Understanding the Filipino Values and Culture To a person who is not familiar or aware of the Philippine culture, understanding Filipinos is like playing a game one has never played before and of which the rules have not been explained very well. Understanding the values of Filipinos pose a challenge, to enjoy the game without missing the joys and fun of like living in the Philippines. A stranger or foreigner who has a knowledge of or exposure to the Filipino society’s customs, etiquette, and manners, is less likely to experience intense culture shock.

1. FILIPINO
VALUES
Ines A. de Guzman, PhD

2. The Filipino Value System includes an
assemblage of consistent:
IDEOLOGIES
MORAL
CODES
ETHICAL
PRACTICES
CULTURAL/
ETIQUETTE
PERSONAL
VALUES

3. The distinct value system of Filipinos is rooted
primarily in personal alliance systems such as:
Value
System
COMMERC IAL
RELATIONSHIP
S
KINSHIP
RELIGION
OBLIGATION
FRIENDSHIP

4. Social approval, acceptance by a group, and
belonging to a group are major concerns.

5. Two Models of the Filipino Value
System
Exogenous or
the Foreign
Model
• Legal and formal model
• Inherited by Filipinos from
Western cultures, particularly
from the Spaniards and the
Americans
Indigenous or
Traditional
Model
• Traditional and non-formal
model
• Deeply embedded in the
Filipino subconscious

6. Inherent Key Elements
• Optimism about the future
• Pessimism with regards to present situations and
events
• Concern and care for other people
• Existence of friendship and friendliness
• Habit of being hospitable
• Religious nature
• Respectfulness to self and others
• Respect for the female members of society
• Fear of God
• Abhorrence of acts of cheating and thievery
• Having a pro-American outlook

7. The core values of Filipinos specifically
upholds the following:
•
•
•
•
•
Solidarity of the family unit,
Security of the Philippine economy,
Orientation to small-groups,
Personalism,
Concepts of "loob" or "kalooban" ("what’s inside
the self", the "inner-self", or the "actual personal
feelings of the self"),
• Existence and maintenance of smooth
interpersonal relationships, and
• Sensing of the feelings or needs of others (known
as pakikiramdam).

8. Gender Specific Values
Expectations in relation to parenthood:
Preference for male and female children - based on the expected
roles that each gender would assume once grown up.
Both genders are expected to become responsible members of the
family and the society.
Women are expected to:
- help in household work,
- become caring and nurturing mothers for their own children,
- offer assistance after being married.
Filipino men are expected to:
- assume the role of becoming the primary source of income
and financial support of his family.

9. Basic Tenets
Core value
• Kapwa, 'togetherness', is the core construct of Filipino
Psychology. Kapwa has two categories, Ibang Tao (other
people) and Hindi Ibang Tao (not other people).
• Ibang Tao ("outsider") Five domains in this construct:
–
–
–
–
–
Pakikitungo: civility
Pakikisalamuha: act of mixing
Pakikilahok: act of joining
Pakikibagay: conformity
Pakikisama: being united with the group.
• Hindi Ibang Tao ("one-of-us") Three domains in this
construct:
– Pakikipagpalagayang-loob: act of mutual trust
– Pakikisangkot: act of joining others
– Pakikipagkaisa: being one with others

10. Pivotal interpersonal value
Pakiramdam: Shared inner
perceptions.
Filipinos use damdam, or the
inner perception of others'
emotions, as a basic tool to
guide his dealings with other
people.

11. Linking socio-personal value
Kagandahang-Loob: Shared
humanity.
Refers to being able to help other
people in dire need due to a
perception of being together as
part of one Filipino humanity.

12. Accommodative surface values
Hiya: Loosely translated as 'shame' by most
Western psychologists, Hiya is actually 'sense of
propriety'.
Utang na Loob: Norm of reciprocity. Filipinos
are expected by their neighbors to return
favors-—whether these were asked for or not—
-when it is needed or wanted.
Pakikisama and Pakikipagkapwa: Smooth
Interpersonal Relationship, or SIR, as coined by
Lynch (1961 and 1973). This attitude is primarily
guided by conformity with the majority.

13. Confrontative surface values
• Bahala Na: 'fatalistic passiveness', describes the
Filipino way of life, in which, he is determined to
do his best, hence the term bahala na, which
actually came from the phrase bathalan na,
meaning 'I will do all my best, let God take care of
the rest'.
• Lakas ng Loob: characterized by being
courageous in the midst of problems and
uncertainties.
• Pakikibaka: it means concurrent clashes. It refers
to the ability of the Filipino to undertake
revolutions and uprisings against a common
enemy.

14. Societal values
• Karangalan: dignity, this actually refers to what
other people see in a person and how they use
that information to make a stand or judge about
his/her worth.
– Puri: the external aspect of dignity. May refer to how
other people judge a person of his/her worth.
– Dangal: the internal aspect of dignity. May refer to
how a person judges his own worth.
• Katarungan: justice, this actually refers to equity
in giving rewards to a person.
• Kalayaan: Freedom and mobility. May clash with
the less important value of pakikisama or
pakikibagay (conformity).

15. Values of Modern Filipinos
PANANALIG
FAITH
The Madonna
and Child
epitomize the
kind of faith
every Filipino
carries in the
heart. An
assurance that
the Divine Being
watches over
every one of us.
KATAPATAN
FAITHFULNESS
PAG-AARUGA
NURTURING
KASIPAGAN
INDUSTRY
Resembling
marriage bonds,
faithfulness to
husband or wife
and faithfulness
to country and
all ideals for
which our
republic stands.
Every Filipino
child grows and
learns under the
a mentor who
instils in the child
the sense of love,
compassion,
heroism, and
courage .
The fruits of the
earth spring
forth only
through industry
and it is only by
working that one
will be able to
achieve the
rebuilding of our
country.
TIBAY NG
LOOB
COURAGE
Stalwart and
firm in
idealism and
goodwill, the
modern
Filipino stands
by his or her
values and
ideals.

16. References
•
•
•
•
Definitely Filipino (FB)
Internet Materials
Google Images
Jocano, F. Landa. (1992). Issues and
challenges in Filipino value formation.
Quezon City: Punlad Research House