Philosophy of Values
The philosophy of human values is
necessary in understanding Filipino
values such as family closeness and
solidarity (pagkamalapit at pagkakaisa ng
pamilya), politeness (pagkamagaling
through the use of po or ho), hospitality
and gratitude (utang na loob).
Values our both subjective and objective.
Filipino Values
1. It is obvious that certain values take on
a distinctively Filipino flavor for us. The
Greek ideal of moderation or meden agan,
the Roman in medio atat virtus, and the
Confucian and buddhist doctrine of the
middle way, find their Filipino equivalent in
walang labis, walang kulang, or
katamtaman lamang.
[Link] of Filipino values, we do not
mean that elements of these Filipino
values are absent in the value systems of
other peoples and cultures.
[Link], human values in the Filipino
context (historical, cultural, socio-
economic, political, moral and religious)
take on a distinctive set of Filipino
meanings and motivations. Fr. Horacio de
la Costa S.J calls Filipino “nationalistic”
tradition
A Filipino value is not discrete item
which exist alone, in isolation or in a
vacuum. Filipino values like- bahala na,
utang na loob hiya, etc., are clustered
around core values like social acceptance,
economic security and social mobility.
4. Values in the sense of historical
consciousness had evolved among the
Filipino people, leading to the concept of
justice evolving from inequality and to
human dignity.
Ganito kami noon: paano kayo ngayon?
How are we to know toward what
goal/direction Filipino values ought to
move?
Now that we have regained our democratic form of
government and have arrived at a privileged historical
kairos, how do we transform Filipino values to build a more
“just and humane society”? We need both external
structural and internal culture change. It is here that the
Christian faith, in the last analysis should point the way to
the kind of values education needed for national
reconstruction
A Moral Recovery Program:
Building a People—Building a
Nation
ROOTS OF THE FILIPINO
CHARACTER
The strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino
have their roots in many factors such as:
1. The Family & Home Environment
The main components of the home environment:
Child rearing practices
Child rearing can be both difficult and rewarding
at the same time. The goal of every parent is to
have your child grow up to be a respectable and
resourceful adult in society.
Child rearing in the Filipino family is
characterized by:
• High nurturance
• Low independence training
> over protection
• Low discipline
• Family relations
• Family attitudes and orientation
2. The 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:
• Social structures
• Social systems
> interpersonal religious
> community interaction
3. Culture and Language
Language and culture cannot be separated.
Language is vital to understanding our unique
cultural perspectives. Language is a tool that is used
to explore and experience our cultures and
perspectives that are embedded in our cultures.
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 mind set in the Filipino
which encouraged us to think of the colonial power
5. The Educational System
Aside from the problems inherent in the use
of a foreign language in our educational system,
the educational system leads to other problems
for us as a people.
“They develop mind set that things learned in
schools are not related to real life.”
• The lack of suitable local textbooks and
dependence on foreign textbooks, particularly
in the higher school levels.
Aside from the influences of the formal curriculum,
there are the influences of “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
• Poverty, however, has also become an excuse for
graft and corruption, particularly among the lower
rungs of the bureaucracy.
8. The 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.
• political power is still very much concentrated in
the hands of a few may lead to passivity.
9. 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.
10. Leadership and Role Models
• Filipino look up 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.
Nationalism and Patriotism
Nationalism- is generally used to describe two
things. The first is attitude of the members of a
nation which includes the concepts of national
identity, origin, ethnicity, and cultural ties. The
second is the action that the members of a nation
take when seeking to achieve or sustain full
statehood with complete authority over domestic and
international affairs.
Patriotism- is love of and devotion to one’s
country. The word comes from the Greek
patris, meaning “fatherland”. However
patriotism has had different meanings over
time, and its meaning is highly dependent
upon context, geography and philosphy.
Personal Development Plan
Wells (2012), Seven (7) Simple Steps- Life
Transformation Guide, states that success
requires an articulated goal.
[Link] True Self- Begin with some introspection to
help you define your values, your patterns, and your
beliefs.
2. Make It Personal- Understand success and
achievement , and what it means to you and to others.
[Link] Your Outcome- Set your goals and how to
achieve them. This section is really about knowing
where you’re going.
4. Design Success- Lay out your “Success
Blueprint.” if the prior section covers where you’re
going, this is about how you’ll get there.
[Link] the Power- Determine to make your
plans a reality. In order to succeed , you need more
than a plan; that plan needs to be executed.
[Link] Success- Establish a mind set to succeed
in bringing your desired outcomes to fruition.
Life is Circular- Look forward to the future, and
7.
move on beyond the completion of your plan.