human
Pakikipagkapwa-tao
•basic sense of justice and
fairness
•concern for others.
•ability to empathize with
others
Pakikipagkapwa-tao
•helpfulness and generosity in times of need
(pakikiramay); practice of bayanihan or
mutual assistance, Filipino hospitality.
• sensitivity to people’s feelings
(pakikiramdam)
• pagtitiwala or trust
• sense of gratitude or utang na
loob.
• very dependent on
interpersonal relationships;
gives sense of security
• camaraderie and a feeling of
closeness to one another.
Pakikipagkapwa-tao is a foundation
for unity as well the sense of social
Strengths of the Filipino Character 2/8
Family Orientation
Filipinos possess a genuine
and deep love for family
•source of
personal
identity,
emotional
and material
support and
•one’s main
commitment
and
responsibility
honor and respect given to parents and elders;
care given to the children; the generosity towards
kin in need, and in great sacrifices one endures
for
the welfare of the family.
sense of family results in a feeling of
belongingness and rootedness in a
basic sense of security.
Strengths of the Filipino Character 3/8
Joy and Humor
Filipinos have a cheerful and fun-loving
approach to life and its ups and downs
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Strengths of the Filipino Character
5/8
Hard Work and Industry
Who says
Pinoys
are
lazy?
• We have the capacity
for hard work given
proper conditions;
• to raise one’s
standard
of living and to
possess
the essentials of a
decent life for one’s
family
We are willing to
take the risks
with jobs abroad
and, while there,
to work at two or
three jobs.
The result is
productivity
and
entrepreneu
rs
hip for some
and survival
despite
Strengths of the Filipino Character
6/8
Faith and Religiosity
Filipinos have deep faith in God.
• Our innate religiosity
enables us to
comprehend and
genuinely accept reality
in the context of God’s
will and plan.
• Religious expressions
is very tangible
expressed everyday; we
relate to God like a
human being –
threaten, thank, ask
forgiveness, appease
• tragedy and bad fortune
are accepted and some
optimism characterizes
even the poorest lives.
• related to bahala na
which may be
considered positively as
a reservoir of psychic
energy, a psychological
prop on which we can
lean during hard times.
This pampalakas ng
loob allows us to
act despite
Strengths of the Filipino Character
7/8
Faith and Religiosity
Our faith and daring was manifest at EDSA
and other times in our history even when it
was difficult to be br ave.
• Our faith and daring
was manifest at
EDS and other
A in our history;
times in the
seen
capacity to accept
failure and defeat
• we recognize forces
external to
ourselves as
contributing to how
events in our lives
turn out.
The results of
the Filipino’s
faith are
courage,
daring
optimi
sm,
inner
as well as the
peace,
capacity to
genuinely
accept
traged
y and
death.
Strengths of the Filipino Character
8/8 Abilit to Survive
y
Filipinos have an
ability to survive.
Filipinos make do
with what is available
in the environment.
…basic optimism,
flexibility and
adaptability, hard
work and a deep faith
in God.
It is manifested in the millions of Filipinos who
bravely live through the harshest economic and
social circumstances. What we might be able to
do under better circumstances?
What about
weaknesses
in
character?
Daghan pod oy!
Pamalandungi
Weaknesses ,dong.
in the
Filipino
Character
Weaknesses of the Filipino Character
1/8 Extreme Personalism
Filipinos view the world in terms of personal
relationship Hoy, kung galit
ka sa akin, wag Hoy, bata!
mong pagalitan Hindi dito
ang bata! tinatapon
ang basura!
Filipinos view the world in terms of personal
relationships; no separation between an
objective task and emotional involvement.
We tend to give
personal
interpretations to
actions, i.e., “take
things personally”.
Personalism is also
manifested in the necessity
for the establishment of
personal relationships
before any business or work
relationships can be
successful.
Weaknesses of the Filipino Character
2/8 Extreme Personalism
Because of this personalistic world view, Filipinos
have difficulty dealing with all forms of personal
stimuli.
We tend to be
uncomfortable wi th h
bureaucracy, wit ions
rules and regulat d
and with standar
procedures, all of
which tend to be
impersonal.
we tend to ignore
them or we ask for
exceptions..
P ersonal contacts
ar e involved in any
transaction and
th se are difficult to
e turn down.
Preference is
usually given to
family and
friends
in hiring, delivery of
services and even
in voting.
Extreme personalism thus leads to the graft
and corruption evident in Philippine society.
Weaknesses of the Filipino Character
3/8 Extreme Family Centeredness
Excessive
concern for the
family creates an
in-group to which
the Filipino is
fiercely loyal to
the detriment of
concern for the
larger community
or for the
common good.
Excessive concern
for family manifests
itself in the use of
one’s office and
po wer as a means of
promoting the
interest of the
f amily,
factionalism,
patronage and
an political
dynasties,
d in the
Family centeredness results to a lack of
concern for the common good and acts as
a block to national consciousness.
Weaknesses of the Filipino Character
4/8 Lack of Discipline
The Filipino’s lack of discipline is
manifests in a casual and
relaxed attitude towards ti me
and space which manifests itself
in lack of precision and
compulsiveness, in poor ti me
management and
procrastination.
There is strong
reliance on others
(e.g., leaders,
government) to do
things for us
related to our need
for a strong
authority.
Filipinos tend to
be complacent
and there rarely
is a sense of
urgency about
any
problem.