Big Picture B

Week 3-4: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are expected to

a. Describe Philippine cultural values and entrepreneurship

b. Explain the ethics and the social and legal responsibilities of entrepreneurs

Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Describe Philippine cultural values and

entrepreneurship

Metalanguage
The following are terms to be remembered as we go through in studying this unit. Please
refer to these definitions as supplement in case you will encounter difficulty in understanding this
unit.
1. Cultural Values. The ideals held by a community as standards for social or interpersonal
behavior.
2. Attitudes. The way one sees things, persons, events, and circumstances.
3. Behavior. This is also referred as practices. This refers to how people respond under certain
situations.

Essential Knowledge
The Philippine Cultural Values and Entrepreneurship

In exploring the entrepreneurial mindset, it is important to consider a person’s cultural

mindset. The following are Filipino values that are favorable to entrepreneurship.

1. Pakikipagkapwa. This trait is about how a person treats and relate with the people around
him. This also encompasses the following.

i. concern for hiya (loss of face)

ii. pakikisama (togetherness or companionship)
iii. pakikibagay (adjusting or adapting to other people)
iv. pagmamalasakit (concern)
v. utang na loob (sense of gratitude)
vi. amor propio (self-esteem)
vii. bayanihan (cooperative spirit)

Pakikipagkapwa promotes the ideals of entrepreneurship because the person’s main

concern is providing better products and services so that he may not experience loss of face
(hiya). The togetherness or companionship (pakikisama) practice improves the entrepreneur’s
network and the reach of his business. The person’s ability to adjust or adapt to other people’s
ways will also help the entrepreneur provide more relevant products and services as he could
understand the needs and wants of these targets. Moreover, the concern (malasakit) of a
Filipino is also helpful in his entrepreneurial endeavors as this will push him to go the extra mile
in order to provide services and products to his customers. The customers often have different
needs and an extra touch will make customers delighted. Furthermore, the sense of gratitude
(utang na loob) will often make an entrepreneur look back and offer social responsibility
projects. In addition, a Filipino with high self-esteem often attracts more customers to trust in his
displayed confidence. Lastly, the cooperative spirit (bayanihan) of Filipinos is essential in his
entrepreneurial activities as this will make him more involved with his community and strengthen
his ties with his current target market.

2. Risk-taking (Lakas ng Loob). This trait is about pursuing a business without 100% assurance
that everything will turn out right. People without guts will shy away to new opportunities for
innovation in offering products and services. The Filipino term “Bahala na” exemplifies this trait.
This term projects optimism and not fatalism as this “Bahala na” is often followed by “remedy”
(improvisations) along the way. While giving their best, Filipinos also use the popular phrase
“nasa Diyos and awa, nasa tao ang gawa” (look to God for compassion and to man for action).

Moreover, gaya-gaya (copycat) is also attributed to Filipinos. This trait however is also helpful
for Filipino entrepreneurs as this is the easiest way to prepare and train an entrepreneur. When
a person is copying the best practice of others, he gains more confidence or lakas ng loob and
continue the journey of entrepreneurship.

Furthermore, the Filipino trait pakikipagsapalaran (sense of adventure) and close family ties add
to this risk-taking tendency of Filipinos. The send of adventure drives them to pursue innovative
undertakings and the knowledge that their family will support them boosts their confidence.

3. Katapatan (Sincerity). The strong spiritual and moral values evident among Filipinos
demands us to be honest in our different dealings. This trait moves the Filipino entrepreneur to
avoid dishonest and exploitative ways.

Moreover, this trait also promotes smooth labor-management relations. The entrepreneur offers
fair salary and expects a good and honest service from his employees. On the other hand, the
employees also render his honest service and expects fair treatment.

4. Social Mobility. Social Mobility means “the degree of difficulty or easiness a society or group
of people allows a member to go up or climb one social level to another”. Filipinos love rags-to-
riches stories and get inspired by stories of people with humble beginnings. This trait breeds
entrepreneurial dreams and talents.

5. Sipag (deligence), Katipiran (thrift or frugality), Pagkamatiisin (patient, with endurance) and
Pagtitimpi (self-control).

While Filipinos often hear the stories of “Juan Tamad” (Lazy John), Filipinos also have
ways to deal with the followers of Juan. Filipinos have the saying “Ang kasipaga’y kapatid ng
kayamanan” (Industry is the twin of prosperity) and “Ang tamad namamatay sa gutom” (The lazy
man starves to death). Moreover, the “katipiran” (thrift or frugality) among Filipinos is also
exemplified in the popular saying “Kung may sinuksuok, may madudukot” (Put aside something
today and tomorrow you’ll have something to draw from”. In addition, Filipinos are also known
for their enduring trait. Most work hard for the promise of giving their families a better life. Lastly,
Filipinos are known to have good tolerance. This is good as entrepreneurs face challenges in
emotional and physical pressure of the business undertaking (SERDEF, 2007).

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further
understand the lesson

SERDEF, 2007. Introduction to Entrepreneurship. U.P. Institute for Small-Scale Industries.

Let’s Check

Let us try the following activities to check your understanding in this unit.

Activity 1. Identification. In the space provided, write the term/s being asked in the following
statements: (One point each)

________ 1. This refers to the degree of difficulty or easiness a society or group of people allows
a member to go up or climb one social level to another.
________ 2. "Bahala na" exemplifies this cultural value.
________ 3. The strong spiritual and moral values evident among Filipinos demands us to be
honest in our different dealings. This values is called.
________ 4. This trait is also helpful for Filipino entrepreneurs as this is the easiest way to
prepare and train an entrepreneur.
________ 5. This promotes the ideals of entrepreneurship because the person’s main concern is
providing better products and services so that he may not experience loss of face (hiya).

Activity 2. True or False. In the space provided, write T if the given statement is true and F if
false. (One point each).
_____ 1. The Filipino’s sense of adventure is a useful trait among Filipino entrepreneurs.
_____ 2. The story about “Juan Tamad” reflects the Filipino entrepreneurs.
_____ 3. “Kung may sinuksuok, may madudukot” (Put aside something today and tomorrow
you’ll have something to draw from) is a Filipino saying which exemplifies Pagkamatiisin.
_____ 4. Filipinos don’t get inspired by rags-to-riches stories.
_____ 5. Gaya-Gaya (Copy-cat) is not a useful Filipino values.
Let’s Analyze
Let us try the following activities to know how deep your understanding of the topics of
this unit is.

Activity 1. List 3 Filipino values that you can attribute to a successful entrepreneur. Discuss and
give examples.

Filipino Values Discussion

1.

2.

3.

Activity 2. What Filipino Values do you think you should enhance? Cite three and discuss.

Filipino Values Discussion

1.

2.

3.
Activity 3. Case Study Analysis.

Instructions.

1. Download and read the Case Crossroads for a Young Entrepreneur Wings of Fame by: Edgar
Allan Castro https://wdi-publishing.com/product/crossroads-for-a-young-entrepreneur-wings-of-
fame/

2. Use the table below in answering the Case Study Questions.

Case study Questions and Answers Table

Questions Answers

1. What Filipino
values are visible
in the Case?
Discuss
thoroughly.

2. What other
Filipino values do
you think are
necessary for Jaap
Bala and his
group? Discuss
thoroughly.
In a Nutshell

In this part you are going to jot down what you have learned in this unit. The said
statement of yours could be in a form of concluding statements, arguments, or perspective you
have drawn from this lesson. The first three items is done for you.

1. Filipino’s copy-cat tendencies are sometimes useful in training entrepreneurs.

2. Maintaining good relationship with our neighbors will be good for business.
3. Social mobility is very much supported here in the Philippines.

Now it’s your turn!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.
Q&A List
In this section you are going to list what boggles you in this unit. You may indicate your
questions but noting you have to indicate the answers after your question is being raised and
clarified. You can write your questions below.

Questions/Issues Answers
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Keywords Index

Pakikipagkapwa Katapatan (Sincerity)

Risk-taking (Lakas ng Loob) Social Mobility
gaya-gaya (copycat) “katipiran” (thrift or frugality
pakikipagsapalaran (sense of
adventure)