X.
Core Values
(Faith and Religiosity/Love for God, Family Orientation, Respect for Elders/ “kapwa,
Malasakit, Nationalism and Patriotism, Resiliency, Flexibility, Adaptability, Joy, and
Humor, Hardwork, Industry, and Stewardship, Shared Identity (Kapwa), Shared
Inner Perception (Pakiramdam), Shared Humanity (Kagandahang-Loob)
I. Pre-Test: “Living Values: Act It Out!”
Instructions: Form groups of 5–7 members. Each group will be assigned one core
Filipino value from the following: Faith and Religiosity/Love for God, Family
Orientation, Respect for Elders/Authority, Kapwa (Shared Identity), Malasakit
(Compassion), Nationalism and Patriotism, Resiliency, Flexibility and Adaptability,
Joy and Humor, Hard Work and Industry, Stewardship, Pakiramdam (Shared Inner
Perception), or Kagandahang-Loob (Shared Humanity/Innate Goodness). Each
group will create a short scenario (3–5 minutes). After the performance, one
representative from the group will explain what the scenario was about, identify the
core value demonstrated, and discuss how this value influences Filipino life and
identity.
II. Synchronizing Knowledge
Introducing Different Core Values in the Philippines
Posted by CHAERLSHELLY on SEPTEMBER 17, 2017
The Philippines is approximately 85 percent Christians (mostly Roman
Catholic Christians), 10 percent Muslim, and 5 percent ‘other’ religions, including the
Taoist-Buddhist religious beliefs of Chinese and the ‘indigenous’ animistic beliefs of
some peoples in upland areas that resisted 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. This
reflects the Filipinos’ strong faith in God as seen in their various practices. This
includes the numerous Church Holidays they observe, the customary (and
obligatory) Sunday Mass, the individual’s basis of their moral standpoints, the
influence of the Church on the minds, actions, and opinions of the majority,
importance of the Sacraments, Praying at almost any possible time of the day, the
extreme practices during Holy Week.
Posted by CHAERLSHELLY on SEPTEMBER 17, 2017
The basic and most important unit of a Filipino’s life is the family. Unlike in
Western countries, young Filipinos who turn 18 are not expected to move out of their
parents’ home. When a Filipino’s parents are old and cannot take care of
themselves, they are cared for in their children’s homes and are very rarely brought
by their children to Homes for the Aged. The practice of separating the elderly from
the rest of the family, while common in Western countries, is often looked down upon
in Filipino society. Family lunches with the whole clan with up to 50 people,
extending until the line of second cousins, are not unusual. The Filipino puts a great
emphasis on the value of family and being close to one’s family members.
Respect for Elders is a Core Filipino Value
Filipino culture is built on a strong foundation of respect for elders,
which is deeply ingrained in everyday interactions and traditions. This respect is
demonstrated through traditional gestures like *pagmamano*, where you take an
elder's hand and place it on your forehead, symbolizing deference and honor.
For example, when greeting an elder, a Filipino child might perform *pagmamano* as
a sign of respect.
I and my Lolo
Elders are Revered in Filipino Families
In Filipino families, elders are considered vital sources of wisdom and
guidance. Children are expected to care for their aging parents as a sign of familial
responsibility. This expectation is rooted in the culture's emphasis on
intergenerational respect and reciprocity.
Patriotism and Nationalism in the Philippines Philippine nationalism is an
upsurge of patriotic sentiments and nationalistic ideals in the Philippines in the late
1800s that came because of the Filipino Propaganda Movement from 1872 to 1892.
The belated development of the Philippine nationalism was caused by the following:
● The native's tendency to be regionalist.
● The geography of the country.
● The Philippine insular and the people were divided by water.
The Spirit of Being Resilient in Filipino Culture
“As we commemorate the ninth anniversary of Yolanda that battered the
country, most especially Eastern Visayas, we honor and offer prayers to those who
perished during this unfortunate event, as we raise our glasses to the brave souls,
our first responders, who put the lives of others above their own during the onslaught
of the super typhoon,” Romualdez said.
He stressed that” this resilience is borne in part by the sacrifices of our first
responders, our unity in the face of adversity, and our propensity for compassion
toward our fellow citizens in times of calamities."
Yolanda, dubbed as a Category 5 typhoon and is one of the most powerful
tropical cyclones ever recorded, levelled most of whatever structure was standing in
Eastern Visayas in 2013. Romualdez, who represents Leyte, is from Tacloban, which
has been hit hard by the super typhoon.
“While it is very difficult to forget the horrors we faced during Yolanda, the
important thing is we learned from this harrowing experience. And if we learn from
this tragedy, we continue to honor those who perished and those who willingly
sacrificed their lives for the benefit of others,” Romualdez said.
According to the Speaker, Filipinos have fully recovered from Yolanda which
he said is a testament to the Filipinos’ resiliency. “Whatever calamity we will face –
and surely there will be in the future – we can overcome because of this resiliency
and our sincere compassion toward our fellow Filipinos," he said.
Understanding Being Resilient in Filipino People
It’s effortless to spot examples of the resilience of Filipino people. You can
see it in a lot of pictures that often make it to magazines only because it looks so
strange from an outsiders’ perspective. These pictures depict children playing
basketball while waist-deep in floodwater, it shows people offering what little food
they have after a calamity to anyone who happens to be walking by. It shows
Filipinos caring for their pets amid natural disasters.
For the love of the game, no one can stop the Pinoy in playing the basketball.
For Filipinos, these are not newsworthy pictures which is why they often only
make the news in foreign newspapers or websites. For Filipinos, this is common in
everyday life. There is a mix of the natural spirit of being resilient in Filipino, of
culture, and of the simple Filipino act of finding moments of peace even during a
disaster.
It might be best understood with an age-old story where someone takes a
glass jar and pours sand into it, saying that the sand represents different things in life
– school, career, commitment, and so on. And then at the end, when the jar is full,
they take a bottle of beer and pour it in, saying that the lesson is you always have
time for a beer and conversation with friends. It’s the same for the resilience of a
Filipino – no matter what happens, there are family and friends to enjoy a meal and
even a bit of conversation.
The Resiliency of a Filipino is Built into the Culture
A little-known fact about Filipinos is that a polite way of greeting someone is to
invite them to share your food. When you approach Filipinos while they’re enjoying a
meal, they will greet you with a cheery “Kain tayo or Kaon ta,” which translates to
“Let’s eat.” Small gestures like this are built into the Filipino culture, one of which is
the ironclad habit of helping your neighbors or giving food to those who don’t have it.
But more than generosity and innate friendliness, Filipinos are also some of
the most practical people in the world. In the face of hardships, Filipinos are less
likely to question why such difficulties could happen but are more likely to accept that
bad things do happen.
After the heavy rainfall, the Filipinos love to keep themselves warm.
These can be seen during the corona pandemic when so many people lost
their jobs. Instead of throwing their hands up, the resilience of the Filipino spirit
showed in how most people adapted to their change in circumstances. Whether it’s
to sell baked goods online or to learn to buy and sell items via popular eCommerce
websites or to find work online, most people in the Philippines looked at what needed
to be done and took the next step.
The Resiliency of the Filipino is Finding Strength in Family
There are times when the Filipino culture of having a close-knit family can be
a pain, like when your Auntie asks when you’re getting married, something that
happens often enough during the holidays. But the great thing about having a close-
knit family as most Filipinos do is that there’s always someone to lend you a
sympathetic ear and even a helping hand when times get tough.
And they lived happily ever after.
But the most important thing about having a Filipino family is that you will
always have someplace to go, even if it’s your third or fourth cousin from your mom’s
side whom you haven’t seen in fifteen years. For Filipinos, when family shows up at
your door, you let them in. Much like how Robert Frost’s famous poem goes, “Home
is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”
Seeing the Resilience of the Filipino Spirit in a Different Light
Some would say that the resilience of the Filipino spirit may be holding the
country back. Instead of reacting as most cultures do, Filipinos tend to take things in
stride which could open the doors for abuse and neglect. While there is a grain of
truth in saying that resilience in Filipinos can be taken advantage of, it has proven its
real value, especially during the struggles and difficulties of the Corona pandemic.
Why are Filipinos one of the happiest people on earth?
As other cultures face staggering increases in unemployment, most of the
Philippines explored other avenues of making a living and moved on with their lives.
And even in a ‘dark horse’ disaster like the current pandemic, Filipinos continue to
find small pleasures throughout their day, as expected from the resilience of the
Filipino spirit.
Studies show that Filipinos often have an aversion to a set of standardized
rules or procedures; They are known to follow a Natural Clock or Organic sense of
time- doing things in the time they feel is right. They are present-oriented: which
means that one attends to a task or requirement at the time it is needed and does
not worry much about future engagements. This allows the Filipino to adapt and be
flexible in doing the tasks at times not bound to a particular schedule or timeframe.
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.
This famous trait is the ability of Filipinos to find humor in everything. It sheds
light on the optimism and positivity of Filipinos in whatever situation they are in so as
to remain determined in going through struggles or challenges. It serves as a coping
technique, the same way a child who has fallen laughs at himself/herself to hide
his/her embarrassment.
Filipinos over the years have proven time and time again that they are a
people with an industrious attitude. Sadly, this is seen by others as Filipinos being
only useful as domestic helpers, working abroad to help their families in the country.
This is also present in the country’s workforce particularly the farmers. Even with
little support, technological weaknesses and the country’s seasonal typhoons, the
Filipino farmer still strives to earn their daily meal.
The Three core-concepts of the Value-Structure of the Philippine Personality
Theory
Shared Identity (Kapwa)
Unpacking Kapwa: More Than Just a Word
In the bustling streets of Manila, amidst the cacophony of jeepneys and the
aroma of sizzling street food, there’s an invisible thread that binds every Filipino
together. It’s not just the shared love for adobo or the collective groan when traffic
grinds to a halt. It’s something deeper, more profound – a concept that’s woven into
the very fabric of Filipino society. This concept is called “Kapwa,” and it’s the
heartbeat of Filipino culture. Kapwa is more than just a word – it’s a way of life. It’s
the reason why Filipinos are known for their warmth, hospitality, and resilience in the
face of adversity.
The Meaning of Kapwa
At its core, Kapwa is a Tagalog word that roughly translates to “fellow being”
or “others.” But this translation barely scratches the surface of its true meaning.
Kapwa embodies the idea that there’s an inherent unity and interconnectedness
between oneself and others. It’s a recognition that we’re all part of a larger whole,
and that our identities are inextricably linked to those around us.
The Roots of Kapwa
To truly understand Kapwa, we need to delve into its origins. This concept
didn’t just spring up overnight – it’s deeply rooted in the Philippines’ pre-colonial
history. Before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, the Philippines was a
collection of barangays (villages) where communal living was the norm. In these
close-knit communities, survival depended on cooperation and mutual support. This
communal spirit persisted even through centuries of colonization and has remained a
cornerstone of Filipino culture. It’s fascinating to think that a concept that originated
in small island communities has managed to survive and thrive in the modern,
globalized Philippines of today.
The Many Faces of Kapwa
Kapwa in Everyday Life
One of the things that never fails to amaze me about Kapwa is how it
manifests in everyday Filipino life. It’s not just a lofty philosophical concept – it’s a
practical guide for social interaction. Let me give you a few examples:
Sharing Food: Have you ever noticed how Filipinos always seem to have extra food
to share? This isn’t just generosity – it’s Kapwa. The act of sharing food is seen as a
way of extending oneself to others.
Bayanihan: This tradition of communal work, where neighbors come together to
help someone move their house (literally!), is Kapwa in its purest form. It’s about
recognizing that your neighbor’s problem is your problem too.
Family-Oriented Culture: The strong emphasis on family in Filipino culture, where
extended family members are often as close as immediate family, is another
manifestation of Kapwa.
Pakikisama: This concept of getting along with others, even if it means
compromising your own desires, is deeply rooted in Kapwa.
These everyday expressions of Kapwa create a society where people feel connected
and supported. It’s like having a safety net woven from human relationships.
Shared Inner Perception (Pakiramdam)
Pakiramdam is often described as an all-important “shared inner perception”
that compliments the “shared identity” of kapwa. It is an emotional a priori that goes
with the Filipino personhood (as Enriquez called the Kapwa Personality).
Pakiramdam operates behind all Filipino values. This steering emotion triggers the
spontaneous voluntary actions that come with the sharing of the Self. It is the keen
deep inner feeling that initiates all deeds.
Because of kapwa, this Pinoy feeling (pakikiramdam) is a participatory
process, where emotions tend to be experienced mutually. Since most Pinoys can
boast a “heightened awareness and sensitivity”, Enriquez’ student Rita Mataragnon
declared pakiramdam a Filipino “emotional a-priori.” Filipinos are good in sensing
cues (magaling makiramdam), she said and pointed out that both, the empathic
“feeling for another,” or the talent of “sizing up each other” were active emotional
processes that involved great attention to the subtleties non-verbal behavior.
Heightened sensitivity is a good survival tool in a society where not all social
interactions are carried out with words. Here, only the carefully feeling out another
can help one navigate the ambiguities of life’s encounters, like knowing when to join
a group or how to blend in with people. Pakiramdam provides the tacit leads how to
act appropriately in such situations and may well be regarded as the cognitive style
of Filipinos, a unique social skill that is intrinsic to the Filipino personhood.
Shared Humanity (Kagandahang-Loob)
The last core-value of the Filipino personhood is kagandahang-loob or “shared
nobility.” The dictionary renders the term kagandahang-loob as a very general
concept that emphasizes the beauty of something. It’s meaning is so broad that the
notion stands for “anything good about something”. It is also translated as
generosity. Kagandahang-loob acts like an anchor that grounds kapwa and
pakiramdam in the enduring ancestral beliefs and convictions of Filipino IKSP. These
are basically: God is good. Life is about learning, creating, and sharing. It is good,
even if there are hardships. Every sunrise brings a new day, a new horizon. There is
always hope.
Kagandahang-loob, this “shared inner nobility” or “shared humanity” is a Filipino
value that would nudge a person towards genuine acts of generosity; towards a
nurturing that has its origin in genuine feeling for others-- empathy.
In summary, the three core-concepts of the value-structure of the Philippine
personality theory are kapwa, pakiramdam and kagandahang-loob, interpreted as
Shared Identity, Shared Inner Perception, and Shared Humanity. These values
outline the profound humanistic inclination of the Filipino. And it is plain to see how
such values are a seedbed for a culture of non-violence.
Conclusion
The core values of the Filipino people—such as faith and religiosity, strong
family orientation, respect for elders, compassion (malasakit), nationalism,
patriotism, and resiliency—form the foundation of the nation's identity. These values
are deeply rooted in shared cultural practices and interpersonal relationships,
expressed through concepts like kapwa (shared identity), pakiramdam (shared inner
perception), and kagandahang-loob (shared humanity and innate goodness).
Filipinos are known not only for their hard work, flexibility, and adaptability in the face
of adversity, but also for their ability to find joy and humor even in difficult times.
Together, these values foster a strong sense of community, unity, and perseverance
that continues to guide and define the Filipino spirit in everyday life and during times
of national challenges.
III. Post-Test:“Through My Looking Glass”
Instructions:
Write a narrative story (300–500 words) that explores how you perceive yourself
based on how others see you in connection with Filipino core values such as faith,
family orientation, respect, resilience, joy, hard work, and shared identity
(kapwa). Use Charles Horton Cooley’s “Looking Glass Self” theory as a guide:
1. How do you think others perceive you?
2. How do you believe they judge those perceptions?
3. How does that affect how you see yourself?
Include real experiences or personal reflections that show how these perceptions
shaped your understanding of Filipino values—for example, how a family member's
or mentor’s feedback helped you realize your strength in malasakit (compassion) or
pakiramdam (sensitivity to others).
Be honest and reflective. Justify your realizations with specific examples.
IV. Assessment: “Mirror Moments”
Directions:
Answer the following reflection question in at least 5–10 thoughtful sentences. Use
personal experiences and connect them to both the Looking Glass Self theory and
Filipino core values.
Reflection Question:
Think of a time when someone’s opinion or judgment changed how you viewed
yourself. How did this affect your behavior, self-esteem, or decisions? Did it help you
become more resilient, compassionate, respectful, or hardworking? How does this
reflect kapwa, pakiramdam, or kagandahang-loob?
Rubric for “Mirror Moments”
Criteria Points
Clarity of Insights 15 pts
Relevance to the Theory and Core
10pts
Values
Use of a Personal Example or Real-Life
15pts
Scenario
Grammar and Organization 10pts
Total 50 pts
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