29 Filipino Values : Cultural Beliefs That Shape Our Actions

Filipino values inform and influence how we work and live. Discover who we really are and explore
opportunities to live and work with us. If you want Filipinos to become effective, there is no need to
supplant Filipino values with western values. Filipinos already possess admirable values that when
reinforce will create a great work culture.
Filipinos work better when behave according to their values. Filipinos value their community. Do
not expect them to become a different person when they get inside your office. Instead, let them
bring out their best where they are.

What are Filipino values?

Filipino Values is a collective term for the shared assumptions and beliefs of Filipinos which are
the basis of their response to facts, events, and situations. Filipino values serve as Filipinos’
lenses on how they see things around them.
Like all other humans, Filipinos are not conscious of our values because we have internalized
them in the process of growing up. We are swimming in values that we do not notice how our
decisions are informed by them.

1. Amor Proprio ( Loving Oneself )(Pagpapahalaga o paggalang sa sarili)

The greatest love of all, according to Whitney Houston, is loving yourself. Every line of that song
tells us about Amor Propio.
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
 Amor Propio is a Spanish phrase. We use the phrase, but we did not inherit the value.
That’s because Filipinos, like many Asians, value themselves. They have high regard for
themselves. They respect themselves as they respect others (Kapwa-tao).
 Our ancestors were told that too much of this is kayabangan (something that colonizers
often say) and that our sense of hiya prevents us from reaching our potential.
 This is why when a person is shy, he is called mahiyain. A criminal is walang-hiya
(shameless) and kahiya-hiya (shameful).
 Amor propio is a Filipino value that we bring with us everywhere. And everywhere I go, I
find Filipinos whose amor propio makes them excellent workers.

2. Awa ( Compassion for Others )

 Because we value others, Filipinos tend to be compassionate. When the Covid-19
pandemic hit the Philippines, Filipinos took care of the most vulnerable groups in our
society.
 Many Filipino managers, for example, have to think twice before they let go of employees.
Western companies consider it a good business decision to let go of people to maximize
profits. If one employee can do the work of two persons, they’ll let go of one.
 Most Filipino managers are people-oriented. They do understand that employment means a
lot to Filipino workers.
 Being let go means that they will stop supporting their family.
 So, we find ways to keep someone in the job.
 As a result, we have loyal employees. They’ll do everything to help your organization.
Employees consider this generosity which they have to pay somehow.
3. Bahala Na ( Let Go & Let God )
 Bahala na is a quality shared by most entrepreneurs. It is almost equivalent to the western
concept of risking forward. American entrepreneurs typically say that to succeed one has to
embrace the unknown instead of standing still.
 Bahala na means that Filipinos consider all possible solutions. And when it seems that
there is only one solution left, though they don’t have all information they need, they’ll risk
forward.
 They run away from safety to get something that will make them free. This is the same
quality we admire among heroes.
 But, just like what I said, Bahala na is more than that!
 Bahala Na is an expression of courage and faith. It was like David facing Goliath. Bahala
Na means I believe that I will win because God is with me. Bahala na is a 100%
commitment to succeed.
 But make no mistake, like the Biblical David, Filipinos will use everything they have to win.
 Bahala na is an expression of courage. We embrace uncertainties because we care about
our future. Bahala na means let go and let God. The attitude is not unique to Filipinos.

4. Bayanihan ( We Are Heroes to Each Other )

 We are Filipinos and we value bayanihan. We are nation-loving people. We support our
countrymen in times of need.
 Because what happens to some of us, happens to all of us.
 You will notice that Filipino values are very much connected with each other. When we
speak of Bayanihan, for example, we will notice that it has something to do with malasakit,
pakikipagkapwa-tao, pagdadamayan, pakikisama and utang na loob.

5. Hospitality: Be Our Guests

 Filipinos are excellent hosts. This is because of their sense of pakikipagkapwa-tao and
hiya.
 They want you to get the best experience when they host you. They want to show their best
all the time.
 In most organizations, we talk about the western concept of customer service. We preach
the idea that the customer is king.
 You should use our Filipino sense of hospitality when you talk about creating a delightful
customer experience. Because that’s what we do naturally.
 We find it difficult to consider our customers as kings. We are not their slaves. Teach
instead that customers as guests. For we do want to make our guests feel at home. We
Filipinos want our guests to know that they can trust us because we want the best for them,
as we want the best for ourselves too.
 We serve, not because we get paid, but because we want to give and add value.

6. Delicadeza ( We Value Our Reputation )

 We often say that we lost our sense of delicadeza when we talk about our politicians who
are kapit-tuko. They grip their posts like a gecko.
 Filipinos value delicadeza. When there is controversy, we expect them to resign from their
posts, not because they are guilty but to shield their company or organization from further
embarrassment.
 Our sense of justice, of course, requires that at least they take a leave of absence or avoid
conflict of interest.
 A local executive, for example, with delicadeza will not appoint his relatives to government
posts. Filipinos do not value nepotism in the government. It is common for us to
recommend our relatives to the government, but not to the same office that we are leading.
 We do not want to put ourselves in a position that will make people question our agenda.
 When a President appointed his people from the city where he was the former mayor, we
consider the actions lacking in delicadeza.
  It is not illegal, but it is not appropriate. When he used his power to give favor those who
supported his election campaign because of utang na loob, we felt that he abused his
power.
 Talk about delicadeza if you want people to observe good governance.

7. Makapamilya ( Family First and Last )

 More important than self is family. Filipinos are willing to sacrifice prestige and even
happiness for the sake of family.
 It is because of our love for family that many Filipinos choose to work abroad. They are not
doing this to achieve personal success. They do this to ensure that their children get a good
education.
 An employee, for example, may leave work to take care of a mother or father who is sick.
 It is to your company’s advantage to be family-oriented. Create programs for the family.
Know the members of your employee’s family.
 When the family is loyal to your company, you get a loyal employee

8. Kasiyahan ( Joy & Humor )

 Our superpower is our ability to smile even in the most challenging situations. This does not
mean that we take things lightly. Smiling in the most difficult circumstances allows us to be
centered and in control.
 To have humor human.
 We stay in companies where we can find meaning and joy. Filipinos can survive the most
challenging tasks, but not the most psychologically toxic environment.
 Create an environment of fun and fellowship because that’s how Filipino workers thrive.

9. Kagalingan ( We Pursue Excellence )

 We look up to people who show extraordinary talents and excellence in what they do. We
take pride in having the kinds of Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquaio, and our beauty queens.
 If politics isn’t involved, the country would have celebrated Maria Ressa, the first Filipino
Nobel Prize laureate. She will eventually be recognized, of course, when politics is no
longer an issue.
 If you want to promote excellence at work, make it social. Let everyone know that you are
after excellence.
 More than the incentives, Filipinos love the honor of being known as excellent workers.
 Aside from having top ten employees, you may also improve awards like Most Improved,
Most Customer-Friendly, and Most Creative, and Most-Value-Adding Employee.
 You may not be able to double the salary of your people to make them more productive, but
always remember that they value excellence.
10. Karangalan ( We Value Honor )
 We value dangal (honor) as we value our lives. Even the poorest among us dreamt of
sending kids to school. It is our honor to have done everything for those we love.
 An uncorrupted public official honors her family. A great and selfless teacher honors her
community. A world champion in math honors her school.
 Someone who does something great does not only honor himself but those who surround
him. Because of these, we keep our integrity intact.
 A Filipino who values honor above all else is truly remarkable. We surely missed their kind
these days. but once in a while, we hear of Filipinos who will everything to keep your trust.

11. Katapatan (Sincerity and Loyalty)

 Tapat may mean sincere, open, honest, faithful, and true.
 Loyalty means we will not lie to you. We will not betray you. We will do what’s good for you.
 In the Philippines, we believe in the suki system. That means that our loyal clients stay with
us because they know that we won’t cheat them.
  Filipinos are loyal employees. So do not break their trust. Do not break your promises, and
if you have to, be open and honest about it.

12. Kusang-Palo (We Take Initiative)

 Kusang-palo is an idiom for taking initiative. It means that we do not wait for someone to tell
us before we act. Filipinos value being proactive.
 A beast of burden, like the carabao, moves when hit with a stick. There is no need for
someone to supervise us, or hit us before we move.
 The best time to fix a leaking roof is when it is not yet raining. Becoming proactive means
we have to get things ready before they are needed.
 This will make more sense to you as we move on to the next value, maagap.

13. Maagap (Promptness Is Best)

 Filipinos are hardworking people. But more than hard work, they value promptness. They
go to the rice fields before sunrise. They go to the sea before the cock crows.
 We often say, “daig ng maagap ang masipag”.
 We value punctuality and the colonial definition of Filipino time does not make sense to us.
 The only reason for a Filipino to be late is to do it deliberately. Politicians during the
American period tried hard to imitate their former Spanish colonizers. Being late in meetings
is very un-Filipino.
 Unfortunately, our American miseducation made us believe that we are the opposite of
maagap

14. Magalang (Respectful)

 We show many ways of respecting people. Our house helps, for example, are often called
Ate and Kuya. We want our children to know that those who are with us deserve our
respect.
 If we don’t know people on the street who call them sir or ma’am. Or in the case of tricycle
drivers, boss.
 If we buy something, we say thank you. And the seller will say “thank you too.”
 We address people in the ways they want to be addressed.
 I think it has something to do with our concept of dangal. We don’t want to offend people. At
all times, we want to show that we do respect them. And anything that violates this value
we condemn.
 You can build a better workplace if you find time to ask people what made them feel
respected. They will appreciate it.
 In some companies, there are efforts to westernize their culture. Calling people by their first
name, absent the honorifics madam or sir, may seem a good idea.
 But it does not mean that it is much better than respecting the culture of the place.
 People do not leave their cultural values when they enter your company. Do not force them
to live double lives.

15. Magpasalamat (Being Grateful)

 When I was in college, people often go to the store of Mister Salamat. His surname is not
Salamat. Students gave him that name because he always says thank you to everyone.
 Even if you just stay in his store and don’t buy anything, he’ll be thankful to you for dropping
by. This made the students love him. And yes, they go to his store if they want to eat or buy
school supplies.
 They reciprocated his goodness.
 There are many ways of expressing our gratitude. In the workplace, that means going the
extra mile.
 I often tell my clients that if they want employees to be grateful, they have to express their
gratitude to employees often. Our sense of gratitude is best expressed in utang na loob.
16. Malasakit (We Care for Others)
 Aside from bayanihan, malasakit is the most popular value among Filipinos. Malasakit
means caring or concern for others. We expect every Filipino to care.
 A good leader, for example, is expected to show malasakit. Leaders cannot be public
servants if they don’t care for people.
 We expect business entities to show malasakit. They must take care of their employees –
and to a certain extent be concerned about their families too. They must not create
products that will harm communities.
 Often, companies manifest malasakit through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
initiatives.
 Because of malasakit, you will hear of teachers who spend extra hours teaching students.
They use their own money to buy school supplies too.
 Because of malasakit, you have employees who work the extra mile to serve their
customers.
 Because of malasakit, we hear of a movie star who sold her luxury car for charity.
 When you work with Filipinos, remember that they care for people. They help those who are
in need without expecting anything in return.
 You will find it easy to sell a social business to Pinoys as they are always ready to do
meaningful work.
17. Malikhain (Creativity)
 What makes Filipino thrive is their ability to come up with solutions. We are inventors and
innovators.
 We seek opportunities and when we don’t find them, we create them.

18. Mapamaraan (Resourcefulness)

 One lesson I learned from my grandfather is this: kapag may gusto may paraan, kapag
ayaw may dahilan. Those with desire find ways and those who have no desire have
excuses.
 Filipinos don’t expect you to give excuses. If you want something, you’ll find ways.
 Though we lack resources, we should not lack resourcefulness. Our resourcefulness helps
us do extraordinary things with what we have.
 Find out how you can leverage the resourcefulness of Filipinos. Those who have the
passion to work with you and make your business successful will certainly find ways.

19. Masikap (Diligent Worker)

 We believe that work feeds us. Work provides for our family. Work sends our kids to school.
Work make us achieve what we want in life.
 We believe that whatever we earn must come from the sweat on our brows. That whatever
we feed our children must not come from stealing other people’s money. We work with
honor.
 I wonder how your employees will work if you start giving Masikap Award. I think by doing
so, you will emphasize the value of stick-to-itiveness and doing our job like a vocation. That
we are not selling our hours for pesos.

20. Matino (Sensible)

 A sensible person is matino because he aligns his actions to accepted principles. He does
not do anything that will compromise his integrity and the welfare of the people he serves.
 Judges are matino if they are fair and just. They don’t favor anyone who has connections or
money.
 Students are matino if they pay attention to their studies. Teachers are matino if teach set
themselves as models to students.
 We expect our leaders to be matino. But often, because of our electoral practices, we elect
the incompetent and the corrupt.
  At work, Filipinos try very hard to be deemed matino. They avoid doing anything that will
tarnish their reputation.
 Be clear about your work expectations because Filipinos will strive to abide by them.

21. Pakikipagkapwa-tao (Interpersonal Relationships)

 When I was young, a popular TV program was “Kapwa ko, Mahal Ko’. It was hosted by Orly
Mercado, who later became a senator. The program provides help to those who are in
need. Many viewers give financial assistance too.
 Kapwa means “of the same nature” or “of equal status”. It is like saying that kapwa is your
other self. You ought to love your other self, right?
 In the workplace, this means that no matter what your station in life is or your place in the
organizational chart, remember that we are both humans. I respect you, and I expect you to
respect me.
 Filipinos will follow you because you are the boss. But don’t you dare insult them or make
them feel inferior.
 I often conduct workshops on interpersonal relationships and on building interpersonal
communication skills. If you begin with pakikipagkapwa-tao, interpersonal relationships will
make more sense to Filipinos.
 For us, pakikipagkapwa-tao is not a means to survive. We aim to have harmonious
relationships with our other selves.

22. Pakikiramay (Sympathy)

 We often go to a lamay (wake) to show our pakikiramay. We want to show the bereaved
family and friends our sympathy. It is also an occasion when relatives and friends who have
not seen each other for a long time meet again.
 This value is not for the dead but for the living.
 If you are a manager, pakikiramay is the quickest way to relate with your employees.
Pakikiramay shows that you have empathy. It shows that you care for them.

23. Pakikisama (Fellowship)

 Filipinos value being part of a group or community. Events that make us together energize
us.
 Some companies conduct fellowship sessions as part of their team-building efforts.
 Company initiatives will succeed if Filipinos feel they belong. Policies that are imposed on
them do not often succeed. Make a project a communal effort, and people will support it.
 An initiative like 5S, a lean manufacturing methodology, often becomes successful in the
Filipino workplace when you sell it as a community project. It is good for the company.
 Get leaders that employees trust to champion the concept, and you’ll have everyone follow
the system in no time.
 Pakikisama, like other Filipino values, is often presented in a bad light when we were still a
colony of the United States. Your grandparents and even your parents have likely been
miseducated about it.
 But be that as it may, pakikisama is an enduring belief. We want to belong.

24. Pananampalataya (Faith in Supreme Being)

 Filipinos are known for their faith in the Supreme Being. Even those who do not consider
themselves religious would say that they have faith in God.
 It is this faith that makes us say “Bahala Na”. I will do it because God is with me.
 Some believe that what they do for your company is a service to God. And when you do
things that do not help the community, they think of themselves as selfish.
 Some Filipino companies have chapels and allow Bible study sessions. Somehow, they
believe that allowing Filipinos to have time for spiritual growth help in building good
relationships and improving work performance.
25. Tibay ng Dibdib (Fortitude)
 Filipinos dare to fight even when the chance of winning is tiny. We often associate it with
puso (heart) or the will to go on until we win.
 Fortuna favet fortibus. Fortune favors the brave. We adhere to the same principle.
 We love the underdog for we are always the underdog. Give Filipino challenging projects
and they’ll likely take on the project. Even if it is their first time.
 We often succeed because we find ways to make things happen.

26. Tiyaga (Patience)

 We value hard work. Quietly we do what we ought to do. Our younger generations have
been fed with the idea that they don’t need to work hard if they can work smart.
 Working hard does not mean we don’t work smart. Filipinos dare to do the job, no matter
how hard. Our overseas Filipino workers are often praised for their excellent work attitude.
 When I was young, I was told again and again that “kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga”. Those
who have patience have something to stew.
 We keep working, no matter how hard, because it is the smartest thing to do.
 Quitters won’t get anything.
 Instead of calling Filipinos lazy (an insult to us), encourage them to have patience. Say
instead, “Tiyaga lang, uunlad din tayo. ” Let us be patient for we shall succeed.

27. Utang na Loob (Debt from Within)

 Filipinos are intrinsically motivated to give back what they have received from you, even
though you don’t expect anything in return. It involves reciprocity. People do not pay utang
na loob with money.
 If you give Filipinos money to do something for you, we call it payment. If you give money
so they’ll violate policies and procedures, we call it a bribe.
 But when you help them when they need help the most, we call it utang na loob. It has no
price tag. We intend to repay you soon.
 Filipino workers consider it utang na loob you do good to them. An employee got promoted
because you had coached and mentored him. That promotion allowed him to send his
children to college.
 You consider it your job, but he considers himself indebted to you.
 Never look down on your Filipino subordinate. Support them. Don’t talk about how much
money you pay them. Talk about what their work can do for their families.

28. Makatao (Humane)

 We expect Filipinos to be humane. We want those in power to think about the welfare of
people.
 A boss who is harsh with his words and has a habit of putting down people is deemed as
“hindi makatao”. That means you are disrespecting people and treating them less than
human.
 Filipinos can ensure working with a bad boss. They need their jobs. But don’t expect them
to stay longer than necessary. As soon as they find another, they’ll leave your company.
 But you don’t like to become makatao for Filipinos to stay. It is a critical leadership practice
that you can use anywhere. Employees trust those who respect them as human beings.

29. Makabayan (Love of Country)

 I said that bayanihan is essential a demonstration of the love of our country. We do it
together. Makabayan is a value we expect from someone wherever they are.
 We held Ninoy Aquino as a hero because he was willing to die for his country. On the other
hand, we deemed Ferdinand Marcos Sr a villain because he killed many Filipinos and
plundered his country’s wealth.
 Though many Filipinos elected his son to the presidency, many voters are ashamed of what
they did. They don’t want to be associated with plunderers. For this reason, plundering
politicians employ the services of paid trolls.
 It is usual for those who earn their keep to defend even the indefensible. For the poorest of
the poor, money is not a bribe. It is a help. And any support people receive becomes utang
na loob. You did not buy them; they are paying utang na loob.
 But being makabayan, once in a while, trump utang na loob. People do what is suitable not
only for themselves but for the country.
 Makabayan is the essence of our belief that goes,” bayan muna bago ang sarili”.