LESSON 8: THE

FILIPINO VALUE
SYSTEM AND
BUSINESS ETHICS
CHALLENGES
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility

Reference: Aliza Racelis (2017), Lesson 8: The Filipino Value System and Business Ethics Challenges,
Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Rex Bookstore.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
Perception of Work
“Ask most Japanese about what they do and they will answer, “I am a company
employee” and add, “I work for Toshiba.” They give their company’s name. Few
people answer with a job title such as accountant or salesman.” For Japanese, the
company name is more important than the  job title, for Japanese people the
community they belong to is much more important than what they do.
 THE FILIPINO VALUES AND
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The Filipino Value System and Its Effects on Business
A. Utang na Loob – or debt of gratitude means that one does not forget the good deeds
that others may have done to him or her especially in times of great need. This debt of
gratitude is sometimes abused by those who have done well to other as they may ask
favors or things that may either be unreasonable or beyond the means of the one in
debt.
B. Filial Piety – is a virtue of respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors. Filipinos
are taught to become polite and respectful individuals. This is also due to the influence
of Christianity that tells them to honor both parents and elders. The use of “po” and
“opo” when in conversation with an elder or someone who is older is a manifestation of
how Filipinos respect their elders. Filial Piety may be good or bad for business
depending on a lot of considerations, but it definitely affects the way business is
conducted especially when the business person is confronted with ethical issues.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
C. Padrino –or patronage in the Filipino culture, business, and politics is the value
system where one gains favor, promotion, or political appointment through family
affiliation or friendship, as opposed to one’s merit. The Padrino System in the
Philippines has been the source of many controversies and corruption, both in
government and in the business sector. Padrino System is definitely bad for business
especially when the business person is confronted with ethical issues. The Padrino
system cannot be made as a basis for ethical decisions in business.
D. Suki – The word “suki” is a Filipino term which means “loyal customer”. This so-
called “market-exchange partnership” can be developed into an agreement where one
can be a regular customer and supplier.
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Customer satisfaction is essential to the survival of any business, small-scale or large-
scale; and retailers know that satisfied customers are loyal customers. Consequently,
retailers develop strategies to build relationships that result in customers returning to
make more purchases. By responding to customer needs, business owners endeavor to
meet or exceed customer expectations for their product or service. This increases the
likelihood of gaining sukis.
“Suki” may be good or bad for business depending on a lot of considerations, but it
definitely affects the way business is conducted especially when the business person is
confronted with ethical issues.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
E. Bahala na – has been loosely translated as “come what may.” Hence, it is referred
to as the Filipino version of fatalism that is, leaving everything in the hands of fate.
But “bahala na” actually comes from the word “Bathala na,” which means God.
Hence, the expression “Bahala na”actually means, “let God take charge of the affairs;”
or “I have done my part, let God take charge of the rest;” or “whatever happens, God
has willed it.”
However, others use the “Bahala na” concept erroneously to mean the person’s state of
helplessness and resignation of one’s fate. Sometimes it is used to refer to the person’s
ignorance or laziness to do anything at all. On the contrary, “Bahala na” attitude
requires courage from the person to face the challenges or uncertainties as in business
endeavors.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
F. Mañana Habit – comes from the Spanish word “Mañana” which literally means
“tomorrow” or “an unspecified future time.” Hence, Mañana habit refers to
procrastination or putting off for tomorrow what can be done today.
Punctuality and Tardiness
Related to “mañana habit” is the Filipino’s sense of time. Filipino time is minutes or even
hours late of the standard time.
In other words, Filipinos tend to be late in meetings, events, etc.
This behavior has not only caused conflicts in relationships, or missed opportunities but
also discourages others including foreigners from getting involved in supposedly
productive activities as too much time is wasted on waiting.
In business, “Mañana Habit” and tardiness are definitely bad habits and has no place in
the workplace.
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G. Amor Propio – literally means, “love of self” or self-love. Amor propio refers to a
person’s feeling of self-respect and personal worth or the quality of being worthy of
esteem or respect, sometimes an inflated feeling of pride as superior to others or
sometimes even feelings of excessive pride.
Filipinos feel pressured to meet the status quo of the society when it comes to
economic standing. One indication of this might be a willingness to spend more than
what they can afford to a party rather than be shamed by their economic
circumstances.
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H. Filipino Family Values
Hospitality – refers to friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests,
visitors, or strangers. This trait is particularly favorable in business, especially in the
service sector.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
Humor, Adaptability, and Creativity – Filipino’s sense of joy and humor is evident
in their optimistic approach to life and its travails. The ability to laugh at themselves
and their predicament is an important coping mechanism that contributes to
emotional balance and capacity to survive. These are manifested in the ability to
adjust too often difficult circumstances and prevailing physical and social
environments. Filipinos have a high tolerance for ambiguity that enables them to
respond calmly to uncertainty or lack of information. Filipinos often improvise and
productive and innovative use of whatever is available. These qualities have been
repeatedly demonstrated in their capacity to adapt to living in any part of the world
and in their ability to accept change.
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Resilience, Resourcefulness and the Ability to Survive – As a people who have
been constantly under the rule of numerous powerful countries over time, and as a
place that is constantly plagued by natural calamities, Filipinos have developed a
sense of resourcefulness of the ability to survive with whatever they have. Filipinos
have the extraordinary ability to make something out of basically nothing for the
sake of survival.
Resilience, Resourcefulness and the Ability to Survive are particularly good traits in
the business setting.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
Faith and Religiosity – The Philippines is approximately 92.5 percent Christian
(mostly Roman Catholic), 5.6 percent Muslim, and 1.9 percent other religions,
including the Taoist-Buddhist religious beliefs of Chinese and the indigenous
animistic beliefs of some peoples in upland areas that resisted 300 years of Spanish
colonial rule.
This is a reflection of the Filipinos’ strong faith in God as seen in their various
practices. This includes the numerous Church Holidays they observe, the customary
(and obligatory) Sunday Mass, the individual’s basis of their moral standpoints, the
influence of the Church on the minds, actions, and opinions of the majority, importance
of the Sacraments, Praying at almost any possible time of the day, extreme practices
during Holy week, etc.
While not a guarantee, being religious is a positive trait that is favorable in business and
in the workplace.
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Hard Work and Industry – Filipinos are universally regarded as excellent workers
who perform well whether the job involves physical labor and tasks or highly
sophisticated technical functions. This propensity for hard work, which often
includes a highly competitive spirit is driven by the desire for economic security and
advancement for oneself and one’s family.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
H. Negative Filipino Traits
Bribery and Corruption
Bribery is a specific offense which concerns the practice of offering something,
usually money, to gain an illicit advantage and Corruption is an abuse of a position of
trust in order to gain an undue advantage.
Bribery and Corruption in the Philippines are almost a culture whether it is in
government or in business. They are embedded deep within the system and reinforced
by a complex web of economic and social factors which include personal ambitions
and a twisted sense of loyalty to friends and kin.
Bribery and Corruptions are unethical business practices.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
General Disregard for Rules – Many Filipinos have a penchant for breaking rules.
This social phenomenon is not exclusive to hardened criminals either a look at
everyday life in the country shows Filipinos from the entire social strata nonchalantly
breaking the rules, whether it is something as benign as jaywalking and loitering and
falling in line or as dangerous as beating the red light.
This penchant for breaking rules has no place in the workplace, particularly, because,
everyone in the workplace is expected to follow the rules.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
Pagtatakpan – “pagtatakpan” attitude refers to the covering-up of the shortcomings
or wrongdoings of another person. This may involve the whole group justifying the
wrongdoings, or at least proving excuses for them, of a group’s errant members if
only to preserve group integrity.
“Pagtatakpan is an offshoot of “Pakikisama,” which is not ethically wrong in itself.
While “pakikisama” is viewed as group cooperation or solidarity in a positive sense,
pagtatakpan is pakikisama to a fault or solidarity to the extreme.
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Gossiping – Many Filipinos are fond of talking about the others’ business. It is not
just the women, but the men too, are into gossiping. Even men can also be nosy on
other people’s lives.
Gossiping is unethical in business and in the workplace. It inflicts others and destroys
the reputation and relationships of those who are involved-whether professional or
personal relationships.
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BUSS. ETHICS CHALLENGES
Ningas-Cogon – is an idiomatic expression which refers to a burning cogon grass
that quickly burns and quickly burns out too. This refers to the initial enthusiasm
over a new project or job which quickly fades away. The enthusiasm or eagerness
cannot be sustained, hence the work is either unfinished or done haphazardly.
Consistency, persistence, and hard-work are the desired traits in the workplace and not
“Ningas-Cogon”
ACTIVITY #1 FOR 4 TH

GRADING
In your own words, what are the good points of the Filipino Value of MALASAKIT
ACTIVITY #2 FOR 4 TH

GRADING
List down 5 situations in the business setting that uses the Padrino system