A.

LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

Culture and Values (Lesson #7) .The former expresses the customs, ideas and social behavior of a
particular people or group – it is everything that man thinks, says and does. While the latter are the ideals that
give meaning to our lives, reflected through the priorities we choose, & that we act on them consistently &
repeatedly. Both are interrelated.
Today’s Lesson # 8 is a continuation of lesson # 7 particularly Filipino culture and values.

Activity 2: Content Notes (13 mins)

The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish Catholic traditions,

with influences from America and other parts of Asia. Cultural values are the core principles and ideals upon
which an entire community exists. This is made up of several parts: customs, which are traditions and
rituals; values, which are beliefs; and culture, which is all of a group's guiding values.

Values, Customs, and Culture

While the terms 'culture,' 'values,' and 'customs' are often used interchangeably, each is actually a distinct
piece of the bigger picture. A custom is a ritual or other tradition that is an outward sign of the group's cultural
values. The group's values aren't always obvious right away - they run deep! Cultural values can be pieced
together by observing the various customs that the people have passed down for generations. Culture is defined
as all of a group's guiding values and outward signs and symbols taken together as one big whole 1.
The Filipino Culture2 (Cecil Abundo)

Our culture is a big reflection of our great and complex history. It is influenced by most of the people we have
interacted with. A blend of the Malayo-Polynesian and Hispanic culture with the influence from Chinese, Indians Arabs,
and other Asian cultures really contribute to the customs and traditions of the Filipinos.

Mano Po. First on the list is Mano Po. When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders they
typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back the elder's hand lightly on their
forehead. It is a way of giving respect to the elders and I believe that is also a way of receiving blessing to the elders.
Mano is a Spanish word for “hand” while Po is used in the end of the sentence when addressing elders or superiors.

Hospitality. Next is that Filipinos are one of the most hospitable people you may find anywhere. Foreign visitors in
the country are treated with the utmost respect. This trait is usually seen during fiestas and holidays where many Filipinos
are giving their best to entertain their visitors well.

Close Family Ties. Having Close Family Ties is also one of their unique traits. It is one of the outstanding cultural
values that Filipinos have. The family takes care of each other and is taught to be loyal to family and elders by simply
obeying their authorities. This is one of the unique characteristics of Filipinos. Having fondness for family reunions during
secular and religious holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s eve, All Saints’ Day, Holy Week, Fiestas, homecomings,
birthdays, weddings, graduations, baptisms, funerals etc. is evidence that Filipino people valued not only our cultural
tradition but the spirit of our family.

Bayanihan. It is the spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. A famous example of this
is the neighbors carrying a hut or house to a new location.

Serenade. We Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to heart affairs. Serenading or Harana in Tagalog is
one of the most popular forms of courtship to show that a man is very serious with his intentions to a woman. A serenade
would require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young lady's house. Normally, he is accompanied by his
male friends who act as back-up singers.

Superstition. In the Philippines, superstitious beliefs have grown throughout the country. These beliefs have come
from the different sayings and beliefs of our ancestors that aim to prevent danger from happening or to make a person
refrain from doing something in particular.These beliefs are part of our culture, for one derives their beliefs from the
influences of what their customs, traditions and culture have dictated to explain certain phenomena or to scare people.
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 ELEMENTS STRENGTHENING THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Joy and Humor. Filipinos have a cheerful and fun-loving approach to life and its ups and downs. There is a
pleasant disposition, a sense of humor, and a propensity for happiness that contribute not only to the Filipino charm, but
to the indomitability of the Filipino spirit. Laughing at ourselves and our trouble is an important coping mechanism.

Flexibility, Adaptability and Creativity. Filipinos have a great capacity to adjust, and to adapt to circumstances
and to the surrounding environment, both physical and social. Unplanned or unanticipated events are never overly
disturbing or disorienting as the flexible Filipino adjusts to whatever happens.

Hard work and Industry. Filipinos have the capacity for hard work, given proper conditions. The desire to raise
one's standard of living and to possess the essentials of a decent life for one's family, combined with the right
opportunities and incentives, stimulate the Filipino to work very hard.

Faith and Religiosity. Filipinos have a deep faith in God. Innate religiosity enables us to comprehend and
genuinely accept reality in the context of God's will and plan.

Ability to Survive. Filipinos have an ability to survive which is manifested in our capacity for endurance despite
difficult times, and in our ability to get by on so little
 
ELEMENTS WEAKENING THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

Extreme Personalism. Filipinos view the world in terms of personal relationships and the extent to which one is
able personally to relate to things and people determines our recognition of their existence and the value.

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 the common good. It results in lack of concern for the
common good and acts as a block to national consciousness.

Lack of Discipline. The Filipino's lack of discipline encompasses several related characteristics. We have a
casual and relaxed attitude towards time and space which manifests itself in lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor
time management and in procrastination.

Passivity and Lack of Initiative. Filipinos are generally passive and lacking in initiative. One waits to be told what
has to be done. There is a strong reliance on others, e.g., leaders and government, to do things for us. This is related to
the attitude towards authority…... Filipinos are thus easily oppressed and exploited.

Colonial Mentality. Filipinos have a colonial mentality which is made up of two dimensions: the first is a lack of
patriotism or an active awareness, appreciation, and love of the Philippines; the second is an actual preference for things
foreign. Filipino culture is characterized by an openness to the outside--adapting and incorporating the foreign elements
into our image of ourselves.

Kanya-Kanya Syndrome. 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. Towards
them, the Filipino demonstrated the so-called "crab mentality", using the levelling instruments of tsismis, intriga and
unconstructive criticism to bring others down. The kanya-kanya syndrome is also evident in personal ambition and
drive for power and status that is completely insensitive to the common good.

Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection. There is a tendency in the Filipino to be superficial and even
somewhat flighty. In the face of serious problems both personal and social, there is lack of analysis or reflection. Joking
about the most serious matters prevents us from looking deeply into the problem. There is no felt need to validate our
hypotheses or explanations of things. Thus we are satisfied with superficial explanations for, and superficial solutions to,
problems. Related to this is the Filipino emphasis on form (maporma) rather than upon substance. There is a tendency to
be satisfied with rhetoric and to substitute this for reality. Empty rhetoric and endless words are very much part of public
life. The Filipino lack of self-analysis and our emphasis upon form is reinforced by an educational system that is
often more form than substance and a legal system that tends to substitute law for reality
.(Licuanan, “A Moral Recovery Program: Building a People – Building a Nation”).

How does culture influence human behavior?

Culture as an influence of behaviour takes the “nurture" side of the argument about influences of behaviour.
Culture looks at the totality of any given society's belief system, laws, mores, practices, language and attitudinal variables
which makes a people unique from others. As you know, it is transmitted from one generation to the other. What
happened when you are groomed in the ways of a particular culture? You start acting and behaving in ways that are seen
as appropriate to such a culture. Your dress sense, grooming, language, belief system and attitude become molded to fit
into that society which makes you become accepted by them.

Hence, culture plays a big role in determining how an individual behaves in any given environment. Take for
example, in some places, baring the breasts is seen as normal, while in some places it is forbidden. Some places allow
males and females to mingle freely in public places: others do not. This has a tremendous impact on behaviour, and is
evident when these persons go to a place that has a different culture compared to theirs. They encounter what is known
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as “culture shock", and it is most evident from their reactions and behaviours to certain unique stimuli which they come
in contact with in a new place. So yes, culture plays a big role in influencing behavior. 3

1) Activity 3: Skill-building Activities (18 mins + 2 mins checking)

A. Developmental Activity (8 mins.)

Instructions: Identify whether the following claims contain universal acceptability or not. Write UNIVERSAL if
there is universal acceptability and RELATIVE if there is none. The theme of the items is either on lying or on murder.

__________1.) Communication presupposes truthfulness for it to be genuine.

__________2.) Genuine communication must be present for society to survive.
__________3.) A society that does not value truth-telling ruins communication’s essence.
__________4.) If murder is not forbidden, people avoid each other.
__________5.) If each person avoids each other, relation becomes impossible.
__________6.) As human beings, we cannot not relate.
__________7.) If lying is not valuable, people in a community have no reason to communicate.
__________8.) If murder is forbidden, people have reason to feel safe with one another.
__________9.) Lying breeds mistrust and doubt.
__________10.) No society can exist with no prohibition against murder.
Score: ____
B. Formative Assessment (10 mins.)

Instructions: From the concept/pre-printed notes, some destructive elements (that constitute our Filipino
character) which are actually influencing our behavior as Filipinos should be changed. Write what possible action we will
do with these values.

Filipino values that need to be changed Possible action to do with these values

Ans. Parents should stop comparing their sons and daughters to

Ex.. Kanya-kanya Syndrome avoid competition and rivalry; school curriculum must give importance
to Filipinization of content and instruction leading to nationalism and
patriotism.
1.

1. Lack of Self-Analysis and

Self-Reflection

2.

2. Extreme Family-Centeredness.

3.

3. Colonial Mentality

Score: ____________
Note: Check your answers against the Key to Corrections found at the end of this SAS. Write your score on your
Paper. (You can also check or consider your answers as long as your ideas are closely related to the given)

2. Activity 4: What I Know Chart, part 2 (2 mins)

Note: This serves as your review and summary of what was learned from the session. You have to monitor how
your knowledge has changed by reviewing the questions in the What I Know Chart from Activity 1.

Instructions: Write your answers to the questions based on what You now know in the third column of the
chart below.

What I Know Questions: What I Learned

(Activity 4)

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https://www.quora.com/How-does-culture-influence-human-behavior
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 Describe the Filipino culture.

What is that one thing you can be

proud of as filipino? Why?

How does Filipino culture influence your

behaviour?

3. Activity 5: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

Directions. Write how the following cultural marks/values of Filipinos serve as ethical standards.

Fil. Culture/value Moral/behavioral responses

Ex. Mano Po Ans: When you do not execute or do kissing of hands, you will be
considered walang respeto.
Ans.

1. Hospitality

Ans.

2. Close Family Ties

Ans.

3. Bayanihan

Note: (Key to Correction for this test should only be in the Teachers’ Guide and not in the SAS)

C. LESSON WRAP-UP

1) Activity 6: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)

Direction: Analyze the pictures below and write a short reflections on what universal value you can draw
to each of them.

Image /picture A Image /picture B

Picture A Picture B
Reflections: Reflections:

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NOTE: Mark your place in the work tracker below which is simply a visual to help you track how much work you have
accomplished and how much work there is left to do. This tracker will be part of your activity sheet.