GENSANTOS FOUNDATION COLLEGE, INC

SELF LEARNING
MODULE

Prepared by: Felmar P. Claver, MAEd

LESSON 4. THE POLITICAL SELF AND BEING FILIPINO

What makes a Filipino a genuine Filipino? Do physical characteristics such as having dark hair, flat nose,
and dark complexion make one a Filipino? Or is it a person’s language, birthplace, and ethnicity? If you
were to introduce yourself as a Filipino to a person of another nationality and he or she asks, “Who are
Filipinos?”, what will you reply?

The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the 1890s after over three centuries of
colonization of the Spaniards. Meanwhile, liberation from the last colonizers, the Japanese, only
occurred in 1946. Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have made a huge dent on our own by
setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino identity and culture. To date, colonial mentality
remains an issue. Given the wide discrepancy between the liberation period and today’s time, would it
be safe to say that Filipinos have truly developed an identity of their own? Or are we still living in the
shadow of our colonial friends?

Who is a Filipino?

Filipinos are often referenced to globally renowned personalities like Manny Pacquiao, Lea Salonga, and
Michael Cinco who have made Filipinos recognized around the world through their expertise. However,
being a Filipino is far more than just being related to these notable figures. Independence Day and
Buwan ng Wika celebrations prompt us to go back to our roots and reflect on the question: Who is a
Filipino?

Technically, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens are “…those whose fathers or
mothers are citizens of the Philippines, those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who
elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority, and those who are naturalized in
accordance with law.” However, citizenship is not the only marker of being a Filipino. Culture and history
have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live, and behave to date. People who were born and
grew up in the same culture develop and share common personality traits and values. Generations after
generations, common traits and values have been passed on that the Filipinos of today still embody.

Filipino Values and Traits

The Philippines is a lush island paradise famous for its grandiose mountain views, pristine beaches, and
rich and diverse culture changing from province to province. While the Philippines may be well known
for its awe-inspiring beauty, perhaps the Filipinos’ unique traits, reputable values and laudable talents
make the country a place to be.

Tourist who have visited the Philippines can never forget the big and bright smiles that greeted them,
the colorful and loud jeepneys, the common Filipino phrases such as “Mabuhay!” and “Salamat” and
habits such as saying “po” and “opo” to the elders, leaving shoes or slippers at the front door before
entering a house, and the importunate asking of “Kumain ka na ba?” meaning “Have you eaten yet?”
Indeed, it is a marvel to experience these unique traits of the Filipinos firsthand. Few of these traits are
as follows

The Filipino Hospitality

A Filipino trait that is known everywhere is the Filipino’s brand of hospitality. Filipinos welcome their
guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers and sisters; they always make their guests feel at
home, offering them something to eat, or even a place to stay. They will bring out their best sets of
plates and chinaware for their honored guests and would even go as far as spending a lot of money and
going into debt just so they can satisfy them. In most local shops, Filipino salespersons will greet their
customers with warm welcome and say thank you when they leave even without buying anything.
Filipinos also anticipate giving tours to friends who will visit their hometown and treating them to the
best restaurants and delicacies for free. During festivals or fiestas, Filipinos serve heaps of festive food
and invite the whole barangay over. They are also fond of giving pasalubong or tokens from their travels
and pabaon or farewell gifts to their visitors.

Respect for Elders

Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po!” and constantly using “po” and
“opo” in conversations. Forgetting to address older people properly will regard them as rude and
impolite. There is also a wide array of references to elder people such as ate for older sister; kuya for
older brother; Tito and Tita for uncle and aunt, respectively; Lolo and Lola for grandfather and
grandmother; and Manong and Aling for older people outside the family.

Close Family Ties

Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families regardless if the children are old enough and
already have families of their own. They are also fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or
fiestas year-round. Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay
together. Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family members and choose to take care
of their elders themselves.

Cheerful Personality

Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. They smile when they are happy, or sometimes even
when they are sad or angry. Smiling has been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during
trying times and calamities. For instance, Filipinos smile and wave at the camera while being interviewed
eve after a fire or flooding incident. They always try to maintain a positive outlook in life which makes
them resilient and able to manage almost everything with a simple smile.

Self-sacrifice

The self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the Filipino hospitality. Filipinos
go out of their way to extend help to their friends, families, and loved ones. They wish comfort and
better lives for their loved ones and would even go to the extent of working abroad hundreds of miles
away to earn more money and save up for them. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot; that is
why they are regarded as the modern day Filipino heroes. There are also times when the eldest among
the children of the family would give up school to work and provide for the rest of the family and
educate his or her siblings.
Bayanihan

Bayanihan is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos. It is also about giving without
expecting something in return. Filipinos are always ready to share and help their friends and loved ones
who are in need. It may not always be in monetary form, but the time and effort they give also count as
a form of help for them. This trait is particularly manifested in how Filipinos rally themselves to send aid
to those who are severely affected by natural calamities.

Bahala Na Attitude

“Bahala Na” is the Filipino version of the famous line “Hakuna Matata,” meaning no worries. The phrase
is said to have originated from “Bathala na,” where Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning leaving
everything into God’s hands. It can also be viewed as something similar to the cheerful and positive
attitude of Filipinos and allowing situation take care of themselves instead of worrying about them.

Colonial Mentality

Colonial mentality is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign
products more than their own. This does not only concern goods, but also the desire to look more
foreign than local and keep up with foreign beauty trends. It is attributed to the centuries of
colonization Filipinos had experienced under the Spanish, American, and Japanese rule.\

Manana Habit

This is the Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from a longer Filipino phrase called “Mamaya
na” meaning dawdling things, which could have been done at an earlier time. It is a poor habit of
laziness that results in heavier workloads.

Ningas Kugon

“Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame and “kugon” is a Filipino term for Cogon grass that easily burns out
after it is put into flames. Ningas kugon refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things but quickly losing
eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty, just like how fast the fire of a Cogon grass burns out
moments after being ignited. Laziness is a common problem among Filipinos; that is why Filipinos are
regarded as “Juan Tamad” or Lazy Juan.

Pride

Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more precious than keeping a good relationship with
family and loved ones. When two parties are not in good terms, they find it so hard to apologize and
wait until the other party asks for an apology first.

Crab Mentality

This is a toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of another, instead of feeling for
that person. Just like crabs in a container, they pull each other down, and ruin each other’s reputation
rather than bringing them up, resulting to no progress. Filipinos should change this troublesome attitude
and focus more on their own inadequacies to improve one’s self.

Filipino Time
Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late commitments, dinner, or parties especially if they
are meeting someone close to them. They tend to not observe punctuality altogether. The 7:00 PM call
time becomes adjusted to 7:30 PM, and almost everyone arrives at the same time because everyone is
using Filipino time.

Filipino Markers

What then are the hallmarks of our being a Filipino? What makes us truly relish in our being a Filipino?
The following are constant reminders of our nationality.

1. Proverbs or Salawikain
Filipino proverbs, just like any other proverbs, are sayings that convey lessons and reflections on
Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions. Damiana Eugenio, regarded as the Mother of Philippine
Folklore, classified proverbs into six categories (Eugenio 2000):
a. Proverbs expressing a general attitude toward life and the laws that govern life.
b. Ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues and condemning certain vices;
c. Proverbs expressing a system of values;
d. Proverbs expressing general truths and observations about life and human nature;
e. Humorous proverbs; and
f. Miscellaneous proverbs
An example of a Filipino proverb is the saying “Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga,” which means
that hard work will be rewarded if one is persistent.
2. Superstitions

Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions passed down from generation to
generation. Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from other cultures, but Filipinos have
retold these superstitions according to thei own experiences and they sometimes end up even more
interesting.

According to a Filipino superstition, a woman singing while cooking will end up a spinster so parents
remind their daughters to avoid singing while preparing their meals. Filipinos also avoid taking
picture in threes as the one in the center is said to die, according to another superstition.

3. Myths and Legends

Due to the Philippine’s rich culture and history, numerous myths and legends have sprung about
things that are beyond one’s imagination. These stories are aimed to explain the origin of things, at
the same time, teach a valuable lesson. Some of these stories stemmed in pre-Christianity period,
but have evolved to the stories we know today. A famous Filipino legend is about the origin of the
pineapple fruit.

4. Heroes and Icons

Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they have sacrificed their lives
for the sake of their country’s freedom and progress. Every year, we lend a whole day to
celebrate our heroes, usually the last Monday of August, to remember their greatness, bravery,
and resilience that has led to the freedom we know today.
Famous Filipino icons such as Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, and our very own national hero,
Jose Rizal, also serve as important Filipino markers as they have made the Filipino name more
pronounced worldwide through their own expertise.

How to Be a Good Filipino

Now you know that your traits and values are important indicators of being a Filipino. The
problem now is how to truly become one and how you can be useful to the development and
progress of our country. The following are a few ways on how to be a good Filipino:
1. Be an active Filipino citizen.
A good Filipino citizen is aware of the current events and participates in government
programs that aim for the country’s progression and development. By simply exercising your
right to vote, you also become and active citizen. When it comes to voting, the rich and the
poor have equal voting rights---every Filipino citizen of legal age have a chance in choosing
the right leaders for the Philippines who are genuine in helping and caring for the Filipino
people.
2. Study the Philippine History.
The road of the Philippine history is long and bloody, and by learning and fully
understanding the events of the Philippine history, you will learn so much as to why it is so
important for you to love your country with your life, extend help to your fellow Filipinos in
need, and recognize abuse of political power.
3. Support local products.
When you buy local products, you do not only support local manufactures and businessmen,
but you also help strengthen the local economy. How is this so? There will be more demand
of local products, thus, local businesses will be in need for more employees, which will open
new job opportunities. The business owners will also invest within the country and are less
likely to leave. Supporting our local products also displays our creativity, innovativeness and
resourcefulness.
4. Speak the Filipino Language.
The history of the Filipino language was as long and hard as the Philippine history. Jose Rizal
highlighted the importance of speaking a national language as a way of displaying the love
for one’s country. Speaking Filipino also serves as a unique identifier of being a Filipino. It
has been a decade---long debate whether to use Filipino as the instructional language in
school and to translate textbooks into Filipino, however, this is still not strictly imposed.
5. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent.
This period in the history of the Philippines has seen how the internet has spawned tons of
possibilities for people, both good and bad. For instance, it is easier for Filipinos working
abroad to communicate with their loved ones left in the Philippines through the Internet.
Despite this, the Internet has also made us engage in intense arguments with people across
the globe about our political positions, for example. It is a part of being a good Filipino to
understand and verify what you read online, especially in social media, before actually
believing in it and spreading it like wildfire. It is also the responsibility of every Filipino to
recognize disagreement in political views, be tolerant and argue intelligently without having
to resort into name-calling people.
Quotations on Morality

The following are quotations on morality. Read all of them and pick one that appeals to you
the most. In a short paragraph, explain your ideas or interpretation of the quotation.

“The perfecting of oneself is the fundamental base of all progress and all moral
development.” –Confucius

“Family and moral values are so central to everything that I am.” –Marian Wright Edelman

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” –Albert
Einstein

“Wisdom, compassion and courage are the three universally-recognized moral qualities of
man.”-Confucius

“Morality is the basis of things and truth is the substance of all morality.”-Mahatma Gandhi

“Only a life lived for others, is the life worthwhile.”-Albert Einstein

“Great values are built on strong moral foundations. Men become great when they allow
these values to take root within their souls and live by them.”-Lincoln Patts

“We are all born as empty vessels which can be shaped by moral values.”-Jerry Springer

MORALITY
Every day, people are confronted with dilemmas. Solving them requires one to decide on
what kind of action or response to make. In some instances, it is easy for one to respond to
a difficult situation, while in some cases, choosing the best response is difficult.

Dilemma – is a problematic situation in which a difficult choice must be made. Most of

the time, the consequences of any of the choices or options are perceived to be negative
and unappealing to the person involved. The kind of responses or actions taken or made
when one is in a quandary serves as a good test of a person’s level of moral development.

Moral –is related to the sense or a standard that determines what is right and what is
wrong. It distinguishes correct from incorrect or appropriate from inappropriate.

Morality –refers to the system of beliefs and values that ensures that individuals will
keep their obligations to others in the society and behave in ways that do not interfere with
the rights and interests of others (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2002).

MORAL REASONING
 - Refers to the judgments people make about what courses of action are correct or
incorrect in particular situations (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2002). Reasoning is a cognitive skill
but influences moral development

Lawrence Kohlberg (1958) came up with the theory of moral development by studying the concept of
moral reasoning. This theory is shaped by and tied up to Piaget’s stages of intellectual development.

Piaget’s stages of intellectual development:

1. Sensorimotor stage
- In this stage the child learns to develops knowledge about his/her environment by
relating sensory experiences to motor actions.
2. Preoperational stage
- In this stage the child learns to use symbols like words or mental images to solve simple
problems.
3. Concrete operations stage
- In this stage the child develops the ability to perform a number of logical operations on
concrete objects that are present.
4. Formal operations stage
- In this stage the individual acquires the ability to solve abstract problems in a logical
manner.

This progression is related to the development of moral reasoning. Thus, the evolution of one’s
sense of right and wrong in making decisions depends on his/her level of intellectual development. This
connection implies that advanced levels of intellectual development are associated with higher stages of
moral development. In the same way, lower stages of intellectual development are associated with
earlier stages of moral development. A child cannot exhibit advanced levels of moral development if
he/she is still at an early stage of intellectual development.

KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL REASONING

Level Stage Reason for Moral Behavior

1. Pleasure/pain orientation To avoid pain, punishment, or
Preconventional morality
getting caught
2. Cost-benefit orientation: reciprocity To get rewards
Conventional morality 3. Good-child orientation To gain acceptance and avoid
4. Law and order orientation disapproval
5. Social contract orientation To promote the welfare of
society
Principled or 6. Ethical principle orientation To achieve justice and avoid
postconventional morality self-condemnation
7. Cosmic orientation To be true to universal
principles and feel oneself
part of a cosmic direction that
transcends social norms
Parenting Styles and Practices

Environmental influence

- One of the factor which affects the individual’s development.

- it is characterized by forces outside of the individual like how he/she has been raised
or reared by his/her parents. The foundations of moral reasoning and development are laid at
home. The home is where children first learn to distinguish right/appropriate behaviors from
wrong/inappropriate behaviors.

Three parenting styles according to Diana Baumrind:

1. Authoritarian
- The parents attempt to shape, control and evaluate the behavior and attitudes of their
children in accordance with an absolute set of conduct standards that usually comes
from religious or respected authorities.
- They use harsh discipline and punishment. Obedience becomes virtue.
- These parents do not communicate well with their children, and do not explain the
rationale behind the rules and the consequences of their actions.
- They do not listen to the viewpoints of their children and may use force to ensure
compliance.
2. Authoritative
- The parents direct their children’s activities in a rational and intelligent way.
- They are supportive, loving, and committed: support a give-and-take relationship;
discuss their rules and policies with their children; and encourage children to present
their viewpoints.
- They offer explanations for rules and consequences.
3. Permissive
- The parents are less controlling and behave with an accepting and non-punishing
attitude towards their children’s desires, actions and impulses.
- They use reason rather than direct power.
- They are warm and supportive but tend not to enforce rules. Because discipline is
lacking, children tend to make their own rules even if they can benefit from parental
rules.
4. Uninvolved/neglectful
- It was introduced by Maccoby and Martin in 1983.
- The parents take on a “hands-off” stand in the affairs of their children.

EFFECTS OF PARENTING STYLES

Parenting styles influence the development of children’s personality. Children exhibit distinct
characteristics which they imbibe from the way their parents raise them.

1. Authoritarian parents are demanding and their children have less behavioral problems which
are easily prevented. However, studies show that children reared under autocratic parents tend
to become withdrawn, fearful and dependent. These children may suffer from low self-esteem.
They may carry these traits until adolescence or adulthood.
2. Authoritative parents have children who are independent, reliable, rationale and confident.
These children generally feel good about themselves.
3. Permissive parents rarely impose rules and are non-punishing. Thus, they tend to have children
who do not put structure and order in things that they do. For these children, anything goes.
4. Uninvolved parents are detached and indifferent to the needs for their children. As such,
children grow up feeling unloved and cannot follow instructions. Some also fall prey or resort to
substance abuse as a form of distraction or a way to get attention.