The Political Self and Being

Filipino
Objectives:

• Develop a Filipino Identity

• Identify different Filipino
values and traits
• Reflect on his or her selfhood
in relation to his national
identity
Filipino Values and Traits
• Philippines is a lush island paradise famous
for its grandiose mountain views, braches,
rich and diverse culture, unique traits,
reputable values and laudable talents.
• Tourist who have visited the Philippines can
never forget the big and bright smiles.
• It is said that people who were born and
grew up in the same culture develop and
share common personality traits and values.
The Filipino Hospitality
• Filipinos welcome their guests and tourists as if they
are their own brothers and sisters by always making
them feel at home.
• In most local shops, Filipino salesman will greet their
customers with warm welcome and say thank you
when they leave even without buying anything.
• Filipinos also anticipate giving tours to ffriends who
will visit their hometown and treating them to the
best restaurants and delicacies for FREE
• During festival or fiesta, Filipinos serve festive foods
and invite the whole barangay over.
• Filipinos are also fond of giving pasalubong or tokens
from their travels and pabaon or farewell gifts to their
visitors.
Respect for Elders
• Filipinos greet their elders by kissing
their hand while saying “Mano po!”
and constantly using “po” and “opo”
in conversations.
• Forgetting to address older people
properly will regard them as rude
and impolite.
Close Family Ties
• Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with
their family regardless that the children are
old enough and already have their families of
their own.
• They are also fond of family reunions during
birthdays, holidays, and fiestas year-round
• Some Filipinos even li8ve in a big house
where everyone can stay together.
• Nursing homes are usually not an option for
family members and choose to take care of
their elders themselves.
Cheerful Personality
• Filipinos have the habit of smiling and
laughing a lot.
• Smiling has been a coping strategy for many
Filipinos especially during trying times and
calamities.
• They are always try to maintain a positive
outlook in life, which makes them resilient
and able to manage almost everything with a
simple smile.
Self-Sacrifice
• Extension to the Filipino hospitality
• Filipinos go out of their way to extend their help
to friends, family and love ones.
• They wish comfort and better lives for their love
ones and would even go to the extent of
working abroad hundreds of miles away from
their families to earn more money and save up
for them.
• There also times when the eldest among the
children of the family would give up school to
work and provide for the rest of the family and
educate his or her siblings.
Bayanihan
• Bayanihan spirit is giving without
expecting something in return.
• Filipinos are always ready to share and
to help friends and loved ones who are
in need.
• It may not always be in monetary form,
but the time and effort they give also
count as a form of help for them.
“Bahala na” Attitude
• The Filipino version of the famous line
HAKUNA MATATA meaning “ no worries.
• Originated from “Bathala na” where Bathala
means God and the phrase meaning leaving
everything into God’s hands.
• It can also be viewed as something similar to
the cheerful and positive attitude of Filipinos
and allowing situations take care of
themselves instead of worrying about them.
Colonial Mentality
• Regarded as the lack of patriotism
and the attitude where Filipinos
favor foreign products more than
their own.
• This does not only concern goods,
but the desire to look more foreign
than local and keep up with foreign
beauty treands is included.
Mañana Habit
• This is the Filipino term for
procrastination
• Derived from a longer Filipino
phrase called “mamaya na”
• It is a poor habit of laziness which
result in a heavier workload.
Ningas Kugon
• Ningas is a filipino term for a flame and kugon, is
cogon grass that easily burns out after it is put
into flames.
• Refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things,
but quickly losing eagerness soon after
experiencing difficulty just as fast as the fire has
ignited.
• Laziness is a common problem among Filipinos
that is why Filipinos are regarded as “Juan
Tamad”.
Pride
• Most Filipinos hold on to their pride
as if this is more precious than
keeping a good relationship with
family and loved ones.
• When two parties are not in good
terms, they find it so hard to
apologize and wait until the other
party asks for an apology first.
Crab Mentality
• A toxic trait among Filipinos where one
resents the achievement of other,
instead of feeling happy for that person.
• Just like crabs in a container, they pull
each other down and ruin each other’s
reputation rather than bringing them
up, which results in no progress.
Filipino Time
• According to Fr. Miguel Bernad, who wrote an
essay about Filipino Time in his book “Budhi: A
Journal of Ideas and Culture”, the phrase
Filipino Time was coined by Americans in the
1900’s because they were irritated by the lack
of punctuality of Filipinos.
 How to be a GOOD Filipino
• Be an active Filipino citizen
• Study the Philippine History
• Support local products
• Speak the Filipino language
• Do not spread fake news and be
democratic in engaging with dissent.