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THE FILIPINO Perspectives and Contexts

Arts and Culture is Power


Arts is not meant to embody art itself, but to express the very soul of man. Cultural identity distinguishes the power to reiterate political ideologies that is based on the very fabric of the societys existence. ( not the reality, of course ) A well defined arts and culture, defines the future of the society.

Paano ba natin sisimulan?


Search for identity Sino ba ang Filipino?
Search for existence Ano ba ang Filipino? Search for meaning Bakit tayo Filipino?

Filipinos are not Malays


Filipinos did not descend from the Malays (Manuel, Jocano, Hornedo, et al) Our culture and languages are not derived from Malay There is no such thing as a Malay race in anthropological science - Dr.Arsenio
Manuel

Rizal is not the Pride of the Malay Race (Ozaeta, 1949) but of the Filipino people
The belief that the Philippines was inhabited by successive waves of migration of Negritos, Indonesians and Malays has no basis in historical fact.

David Zorc, a world class linguist, with specialization in Austronesian languages had this to say: while Filipinos want to claim Indonesians and Malaysians as their progenitors (hence the Maragtas, Code of Kalantiaw, etc.), in truth it was from the Philippines that the Indonesians and Malays came, and at a much greater time depth than anyone estimated."

What is Culture?
To culture is to cultivate, as in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, sericulture, beauty culture, voice culture, etc. Any activity, product or expression attained through the application of human skill is CULTURE, that which is not is NATURE, such as trees, rivers, mountains, birds.

In its broadest sense, culture may be defined as: Way of life, a design for living
Shared patterns of behavior and meaning, of expectations and responses Shared system of vital ideas about the world

UNESCO defines culture as:


The whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only the arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs.

Cultural Questions (Being Questions of Perception, Valuing, and Meaning)


What brings out the good, the best in the Filipino? How do you inspire or what inspires Filipinos towards positive, productive or constructive behavior/social action? How do you get Filipinos to cooperate and work together harmoniously, happily, efficiently and effectively?

What are we most productive/creative at/in? What is the nature of the Filipino cultural genius (both local and nationally shared)? How do you bring out honesty, sincerity, and loyalty? How do you resolve conflicts? How do you criticize ones work or raise standards of excellence without arousing ill will and resentment?

How do you inculcate or promote discipline and dedication to ones task?*


*The feeling of being taken advantage of;
being exploited, abused; being treated unfairly, unjustly, or being demeaned, insulted (pinagsasamantalahan, minamaltrato, ginugulangan, nilalamangan, iniinsulto o binabastos) is abhorrent to the Filipino, it being a serious affront to ones dignity as an ultimately sacred being.

A Filipino Perspective
-

Build on Our Strengths


Social Self-Images are Self-Fulfilling

- Need for Positive Self-Image: - Root cause of Philippine underdevelopment: Filipino tendency towards self bashing, esp. among the Westernized elite, preventing us from tapping our greatest asset for sustainable development - our cultural strengths and resources.

Cult of smallness Celebration of Defeat Dona Victorina Syndrome

Work for the Good of the Nation as a Whole:


ACT LOCALLY, THINK NATIONALLY,

Pride, Commitment, Excellence

Promoting Filipino Cultural Identity Cultural Identity as the Basis of Economic Competitiveness:

Cultural identity has it source in originality, indigenousness, authenticity, uniqueness, historicity, magnitude, and excellence

Anywhere in the world people prefer the distinctive, one with character, not anything bland and featureless

FILIPINOS LOVE TO CONNECT, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE


Among the most highly relational in the world, Filipinos are hardly alone. They are happy being together when they eat, sleep, work, travel, pray, create or celebrate. They feel connected to the world, God and nature, but most of all to people.

Nobody likes to be left out of a photo op

Togetherness is happiness
Filipinos hardly eat alone Invite a person to your party, how many will come? Bantay(watcher) & extra bed Picture-taking mania Prizes for everybody Do not praise small items Juan Flavier

Pabalot, balato, bonus (forms of sharing) Pasalubong( quasi-sacred ritual: gift from a journey) Cannot keep secrets Relational terms for calling each other Texting capital of the world No isolated notes (hagod, slides, scooping)

Pitch Relations Reflect People Relations


In individualistic cultures where people preserve their private space and separateness from others, musical pitches also tend to be discrete or isolated from each other. In communal cultures where togetherness and connectedness with others is highly valued, musical pitches tend to be bridged by slides or a microtonal continuum.

Notes are People

FILIPINO PROXEMICS OF PRIVACY


To be alone a German needs four thick walls which shut off all light and sound from the outside. A Japanese needs only thin paper screens A Filipino does not need a physical structure to spend time alone. All that is needed is for him to stay in a corner and keep quiet. This is proof that even in our precious moments of solitude, we are still willing to share our whole being, should the need arise

MY SPACE IS YOUR SPACE


OPEN HOUSE:

In most Western cultures, guests are allowed to move around only within the confines of the living room.In Filipino culture, guests may roam anywhere inside or outside the house, even in the bedrooms FEEL AT HOME: How long can your relative or close friend temporarily stay in your house?

Most Romantic in Southeast Asia


A Mobile Lifestyle Survey conducted by Asia Market Intelligence for Siemens in late 2002 among six SEAn countries found that Filipinos send I love you messages the most often:

Filipinos Indonesians Malaysians Singaporeans Thais Indians

58% 41% 36% 31% 30% 24%

WORKPLACE AS EXTENSION OF THE HOME


Filipinos are strongly family-oriented and most comfortable in a homey setting Superiors tend be regarded as filial authority As in the family, rituals for affirming togetherness would be very helpful, such as prayers, singing, recreational activities, sharing of concerns Like parents, superiors are expected to provide care and support in all levels

FASHIONABLE ELEGANCE
The highly sociable Filipino always likes to be in style neat, fit and smart. Whether rich or poor, reformer or rebel, manager or laborer, the Filipino dresses well and smells nice. A wellgroomed person is socially attractive.

Loners More Prone to Heart Disease


People with lots of friends are usually the healthiest in the world Lack of friends and close social ties are the hidden cause of heart disease As social ties increase, mortality rates decrease Married people, members of religious groups and the like often live longer Social isolation breeds depression, which may lead to lower immunity to disease and even suicide

MULTI-SIGNIFICANCE:
Bringing People Together
An effective Filipino tool for connecting people to each other is to endow an activity, presentation or creation with as many different meanings, functions and qualities as possible.

TRANSPARENCY: Openness and Trust


The Filipino is a highly accessible and accommodating person, basically trusting and open, yet quite sensitive and demanding of respect and recognition of ones dignity.

Bukas ang kalooban, not private


Windows all around ancestral houses Aliwalas, airy spaciousness and openness of interiors Space surrounds space High value placed on being natural, informal, personal

LISTEN TO THE FEELING TONE


Do not listen to what the Filipino says as much as how he says it. Listen to the feeling tone, read between the lines Filipinos communicate non-verbally most of the time Be sensitive to non-verbal symbols, facial expressions, gestures, or body language to understand what the Filipino is really trying to say

Makuha Ka Sa Tingin
88 WAYS OF LOOKING IN TAGALOG

TINGIN to look DILAT, PANDILATAN stare squarely at MASID, MASDAN observe or look at searchingly MALAS observing look MATYAG close observation LIYAW to spy, watch, observe

ANINAG see thru a transparent or translucent medium ANINAW see thru a haze TANGHOD to look fascinatedly TANGA, TUMANGA to look at something absentmindedly SULILING to glance sideways, affectedly or disdainfully MATA, MATAHIN to look at something with critical eyes, condescendingly

SILAY briefly but seriously TITIG steadfastly and fixedly IRAP with annoyance LISIK sparkling of the eyes as when one is extremely irked or irritated LIING to look out of the corner of ones eyes MUSING with a frown SULI vexedly DAYAP with an evil eye

ILAM to look sideways SULYAP sidewise quickly DUNGSOL look again and again LINGAP cast a glance LINGA look here and there as if searching for something LINGI, LINGIGIG look here and there, worriedly because of some noise LINGOS here and there, unmindfully

BALILILING with a turn of the head LINGON over ones shoulders TUNGO downwards TINGALA upwards SIPAT looking over (a surface) to check levelness, (or a line, row) to check alignment SUMIK looking as if listening BANTAY to look at what is ones own (to keep an eye on)

TANAW looking from a distance TANGHAL looking from a distance contemplating the beauty or grandeur of something NOOD to look at something that brings delight TINGHAD strain ones neck in order to see an object not on the level of ones eyes MULAGAT stare SILIP peep

SIGLAP superficial, accidental glance without much attention SIGLAW glimpse; involuntary passing notice PATUMANGA or DANGA look born of awe or dread LISAW disquieting look because of anger LILAP peculiar flushing of the eyes of drunks TUNGANGA open-mouthed curiosity or indifference

BALING look from one side to another SULINDING, PASULINDING glance obliquely, superciliously MANGANINO, MANALAMIN to look into a mirror SILAW dazzled ALIBAY follow a moving object with ones eyes BANAAG glimpse, have a glimmer of MULAT open eyed At marami pang iba

EXPRESSIVENESS: Maximalism
The common Filipino is a maximalist, filling up every available space with forms and things. It springs from an expressive exuberance deeply rooted in emotional sensitivity and the strong urge to connect.

Treat the other person as you treat yourself because the other person is also yourself - Filipino core idea

THE CORE VALUES


KAPWA (Shared Identity) PAKIRAMDAM (Shared Inner Perception) KAGANDAHANG LOOB (Shared Humanity)

KAPWA
SHARED IDENTITY (Shared Inner Self, The other person is also yourself)
the core of Filipino psychology, it is humaneness at the highest level implies unique moral obligation to treat one another as equal fellow human beings

PAKIRAMDAM
SHARED INNER PERCEPTION (Knowing Through Feeling or Tacit Knowing; Participatory Sensitivity)

A unique social skill inherent in Filipino personhood The need for openness and basic trust is a precondition for this active process of sensing subtle cues

KAGANDAHANG LOOB
SHARED HUMANITY (Pagkamakatao; A Shared Inner Nobility; A Quiet Sense of Responsibility for Others; A Great Compassion for All Living Beings)
Nudges a person towards genuine acts of generosity, kindness and caring

Levels of Filipino Social Interaction


AMONG OUTSIDERS:

PAKIKITUNGO (courtesy) PAKIKISALAMUHA (mixing) PAKIKILAHOK (joining) PAKIKIBAGAY (adapting) PAKIKISAMA (getting along with)

PAKIKISAMA
DEEPEST LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH ANOTHER PERSON STILL CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER (IBANG TAO) Characteristic tendencies of this trait are giving in to another persons wish, demands, wants or desires. The motive for this could be politeness or expectation of future concessions or immediate rewards

Levels of Filipino Social Interaction


AMONG INSIDERS:

PAKIKIPAGPALAGAYANG-LOOB
(rapport)

PAKIKISANGKOT (involvement) PAKIKIISA (oneness, unity with)

KAPWA: THE OTHER PERSON IS ALSO YOURSELF


The Filipino tends to do business with friends and relatives, or those with whom he has the closest personal ties. He prefers a trust-based, long-term and deep relationship rather than one based on short-term, material gains. An impersonal, formal, legal, purely business transaction devoid of emotional depth - is alien to the Filipino and may only bring out the worst in him.

SOCIETAL VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH FILIPINO PERSONHOOD

KALAYAAN (Freedom)

KATARUNGAN (Justice, Equality) KARANGALAN (Honor, Dignity)

The Unity of Opposites


An intuitive logic vastly superior to the either/or of mechanistic cultures is Filipino bipolarity. In bipolaristic logic, it is axiomatic that if a thing is true or valid, then its opposite must also be true or valid.

BIPOLARITY:

A PERSON AND HIS ACTIONS ARE ONE, NOT SEPARATE


To criticize a persons work is also to criticize the person himself, so how does one urge him to improve his work and raise standards without hurting him? The solution is to use a bipolar approach: Praise-Criticize or Better, PRAISE-CRITICIZE-PRAISE (KISS-KICK-KISS)

BRIDGING DIFFERENCES: Curves not Angles


The Filipino prefers mediation to confrontation. Pahiwatig, pakiusap, pakikibagay, biro are only a few of the orchestral wealth of techniques for bridging differences.

Vitalistic, Life Energy-Seeking


Filipinos love
biomorphic, non-architectonic shapes informal, asymmetrical balance rich tactile values kinaesthetic interaction

KINESTHETIC INTERACTIVENESS: Connecting Through Touch


Filipinos love to feel, literally touching their way through life. Rich textural qualities, biomorphic shapes, tasty foods, lush sounds and social clustering make life exceedingly warm and intimate.

A hundred words for touch


DAMA, HIPO, KAPA, KAPKAP, HIMAS, LAMAS, HAPLOS, HAGOD, SALAT, HAWAK, KAPIT, DIIT, LAPAT, SUNGGAB, SAMBILAT(clutch, grab, snatch violently), AKAP, SAGI, ANTIG, LAMUKOS, LAMYOS, KUYUMOS, KUSKOS, KALABIT, KAMOT, KALMOT, DAITI, KANTI, TAPIK, TIPA, KUTOS, SANGGI, KADYOT, SABUNOT, SAMPAL, BUNTAL, PALO, SUNTOK, SUNGGO (bump against lightly), SIPA, SIKO

SIIL (violent pushing or shoving with the elbow), SALAGOY (touch lightly), LUKOT, SIKLOT, KALIKOT, LAPIROT, BALUTBOT, DUTDOT, SUNDOT, KUTKOT, KUROT, PINGGER, KALKAL, KALIKAW, BUTINGTING, BULATLAT, DIKIT, KISKIS, KIMIS, KILITI, SINTAK, SUONG, AKAY, AKBAY DALA, KARGA, BUHAT, BITBIT, SAPO, SALO, KIMKIM, KIPKIP, SUKBIT, BABA, PASAN, SUNONG, KANDONG, KALONG, PANGKO, SAKBIBI, etc.

KINESTHETIC INTERACTIVENESS: The Magical, Healing Touch


Traditional rituals are a way of connecting to the divine. Through touch people get healed. A magical transference of vital energy occurs in many levels, physical and metaphysical.

Hug If You Want To Live


Hugging is a key to happiness Leo Buscaglia Hugs make you feel psychologically more secure and together Touching releases endorphins (the happy hormones), which kill pain and increase immunity to disease Positive feelings strengthen the bloods immune system

PAKIKIRAMDAM AND LAMBING:

Soft, Flowing Movements


Pakikiramdam, knowing through feeling or participatory sensitivity makes the Filipino especially compassionate, affective, malambing, gentle, and kind.

Sharing of Moods and Feelings


Pakikiramdam is the ability to participate in the inner life process or monitor the flow of feelings in others, especially if deeper feelings are involved.
This is the source of the much vaunted Filipino affinity with the underdog, melodrama, and sentimental and compassionate nature.

Pakikiramdam is more than sympathy or empathy: it is dynamic, profound and immeasurable.


For ex, whereas in the U.S., funeral parlors have fixed opening and closing hours, in the Philippines they are open 24 hours. It is simply unthinkable for Filipinos to subject lamay to fixed, limited schedules just because of commercial considerations. When Filipinos bury their dead, it is not only close relatives who attend the ritual but even distant relatives, friends of relatives, relatives of friends, all those who have become neighbors of the deceased, peers, officemates, classmates and friends.

The Participatory Filipino:


Pantay-pantay, walang lamangan
Pagbibigayan, sharing, interdependence;

equitable distribution of resources


micro interweaving of colors, visual elements interlocking/ interconnected wide spaces (non-compartmentalized) salitan, interlocking rhythms in music

Verbs expressing mutual, reciprocal action and equal possession of similar qualities

magsi- magsilabas, magsigising, magsitayo magsipag- magsipaghanda, magsipagkalat magka- magkaisa, magkasundo magka- magkasama, magkapatid, magkatulad, magkakulay magkasing- magkasingganda, magkasimpangit

ka - karamay, katuwang, katulong, katabi, kaklase, kalahi, kauri, kalaro, kasapi kasing - kasintigas, kasinlapit, kasintanda, kasindali, kasing-asim, kasinggaling mag-an- magsagutan, magsabunutan, magtakbuhan,magtawanan magka-an magkalinawan, magkainisan, magkarinigan, magkasintahan magsing- magsing-irog

maki- makisangkot, makialam, makiisa,makibahagi, makibaka, makisama, makigawa, makibili, makihalo, makitulog makipag- makipag-away, makipagkamay, makipag-usap makipag - an makipag-agawan, makipagsagutan makipagka - an makipagkaibigan, makipagkasunduan

ka - an kasunduan, kaibigan, kasintahan pakiki- pakikiramay, pakikiramdam, pakikiisa, pakikiapid pakikipag- pakikipagtalo, pakikipagsayaw, pakikipag-usap pakikipag - an pakikipagtulungan, pakikipagtawanan, pakikipag-ugnayan, pakikipag-unawaan, pakikipagsulatan, pakikipagsapalaran

pakikipagka - an pakikipagkasunduan, pakikipagkaibigan paki- pakialam, pakisuyo, pakibasa paki an pakibagayan, pakisamahan, pakilapitan, pakibihisan ta- kain ta

PROVIDING CHOICES:
Variability of Form, Medium and Technique

A greater range of materials, forms, techniques, ideas and possibilities for engaging in productive or creative work allows for wider and democratic social participation

FILIPINO DIGNITY IS THE CREATIVE HUMAN ESSENCE


There is nothing more dehumanizing to a human being than to feel he is merely being treated as a machine The consequences for an organization are a rapid turnover rate, absenteeism, safety violations, high accident rate, high rates of illness, and low productivity.

FILIPINO DIGNITY IS THE CREATIVE HUMAN ESSENCE


In the work place and in other relationships which fail to recognize the individual as more than a robot, we see negative behavior such as lack of cooperation and absenteeism John W. Burton

CREATIVE IMPROVISATION
Extemporaneous or on-the-spot creativity comes very naturally to the Filipino who has the finest artistic yet improvisatory traditions such as the duplo, balagtasan, balitaw, tultul, kulintang, kuntao and okir. Creative spontaneity is highly valued.

ROUTINE KILLS CREATIVE SPONTANEITY


Filipinos tend to fall into a stupor if work becomes routine. The solution is job rotation, multi-tasking, change of activity, breaks, leisure and play or better, to make work INTRINSICALLY REWARDING and CULTIVATE A PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE so that every moment of the work situation becomes A CREATIVE CHALLENGE.

Personal Identity Within The Community


Within a shared matrix of communal values, every persons inherent uniqueness must be socially recognized. His/ her personal identity must find creative expression in a particular social role.

FILIPINO CULTURAL GENIUS


HIGHLY RELATIONAL
Most active in the exploration of meaning in relationships as seen in our prolific affixation system, one of the richest in the world Promotion of togetherness through activities, practices, and creations characterized by multiple functions, values and qualities

A highly caring, nurturing orientation Strong family values Genius in interpersonal skills Excellence in service industries Highest in religiosity Superior in mental health The phenomenon of EDSA and other manifestations of our genius in designing social institutions

HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY, CONSENSUS-BUILDERS


Preference for human scale in social organization, including size of political constituency (governance with a face) Giving everybody an active role. Decisionmaking is a collective activity There is no separation of participant/performer/creator and observer/audience/spectator The individual is recognized within a shared social matrix

THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF HUMANITY ARE ROOTED IN A COMMON CORE OF BEING(UBOD), A CREATIVE, LIVING AND DIVINE GOODNESS
A contagious joie de vivre and optimistic attitude, a great capacity for happiness A highly adaptable, versatile, flexible, creative and expressive people Amazing babaylans, psychic healers and practitioners Passion for freedom, justice and dignity

THE NOTION OF LIFE AS AN INTEGRATED WHOLE


The principle of absolute equality of man and woman Non-sexist languages

Strong educational, knowledge orientation

Happiest People
Filipinos are happiest in Southeast Asia, 43%, Malay, 42%, Thai, 39%
(SRG Happiness Index, 9,000 surveyed in 1987)

Young Filipinos are the happiest in Asia, 78%, Thai, 77%, Malay 76%, Indian, 73%Taiwanese, 7%, Hongkong youths are the saddest, 5%.
(Channel V Network Survey,Nov. 2000)

Filipinos are the happiest in East Asia


(2003 survey)

Happiness Protects Against Colds


People who are energetic, happy and relaxed are less likely to catch colds, research has found. Conversely, those who are depressed, nervous or angry are more likely to complain about cold symptoms whether or not they get bitten by the cold bug. A team from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh found that people who had a positive emotional attitude were not infected as often as people with a negative emotional style BBC News July 26, 2003

WAKAS

Salamat Po!

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