CF - C1

CHAPTER I

FILIPINO INFLUENCES TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The Philippines is a meeting point for cultures from all over Asia and the Pacific because it has been a crossroads between east and west and the merging of cultures reflects the country's culture and its people. It comes from various ethno-linguistic groups that are native to the islands or migrants from various Asia- Pacific regions, Filipinos are the people who are naturally born to or recognized with the Philippine country.

China, the United States, and Spain mainly influence the modern Filipino identity. Though Filipinos are racially similar to Malays but in terms of culture they are more like the Spaniards. Thus, it could be claimed that Filipinos are the most hot-bloodied and brave citizens in the tropical Asian cultures. Like other countries, the Philippines has its opposing values and labels, it is believed by the Filipinos that the country has the best values in the world. Though it has experienced colonization by several countries, but the core values it has gained from the Filipino ancestors remained intact and are still honoured today like the bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie implanted by Malay ancestors and close family ties inherited by the Chinese ascendants.

THE MOST WELL KNOWN TRAITS AND ATTITUDES OF THE FILIPINO

POSITIVE TRAITS

1. Hospitality

Hospitality is a trait displayed by every Filipino, characterized acterized by art-warming generosity and friendliness exhibited to foreigners and locals alike.

Filipinos are well-known for being hospitable. This is one of the most popular qualities of Filipinos. Most foreigners who have gone to the Philippines fell in love with the warm hospitality they have experienced while staying in the country. This is a kind of value system which has existed in the country thousand of years ago. Good thing is that the hospitality of the Filipinos is not only shown to the foreigners but to its fellow Filipino as well.

Hospitality of Filipinos is shown in the following sample situations:

a. When a person visits a friend's house, the host greets him or her with a very warm welcome. The host will immediately let their visitor sit down and will prepare a meal or a snack plus drinks for the visitor. The host will insist that the friend not leave the house with an empty stomach. A host will always make sure you had a great time visiting them.

b. People offer their guest room to visitors if they're going to spend the night.

c. Meals offered to guests are very special. A host always finds a way to prepare great tasting food that her visitor wants to eat.

2. Respect

This is often observed-not just by younger people-but also by people of all ages. In the Philippines, respect for one's elders is a tradition.

a. Po and Opo These words are spoken by the Filipinos when talking to elders, or in order to show respect to persons in authority. These Filipino words mean "yes," when answering or talking to the elders.

b. Pagmamano Another way of showing respect to the elders when greeting them. This is done by putting their elders' hands on their foreheads

c. Filipinos also show respect at work by making a bow to their employers.

3. Strong Family Ties and Religions

Filipinos value their families so much that they tend to keep families intact through the generations. Families go to church and pray together because their religion is important and creates a strong bond, marking God as the center of their lives. Filipinos believe in only one God and majority of the population are Catholics. It is a value system of the Filipinos to pray before eating, going to bed, before the start of the meeting, conferences of program, gathering, etc.

On weekends, most Filipino families make sure to have quality time together by watching television or eating a family meal, watch movies or going to beach resorts.

4. Generosity and Helpfulness

Aside from being hospitable, Filipinos are also well-known for being generous. They share what they have to the people around them even when they only have little.

These could be felt during birthdays, weddings or fiesta (party). When visitors came to celebrate great tasting special foods are specially prepared for everyone. It is shared by friends, families or even strangers.

When you will be in trouble, Filipinos cannot refuse to help you. They are always willing to assist you or lend a hand.

5. Strong Work Ethics

Another good thing most Filipinos have is being hardworking people. They are always willing to work almost the whole day to provide the needs of their families. Filipino farmers though earning so little but they work harder with not much compensation.

Aside from their regular work, Filipinos always find creative ways to look for other sources of income like creating a small business from their home where they sell foods and other items for the convenience of their neighbours.

6. Loving and Caring

Because of their generosity, hospitality and religiosity, Filipinos are found to be the sweetest and most loving people in the world.

It is expressed by both foreigners and Filipino women that most Filipino men are so sweet and romantic when it comes to love. They will send their beloved flowers, bring her to a very romantic place, text her sweet quotes and tell often how special she is to them. Filipino women are also romantic and very caring, which often makes some foreigners want to marry them. Women tend to prepare dinner before their husband comes home. They love, and value the relationship, always staying faithful to their husbands. They love deeply and sincerely.

NEGATIVE TRAITS OF FILIPINOS

1. Fatalism ("Bahala Na" or "Come What May" Attitude)

When Filipinos are facing difficulties and shortcomings they have this attitude of leaving it up to God to sort things out. An attitude of "What Goes Around Comes Around." Filipinos have a tendency to surrender the future to luck. They have that strong confidence that everything will work out in his interest without doing anything. Filipinos often accepts bad news or circumstances without trying to stop or change them. This can sometimes be helpful in adversity, but it can also keep us from finding ways out of situations. Also, constantly expecting the worst can get pretty depressing.

2. Mañana Habit (Procrastination)

True blooded Filipinos have the attitude of causing delays in accomplishing things or making transactions. When not interested or not in the mood, they wait or reserve until tomorrow or the next day to finish what they are doing or meeting their transactions. However, there are some Filipinos nowadays who take their time in doing things or in making decisions promptly. There are some who are habitually late or not showing up at all. There are few Filipinos who are punctual for social meetings. In fact, it is not expected of them to arrive exactly on time especially at a party.

The "bahala na" attitude is the outcome of the "mañana habit" when the tasks are left undone. This is usually shown and even expressed by people who do not care much of what lies ahead and just leave everything in fate.

3. Crab Mentality

This is an attitude of some Filipinos where they tend to push each other down to clear the way for their own gain. Filipino people with this kind of mentality or attitude try their best to ruin each other, either by making issues against the other for him to turn out bad to the public or to the company or organization so that people will gradually put distance and loss their confidence and trust that eventually result to their replacement.

4. Hypocrisy

This is a trait of the Filipino where criticisms to others' failure to live with the moral standards of the society are inevitable. In the Philippines morality is highly valued, most of us try to live up to the standards set by the traditional society. However, as no one is perfect, many of us are not actually able to sustain these standards.

The fear of being an outcast has forced a lot of people to live a double standard life. To hide our failure in following a norm, we tend to be condemning those who are caught red handed. A perfect example could be the criticisms faced by those who become pregnant outside marriage. The sad fact behind this scenario is that some of these critics could have actually engaged in premarital sex too-only that no proof is visible.

5. Ningas Cogon

Most Filipinos are very good at the start when doing something. Nevertheless, after a few hours or days, that excitement to do or accomplish something is lost we and become too lazy to finish what we have started.

6. Tardiness (Filipino time)

Only in the Philippines that we have the so-called "Filipino time" but not exactly referring to the Philippine standard time, but then again we use it to refer to the "tardiness" of the persons that we are waiting or who keeps on coming late to the set time schedule of events. Instead of being something to be proud of, 'Filipino time' brings a negative impression to our people. When the invitation says the program will start at 7pm, it is expected to begin at 9pm. This has not only caused conflicts in relationships, it also discouraged others including foreigners from getting involved in supposedly productive activities as too much time can be wasted on waiting.

7. 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. Secrets are brought out; failures and flaws are emphasized; and 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.

8. Blaming

Filipinos can sometimes be too self-righteous. When mistakes happen, we do not want to take the blame, we lack humility to accept our failures, and instead we point at others. This shows how irresponsible we are on our actions. This attitude destroys team work, and reliability becomes an issue.

9. Selfishness (being insensitive of others)

Most Filipinos are insensitive to the needs and situations of others. This could be an outcome of having too many problems that Filipinos are facing and the tendency is to focus on their own needs first before others.

10. Disobedience to Simple Rules and Instructions

Some Filipinos, despite of the understanding of the purpose of laws and ordinances have inability to observe and follow them. Consequently, crime victimization and accident rate in the Philippines are constantly rising, poverty is getting more rampant and lifestyle development is relaxed.

11. Attention Taker

Filipinos are fun and people loving race. Thus, attracting attention is natural for them. Nevertheless, it is a different thing to be an "epal" or "kapalmuks simply, being an attention grabber.

Sometimes, in our desperate need to be the center of attention, we do things that are already embarrassing like butting in conversations as a know-it-all or by being scandalous. This habit is also common to our politicians. Instead of prioritizing their duty to give the best service to the people, they rather prioritize their thick faces to grab attention that will bring them more chance of winning in the next election. But thanks to our vigilant netizens, this kind of politicians earns more shame than fame.

12. Being onion-skinned or too sensitive

Another habit or attitude that we need to change is our being too proud which usually results to being oversensitive. If we think highly of ourselves, then we have the tendency to put a wall around us and that a signboard on our forehead saying, "I must be respected." Therefore, when someone makes a joke or a not so positive comment about us, we feel like we are not respected and we get offended. If all people in the country do not know how to accept constructive criticism, then we can never expect unity.

13. Living beyond their means (social climbing)

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.

14. Passivity (lack of leadership)

Filipinos' lack of initiative for change is also one reason why our country does not progress. We keep on complaining against the government and other societal issues. However, we do not do anything about them. One of our excuses is the lack of faith that our small actions can bring change. However, the worse reason for this could be our lack of care for what is happening around us. Common Filipinos also lack courage and confidence. If you can notice it, in classrooms, churches, or conference rooms, most of us don't like to sit in the front seat.

15. Other Negative Traits

Some Filipino women give birth at an early age 16 (Teenage Pregnancy). Some just don't mind their own business. Some have many bad habits, like drinking, smoking, etc. Some poor teenagers engage in prostitution. There are many broken families. A lot of bad words to choose from which Filipinos just can't avoid saying those. Most Filipinos tend to be with friends most of the time than to be with their parents.

FILIPINO CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

THREE MAIN TRAITS UNDERSCORING FILIPINO VALUES

(Excerpted from the Philippines Australia Business Council)

1. Personalism

Filipinos valued interpersonal relationship. It is firmly believed that harmonious personal relationship is the key to successful endeavours. Amicable settlement of dispute is the primary means of restoring broken relationships and face-to-face open forum is considered once conflict is recognized in an organization or the community.

2. Familialism

Filipinos are family-oriented. Development programs and projects in the community are concentrated on the family. Decision on matters is centered on the welfare and best interest of the family rather than on the betterment and interest of some individuals. The mistakes committed by a family member affects the credibility and of the immediate members of the family and relatives.

3. Particularism

Displayed behaviour by the individuals may it be good or bad is blamed against the family. It is based on the principle that home is the cradle of human personality and character that is, the product of goodness is always good and those who are moulded in wickedness, will always show-off badness. Individuals strive to promote their own and their family's interests over community interests.

On the other hand, knowing how to entertain people is important. Conformity to proper codes of conduct reaps the rewards of cooperation and assistance; non-conformity is punished by withdrawal of support.

FILIPINO VALUES ORIENTATION

Values Orientation - Is the approach that may influence work or social relationships by persons relating to objects, events and ideas.

THREE MAIN OBLIGATIONS UNDERLYING FILIPINO VALUE ORIENTATION

The relational or face-to-face interactions and their resulting responsibilities are called interpersonal obligations. This is in relation to the value in Filipino cultural orientation, the personalism. Pakikiramay, pakikisama, bayanihan, and galang are the nature of interpersonal relationships that are inherent to the pure-blooded Filipino people.

1. Pakikiramay

It is in the Filipino value of going out of the way to help, without being asked, i.e., unsolicited help.

2. Pakikisama (Smooth Interpersonal Relations)

Regardless whether someone's views are agreeable or not, Filipinos are capable of getting along with it. Camaraderie, trust, confidence, and loyalty are enhanced and developed by this Filipino value.

3. Bayanihan

As mentioned in the preceding topics, Filipinos are able to render services and generous enough to extend help without compensation. Somebody can request help in time of need from those to whom it is extended.

4. Galang (Respect)

Filipinos are basically oriented to revere to the opinions of elders, peers, or those in authority, during important discussions during social encounters. Verbal clash or any sign of extreme familiarity in public meetings is a sign of disrespect to elders or persons in authority.