The Political Self
Lesson 8: The Political Self Values are the things we believe that is
important in the way we live and work
Developing a Filipino Identity Our values inform our thoughts, words
and actions
Every Filipino has his/her own identity very Our values are important because it help
much different from other nationalities. His/her us to grow and develop. They help us to
values, traits, community life, are the ones that create the future we want to experience
will stand out from the rest of the people The decisions we make in life is a
Values vary among individuals across reflection of values and beliefs
cultures and time.
We have different culture, traits and Philosophical Basis
attitude
Some practice or belief in the Filipino values are centered at maintaining
Philippines is not considered as morally social economy, motivated primarily by the
right in other country. desire to be accepted within a group.
Example, slurping in Japan, for Ideally speaking, because we want to be
Filipino/Japanese people if you eat and accepted, we want to fit in this society
slurp indicates that you enjoy the food The tendency if we diverse in common
but in western people or countries, accepted in society we developed the
western countries referring to Europe concept of shyness
and in America, if you slurp this We always concern about the approval
indicates that you are rude or insult. of society where we belong to
For countries such as Middle East, Sri This is because we care about what
Lanka, India and parts of Africa they are other will think, say or do to us
very particular in using their right and
left hand. For left hand they use it for
Kinds of Family in the Philippines
toilet purposes and for the right hand, Nuclear family
they use it for cleaning and eating
because they believe that their left hand The nuclear family is the traditional tyoe of
is dirty family structure. This family type consists of
In Indonesia, when you are newlywed two parents and children
you are not allowed to go in toilet for 3
days because they believe that if they go Single Parents
to toilet it consider as bad luck in their
The single parent family consists of one parent
marriage
raising one or more children on his/her own.
Values are universally recognized as driving
force in ethical decision – making.
Values form a foundation of our life. Extended Family
These values dictate the choices we
An extended family is a family that extends
make and determine the direction that
beyond the nuclear family, consisting parents
our life takes.
like father, mother, and their children, aunts,
Values influence our decisions related to
uncles, grandparents and cousins, all living in
our relationship, to our career and other
the same household.
activities we engaged in.
Childless Family
While most people think of family as including
children, there are couples who either cannot or
choose not to have children.
Filipino Values Identity Step Family
The Filipino value system or Filipino values A stepfamily, blended family, bonus family, or
refers to the set of value system that a majority instafamily is a family where at least one parents
of the Filipinos have has children that are not biologically or adoptive
Ideologist, moral codes, etiquettes, and related to the other spouse. Either parents, or
even are personal values both, may have children from their previous
Values are beliefs that motivate people relationships or marriage.
to act one way or another
Grand Family
Values serve as foundation and a guide
to human behavior
Many grandparents today are raising their of whatever is on our hand in order to
grandchildren for a variety of reasons. The create and produce
parents are not present in the child’s life.
Faith and Religiosity
Enumeration of Filipino Values
Filipinos have strong faith in God as seen their
Pakikipagkapwa – Tao various practices
We Filipinos have great faith in God.
This is the shared sense of identity and We are considered as one of the most
consciousness of the “other”. faithful people in the world
It means treating others with respect and Whatever our religion is we remain
dignity as an equal, not someone below the faithful and we don’t lose hope for a
individual. better tomorrow
Our faithfulness and hopefulness keep
Family Orientation us positive, peaceful and determine to
The basic and most important unit of a Filipino’s achieved our goals no matter how
life is the family. impossible they may seem
We Filipino we are family – oriented. Even needs of the trying moments our
When it talks about family we became faith remains steadfast
emotional
If we try to compare the set – up of our Ability to survive
family to the western countries there are
huge different The Filipinos developed a sense of
In Philippines, if we turn 18 years old resourcefulness or the ability to survive with
you are not expected to move out or whatever they have
leave your parent’s home This is manifested in our capacity for
In western countries, when their mother endurance despites difficult time
and father are old they separate from We Filipinos have extraordinary ability
their own family to make something out of almost
In the Philippines the practice of nothing
separating the elderly from their family We have survive many invaders
is often looked down upon in Filipino
society Hard work and Industry
Joy and Humor Filipinos are very determined and persevering in
accomplishing whatever they set to their minds
This famous trait is the ability of Filipinos to Filipinos over the years have proven
find humor of everything. time and time again that they are people
It sheds light on the optimism and positivity of with industrious attitude
Filipinos Farmers and OFW
We Filipinos, we have cheerful and fun We Filipinos are hardworking people to
– loving approach to life and its ups and that fact that we are willing to work
down several time to almost whole day just to
We have positive view in life. It’s innate feed our family.
nature in Filipino that we laugh even in
the most trying of times Hospitality
Flexibility, Adaptability, Creative Filipinos have been known to be amazingly
friendly to strangers. They treat visitors,
Studies show that Filipinos often have an foreigners or guest as if they have known them
aversion to a set of standardized rules or already.
procedures; they are known to follow a natural One of the most popular traits/ qualities
clock or organic sense of time – doing things; of Filipinos
they are present – oriented. Foreigners who have gone in the
We Filipinos have a great capacity to Philippines find themselves falling in
adjust and to adapt to circumstances love for our hospitality
and to our environment It’s a different kind of values which
We Filipinos if we have unplanned or already existed thousand years ago
unanticipated events or unexpected Indeed the legendary hospitality is not
circumstances all of these are never limited in the Philippines only, it is
overly disturbing and disorienting to us everywhere were there are Filipinos
because we are flexible so we can
adjust to whatever happens
We are also creative, we are Positive Filipino Values
resourceful, quick learners and we have
the ability to improvised and make use Hospitality
A Filipino host will always offer food to a guest A certain task is effectively and easily
or to anyone. completed if everybody shares his/her time,
Foreigners who have gone to the Philippines effort and money to expedite the completion of
find themselves falling in love with the warm task
hospitality show to them.
It’s a different kind of value system, which has “Pakikisama” or Comformity
existed for thousands of years. This is a positive way of yielding to the group
unanimous or majority’s decision so as to
complete a task. Without it, there would be
Respect disunity in the group
This is often observed – not just by younger Smooth Interpersonal Relationship
people – but also by people of all ages.
Children respect elders by saying “po” and This is value on good relationship with people.
“opo”, which means “yes” when answering their SIR is characterized by the use of “go –
elders. Children or young adults also show their between” and euphemism
respect by putting their elders’ hand on their The use of “go – between” necessitates the
foreheads in the form of “mano po” hiring of a third party to act as a “bridge” or
Filipinos also show respect at work by making a referee to assuage of a person’s bruise, heal a
bow to their employees. “wound” in his relation with people whose
goodwill is important.
Strong Family Ties and Religion
Pakikiramay
Filipinos value their families so much that they
tend to keep families intact through generations This is a sympathetic attitude to another person
Families go to church and pray together because and it is emphasized by the statement “di ka nag
their religion is important and creates a strong – iisa”
bond, marking God as the center of their lives
Sympathy and Empathy
Generosity and Helpfulness
Empathy vs. Sympathy
During special occasions such as birthdays or
I know exactly how you feel – empathy
“fiestas” – parties when people from other
places visit your home to celebrate with you – In empathy, you are trying to put your own shoes to
there are lots of foods specially prepared for another person
everyone.
Friends, family, friends of friend, and even I’m so sorry – sympathy
strangers can gather and they are always willing
to share food and help out. Negative Filipino Values
When a neighbor is in trouble, Filipinos are
always ready to help them. Crab Mentality
Strong Work Ethics There are some of us Filipinos who got bitter
view at competition – that if we cannot win, then
One example of a hardworking person is a no one will. Instead of helping each other to be
farmer. They earn so little but they still work successful, we even make ways to pull them
very hard even without much compensation down like discourage them from taking great
Filipinos always find creative ways to earn a opportunities, or destroying their image. This is
living, like creating a small business from their because we want to be the only one at the top.
home where they sell foods or other items for These are Filipinos who are insecure or
the convenience of their neighbors. envious of both of them.
Loving and Caring
Procrastination or “Manana Habit”
Men are so sweet and romantic when it comes to
love. They will send their beloved flowers, bring Look at the government projects which have
her to a very romantic place, text her sweet been left undone for years. If only they were
quotes, and tell often how special she is to them. completed immediately, then many Filipinos
Filipino women are also romantic and very would have already benefited from them.
caring, which often makes foreigners want to This is also true with many of us. Instead of
marry them. Women tend to prepare dinner working on a task while there is much time, we
before their husband comes home. They are wait for the deadline because we feel lazy to
loving, and value the relationship, always start on them, or we want to use the time in other
staying faithful to their husbands. They love things.
deeply and sincerely.
“Bahala Na” or “Come what may” habit
Bayanihan System
This is another habit that destroys the image of disregarding the rules in order to prioritize what
Filipino. Instead of doing something to make they want.
things happen, we tend to just leave the outcome
to whatever that could happen – come what may Passivity (Lack of leadership)
– we say. Filipinos lack of initiative for change is also one
For instance, instead of studying for exams, reason why our country does not progress. We
some students may spend more time in computer keep complaining against the government and
games and gimmicks, while leaving their chance other societal issues. However, we do not do
of passing the exams to luck. We could attribute anything about them.
this habit to faith, reasoning out that God will Common Filipinos also lack courage and
help us become successful. confidence. If you can notice, in classrooms,
Ningas Cogon churches, or conference rooms, most of us don’t
like to seat in the front seat.
In Spanish, “ningas cogon” means a burning
cogon grass. This flaming grass quickly burns
out – and this best describes one of the worst
Filipino traits
Most of us are very good at this. We are
excellent at starting projects or idea execution.
Nevertheless, after a few hours or days, we lose
the excitement, and we become too lazy to finish
what we have started
Filipino Time
The Filipino time is usually associated with
tardiness. For instance, when the invitation says
the program will start at 7pm, it is expected to
begin at 9pm. When the date is set at 3pm, the
partner will arrive at 5 o’clock. This has not only
caused conflicts in relationships, it also
discourages others including foreigners from
their getting involved in supposedly productive
activities too much time be wasted on waiting
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. Sadly, this does not good to the
subjects. Secrets are brought out; failures and
flaws are emphasized; and the 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.
Living Beyond Their Means
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.
Lack of Discipline
We have laws and regulations in order to
achieve a harmonious community. However,
most Filipinos have this penchant of
