4.1

Roots of the Filipino Character

The strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino have their roots in many factors such as:

1. The family and home environment

2. The social environment

3. Culture and language

4. History

5. The educational system

6. Religion

7. The economic environment

8. The political environment

9. Mass media

10. Leadership and role models.

1. The Family and Home Environment

1.1Child rearing practices

  Child rearing can be both difficult and   rewarding at the same time. The goal of   every parent is to have the child grow up   to be a respectable and resourceful adult   in society.

  Child rearing in the Filipino family is characterized by:

1.1.1 High nurturance

  The Filipino child grows up in an atmosphere of love and   affection. Providing the children with the opportunity, means   and support to pursue their goals.

1.1.2 Low independence training

1.1.3 Over protection

  Some parents act on their own needs for power and use   control and coercion to ensure that they remain the   dominant forces in their children’s lives.

1.2 Low discipline

  Attempts to maintain discipline come   in the form of many "no's" and "don'ts"   and a system of criticism to keep   children in line. Subtle comparisons   among siblings also are used by   mothers to control their children.

1.3 Family relations

In a large family where we are encouraged to get along with our siblings and other relatives, we learn pakikipagkapwa-tao.

In an authoritarian setting we learn respect for age and authority; at the same time we become passive and dependent on authority.

Children are taught to value family and to give it primary importance.

1.4 Family Orientation

  The Filipino’s family orientation may be attributed to the colonial times when the hierarchical structure of family has been in prevalent place, where age and status demand high levels of respect, and the good of the family takes precedence over personal desires. This characteristic is still present despite modern times.

  2. Social Environment

The social environment of the Filipino is characterized by a feudal structure with great gaps between the rich minority and the poor majority.

The main components of the social environment are:

2.1 Social Structures 

2.2 Social Systems such as:

2.2.1 Interpersonal Religious

2.2.2 Community Interaction.

  3. Culture and Language

  Filipino culture rewards such:

• traits and corresponding behavioural patterns develop because they make one more likable and enable life to proceed more easily.

• an openness to the outside which easily incorporates foreign elements without a basic consciousness of our cultural core

  4. History

  We are the product of our colonial history, which is regarded by many as the culprit behind our lack of nationalism and our colonial mentality. Colonialism developed a mindset in the Filipino which encouraged us to think of the colonial power as superior and more powerful.

  5. Educational System

Aside from the problems inherent in the use of a foreign language in the educational system, it leads to other problems for the Filipinos.

“Filipinos develop a mindset that things learned in schools are not related to real life.”

Aside from the influences of the formal curriculum, there are the influences of the "hidden curriculum" i.e., the values taught informally by the Philippine school system:

• Schools are highly authoritarian, with the teacher as the central focus.

• The Filipino student learns passivity and conformity

• The Filipino student is taught to be dependent on the teacher . force Filipino students as well as their teachers to use school materials that are irrelevant to the Philippine setting

  6. Religion

Religion is the root of Filipino optimism and its capacity to accept life's hardships. However, religion also instils in the Filipino attitudes of resignation and a pre- occupation with the afterlife. We become vulnerable also to being victimized by opportunism, oppression, exploitation, and superstition.

  7. Economic Environment

Many Filipino traits are rooted in the poverty and hard life that is the lot of most Filipinos. Our difficulties drive us to take risks, impel us to work very hard, and develop in us the ability to survive.

Poverty, however, has also   become an excuse for graft and   corruption, particularly among the lower   rungs of the bureaucracy.

  8. Political environment

The Philippine political environment is characterized by a centralization of power. Political power and authority is concentrated in the hands of the elite and the participation of most Filipinos often is limited to voting in elections.

basic services from the government are concentrated in Manila and its outlying towns and provinces. Political power is still very much concentrated in the hands of a few may lead to passivity

  9. Mass media

Mass Media It means technology that is intended to reach a mass audience. It is the primary means of communication used to reach the vast majority of the general public. The most common flat forms for media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the latest is the internet.

The tendency of media to produce escapist movies, soap operas, comics, etc., feed the Filipino's passivity. Rather than confront our poverty and oppression, we fantasize instead. The propensity to use flashy sets, designer clothes, superstars, and other bongga features reinforce porma.

  10. Leadership and Role Models

Filipinos look up to their leaders as role models. Political leaders are the main models, but all other leaders serve as role models as well. Thus, when our leaders violate the law or show themselves to be self-serving and driven by personal interest--when there is lack of public accountability--there is a negative impact on the Filipino

Positive Traits of Filipinos

Pakikipagkapwa-tao

Family Orientation

Hard work and Industry

Faith and Religiosity

Joy and humor

Ability to Survive

Flexibility, Adaptability, Creativity

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao

It is the foundation of unity as well as sense of social justice

2. Family Orientation

It results in a feeling of belongingness and rootedness and a basic sense of security

3. Hard work and Industry

Desire to raise one’s standard of living by working very hard

4. Faith and Religiosity

Faith results in courage, daring, optimism, inner peace, capacity to genuinely accept tragedy and death

5. Joy and humor

This famous trait is the ability of Filipinos to find humor in everything. It sheds light on the optimism and positivism of Filipinos in whatever situation they are in so as to remain determined in going through struggles or challenges.

6. Ability to Survive

Filipinos have an ability to survive, which is manifested in our capacity for endurance despite difficult times in our ability to get by on so very little. Filipinos make do with what is available in the environment.

7. Flexibility, Adaptability, Creativity

This allows the Filipino to adapt and be flexible in doing the tasks at times not bound to a particular schedule or time frame. This allows them think on their feet and be creative in facing whatever challenge or task they have even when it is already right in front of them.

Negative Traits of Filipinos

Extreme Personalism

Extreme Family Centeredness

Lack of Discipline

Passivity and Lack of Initiative

Kanya-kanya Syndrome

Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection

Filipino Indolence

Mañana Habit

Fiesta Syndrome

Hospitality

Colonial Mentality

1. Extreme Personalism

Manifested in the tendency to give personal interpretations (pakiusap, lagay and regalo, palakasan, and favoritism)

Manifested the need to establish personal relationships before any business or work relationship can be successful

2. Extreme Family Centeredness

Use of one’s power as a means of promoting and protecting the interests of the family members (factionalism, patronage, and political dynasties)

3. Lack of Discipline

3.1 “Filipino time”

3.2 Palusot Syndrome

3.3 “Ningas cogon”

4. Passivity and Lack of Initiative

One has to be told what has to be done

5. Kanya-kanya Syndrome

“Crab Mentality”

6. Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection

Tendency to joke at something even if it is a serious matter and prevent from looking deeply into the problem

7. Filipino Indolence

Being lazy, inactive and lack of initiative

8. Mañana Habit

"Mamaya na" attitude

9. Fiesta Syndrome

10. Hospitality

11. Colonial Mentality

Clusters of Good Citizenship Values

Unity

Equality

Respect for Law and Government

Patriotism

1. Unity

When there is unity, people are in agreement and act together for a particular purpose

Unity is working together, living together, doing things together in harmony

Unity is pretty much about treating everyone as equal and never looking down on anyone for any reason.

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2. Equality

EQUALITY means fair treatment of people not based on status or what one has in life such as:

Equal access to opportunities to promote personal progress and development

Equal access to quality education

Equal access to work and employment opportunities

Equal protection and support under the law

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3. Respect for Law and Government

People obey the law for three major reasons:

to avoid legal consequences

respect to authority

it is morally right to do so

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4. Patriotism

Patriotism or national pride is the feeling of love, devotion and sense of attachment to a homeland and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings relating to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects.

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WHAT DOES BEING PAGKA-MAKATAO MEAN?

Pagka-makatao

A humane person is one who shows great compassion and caring for others and who tries whenever possible to alleviate another's suffering.

The idea of being humane is linked to a higher level of a person's character.

WHAT DOES THE FOLLOWING WORDS MEAN TO YOU?

Love

Freedom

Peace

Truth

Justice

VALUES

Love

Freedom

Peace

Truth

Justice

1. Love

The bestowing of unconditional love and having a positive impact on the lives of others.

Showing a genuine concern for the good of others, with unselfish acts of kindness such as: compassion, caring, thoughtfulness, service, and other humanitarian and noble actions.

2. Freedom

Stands for securing everyone to an equal opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

3. Peace

Peace is the absence of war, hatred and disagreement.

Peace is when your conscience is free from guilt.

4. Truth

Being truthful means:

A strict adherence to a policy of honesty and openness

Being dependable and trustworthy.

Truthfulness is a prerequisite both for building a stable, lawful society and engaging in meaningful interaction with others, so living up to one’s words is important not only on an individual level but also on the level of the community. (Immanuel Kant)

5. Justice

Growing in fairness includes learning to treat others with respect and kindness, and growing to appreciate the importance of sharing, fighting for others, and being honest. This requires the ability to place ourselves in others’ shoes and feel compassion for other people.