Chapter 4: The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Filipino Character:

A Socio-Cultural Issue

Intended Learning Outcome

At the end of this Chapter, you should be able to:

•discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino character; and

•cite ways by which schools can counteract the weaknesses of the Filipino character.

Introduction

Schools are there for society. Their relevance is proven by their ability to address
socio-cultural problems. What are these social issues or problems that schools should
help address? We have a number of them but let's focus on the weaknesses of the
Filipino character. The strengths of the Filipino character will also be cited for a
balanced presentation. Besides, schools can capitalize on the strengths of the Filipino
character to eliminate the weaknesses.

Activity - Let's Read These

Below is an excerpt of the Report "A Moral Recovery Program:Building a People,

Building a Nation" submitted on April 27, 1988 by the Task Force to President
Corazon Aquino, the Senate and the members of the press by then Senator Leticia
Shahani, the moving spirit behind the program.

The weaknesses of the Filipino character as cited in the Report are as follows:

1. Extreme family centeredness - Excessive concern for family means using one's
office and power to promote family interests and thus factionalism patronage, political
dynasties and the protection of erring family members. It results in lack of concern for
the common good, and acts as a block to national consciousness.

2. Extreme personalism - Takes things personally, cannot separate objective task

from emotional involvement. Because of this the Filipino is uncomfortable with
bureaucracy, with, rules and regulations and with standard procedures. He uses
personal contacts, and gives preference to family and friends in hiring, services and
even voting. Extreme personalism leads to the graft and corruption evident in
Philippine society.

3. Lack of discipline - A casual attitude toward time and space, manifested in lack of
precision and compulsiveness, in poor time management and procrastination.
Aversion to following procedures strictly results in lack of standardization and
equality control. Impatience results in short cuts, palusot, ningas cogon. Lack of
discipline often results to inefficient work systems, the violation of rules and a casual
work ethic lacking follow through.

4. Passivity and lack of initiative - Waiting to be told what to do, reliance on others
(leaders and government), complacence,lack of a sense of urgency.There is high
tolerance of inefficiency, poor service, and even violations of one's basic right. Too
patient and matisin, too easily resigned to his fate, the Filipino is easily oppressed and
exploited.

5. Colonial mentality - Lack of patriotism, or of an active awareness, appreciation

and love of the Philippines and an actual preference for things foreign.

6. Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality - Done by tsismis, intriga,

unconstructive criticism... it is evident in the personal ambition that is completely
insensitive to the common good, e.g., the lack of a sense of service among people in
the government bureaucracy. This results in the dampening of cooperative and
community spirit, and in the trampling upon other's rights.

7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection - The tendecy to be superficial and

some what flighty. In the dace of serious personal and social problems, there is lack of
analysis or reflection, and instead satisfication with superficial explanations and
solutions.

8. Emphasis on porma rather than substance - This lack of analysis and emphasis
on form is reinforced by an educational system that is more from than substance.

These weaknesses are rooted in many factors:

home,social and economic environment;culture and language; history; religion;

educational system; mass media; leadership and role models.

Change is possible, however, and the following goals are proposed to develop in
the Filipino:

(1) a sense of patriotism and national pride; (2) a sense of the common good; (3) a
sense of intregrity and accountability, (4) the values and habits of discipline and hard
work; (5)the value and habits of self-reflection and analysis; the internalization of
spiritual values and the emphasts on essence rather than on form. (Shahani, Leticia.
(1988). A Moral Recovery Program: Building a People, Building a Nation.
The Filipino Character: Strengths and Weaknesses

In 1998 Senator Leticia Shahani submitted to the Senate this Report titled A Moral
Recovery Program: Building a People, Building a Nation"

This report cites the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino character. The
strengths of the Filipino character are:

1) pakikipagkapwa-tao, 2) family orientation, 3) joy and humor, 4) flexibility,

adaptability and creativity, 5) hard work and industry, 6) faith and religiosity and 7)
ability to survive.

The Filipino character also has weaknesses:

1) extreme family centeredness, 2) extreme personalism, 3) lack of discipline,

passivity and lack of initiative, 5) colonial mentality, 6) kanya-kanya syndrome,
talangka mentality, 7) lack of self-analysis and self reflection, and 8) emphasis on
porma rather than substance.

There is so much good in the Filipino but so much needs to be changed, too. Many of
our strengths as a people are also sources of our weaknesses. Shahani's report (1988)
explains that family orientation becomes in group orientation that prevents us from
reaching out beyond the family to the larger community and the nation. In our
personalism, we are warm and caring but this leads us to lack of objectivity. We are
concerned with people we know but unfair to people we don't know. In our flexibility,
we compromise precision and discipline. We are a joyful people with a sense of
humor but we can't take things with humor all the time for serious problems need
serious analysis. Our faith in God is our source of strength but this makes us
dependent on forces outside us, do nothing that makes us submissive to God's will.
We are good at pakikipagkapwa-tao and so we can easily empathize but we can at the
same time be envious of others. We can be hardworking and yet can be lazy and
passive in the workplace.

Value Education in Schools

Senator Shahani's Report was given in 1988. But its findings as reported may still be
true today. The Department of Education has as its vision to help develop... "Filipinos
who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them
to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation."
 It has as its core values - maka-Diyos, maka-tao, makakalikasan and
makabansa.

This can be an uphill battle for Philippine schools to realize these considering the:

1) extreme family centeredness, 2) extreme personalism, 3) lack of discipline,

(4)passivity and lack of initiative, 5) colonial mentality, 6) kanya-kanya syndrome,
talangka mentality, 7) lack of self-analysis and self-reflection, and 8) emphasis on
porma rather than substance.

So that it will not be "more form than substance" as described in Senator Shahani's
Report,

Philippine schools have to, intensify values education in the curriculum. In fact, in
response to this Report, Values Education now Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao in K to 12
Curriculum, was introduced as a separate subject in the basic education curriculum
under the Values Education Framework program of Dr. Lourdes Quisumbing, then
Department of Education, Culture, and Sports Secretary in 1988-1990. The Values
Education Framework was conceptualized in 1987. In 2002, the Basic Education
Curriculum (Grade 1-6, and First-Fourth Year High School) integrated values in the
major learnin areas or subjects. Beginning with the K to 12 Curriculum in 2013,
Values Education was renamed Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (EsP) for Grades 1-10. In
the Senior High Curriculum (Grades 11-12), there is no course with the title, Values
Education or Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao but core courses such as Introduction to the
Philosophy of the Human Person and Personal Development, are in essence, Values
Education subjects themselves.

Let's Check for Understanding

1 List the weaknesses of the Filipino character. Explain each in a sentence.

2. List the strengths of the Filipino then in a phrase or clause, explain when that
strength becomes a weakness.

Strength It becomes a weaknesses when

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
Name: ____________________________________________________Score:______

Test I.

I. Direction: Read the following statements and write the correct answer.

1. How many core values that the department of education have

a. 5

b. 4

c. 2

d. 3

2. The following belongs to the weakness of a Filipino Except.

a. Extreme Personalist

b. Colonial Mentality

c. Ability to Survive

d. Family Centeredness

3. A casual attitude toward time and space, manifested in lack of precision and
compulsiveness, in poor time management and procrastination.

a. Lack of discipline

b. Lack of initiative

c. Lack of Respect

d. Lack of morality

4. We wait to be told what has to be done. We tend to show strong reliance on other
like government and others leaders to do things for us.

a. Extreme family Centeredness

b. Extreme Personalism

c. Lack of discipline

d. Passivity and lack of Initiative

5. Done by tsismis,intriga, unconstructive criticism,it is evident in the personal
ambition that is completely insensitive to the common good.

a.Colonial mentality

b.Lack of self-analysis

c.Kanya-kanya syndrome,talangka mentality

d.Gossiping

6. A community project maybe awarded by government official to his family member

or relative because it will profit this person.

a. Lack of discipline

b. Passivity and lack of Initiative

c. Extreme family Centeredness

d. Extreme Personalism

7. It is manifested in our capacity for endurance despite difficult times in our ability to
get by on so very little.

a. Ability to Survive

b. Ability to have security

c. Survival Agent

d. Make it possible

d. None of the above

8.When does the Values of Education Framework was conceptualized?

a.1988

b.1978

c.1968

d.1987

9. Waiting to be told what to do,reliance on others(leaders and government),

complacence,lack of urgency.

a. Lack of discipline

b. Lack of respect

c. Passitivity and lack of initiative

d. Lack of manner

10. Who described the Values education that it will not be "More Form than
Substance”?

a. Senator De Lima's Report

b. Senator Shanani's Report

c. Senator Paquito's Report

d.Senator Badang's Report

Test II. Enumeration: Enumerate the following.

Give Eight (8) The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Filipino Character: A Socio-
cultural issue

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Give 2 examples of core values

9.

10.

Answer Key:

1. B
2. C

3.A

4. D

5. C

6. C

7.A

8. A

9. C

10.B

II. Enumerate

1. Extreme family centeredness.

2. Extreme personalism.

3. Lack of discipline.

4. Passivity and lack of initiative.

5. Colonial Mentality. ...

6. Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka mentality. ...

7. Lack of self-analysis and self-reflection. ...

8. Emphasis on porma rather than substance.

(9-10)maka-Diyos, maka-tao,makakalikasanmakabansa