The

Filipino
Character
GROUP 2
Apostol, Angelyca
Baguio, John Flaire
Baluis, Alfred
Barrera, Bianca Andrea
Bejosano, Virman Armando
The Filipino Character:
Strengths and
Weaknesses
Excerpt of the Report “ A Moral Recovery Program: Building a
People, Building a Nation” submitted on April 27, 1988 by the
Task Force to President Corazon Aquino, the Senate and the
members of the press by then Senator Leticia Shahani, the
moving spirit behind the program.
 The Weaknesses of the Filipino
1Character
Extreme family centeredness
Excessive concern for family means using one’s office and power to promote family interests and
thus factionalism patronage, political dynasties and the protection of erring family members. It
results in lack of concern for the common good, and acts as a block to national consciousness.

2 Extreme personalism
“Takes things personally” cannot separate objective task from emotional involvement. Because
of this the Filipino is uncomfortable with bureaucracy, with rules and regulations and with
standard procedures. Uses personal contacts and gives preference to family and friends in
hiring, services and even voting. Extreme personalism leads to the graft and corruption evident
in Philippine
society.

Lack of discipline
3 A casual attitude toward time and space, manifested in lack of precision and compulsiveness, in
poor time management and procrastination. Aversion to following the procedures strictly results
in lack of standardization and quality control. Impatience results in short cuts, palusot, ningas
cogon. Lack of discipline often results in inefficient work systems, the violation of rules and a
casual work ethic lacking follow through.
4 Passivity and lack of initiative
Waiting to be told what to do, reliance on others (leaders and government), complacence, lack of
a sense of urgency. There is high tolerance for inefficiency, poor service, and even violations of
one’s basic rights. Too patient and matiisin, too easily resigned to his fate, the Filipino is easily
oppressed and exploited.

5 Colonial mentality
Lack of patriotism, or an active awareness, appreciation and love of the Philippines and actual
preference for things foreign.

6 Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality

Done by tsismis, intriga, unconstructive criticism. It is evident in the personal ambition that is
completely, insensitive to the common good, e.g., the lack of a sense of service among people in
the government bureaucracy. This results in the dampening of cooperative and
community spirit and in the trampling upon other’s rights.
7 Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
The tendency to be superficial and somewhat flighty. In the face of serious personal and social
problems, there is lack of analysis or reflection and instead satisfaction with superficial
explanations and solutions.

8 Emphasis on porma rather than substance

This lack of analysis and emphasis on form is reinforced by an educational system that is more
form than substance.
 The following goals are
proposed to develop in the
Filipino for a change.
1. Sense of patriotism and national pride
2. A sense of the common good
3. A sense of integrity and accountability
4. The values and habits of discipline and hard work
5. The value and habits of self-reflection and analysis; the
internalization of spiritual values and the emphasis on
essence rather than on form. - Shahani, Leticia. (1988).
 The Strengths of the Filipino
1Character
Pakikipag-kapwa tao
Family orientation
2
Joy and humor
3 Flexibility, adaptability and
4 creativity
5 Hard work and industry
6 Faith and religiosity
Ability to survive
7
Values
Education in
Schools
Reported by: John Flaire C.
Baguio
According to Senator Leticia Shahani’s given Report in 1988, she stated
and highlighted that the findings as reported may still be true and
existing today in terms of weaknesses of the Filipino character such as:

• Extreme family centeredness

• Extreme personalism
• Lack of discipline
• Passivity and lack of initiative
• Colonial mentality
• Kanya-kanya syndrome
• Talangka mentality
• Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
• Emphasis on porma rather than substance
Government Solutions:

0 Values Education now Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao ESP

was introduced in the K to 12 Curriculum for Junior High Students.
1
0 Introduction to Philisophy of the Human Person and
Personal Development for Senior High Students.
2
Objectives:

0
To help every Filipino child to grow morally and ethically.
1
Help acquire the strengths of Filipino values and at
0 the same time help them realize their strengths which
can also become their source of weaknesses.
2
 Other Studies on Filipino Character
According to a Filipino priest Fr. Jaime Bulatao, in his research he identified the “kami”
or “us” mentality of Filipinos in which he said “I identify with my family and relatives…
We are opposed to all who are not kami.”

Fr. Vitaliano Gorospe (1977) referred to this way of thinking as “group-centerdness”

or “group thinking”, a norm morality in the Philippines wherein it determines what is
right or wrong for the individual and determines Filipino moral behavior or what is
called “conscience from the outside.”

Example:

Parents tell their daughter who is being courted. “Iha please entertain your
boyfriend at home. Do not go outside. What will the neighbors say? Nakakahiya
naman”
“What will my family, or my relatives and friends, or my barkada think or say?”
“What will others say?”
 Fr. Gorospe also added “The norm of morality should be internalized so that the
mature individual should form his own moral conscience from the inside.”

According to Fr. Leonardo Mercado (1977), he called the “group thinking” as “sakop
mentality” that may refer to “person’s relatives, peers, classmates, townmates.
Officemates, etc.” This thinking or mentality explains the “pakikisama” in both positive
and negative sense and also explains “barkada attitude.”
Impact of Culture on Morality
By: John Alfred Baluis
Shame Culture
Stresses self-denial (self
control) and humilty
(humbleness) as ways of
restoring the social order.
Example:
In the Japanese culture, what
keeps japanese people from
acting contrary to moral
standards is the fear of being
put to shame. At most what
they would do when put to
shame is to commit hara-kiri
Guilt Culture
Emphasizes punishment and
forgiveness as ways of
restoring the moral order.
Example:
In the Philippines, when a
politician commits an immoral
act and feels guilty after
confessing their sin. They may
feel as if they are back to
normal and can sin again.
 Application

Baluis, John Alfred A.

CEIT-08-601P
1. According to the report,one weakness of the Filipino
character is lack of analysis and emphasis on form (porma).
The report states that this lack of analysis and emphasis on
form is reinforced by an educational system that is more
from the issubstance
• What meant by an educational system that is more
form than substance ??

• Do you agree that the Philippines educational system is more

form than substance ? If yes, why ? If no, why not ??
2. Teacher observes that when students submits
report, the more ornate and artistic the folder is,
the less substancial the report.
Which weakness in Filipino character is pointed
to ?
If you were the teacher how do you counteract
such ??
3. The Taoist principle states; “ What I think must
be the same as what I say and what I say must be
the same as what I do” . What does this principle
mean ?
 KEY
• TAKEAWAYS
The Filipino has a number of strengths. His/her strength when they
become extreme, however, also become his/her weakness .
• His/her strengths help him /her become ethical and moral but his/her
weakness obstruct his/her moral and ethical growth.
• Culture has significant impact on morality .
• The Filipino group-centeredness and “kami”- mentality make it more
difficult for Filipino to stand up against the group when that is the
moral thing to do
• There is much need for home, school and society as awhole to help
every Filipino grow into the strong moral person everyone is called
to become
• For the Filipino to become the moral ad ethical person, he/she should
capitalize on his/her strengths and eliminate his/her weaknesses
UNIVERSAL
VALUES
Reported by: Bianca Andrea Barrera
✿ do not exist apart from an individual;
they exist as universal feature
individuated.

✿ Are abstracted common features from

individuals.

✿ Immaterial & Immutable

Values are
universalized
Because they can only be wished to
be values of all.

One cannot wish for killing to be

obligate, because its like wishing for
someone to kill you.
Kant’s criteria

Can these identified “universal

values” be willed as universal ?
Can one will these values be
values of all?
Answer is in the affirmative
Dr. Kent M. Keith (2003)
List of fundamental, or universal moral principles that can be found throughout the world
Do Good
• Do not do to others what you don’t
like them do to you
• Be honest and fair
• Be generous
• Be faithful to your family and
friends
• Take care of your children when
they are young
• Take care of your parents when
they are old.
• Take care of those who cannot
take care of themselves
• Be kind to strangers
• Respect all life
• Protect the natural environment
upon which all life depends
Do Not Harm
• Do not do to others what you
don’t like them do to you
• Do not lie, steal, cheat
• Do not accuse others
• Do not commit adultery
• Do not commit incest
• Do not physically, or verbally
abuse others
• Do not murder
• Do not destroy natural
environment upon which all life
depends
Application
of Universal
Values
Bejosano, Virghilio Armando R
Group 2 | Ethics
 Application of
Universal
Values
Heads of State and Government, senior UN officials and
representatives of civil society gathered in September 2015,
as part of the 70" session of the UN General Assembly and
have adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These objectives form a program of sustainable, universal
and ambitious development, a program of the people, by the
people and for the people, conceived with the active
participation of UNESCO. (https://en.unesco.org/sdgs)
Here are the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals for the period 2015-
2030. Study and analyze them.

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and
promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all.
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitations for all.
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and
productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization
and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (in line
with the United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate Change)
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development
 Key take
aways
• Universal values are for human survival.
• Universal values are the ultimate bases for living together and
learning how to live together. Without respect for human life by all
then people will just kill each other. If honesty or truth telling is not
valued by all, there will be endless lack of trust among people.
In spite of cultural relativism, there are values that are universal for
human survival.
REFLECTI
ON
What if there were no universal values?