Good morning to each everyone and especially to you ma’am.
For today’s video lets talk about the Strengths and Weaknesses of Filipino Character
Are this Strengths and Weaknesses of Filipino Character can really affect our personality?
If yes! Just listen and learned from this video about Strengths and Weaknesses of Filipino
Character.
to remind ourselves about those common Filipino strengths and weaknesses of Filipino
character;
Here they are again:
Weaknesses of Filipino character
1. Utang Na Loob (Debt of Gratitude). Up to a certain point it is a virtue, but too much is a trap
in itself. We Filipinos exaggerated this trait unwittingly believing this was natural to us, hence,
good. In truth, this is a colonial residue still overshadowing us. This is not strength but rather a
weakness for it is built upon our belief that we were chickens (and not as eagles) as the
successive colonizers had forced us to believe. We over-subjugated ourselves in order to
survive. We did survive, but heavily damaged from within. This utang na loob made us believe
we are of lesser-value than others, prevented from developing that strong consciousness
necessary to get out of our miserable situation. The revolutions freed us from the oppressors
physically, but the oppressed in us has remained even to date. Applied into our politics, this
trait is the nucleus of corruption for this prevents our mind from siding to the ideals of common
good but rather reduces it to side with things or with people whom we are indebted to in one
way or another. This is partly behind vote buying/selling, or behind the failure of the five pillars
of criminal justice, etc.
2. Crab-Mentality. This is what divides us as one people and therefore prevents us from joining
hands together in order to build a progressive nation. For instead, we pull each other down out
of envy or just plain egoism. Even among bloggers who claim to hate our system, this mentality
exists. For each of us choose rather to solo his fight and ends ultimately to nothing. In politics
nothing great is accomplished by a lone fighter. This is why our nation doesn’t move forward
but rather backwards- like a crab. And a crab with Utang Na Loob is a perfect disaster!
3. Ningas-Cogon. This reinforces the crab in us for this means total retreat after taking a few
steps to the front. Politics can achieve something substantial if it is held on a steady course over
time. The same way with fighting for a cause. Nothing will happen if we cannot stay and fight to
the end. To come and go as you wish is never a big help to your team. With this, nothing shall
ever be accomplished or finished to the end.
4. Mañana Habit. This is the reason why everything has been delayed in our country. We push
everything for tomorrow, so don’t ask for progress now for with this habit, progress will never
be a thing of today but will always be a thing of tomorrow. This habit, combined with ningas-
cogon, utang na loob and with the crab on top with bad choice and lacking in sincerity, then you
have the perfect picture of the Philippine society of today – and, maybe, of tomorrow.
Strengths of Filipino character
1. Strong Family Orientation (Family-ties). After all these years, I still consider this trait as our
strongest strength for it is the reason behind why the Philippines is still existing even in the face
of high migration, internal conflicts, political and economic crises. Filipinos abroad normally still
go back home even after years of being away simply because of their loyalty to their family and
relatives. This is not class-specific for it is indeed a strong trait observed not only among the
poor but even among the affluent Filipino families.
2. Utang Na Loob (Debt of Gratitude). As mentioned, this is a Filipino strength when kept in
proper place (private life), hence doesn’t rob us of our objectivity and correct performance of
our duty or public service. This trait shows our thankfulness or looking back- to people and
situations that have touched our lives positively. This is inherent in all other strengths of the
Filipinos.
3. Pakikisama (Social Flexibility). Closely related to Pakikiramdam or Pakikipagkapwa-tao, I
translate this as social flexibility for this what is all about being a Filipino in a social setting that
of striving for harmony in our interpersonal relationships. This makes us attractive to other
nationalities for we can easily connect with them and give them the feeling that we understand
and accept them.
4. Endurance. A product of our difficult historical struggles. Extreme social, political and
economic problems resulting from colonization’s, wars and recurring natural catastrophes have
molded the Filipinos into a strong people when it comes to dealing with difficult situations over
an extended period of time. This is the foundation of our patience. Patience is never a natural
gift but is a result of experience. With this strength, Filipinos survive difficult situations at home
or away from home. Resoluteness is very much related to this, a trait we badly need in our
political leadership and for us to counter the ningas-cogon tendency.
Once again good day everyone It me Ruel Cacanando Jr. mag-iiwan ng isang kasabihan
“Knowledge will give you power but good character will give you respect”
