Lesson 4

The Political self and Being

a Filipino
Who is Filipino?
According to 1987 Philippine Constitution, “Filipino
citizens are those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of
the Philippines. However, citizenship is not the only
marker of being a Filipino but also their unique traits and
values.
Filipino Values And Traits
The Filipino Hospitality

Filipinos welcome their guests and tourist as if they are their own
brothers and sisters: they always make their guest feel at home,
offering them something to eat, or even a place to stay.
Filipino Values And Traits
Respect for elders

Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying

“Mano po!” and constantly using “po” and “opo” in
conversation.
Filipino Values And Traits
Close Family ties

Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families. They

are fond of reunions during birthdays,holidays, or fiestas year-
round.
Filipino Values And Traits
Cheerful Personality

Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. Smiling has

been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during
trying times and calamities.
Filipino Values And Traits
Self-Sacrifice

The self-sacrifice attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an

extension of their hospitality. Filipinos go out of their way to
extend help to their families, friends, and love once.
Filipino Values And Traits
Bayanihan

Bayanihan is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of

Filipinos. It is also about giving without expecting something in
return.
Filipino Values And Traits
“Bahala Na” Attitude

“Bahala Na” is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna

Matata” , meaning no worries. The phrase originates from
“Bathala na”, meaning leaving everything into God’s hands.
Filipino Values And Traits
Colonial Mentality

Colonial mentality is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the

attitude where Filipinos favor foreign products more than their
own.
Filipino Values And Traits
“Mañana” Habit

This is the Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from

longer Filipino phrase called “Mamaya na”, meaning dawdling
things, which could have been done at an earlier time.
Filipino Values And Traits
“Ningas Kugon”

Ningas kugon refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things but

quickly losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty.
Filipino Values And Traits
Pride

Most Filipino hold on to their pride as if they are more precious

than keeping a good relationship with family and loved ones.
Filipino Values And Traits
Crab Mentality

This is where one resents the achievements of another, instead of

feeling happy for that person. Just like crabs in container, they
pull each other down and ruin each other’s reputation, resulting
to no progress.
Filipino Values And Traits
Filipino Time

This attitude refers to Filipinos being unpunctual. They have this

common trait of arriving late of commitments, dinner , or parties
especially if they are meeting someone close to them.
FILIPINO MARKERS
 PROVERB or SALAWAKIN

Filipino Proverbs, just like any other proverbs, are saying

that convey lessons and reflections on filipino practices,
beliefs, and traditions. Damiana Eugenio, regarded as the
mother of Philippine folklore, classified proverbs into six
categories (Eugenio, 2000)
Six categories of Filipino Proverbs according to Damiana L. Eugenio:

a. Proverbs expressing a general attitude towards life and the laws that govern life

b. Ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and condemning certain vices;

c. Proverbs expressing a system of values;

d. Proverbs expressing general truths and observations about life and human nature;

e. Humorous proverbs; and

f. Miscellaneous proverbs
 Superstitions

Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions

passed down from generation to generation. Some
of these beliefs may be influenced by beliefs from other
cultures, but Filipinos have retold these superstitions
according to their own experiences and they sometimes
end up even more interesting. Superstitions that hold to
ancient beliefs and traditions are still popular in today's
Filipino culture.
 MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Myths is the body of stories and epics originating

from, and part of, the indigenous Philippine folk
religions, which include various ethnic faiths distinct
from one another. It attempts to explain the nature
of the world through the lives and actions of heroes,
deities (referred to as anito or diwata in some
ethnic groups), and mythological creatures.
 Heroes and Icons

• serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives for the sake of
their country’s freedom and progress
• on the last Monday of August, Filipinos celebrate the National Heroes' Day
• Rizal Day (December 30) that commemorates the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal, the National Hero of
the Philippines

Famous Filipino Icons

• also serve as important Filipino markers as they have made the Filipino name more pronounced world-
wide through their expertise
• Filipinos such as our very own Jose Rizal, Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, the more widely known nowa-
days, Bretman Rock, and many more.
 HOW TO BE A GOOD FILIPINO

BE AN ACTIVE FILIPINO CITIZEN

 Be aware of the current events and participate in government programs.

 Exercise your right to vote.

STUDY THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY
 The road of the Philippine history is long and bloody.

 One way to be a good Filipino is to know one’s person own history.

 It gives us a greater understanding of our stand today.

 Through learning and fully understanding the events of the Philippine history, a person would
know the
importance of loving one’s country with their life, extend help to fellow Filipinos in need,
and recognize abuse of political power.
SUPPORT LOCAL PRODUCTS
When you buy local products, you do not only support local manufacturers and businessmen, but
you also help strengthen the local economy. How is this so? there will be more demand for local
products, thus, local businesses will be in the need for more employees which will open new job
opportunities. The business owners will also invest within the country and are less likely to leave.
Supporting our local products also displays our creativity, innovativeness, and resourcefulness.
SPEAK THE FILIPINO LANGUAGE
Our Filipino language is inextricably connected to who we are as a people, it’s a way for us to be
united as a whole in our country. And as we all know, majority of the population know how to speak
Filipino since it’s the spirit of the national identity, and these words that we express is a unique way of
how we communicate with one another.

The Filipino language is a member of the Austronesian language family, which includes Malay,
Maori and Hawaiian. It belongs to the subgroup of Malayo-Polynesian languages that are typically
spoken by people in several island nations in the Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia. As a Filipino citizen of
the Philippines, speaking the Filipino language is very important because this is our own language or
dialect to begin with. It is the basis of Filipino language and is used officially by Filipinos across the
nation, regardless of the province or island. And as a Filipino we should be proud of it and encourage
the newer generations so that they can understand more about our country.
 Do Not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent

This period in the history of the Philippines has seen how the internet has spawned ton of possibilities
for people, both good and bad. For Instance, It is easier for for filipinos working abroad to communicate
with their love ones left in the Philippines through the internet.