CHAPTER

1
FILIPINO
INFLUENCES
TRAITS AND
CHARACTERIS
TICS
 The Philippines is a meeting point for cultures
from all over Asia and the Pacific because it has
been a crossroads between east and west and the
merging of cultures reflects the country’s culture
and its people. It comes from various ethno-
linguistic groups that are native to the islands or
migrants from various Asia- Pacific regions,
Filipinos are the people who are naturally born
to or recognized with the Philippine country.
 China, the United States, and Spain mainly
influence the modern Filipino identity.
Though Filipinos are racially similar to
Malays but in terms of culture they are more
like the Spaniards. Thus, it could be claimed
that Filipinos are the most hot-bloodied and
brave citizens in the tropical Asian cultures.
Like other countries, the Philippines has its
opposing values and labels, it is believed by
the Filipinos that the country have the best
values in the world.
 Though it has experienced colonization
by several countries, but the core values
it has gained from the Filipino ancestors
remained intact and are still honoured
today like the bayanihan of spirit of
kinship and camaraderie implanted by
ancestors and close family ties inherited
by the Chine spirit ascendants.
THE MOST
WELL-
KNOWN
TRAITS AND
ATTITUDES
OF THE
FILIPINO
POSITIVE TRAITS

1 HOSPITALITY
Hospitality is a trait displayed by every
Filipino characterized by heart-warming
generosity and friendliness exhibited to
foreigners and locals alike
POSITIVE TRAITS

2 RESPECT

This is often observed-not just by younger

people –but also of people by all ages. In
the Philippines, respect for one’s elders is
a tradition.
POSITIVE TRAITS

STRONG FAMILY TIES AND

3 RELIGIONS

Filipinos value their families so much that they

tend to keep families intact through the
generations. Families go to church and pray
together because their religion is important
and creates a strong bond, marking God as the
center of their lives.
POSITIVE TRAITS

4 GENEROSITY AND HELPFULNESS

Aside from being hospitable, Filipinos are also

well-known for being generous. They share
what they have to the people around them
even when they only have little.
POSITIVE TRAITS

5 Strong Work Ethics

Another good thing most Filipinos have is

being hardworking people. They are always
willing to work almost the whole day to
provide the needs of their families. Filipino
farmers though earning so little but they
work harder with not much compensation.
POSITIVE TRAITS

6 Loving and Caring

Because of their generosity, hospitality and

religiosity, Filipinos are found to be the
sweetest and most loving people in the
world.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

1. Fatalism
(“Bahala Na” or “Corne What May” Attitude)

When Filipinos are facing difficulties and shortcomings they

have this attitude of leaving it up to God to sort things out.
An attitude of “What Goes Around Comes Around.”
Filipinos have a tendency to surrender the future to luck.
They have that strong confidence that everything will work
out in his interest without doing anything. Filipinos often
accepts bad news or circumstances without trying to stop or
change them. This can sometimes be helpful in adversity, but
it can also keep us from finding ways out of situations. Also,
constantly expecting the worst can get pretty depressing.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

2. Mañana Habit
(Procrastination)

True blooded Filipinos have the attitude of causing delays in

accomplishing things or making transactions. When not
interested or not in the mood, they wait or reserve until
tomorrow or the next day to finish what they are doing or
meeting their transactions.

The “bahala na” attitude is the outcome of the “mañana

habit” when the tasks are left undone. This is usually shown
and even expressed by people who do not care much of what
lies ahead and just leave everything in fate.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

3. Crab Mentality
This is an attitude of some Filipinos where they tend to push
each other down to clear the way for their own gain. Filipino
people with this kind of mentality ог attitude try their best to
ruin each other, either by making issues against the other for
him to turn out bad to the public or to the company or
organization so that people will gradually put distance and
loss their confidence and trust that eventually result to their
replacement.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

4.
HYPOCRISY
This is a trait of the Filipino where criticisms to
others' failure to live with the moral standards of the
society are inevitable. In the Philippines morality is
highly valued, most of us try to live up to the
standards set by the traditional society. However, as
no one is perfect, many any of us are not actually
able these standards.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

5. Ningas Cogon
Most Filipinos are very good at the start when doing
something. Nevertheless, after a few hours or days,
that excitement to do or accomplish something is lost
we and become too lazy to finish what were have
started
NEGATIVE TRAITS

6.(Filipino
Tardinesstime)

Only in the Philippines that we have the so-called “Filipino

time” but not exactly referring to the Philippine standard time,
but then again we use it to refer to the Stardiness of the persons
that we are waitiner to whe keeps on coming late to the set time
schedule of events. Instead of being something to be proud of,
Pilipino time brings a negative impression to our people. When
the invitation says the program will start at 7pm, it is expected
to begin at 9pm. This has not only caused conflicts in
relationships, it also discourages others including foreigners
from getting involved in supposedly productive activities as too
much time can be wasted on waiting.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

7.
GOSSIPING
Filipinos are fond of talking about others’business. It
is not true that only women are into gossiping. Even
men can also be nosy on other people’s lives. Secrets
are brought out; failures and flaws are emphasized;
and relationships are destroyed. Worse, as gossips
are passed around, they tend to be twisted until the
final story becomes too far from the original-thus,
causing more damage.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

8. Blaming
Filipinos can sometimes be too self-righteous. When
mistakes happen, we do not want to take the blame, we
lack humility to accept our failures, and instead we
point at others. This shows how irresponsible we are on
our actions. This attitude destroys team work, and
reliability becomes an issue.
 NEGATIVE TRAITS

9.
SELFISHNES
(being insensitive of others)

S Most Filipinos are insensitive to the needs and

situations of others. This could be an outcome of
having too many problems that Filipinos are facing
and the tendency is to focus on their own needs first
before others.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

10. Disobedience to Simple

Rules and Instructions
Some Filipinos, despite of the understanding of the
purpose of laws and ordinances have inability to
observe and follow them. Consequently, crime
victimization and accident rate in the Philippines are
constantly rising, poverty is getting more rampant and
lifestyle development is relaxed.
 NEGATIVE TRAITS

11. Attention Taker

Filipinos are fun and people loving race. Thus,
attracting attention is natural for them.
Nevertheless, it is a different thing to be an “epal”
or “kapalmuks simply, being an attention grabber
NEGATIVE TRAITS

12. Being onion-skinned or too

sensitive
Another habit or attitude that we need to change is our being
too proud which usually results to being oversensitive. If we
think highly of ourselves, then we have the tendency to put a
wall around us and that a signboard on our forehead saying,
“I must be respected.” Therefore, when someone makes a
joke or a not so positive comment about us, we feel like we
are not respected and we get offended. If all people in the
country do not know how to accept constructive criticism,
then we can never expect unity.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

13. Living beyond their means

(social climbing)

One of the reasons why a lot of Filipinos live in poverty is

because of overspending. Since most people want to live an
elite lifestyle, many resort to social climbing or living beyond
their means. Sometimes, some of us think that as long as we
wear designer clothes and shoes, and we send our children to
the most expensive schools, it is alright to be swimming in
credits and loans.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

14. Passivity
(lack of leadership)

Filipinos’ lack of initiative for change is also one reason

why our country does not progress. We keep on
complaining against the government and other societal
issues. However, we do not do anything about them. One
of our excuses is the lack of faith that our small actions
can bring change. However, the worse reason for this
could be our lack of care for what is happening around
us. Common Filipinos also lack courage and confidence.
If you can notice it, in classrooms, churches, or
conference rooms, most of us don’t like to sit in the front
seat.
NEGATIVE TRAITS

15. Other Negative Traits

Some Filipino women give birth at an early age 16 (Teenage

Pregnancy). Some just don't mind their own business. Some
have many bad habits, like drinking, smoking, etc. Some
poor teenagers engage in prostitution. There are many
broken families. A lot of bad words to choose from which
Filipinos just can't avoid saying those. Most Filipinos tend to
be with friends most of the time than to be with their
parents.
FILIPINO
CHARACTER
AND
PERSONAL
TRAITS
 THREE MAIN TRAITS UNDERSCORING FILIPINO
VALUES
1. Personalism
Filipinos valued interpersonal relationship. It is
firmly believed that harmonious personal
relationship is the key to successful endeavours.
Amicable settlement of dispute is the primary
means of restoring broken relationships and face-
to-face open forum is considered once conflict is
recognized in an organization or the community.
 THREE MAIN TRAITS UNDERSCORING FILIPINO
VALUES
2. Familialism
Filipinos are family-oriented. Development
programs and projects in the community are
concentrated on the family. Decision on matters is
centered on the welfare and best interest of the
family rather than on the betterment and interest of
some individuals. The mistakes committed by a
family member affects the credibility and of the
immediate members of the family and relatives.
 THREE MAIN TRAITS UNDERSCORING FILIPINO
VALUES
3. Particularism
Displayed behaviour by the individuals may it be good or bad is
blamed against the family. It is based on the principle that home is the
cradle of human personality and character that is, the product of
goodness is always good and those who are moulded in wickedness,
will always show-off badness. Individuals strive to promote their own
and their family’s interests over community interests.

On the other hand, knowing how to entertain people (marunong

umasikaso ng kapwa) is important.
FILIPINO VALUES ORIENTATION

Values Orientation
– Is the approach that may influence
work or social relationships by persons
relating to objects, events and ideas.
THREE MAIN
OBLIGATIONS
UNDERLYING
FILIPINO VALUE
ORIENTATION
THREE MAIN OBLIGATIONS
UNDERLYING FILIPINO
VALUE ORIENTATION
The relational or face-to-face interactions and
their resulting responsibilities are called
interpersonal obligations. This is in relation
to the value in Filipino cultural orientation,
the personalism. Pakikiramay, pakikisama,
bayanihan, and galang are the nature of
interpersonal relationships that are inherent
to the pure-blooded Filipino people
1. Pakikiramay

It is in the Filipino value of

going out of the way to help,
without being asked, i.e.,
unsolicited help.
2. Pakikisama (Smooth Interpersonal
Relations)

Regardless whether someone’s views are

agreeable or not, Filipinos are capable of
getting along with it. Camaraderie, trust,
confidence, and loyalty are enhanced and
developed by this Filipino value.
3. Bayanihan

As mentioned in the
preceding topics, Filipinos
are able to render services
and generous enough to
extend help without
4. Galang (Respect)
Filipinos are basically oriented to revere to
the opinions of elders, peers, or those in
authority, during important discussions
during social encounters. Verbal clash or
any sign of extreme familiarity in public
meetings is a sign of disrespect to elders or
persons in authority-vam haft
 Thanks!

CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo,

including icons by Flaticon and infographics & images by Freepik