FILIPINO

PHILOSOPHY
 Lesson Objective
⚫To identify the Filipino Philosophy
⚫Appreciate and value these Filipino
Philosophy
⚫Application of these positive values
in our day-to-day life.
⚫Many philosophers hold that
there are three great original
center of philosophy in the
world – Greek (or Western),
Indian and Chinese. All three
arose as critical reflections on
their own cultural traditions.
⚫In our present century, almost
all the major philosophical ideas
 What about Filipino Philosophy ?

⚫It may sound presumptuous to

speak of “Filipino Thought” for
the reason that the Philippines
could not very well speak of a
tradition such as that of China,
India or Greco-Roman.
 What about Filipino Philosophy ?
⚫Yet, for the Filipino, there has to be
“Filipino Thought”. Like any other
people, Filipino must eventually take
consciousness of his own particular life
and his world, society and gods in the
light of truth and thereby realize his
proper being. (Reyes 1990).
Nevertheless, Filipinos do have their
own philosophy.
 The Three Dimensions of Filipino Thought
1. Loob : Holistic and Interior
Dimensions
▪ Kagandahang-Loob, kabutihang loob and
kalooban are terms that show sharing of one’s
self to others.
▪ For Mercado (1992), interiority (inner life)
manifests itself in freedom.
▪ Loob puts one in touch with his fellow beings.
▪ Philippine values are essentially interpersonal.
Loob

⚫The use of intermediaries or go-

betweens, the values of loyalty,
hospitality, pakikisama and respect
to authorities are values that relate to
persons
▪ Filipinos generally believes in the
innate goodness of the human beings.
Loob

▪ In short, the Filipino as individual

looks at himself as holistic from the
interior dimension under the principle
of harmony. He looks at himself as a
self, as a total whole- as a “person”,
conscious of his freedom proud of his
human dignity and sensitive to the
violation of the two. (Mercado 2000)
 Hospitality
-A Filipino trait of being
receptive and generous in
treating visitors.
⮚ HOSPITALITY:A WELCOME
ATTITUDE

“Bukas-Loob na Pagtanggap”
- Filipinos open their hearts
to complete strangers and
offer them the best in their
homes.
2. Filipino Philosophy of Time

⚫The Filipino believes in the gulong ng

palad (literally wheel of fortune and
hence looks at life as a series of ups and
downs (Timbreza 1992).
⚫This philosophy of life makes the
Filipino an optimist. When the so-
called wheel of life is on the downtrend,
he looks to the future with hope
because life’s wheel cannot stay down
forever.
2. Filipino Philosophy of Time

⚫When one weeps, one will

surely smile.
⚫The Filipino looks upon every
event, fortunate or unfortunate,
as fleeting or transitory.
 Filipino Philosophy of Time

⚫Gulong ng palad blends well with

foreign philosophical ideas in the
Asian region. It approaches karma
of the Indians and yang and yin
thought of the Chinese
3. Bahala Na
⚫The pre-Spanish Filipino believed in
the Supreme Being, Batula or
Bathala.
⚫The Filipino puts his entire trust in
this Bathala who has evolved in the
Christian God. (Mercado 2000)
⚫The Filipino subconsciously accepts
the bahala na attitude as part of the
life
It is believing that life depends on:
▪ Swerte or buenas (good luck)
▪ Tadhana (decried by fate)
▪ Malas (bad luck)

⮚ BAHALA NA
- is an expression
which expresses that fatalistic
outlook of the Filipino. It
happens when one simply
resigns to the consequences of
life’s difficulties.
Expressions which reflect
bahala na are:
▪ iginuhit ng tadhana
(decreed by fate)
▪ malas (bad luck)
▪ swerte (good luck)
▪ gulong ng palad (life’s ups
and downs)
▪ tsamba (undeserved
success brought about by
luck)
❖
In every positive way,
bahala na is what makes
people move, take risks
and plan for the future
(Panopio & Rolda, 2000).
⮚ UTANG NA LOOB:
INFINITE
RESPONSIBILITY
- portrays our true
identity based on our concern
and response to others.
o Pagtanaw is the unending
gratitude but this is not enough
because the responsibility to
others does not end since
pagpapakatao has no limits,
same with pakikipagkapwa-
tao.
Bayanihan or Spirit of Kinship
& Camaraderie
- A Filipino community spirit &
cooperation wherein a group of
individuals extends a helping hand
without expecting any
remuneration.
Filipino Thought and Values :
Positive and Negative Aspects

⚫It is believed that the

Philippines value and system,
in line with Filipino
Philosophy, are in dire need to
be used as positive motivation
Activity: List down all the
Filipino values you know
then write its positive and
negative side/aspect.