Understanding

the Filipino
Value System
VITALIANO R. GOROSPE, S.J.
Basic questions to ask if we want
to discover our traditional values
and make sure that they
contribute to the "just and
humane society" and "total
human liberation and
development.”
1) What is the philosophical basis
of Filipino values?
2) What is distinctive about the
Filipino value system?
VALUE PHILOSOPHY
A brief introduction to the
philosophy of human values is
necessary for an understanding of
Filipino values and values
education.
A Filipino experiences family
closeness and solidarity
(pagpapahalaga sa pamilya),
politeness (use of po or ho),
hospitality (tuloy po kayo), gratitude
(utang na loob) from "within", that
is, subjectively and emotionally.
VALUE PHILOSOPHY

Filipino values as social acceptance,

(pakikisama, amor propio, economic security,
pagmamay-ari), and trust in God (paniniwala
sa Diyos, bathala orMaykapal) find their
philosophical basis in man's dynamic openness
toward nature and the world (e.g., the value of
hanap-buhay ng magsasaka), one's fellowmen
(the values of paggalang, hiya, katarungan,
pag-ibig), and God (the values of
pananampalataya, pananalangin, kabanalan).
VALUE PHILOSOPHY
 The dynamic openness of man is an
openness to the possibilities of the
future. That is why values are something
to be realized.
Values are both subjective and objective.
They involve a subject or person who
values (e.g., a young girl) and an object
or value to be realized (e.g.,
pagkamahinhin). Justice is objective
because it is a value that should be
realized by all. It also becomes subjective
if justice becomes a value for me.
VALUE PHILOSOPHY
 Values are not objective in the sense that
they are found in some static heaven: they
are relational and embodied in person-
value-types (ideal moral persons).
For example, to a tipong-mukhang kuarta [an
avaricious look] profit is more important than
service; to a tipong-politiko [political type],
pera [money], propaganda, politika [politics]
are more valuable than honesty; tipong
siyentipiko [scientist type] or tipong-artista
[actor type] personify agham [science] and
sining [art]; tipong madasalin [pious type]
may exemplify kabanalan (piety).
VALUE PHILOSOPHY

Moral and religious values are

pre-eminent and claim the
highest priority in the objective
scale of values because they are
absolutely necessary in order to
become fully human
(magpakatao).
FILIPINO VALUES: NATURE,
CONSTELLATION
AND CONTEXT
The Filipino value system arises from our
culture or way of life, our distinctive way of
becoming human in this particular place
and time. We speak of Filipino values in a
fourfold sense.
FILIPINO VALUES: NATURE,
CONSTELLATION
AND CONTEXT
First, although mankind shares universal
human values, it is obvious that certain
values take on for us a distinctively Filipino
flavor. The Greek ideal of moderation or
meden agan, the Roman in medio stat
virtus, the Confucian and Buddhist
"doctrine of the Middle", find their Filipino
equivalent in hindi labis, hindi kulang,
katamtaman lamang.
FILIPINO VALUES: NATURE,
CONSTELLATION
AND CONTEXT
Secondly, when we speak of Filipino values,
we do not mean that elements of these
Filipino values are absent in the value
systems of other peoples and cultures.
FILIPINO VALUES: NATURE,
CONSTELLATION
AND CONTEXT
Thirdly, universal human values in a Filipino
context (historical, cultural, socio-
economic, political, moral and religious)
take on a distinctive set of Filipino
meanings and motivations. This is Filipino
"nationalistic" tradition (pagsasarili,
pagkakaisa, pakikisama, pakikipagkapwa-
tao, and pagkabayani.)
FILIPINO VALUES: NATURE,
CONSTELLATION
AND CONTEXT
Fourthly, we can speak of Filipino values in
the sense that the historical consciousness
of values has evolved among our people.
The Filipino concept of justice has evolved
from inequality to equality, and to human
dignity; from the tribe, to the family, and to
the nation.
FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND
SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY
The truth is that Filipino values are
ambivalent in the sense that they are a
potential for good or evil, a help or
hindrance to personal and national
development, depending on how they
are understood, practiced or lived.
They can be used in a good or evil
context, e.g., pakikisama sa
kabuktutan or sa kaunlaran.
Filipino values have both positive and
negative aspects depending on the
context in which they are found.
FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND
SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY
To show the ambivalence of Filipino
values, one example will suffice. Take the
well known but ambivalent Filipino
bahala na mentality. On the one hand,
this Filipino attitude could be the root of
the positive value of risk taking,
entrepreneurship, and social
responsibility.
A people's will to take chances and risks,
no matter what difficulties and problems
the future entails, is necessary for a
nation's growth and destiny.
Bahala na could be a genuine faith and
trust in Divine Providence that also
presupposes a self-reliance (pagsasarili).
FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND
SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY
On the other hand, in the past the
negative aspect of bahala na which
dominated Filipino life meant a false
sense of resignation (ganyan lang ang
buhay), a superstitious belief or blind
faith (malas/suwerte, tadhana,
kapalaran), or escape from decision-
making and social responsibility.
 As such it may be the root cause of
national apathy (walang pakialam) and
collective paralysis of action (bakit pa
kikilos) to solve both local and national
problems. Everything is already
predetermined or fated.
FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND
SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY
Split-level Christianity or double-
standard morality, the immorality
and hypocrisy of many so-called
Filipino Christians, is a scandal to
both Christians and non-Christians
alike.
It is important to distinguish
between pseudo Christianity in all
its varied forms and authentic
Christianity; between bad and good
Christians.
FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND
SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY
We must also take into account the
ambiguity of any religious
commitment, which is not
something made once and for all,
but a life-long process which
demands constant conversion and
renewal.
FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND
SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY
Filipino values are not static, i.e.,
they are not simply what they are,
but dynamic, i.e., they become.
From a historical perspective, the
question to ask about Filipino
values is: Ganito kami noon: paano
kayo ngayon? How are we to know
towards what goal or direction
Filipino values ought to move or
become?