GECC108

PREPARED BY:

ARIEL ARUTA
COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
 AMBIVALENCE OF
FILIPINO CULTURAL
VALUES
Objective:
Evaluate Filipino Cultural Values.
WHAT ARE THE VALUES OF
FILIPINOS? DO YOU VALUE,
VALUES?
INSTRUCTION!!!
 The class will be divided into 4 groups.

 Each group should list down the negative and positive

Filipino values.

 Each group should select one representative and will be

given 3 mins to present their activity and explain in
general what makes it as Filipino values.
CULTURE

 Culture can be regarded as a value, and its value

is premised on the inevitable absoluteness of the
particular.
 Culture may be the richest treasure that a country
could have that is enriched by our history, ethics,
technology and development.
 Philosophical Character of Filipino Value
Being characterized as a philosophy of life, the domain of
Filipino thought is evidently rooted upon its culture.

For this reason, we could say that values are derived from our
culture/each culture or the spirit of culture, era, and
community manifested in its attitudes and aspirations.

We can say that a Filipino value is ingrained with their

culture. Culture interprets people’s perception of reality into a
comprehensive system.
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.
 The Ambivalence of Filipino Traits and Values

According to Prof. Emerita S. Quito, much has been

said about so-called negative Filipino traits. They have
been blamed for the weak character of the Filipino;
they are the culprits, the scapegoat of our failures, or at
least, the explanation for lagging behind more
successful Asian neighbors.
Is the image of Juan Tamad waiting for a guava to fall
such a reprehensible, if not scandalous, picture? Is
the similar image of Sir Isaac Newton, also resting
under a tree, more refreshing?
 It is very Filipino to stress our minus points, to find fault in
our behavior, to compare us unfavorably with Westerners
by using Western standards. It is common to hear such
names as Bertong Bukol, or Ipeng Pilay or Huseng
Ngongo.

 We take pleasure in underscoring our weaknesses, faults,

defects, etc. Our standards are smallness, averageness,
mediocrity; grandeur or grandness is not in the Filipino
vocabulary.
Success to the Filipino must come naturally; it
should not be induced or artificially contrived. One
should not be successful at an early age because
that would mean exertion and hard work. Success
must come very late in life, if it is to come at all.
THE AMBIVALENCE OF FILIPINO
TRAITS AND VALUES
 HIYA (SHAME)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE
It arrests or inhibits one's It contributes to peace of mind
action. This trait reduces one to and lack of stress by not even
smallness or to what Nietzsche trying to achieve.
calls the "morality of slaves",
thus congealing the soul of the
Filipino and emasculating him,
making him timid, meek and
weak.
 NINGAS-COGON (PROCRASTINATION)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE

Negative by all standards, It makes a person nonchalant,

because it begins ardently and detached, indifferent,
dies down as soon as it begins. nonplussed should anything go
This trait renders one inactive wrong, and hence conducive to
and unable to initiate things or peace and tranquility.
to persevere.
 PAKIKISAMA (GROUP LOYALTY)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE

Negative because one closes Positive because one lives for

one's eyes to evils like graft others; peace or lack of
and corruption in order to dissension is a constant goal.
conserve peace and harmony in
a group at the expense of one's
comfort.
 PATIGASAN (TEST OF STRENGTH)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE
It is stubborn and resists all efforts at
reconciliation. The trait makes us
childish, vindictive, irresponsible, It is a sign that we know our rights
irrational. Actions resulting from this and are not easily cowed into
trait are leaving the phone off the submission. It is occidental in
hook to get even with one's party line; spirit, hence in keeping with
stopping the engine of the car to prove Nietzsche's "will to power."
that one has the right of way; standing
one's ground until the opposite party
loses its patience.
 BAHALA NA (RESIGNATION)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE

One leaves everything to One relies on a superior power

chance under the pretext of rather than on one's own. It is
trusting in Divine providence. conducive to humility,
This trait is really laziness modesty, and lack of
disguised in religious garb. arrogance.
 KASI (BECAUSE, I. E.,
SCAPEGOAT)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE
One disowns responsibility and One can see both sides of the
makes a scapegoat out of picture and know exactly
someone or something. One is where a project failed. One will
never to blame; one remains never suffer from guilt or self-
lily white and has a ready alibi recrimination.
for failure.
 SAVING FACE
NEGATIVE POSITIVE
Positive because one's psyche is
Negative because, being closely saved from undue embarrassment,
related to hiya and kasi, it enables sleepless nights, remorse of
a person to shirk responsibility. conscience. It saves one from
One is never accountable for accountability or responsibility.
anything. This trait enables one to make a
graceful exit from guilt instead of
facing the music and owning
responsibility for an offense.
 SAKOP (INCLUSION)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE
One never learns to be on one's
own but relies on one's family and One cares for the family and clan;
relatives. This trait stunts growth one stands or falls with them. This
and prevents a person from trait makes a person show concern
growing on one's own. Generating for the family to which he belongs.
a life of parasitism, this trait is very
non-existential. This mentality also
makes us consider the world as one
vast comfort room.
 MAÑANA OR "BUKAS NA"
(PROCRASTINATION)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE

One constantly postpones action One is without stress and tension;

and accomplishes nothing. This one learns to take what comes
aggravates a situation, a problem naturally. Like the Chinese wu-
grows beyond correction, a leak or wei, this trait makes one live
a small break becomes a gaping naturally and without undue
hole. This arises from an indolent artificiality.
mentality that a problem will go
away by itself.
 UTANG NA LOOB (INDEBTEDNESS)

NEGATIVE POSITIVE
One overlooks moral principles
when one is indebted to a person. It is a recognition of one's
One who is beholden to another indebtedness. This trait portrays
person will do anything to please the spirit behind the Filipino
him, thinking that by doing so he is saying, "He who does not know
able to repay a debt. One condones how to look to the past will never
what the other person does and will reach his destination."
never censure him for wrongdoing.
 KANYA-KANYA (SELF-
CENTEREDNESS)
NEGATIVE POSITIVE

One has no regard for others. One takes care of oneself and
So long as my family and I are one's family: "Blood is thicker
not in need, I do not care about than water."
he world.
 Based from the above observation and realization of Prof.
Quito, the Filipino traits and values can be methodically
viewed from the lens of ethical relativism.

 For every traits and values of the Filipino, there is always

something that is good or a positive aspect.

 Thus, there is always something that we can learn and do

as to “who we are” given our distinct (though diverse
influenced) cultural identity.
 There is really nothing “absolute” or “objective” when it
comes to a given specific trait of our character as a people.

 It is therefore contingent on each of us individually

whether to make and turn these values and traits into
good or bad, right or wrong, moral and immoral. The
decision is ours to make. And the time is now.
REFERENCES
https://www.thefilipinomind.com/2008/11/ambivalence-of-fi
lipino-traits-and.html

https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/sunstar-pampanga/2
0151121/281818577735475

https://www.ethicssage.com/2018/08/what-are-values.html