Gabrielle V. Guerrero Dr.
Umaclap
BSED-ENG 2-1 TCSCOL
Chapter 4: THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER:
A Socio-Cultural Issue
"Nobody is perfect" is a popular saying that is often used, especially when we talk
about people's strengths and weaknesses. Like what we discussed in Chapter 4 last
Monday, it was about the strengths and weaknesses of Filipinos that have become
known as "socio-cultural issues."
Filipinos are known for being cheerful, helpful, hospitable, and resilient. These
are some characteristics that foreigners mention when asked about Filipinos. It's true,
we do have these traits, and because of them, we can overcome or solve situations,
whether it's a storm or a simple misunderstanding.
However, it's also well-known that Filipinos have their own weaknesses. First,
we're only human, and second, nobody is perfect. The eight weaknesses mentioned,
including Colonial Mentality, have a bad effect on our relationships with others and our
love for our country. There's also the toxic trait of "kaniya-kaniya syndrome" or
"talangka mentality," where people pull each other down because they don't want to be
surpassed, especially in work.
But if we have weaknesses, we also have strengths. Aside from the good
characteristics I mentioned earlier, another wonderful trait of ours is being good at
"Pakikipagkapwa-tao." This becomes the foundation of good relationships between
individuals and groups in our country. Our society becomes better because we have
unity and understanding among each other. Being a Filipino is truly something to be
proud of because we are one of the races in the world that truly cares about our country.
Alexis Loise V. Tabaog May 05, 2025
BSEDEN 2-1 TCSCOL
Chapter 4: THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER:
A Socio-Cultural Issue
The 4th chapter of our course made me think and reflect as a Filipino. I realized
that as a citizen of this country, I need to know more about the weaknesses of
individuals, especially Filipinos, so I can counter them with specific strengths. This way,
I'll have self-reflection and help reduce the number of Filipinos with these weaknesses.
For me, one of the most toxic weaknesses of Filipinos is the lack of discipline.
For example, we can't even follow the right time for meetings or appointments, and we
make excuses with what we call "Filipino Time." This affects many people. The person
you're meeting might have to adjust their time, and your plans might get compromised.
You don't value their time, and it shows disrespect. It can have a domino effect.
On the other hand, one of our important strengths, aside from faith and family
orientation, is flexibility, adaptability, and creativity. With these strengths, we can turn
negative things into positive ones without invalidating others' feelings. We're flexible,
adaptable, and creative because we find ways to make things work in any situation and
turn them into good outcomes.
I'm happy to be a Filipino, and I love being a Filipino. All of the characteristics
mentioned in this chapter really reflect who we are as Filipinos. Even with weaknesses,
we can counter them with our strengths. These things made me realize that we should
be responsible for our actions as individuals so we can remain responsible to our fellow
Filipinos and to our country.
