GE 1 Chap.

4
• The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the 1890s
after over three centuries of colonization of the Spaniards.
Meanwhile, liberation from the last colonizers, the Japanese, only
occurred in 1946. Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have
made a huge dent on our own by setting a foundation to the
contemporary Filipino identity and culture. To date, colonial mentality
remains an issue. Given the wide discrepancy between the liberation
period and today’s time, would it be safe to say that Filipinos have
truly developed an identity of their own? Or are we still living in the
shadow of our colonial friends?
• Who is a Filipino? Filipinos are often referenced to the 1987 Philippine
Constitution, Filipino citizens are“…those whose fathers or mothers
are citizens of the Philippines, those born before January 17, 1973, of
Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the
age of majority, and those who are naturalized in accordance with
law.” However, citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino.
Culture and history greatly influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live
and behave to date. People who were born and grew up in the same
culture even without the citizenship develop and share common
personality traits and values. Generations after generations, common
traits and values have been passed on.
1. Hospitality. This is the most common terminology that describes how Filipinos
welcome foreigners or tourists who visit the country. This trait of the Filipinos
towards their visitors is undeniably exceptional.
2. Respect for Elders
Respect for one's elders is traditional in the Philippines. When a Filipino child
meets an older family member, the youth customarily greets them with a
gesture called “mano po”, taking the older relative's hand and placing it on his
or her own forehead to express profound respect for the elders
3. Close family ties, close family relationship means the relationship between
persons who are married to one another, between parents and their children,
between siblings and between grandparents and their grandchildren, and
includes a relationship between persons who, though not married to one
another and whether or not a blood ...
4. Cheerful personality
Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. Smiling is a coping strategy
for many Filipinos especially during trying Times and calamities. Filipino always
tries to maintain a positive outlook in life which makes them resilient and able
to manage almost everything with a simple smile.
• 5. Self-sacrifice
The self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the
Filipino hospitality. Filipinos go out of their way to extend help to their
friends, families, and loved ones.
• 6. Bayanihan
Is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos. Giving without
expecting something in return. Filipinos are always ready to share and help
their friends and loved ones who are in need.
• 7“Bahala na” Attitude

• “Bahala na” is a Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata,”

meaning no worries. The phrase said originated from the “Bathala na,”
where Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning leaving everything into
God's hands. It can also view as cheerful and positive attitude of Filipinos and
allowing situations take care of themselves instead of worrying about them.
Some of the Negative Traits of Filipinos
• 1. Crab Mentality
• Where one resents the achievement of another, instead of feeling happy for that person.
They pull each other down and ruin each other reputation rather than bringing them up,
resulting to no progress.
• 2. “Mañana” Habit
• Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from a longer Filipino phrase called
“Mamaya na” means dawdling things, which could have been done at an earlier time. It was
a poor habit of laziness that results in heavier workloads.
• 3. “Ningas Kugon"
“Ningas" is a Filipino term for flame and “Kugon" is a Filipino term for Cogon
grass that easily burns out after it is put into flames. It is refers to the attitude of eagerly
starting things but quickly losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty. Filipinos
are regarded as “Juan Tamad” or Lazy Juan because of laziness.
• 4. Pride
When two parties are not in good terms, they find it so hard to
apologize and wait
until the other party asks for an apology first.
• 5. Filipino Time
• Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at commitments,
dinner, or parties especially if they are meeting someone close to
them. They tend to not observe punctuality altogether
• 6. Colonial mentality- refers to lack of patriotism, the attitude where
Filipinos favor foreign products more than their own. It does not only
concern goods, but also the desire to look more foreign than local and
keep up with foreign beauty trends. It is attributed to the centuries of
colonization Filipinos had experienced under the Spanish, American
and Japanese rule.
• 7. Onion-Skinned (Balat Sibuyas) We Filipinos are famous for being onion-
skinned or easily slighted at perceived insults. While it’s perfectly normal for
us to taunt and criticize others, we can’t handle the same when it’s being
hurled back at us.
• 8. Corruption
• One of the biggest social ills our country has continued to face since time
immemorial is the issue of corruption. Let’s face it, our “culture of
corruption” is embedded deep within our system and reinforced by a complex
web of economic and social factors which include personal ambitions and a
twisted sense of loyalty to friends and kin. The Philippines is in for a long haul
if our officials and we ourselves do not get rid of this very negative habit.
• How to be a Good Filipino
• The following are a few ways on how to be a good Filipino;
• 1. Be an active Filipino citizen.
• 2. Study the Philippine history.
• 3. Support local products.
• 4. Speak the Filipino language.
• 5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with
dissent.