Lesson 4

The Political Self and Being Filipino

What makes a FILIPINO,
Filipino?
 The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the
1890’s after over three centuries of colonization of the Spaniards.
Meanwhile, liberation from the last colonizers, the Japanese, only
occured in 1946.
Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have made a huge
dent on our own by setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino
identity and culture.
 Individual’s race, ethnicity, and physical characteristics are not
the only factors that make a person’s national identity. Values and traits
are also important indicators that set apart one nationality from the
other.
Through common goals, principles, and values of its people, a
nation empowers itslelf.
Who is a Filipino
• Technically, Filipino citizens are “…those whose fathers or
mothers are citizens of the Philippines…”
• Citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino. Culture
and history have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos
learn, live, and behave to date. Generations after
generations, common traits and values have been passed on
that the Filipinos of today still embody.
Filipino Values and Traits
1. Filipino Hospitality
2. Respect for Elders: forgetting to address older people properly will
regard them as rude and impolite.
3. Close Family ties
4. Cheerful personality: Smiling has been a coping strategy for many
Filipinos.
5. Self-sacrifice: can be seen as an extension of the Filipino hospitality.
Filipinos go out of their way to extend help to their friends, families,
and loved ones.
6. Bayanihan: spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos. It
is also about giving without expecting something in return.
7. “Bahala na” attitude: originated from “Bathala na”, where Bathala
means God, and the phrase meaning leaving everything into God’s
hand. Allowing situations to take care of themselves instead of
worrying about them.
8. Colonial mentality: lack of patriotism and the attitude where
Filipinos favor foreign products more than their own.
9. Mañana Habit: Filipino term for procrastination. A poor habit of
laziness that results in heavier workloads.
10. Ningas Kugon: attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing
eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty. Ningas = flame. Cogon =
grass that easily burns out after it is put into flames.
11. Pride: Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more
precious than keeping a good relationship with family and loved ones.
12. Crab mentality: toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the
achievement of another, instead of feeling happy for that person.
13. Filipino time
Filipino Markers
1. Proverbs or Salawikain: saying that convey lessons and reflections
on Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions. (e.g “kung may tiyaga,
may nilaga”
2. Superstitions
3. Myths and Legends: Stories that are aimed to explain the origin of
things, at the same time, teach a valuable lesson. (e.g pineapple)
4. Heroes and icons: Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and
nationalism they have sacrificed their lives for the sake of out country’s
freedom and progress. Icons made the Filipino name more pronounced
worldwide through their own expertise.
How to be a Good Filipino
1. Be an active Filipino citizen
Be aware of the current events and participate in government
programs that aim for the country’s progression and development.
2. Study the Philippine history.
3. Support local products
4. Speak the Filipino language.
A way of displaying the love for one’s country. Also serves as a
unique identifier of being a Filipino.
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent.
Understand and verify what you read online, especially in social
media, before actually believing in it and spreading if like wildfire. It is
also the responsibility of every Filipino to recognize disagreement in
political views, be tolerant, and argue intelligently without having to
resort into name-calling people.