Filipino Philosophers and their Philosophy

1. Florentino Timbrenza
 According to Timbreza, pagkatao bears various connotations in English,
but it is close to the concept of personhood or selfhood. The Filipinos
though relate it with personal dignity, self-esteem good name, personal
honor, moral-integrity, good natured Ness, good character, credibility, and
trustworthiness. It is also essentially related to self-worth, self-image, and
self-respect.
 For the Filipinos, pagkatao or self-esteem is regarded not only as one’s
most precious wealth as human person, but also the measure of one’s
true greatness. Real wealth consist of individual honor, moral integrity,
honesty, credibility, and good reputation. Worldly riches and social fame
can be bought and lost, but one’s good character is priceless and lasting.
The value of self-worth gives weight to personal honor rather than riches
that come from an evil source (graft and corruption).

2. Emerita S. Quito
 Her philosophy is focused on Traits and Values: The Ambivalence of
Filipino
 Hiya (shame) – negative because it arrests or inhibits one’s action. This
traits reduces one to smallness or to what Nietzsche calls the “morality of
slaves” thus congealing the soul of the filipino and emasculating him timid,
meek and weak. Its positivity is because it contributes to peace of mind
and lack of stress by not even trying to achieve.
 Bahalana (resignation)- negative, because one leaves everything to
chance under the pretext of trusting in divine providence. This trait is really
laziness disguised in religious garb. Positive, because one relies on a
superior power rather than on one’s own. It is conductive to humility,
modesty, and lack of arrogance.

3. Apolinario Mabini
 “Thou shalt cultivate the special gifts which has been granted thee,
working and studying according to thy ability never leaving the path of
righteousness and justice in order to attain thine own perfection”.

Concept of Man and Society

 According to Mabini “all men have been given life by God, to preserve and
employ in terms of a preordained missions, which is to proclaim God’s
glory in doing what is good and just”
 Men are by nature good and just and have the capacity to unfold his
goodness and sense of justice to others. In this context, freedom can only
 be understood as doing what is good and just, meaning what is
reasonable. He said: “True liberty is only for what is good and never for
what is evil, it is always in accordance with reason and the upright and
honest conscience of the intellectual.

4. Dr. Camilio Osias

 He believed that education should secure for every person the fullest
measure of freedom, efficiency, and happiness. Efficiency, he demands
that one must be able to cooperate with the other members of the society
to promote common good.
 He also advocated that the educational system must contribute towards
the achievement of the goals of education by inculcating their minds and
hearts of the youth the value of preserving the patrimony of the country
promoting the general welfare of the people.

5. Rafael Palma
 Advocated “academic freedom” “the teacher is not supposed to dramatize.
He has no right to impose on his students his theories or personal beliefs.
He is expected to stimulate free discussion, leaving to his students the
choice of the system of though which best satisfies their reason”
 “The primary purpose of education, according to Palma is to develop the
individual to his highest efficiency so that his can be use to himself and to
the community. Such a concept is based on the philosophy of altruism and
is closely allied to citizenship”
 “Education must produce individuals who are both useful to themselves
and to society.”