Filipino values

Chapter 4
• This chapter deals with the values of the Filipinos. It discusses
the environs that mold the people to live in such a kind of
values, the ambivalence of these values and the suggested
attempts to redefine something in a certain part of these
values.

• VALUES- “valoir”means to be strong, to be worthy.

Ethics and Values
• Since Ethics deal with an act, it cannot go away with values.
Ethics and values have a common role; they even interplay
with each other.

• Babor (2002) An Ethics without values is hollow and shallow

and therefore weak. A value without ethics is paralytics.
Filipinos in the Eye of the
Outsiders
• Did we really lost our national identity?

• What kind of identity did we have to the eyes of the outsider?

Roots of Filipino Values
• There are three known origins of the Filipino values. These are: lifestyle,
human nature and cultural inclination.

We Filipinos
(1999) F. Sionil Jose
“ The Filipinos like to show off their possessions. Status symbols trough time
included the foundation pen- it meant the owner knew how to write;
eyeglasses- it meant the owner knew how to read. In old days, people who
could afford it had their teeth sheathed in gold – more gold teeth, the better.
It used to be that the refrigerator was displayed in the living room, together
with shelves bursting with canned goods and imported whiskey. The living
room also contained framed diplomas even if such were dressmaking schools.
For most rural Filipinos, the status symbol today is a motorcycle, a jeep, a
karaoke amplifier, a TV set with video. The ultimate symbol of status, however,
is a person’s house – this whether in the village or in Manila. It is easy to trace
corruption if there is a will to eradicate it; just compare the houses with the
official income of the owner.”
Pattern of Filipino Values
• Filipino sociologist F. Lando Jocano had identified two sets of
patterns of Filipino Values. These Exogenous and Indigenous

EXOGENOUS PATTERN
• it is also identified as legal or formal.
• The word itself would help us deduce its root to the time when
Filipino began to form a link with cultures.
• Christianization is the most important aspect of the colonization.
It became the rot of our Christian values.
• Our value to celebrate fiesta and to make the celebration an
exaggerated display of material stock particularly food is
exogenous rooted deeply from Spanish colonization. Also
anchored on colonization we learned to venerate the saints and
we value our faith that there is life after death.
• Americans, they identified themselves with their high standard
efficiency and they value education more than anything else.
• The Americans put up schools in almost every town of the
country. Books and other learning materials came to the
Filipinos.
INDIGENOUS PATTERN
• It is considered traditional or non-formal pattern of Filipino
values.
• Experts says indigenous value acquired in the subconscious
mind.
• Media, technological advancement, education and arts create
a culture and this culture lingers within the people.
• Constant practice of the culture turns it into an instinct and
people are doing it in half conscious situation.
Filipino Values
• Family closeness and society
• Politeness
• Hospitality
• Gratitude
• Trust in God
• People oriented
• Nationalistic
Filipino Values and the Non-
Filipino Culture
• It is true that Filipinos have their own sense of values and
valuing system, it is also an accepted fact that these distinct
values came from the universal human needs and wants.
Bipolar Filipino Values
• Values are bipolar, that is they function both positive and
negative, good or bad. It is universal characteristic which those
of the Filipinos are not exempted.

HOSPITALITY- most known Filipino value and their dominant

identity are positive. Unfortunately, being hospitable made the
Filipino hard to say no. They give the visitors all the best items
available in the house while the family members force
themselves to satisfy the least ones. The visitors eat the cream
while the visitors eat the crusts. It is indeed unfair and
humiliating. It should be corrected.
HIYA- gives the Filipino a picture of refinement, culture and
education. Fro the women it makes them modest and demure
in disposition. It avoids harshness or crudeness in party, in
form of social gathering or in any business transactions. This
value limits the Filipinos desire so that it gives them peace of
mind.
On the same manner, it is negative. It limits someone to
get involved in any undertaking for fear of shame if mistake is
made hence it also makes the Filipinos the tendency to be
inferior.
NINGAS COGON- Cogon is a long grass when burns flares up
to intensity and last only for few minutes.
Its positive aspect relies on the fact that a person with
such a value is definitely simple. He does not go into complexity. He
does not argue; he satisfies with what is available. In other words,
ningas cogon as a value gives man a peace of mind.

It is also negative because a man with that value refuses to

take responsibility, and man who does not take responsibility, and a
man who does not take responsibilities seems to be far from
improvements.
BAHALA NA - it is positive because it is a demonstration of
dependence to Divine Providence or God. Bahala na is
expression of humility; it is opposite of arrogance.
It is also negative because it legitimizes laziness that is
according to Emerita S. Quito. Is disguised as religion “I am not
prepared bahala na ang Diyos”
MAÑANA- are positive because they allow things to move on
their pattern. They assure peace of mind in the person. They
are like allowing wound to heal on its own .
However, they also have a negative part, there are small
things to fix up now for tomorrow they are no longer small.
Mañana keeps problem to a heap until solving them becomes
impossible. It is another sign of irresponsibility and laziness.
UTANG NA LOOB – is positive; it is a recognition of a favor. It is
a way of paying back something or a way of repayment.
It is also negative; the success of one is like a
debt to someone. This is one of the weakness of the Filipinos
that many times it results to prejudices during elections.