Cultural Values

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Positive
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Filipinos d Negative Trait
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POSITIVE TRAITS

1 Family Oriented 2 Flexibility and 3 Hospitality

adaptability

4 Pakikisama 5 Strong Work 6 Courtesy

(Fellowship) Ethic

7 Utang Na Loob 8 Faith and

Religion
 1
Family
Oriented
The family is at the center of the Filipino
community
Family Oriented

family ties. This is why it's common

to see different generations or
multiple families living in a single
residence. Filipinos are known to
have strong
Family Oriented

The family is at the center of the

Filipino community.
Examples:

• Children are not expected to leave their parents'

house until they get married.

• Special occasion
Extreme Family-Centeredness
While concern for the family is
one of the Filipino’s greatest
strengths, in the extreme it
becomes a serious flaw.
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.
Flexibility and
Adaptability
“Whatever happens, happens"
2
 Flexibility and Adaptability

The term "bahala na," which can be

translated to "whatever happens,
happens," is one of the more familiar
phrases used in the country. It is the
most representative of how Filipinos
value adaptability and quick thinking.
The expression exemplifies one's belief
in a higher power and submitting one's
fate to elements that cannot be
controlled.
 Examples:

• It is used positively during natural calamities

like typhoons.

• When a person is accepting a job

opportunity despite the uncertainties.
 3
Hospitality
Portrayed by inspiring liberality and kind disposition
Hospitality
Accommodation, most commonly
known as hospitality, is a trait or
behavior common to all Filipinos,
portrayed by inspiring liberality and
kind disposition displayed to
nonnatives and local people alike.
Filipinos accept visitors, even outsiders,
in a warm and wonderful way, regularly
making a special effort to make the
guest comfortable. This trait is shown
not only by the rich people, but the poor
ones as well.
 1
A well-recognized Philippine
historian, Teodoro A. Agoncillo,
mentioned in his book, History
of the Filipino People, that
hospitality and most Filipino
traits were acquired from the
Malayan traditions.
2
The Malays, led by the
3
sovereignty of a Datu, were
known as the first to migrate
and inhabit the Southern
regions of the country; long
before Ferdinand Magellan It is in the small communities
discovered the Philippines. called barangays where most of
the core traits of the Filipinos
had developed.
Examples:

• When a person visits a friend's house, the host

greets him or her with a very warm welcome

• People offer their guest room to visitors if

they're going to spend the night.

• Meals offered to guests are very special

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Pakikisama
4 (Fellowship)
“getting along with others”
Pakikisama (Fellowship)
Pakikisama is a typical trait of a Filipino,
in its simplest sense meaning “getting
along with others”. Pakikisama entails a
genuine intrinsic appreciation of
togetherness. Group harmony and unity
is valued. People want to get along rather
than stand out. If progress is achieved, it
is for the entire group and no one should
be left behind.
Pakikisama

This value has the capacity to

influence the whole of an individual.
In cases such as being unable to say
no to the barkada, Pakikisama then
can become negative, which will
hinder progress and development.
 Strong Work
Ethic
Responsible, dependable and hardworking

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 Strong Work Ethic

Filipinos are responsible, dependable

and hardworking; this can be directly
attributed to the culturally-rooted trait of
filial obligation
 Examples:
• Taking care of the sick family members

• Sending money to help pay for

education of family members and
miscellaneous family needs

• Farmer
 6
Courtesy
“po” and “opo”
Courtesy

Aside from saying “po” and

“opo”, Filipinos are polite
and courteous. They make
sure that they give their
visitors a warm welcome.
 1
Before the Spanish occupation,
the words “po” and “opo” were
already being used by the
Filipinos.
2
Po is a contraction of Apo
(accented on the first syllable)
so whenever we say “Ano po
3
iyon?” we’re actually saying
“Ano, apo, iyon?” The word It was speculated the word “po”
apo means Lord so saying po is to be originated from the Thai
a sign of submission and “Opo, word “pupo”, in which the
panginoon” is redundancy Thais use to show respect to the
elders.
 Examples:

• Using of honorifics as a sign of respect to elders

and those on the authority.

• Kissing the hands of our grandparents

Utang Na
Loob
Debt of gratitude and reciprocity

7
Utang Na Loob

Utang na loob is a Filipino cultural trait

that may mean debt of gratitude and
reciprocity. We keep to heart the good
deeds we receive from someone,
especially when we need help. It is as if
we say we are indebted to that person for
life. It is considered an important
"accommodative surface value", along
with hiya (propriety/dignity) and
pakikisama (companionship/esteem).
Examples:

• Children are expected to give back to their

parents for what they did to them.

• When businesses help each other out, they’d

expect something equivalent or bigger than what
they had given
Faith and
Religion
Spirituality

8
Faith and Religion

Spirituality is deeply embedded in

Filipino culture. A form of animism
was already being practiced in many
pre-colonial societies, and Islam had
been firmly established in the southern
islands even before the pre-Hispanic
era.
 Examples:

• The devotees of Black Nazarene trying their best to reach and

wipe the statue during procession because they believe that by
doing so, miracle will happen.
• Despite the presence of the pandemic, Filipinos have
found ways in expressing their unity and togetherness in
professing their faith—attending online masses; listening
to faith conferences; reciting some devotional prayers
online and even at home.
Negative Traits

1 Ningas Cogon 2 Colonial 3 Procrastination or

Mentality “Mañana Habit “

4 Crab Mentality 5 Lack of self- 6 Fatalism/Bahala

discipline Na

7 Kanya-Kanya 8 Pasikat or 9 Palaasa or

Syndrome Showing Off Dependency
 1
Ningas Cogon
“Leaving our work either half-baked or
unfinished”
Ningas Cogon
Ningas-kugon lacks sustained
perseverance. It also means a
tendency among individuals to start
a new venture or task with too much
enthusiasm and effort, but after
some time will take a pause or will
suddenly stop working, until such
time that they lose interest in the
venture or task.
1
The term “ningas cogon” is actually derived from
the word cogon, which refers to cogon grass, a tall,
green, thin type of grass that grows through large
fields and easily catches fire.
Examples:

· Our savings and budgets. We are eager to

start sorting out our money by having a budget at
the start of the day only to not live up to it. We
always say that we save money but always wait for
the “right” time.

· New year's resolution

 Colonial
Mentality
Form of internalized racial oppression
2
 Colonial Mentality
Colonial mentality is defined as the
perception of ethnic and cultural
inferiority and a form of internalized
racial oppression. It is deemed a direct
consequence of the Philippines' long
history of colonialism. This empirical,
qualitative study explored whether
colonial mentality resonated with
Filipino Americans who were born and
raised in the United States.
Examples:
• Being told not to stay out for too long “or you’ll
get dark.”

• Using skin-whitening products

• Pinching babies’ noses to make them

appear sharper
 3
Procrastination
or “Mañana
Habit “ what can be done today.
Leaving for tomorrow
Procrastination or “Mañana Habit “

This is the Filipino habit of leaving for

tomorrow what can be done today.
They tend to postpone their actions for a
later time thus reducing
accomplishments.
Examples:
• When a person is working on a project and some
people need something from that person before they
move. If the person does not finish his/her work, the
rest cannot begin. However, if that person keeps on
putting it off until later or tomorrow, the rest will
keep on waiting.

• When a student keeps on delaying his/her

completing the assignments/projects
assigned to that student, which will now
result in cramming.
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Crab
4 Mentality
Feel insecure
Crab Mentality

Filipinos tend to possess this

mentality especially when they
feel insecure. In a way, crab
mentality also promotes an
unhealthy competition.
Crab Mentality

Filipinos have a selfish, self-

serving attitude that generates a
feeling of envy and
competitiveness towards others,
particularly one’s peers who seem
to have gained some status or
prestige.
 1
2
The term “crab mentality” is a
popular phrase among Filipinos
and was first coined by
The metaphor is derived from a
Ninotchka Rosca, a Filipina
pattern of behavior noted in
feminist, author, journalist and
crabs when they are trapped in a
human rights activist.
bucket. While any one crab
could easily escape, its efforts
will be undermined by others,
ensuring the group's collective
demise.
Examples:
• spreads malicious rumors

• Inability to offer praise or congratulations

in response to someone else’s success
 Lack of self-
discipline
Disregarding the rules

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 Lack of self- discipline
We have laws and regulations in order to
achieve a harmonious community.
However, most Filipinos have this
penchant of disregarding the rules in
order to prioritize what they want.
 6
Fatalism/Bahala Na
Way of avoiding rationalization or good reason
Fatalism/Bahala Na
It is a Filipino’s way of
avoiding rationalization or
good reason. While this trait
can sometimes be helpful in
time of adversity, the
mentality of “what goes
around, comes around,” can
also keep us from finding
ways out of tough situations.
 1
· Bahala originated from the Tagalog word Bathala
which means god or Supreme Being worshiped by Filipinos
before the Spanish came to the country and introduced
Catholicism. The phrase, therefore, is in the context of “leave
it to God” or “God willing”.
 Examples:

• When one is too lazy or irresponsible to

deal with a problem at work.

• A student who suddenly feels lazy to do his

homework will just say “bahala na”.
Kanya-Kanya
Syndrome
lack of a sense of service among people

7
Kanya-Kanya Syndrome

The Kanya-Kanya syndrome is also

evident in the personal ambition and the
drive for power and status that is
completely insensitive to the common
good. Personal and in-group interests
reign supreme. This characteristic is also
evident in the lack of a sense of service
among people in the government
bureaucracy.
Examples:
• Happens between competitive
families

• Feelings of envy, wishing ill will on others

• Fellow filipinos gossiping about someone’s

mistakes or failures to others
Pasikat or Showing
Off

8
Pasikat or Showing Off

We Filipinos are somehow guilty of

showing off in one way or another.
Examples:
• If there were a new iPhone or Samsung phone
in the market, we would want to be the first to
have it so we can show it to our friends and
brag about it.

• Whenever we return to our province, we want to project

that we live better off than the rest. Whenever there are
celebrations, we always want to give the best that we can
afford, even at the expense of incurring debt, so that our
friends and relatives can exclaim that we can provide the
best parties there are.
 9
Palaasa or Dependency
Palaasa or Dependency
There is no denying how
close our ties are to our
family members and extended
family. We can indeed be
proud of the kind of bond we
have. However, too much
dependency can kill you.
Example:

• OFWs