The Strengths and the Weaknesses of the Filipino Character: A Socio-Cultural Issue

Lesson 4
STRENGTH OF FILIPINO CHARACTER
• PAKIKIPAGKAPWA TAO
> Manifested in a basic sense of justice and fairness and in concern with others.
> Exemplifies our ability to empathize with others, in helpfulness and generosity in times of need, in the practice
of bayanihan or mutual assistance, and in the famous Filipino hospitality.
• FAMILY ORIENTATION
> concern for family is manifested in the honor and respect given to parents and elders.
> and in the sacrifices for welfare of the family.
• JOY AND HUMOR
> Filipinos are cheerful and fun loving.
> Laughing is sometimes serves as our coping mechanism.
> This sense of joy and humor is manifested in Filipino’s love for socials and celebrations.
• FLEXIBILITY, ADAPTABILITY AND CREATIVITY
> very evident in us Filipinos is our great capacity to adjust and to adapt to circumstances and any eventualities
that come our way.
STRENGTH OF FILIPINO CHARACTER
• HARD WORK AND INDUSTRY
> The Filipinos’ desire to improve one’s standard of living and to live a decent life matched with proper working
conditions and motivations makes them work hard.
• FAITH AND RELIGIOSITY
> Filipinos are pre-dominantly Christians if not Catholics. We have deep faith in God and religious.
• ABILITY TO SURVIVE
> Filipinos are survivors and resilient. We have the great capacity to surpass all sad experiences and recover
easily from difficult times.
Weaknesses of the Filipino character
(Senator Leticia Shahani)
Report titled "A Moral Recovery Program: Building People, Building a Nation"
1. Extreme family centeredness
2. Extreme personalism
3. Lack of discipline
4. Passivity and lack of initiative
5. Colonial mentality
6. Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality
7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
8. Emphasis on porma rather than substance
1. Extreme family centeredness
• Excessive concern means using one's office and for family power to promote family interests.
• Leads to factionalism, patronage, political dynasties and the protection of erring family members.
• It results in lack of concern for the common good, and acts as a block to national consciousness.
2. Extreme Personalism
• Takes things personally, cannot separate objective task from emotional involvement.
• Because of this, the Filipino is uncomfortable with bureaucracy, with rules and regulations and with standard
procedures.
• He uses personal contacts, and gives preference to family and friends in hiring, services and even voting.
• Thus, extreme personalism lead to nepotism/favoritism, lagayan, cronyism and worst, to graft and corruption.
3. Lack of discipline
• A casual attitude toward time and space, manifested in lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor time
management and procrastination.
• Aversion to following procedures strictly results in lack of standardization and equality control. Impatience
results in short cuts, palusot, ningas cogon.
• Lack of discipline often results to inefficient work systems, the violation of rules and a casual work ethic lacking
follow through.
4. Passivity and lack of initiative
• Filipinos are generally seen as passive and lacking in initiative. We wait to be told what has to be done.
• Strong reliance to others and to our government.
• There is high tolerance of inefficiency, poor service, and even violations of one's basic right.
• Too patient and matiisin, too easily resigned to his fate(Bahala na System), the Filipino is easily oppressed and
exploited.
5. Colonial mentality
• Lack of patriotism, or of an active awareness, appreciation and love for the Philippines.
• Actual preference for things foreign.
• Basic feeling of national inferiority that makes us Filipinos wanting to relate as equals of Westeners.
6. Kanya-kanya syndrome, Talangka mentality
• Done by tsismis, intriga, unconstructive criticism... it is evident in the personal ambition that is completely
insensitive to the common good.
• e.g., the lack of a sense of service among people in the government bureaucracy. This results in the dampening
of cooperative and community spirit, and in the trampling upon other's rights.
7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection
• The tendency to be superficial and some what flighty.
• In the face of serious personal and social problems, there is lack of analysis or reflection, and instead
satisfication with superficial explanations and solutions.
• E.g. dealing with problems, evaluating our doings.
8. Emphasis on porma rather than substance
• Focusing more on the appearance rather than the content.
• This lack of analysis and emphasis on form is reinforced by an educational system that is more from than
substance.
• E.g. – judging people that way how they look
What did schools do to respond to this report?
• Values Education also known as Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (EsP) in K to 12 Curriculum, was introduced as a
separate subject in the basic education curriculum under the Values Education Framework which was offered
from Grade 1 to 10.
• Senior Highschool: Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person and Personal Development.