Glenn de los Reyes

B.S. in Civil Engineering

Social Science
Module 1 Assignment

ETEEAP-MSUEF

1.

What are examples of social norms in the Philippines? Can Norms be

maldaptive?

Utang na Loob
Utang na Loob: Utang na Loob, or Debt of Gratitude, is owed by one to a person
who has helped him through the trials he had undergone. There is a local saying: 'Ang
hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan', meaning, 'One
who does not look back to where he started, will not get to where he is going'.

o Amor Propio: Concern for self image.

o Delicadeza: Sense of honor
o Palabra de Honor: "word of honor"

Utang na loob in the context of enlightened loyalty. There are Filipinos who are
able to look at utang na loob as a social concept without having to be blind to the limits
of loyalty. They appreciate the meaning of utang na loob as a moral concept, but it
does not mean that they will give up the higher set of principles that they value for the
sake of family, friendships, and community loyalty.Utang na loob may be invoked by
some people to demand favors from someone, for the right or wrong reasons. One is
free to return the favor or not, but must take the risk of burning his bridges. Social
conformity in Filipino culture is valued (the term pakikisama captures this virtue), and
one has to face the possibility of being ostracized for not being loyal. This is the
immediate drawback.In the end, it is a choice between social conformity and ones
valued principles.

2.

Choose a current issue in the Philippines, how is social influenced played

out in this particular issue? Cite negative and positive consequences of
social influence in this relation to issue?

Vice President Jejomar Binay Plunder Case

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) Vice President Jejomar Binay has been accused of plunder in relation
to an over-priced multi-million-peso New Makati City Parking building contract.
In a 9-page complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman, Renato L. Bondal and Nicolas "Ching"
Enciso VI accused Binay of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to the AntiPlunder Law.
They said the contract for the parking building described in the complaint as the most expensive
parking building in the entire country, if not the entire world was supposed to have amounted to only
P245.56 million but was overpriced by more than P1.314 billion. The final contract price was pegged at
P1.56 billion.

The chosen current issue is all about the current politics of the Philippines, where
Vice President Binay is being accused of plunder by his possible opponents or
oppositions of Philippine political parties as hearing is held in the senate. With regards
to social influence, in my opinion the hearing is seemed to be politically motivated as the
accused is the contender for next election presidency. A negative implication is that
hearing seemed also to come personally attacking each other in which other related
individuals are affected.