Ethics Report

The Filipino
Character:
Strengths and
Weaknesses
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.
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.
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
quality control. Impatience results in short cuts, palusots,
ningas cogon.
4. Positivity and lack of initiative
- waiting to be told what to do,

rebalance on others (leader and
government) complacence, lack of a
sense of urgency. There is a high
inefficiency, poor service, and even
violations of one's basic rights.
5. Colonial mentality
- lack of patriotism, or of an active

awareness, appreciation and love of
the Philippines and an actual
preference for thing foreign.
6. Kanya-kanya syndrome talangka

mentality
- it is evident in the personal ambition

that is completely insensitive to the
common good.
7. Lack of self-analysis and self-

reflection
- In the face of serious personal and

social problems, there is lack of
analysis or reflection and instead
satisfaction with superficial
explanation and solutions.
These weaknesses are rooted in many
factors:
a. Home
b. Social and economic environment
c. Culture and language
d. History
e. Religion
f. Educational system
g. Mass media
h. Leadership and role models

However, change is possible based
to Shahani, Leticia in 1998 the
following goals are proposed to
develop in the Filipinos:
a. Sense of patriotism and

national pride .
b. A sense of the common good
c. A sense of integrity and

accountability.
d. The values and habits of

discipline and hard work.
e. The value and habits of self-

reflection and analysis; the
internalization of spiritual values
and the emphasis on essence rather
than on form.
The strengths of the Filipino character.
1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao 2. Family orientation

-source of personal identity,
-basic sense of justice and emotional and material support
fairness
-sense of family results in a feeling
-concern for others of belongingness and rootedness in
a basic sense of security.
-ability to empathize with others
-open to others and feel one

with others-
3. Joy and Humor 4. Flexibility, adaptability and

creativity
-Filipinos have a cheerful and fun-
loving approach to life and its ups -We can adjust and to adapt to
and downs. circumstances and the surrounding
environment, both physical and
-Laughing at ourselves and the social; adjusts to whatever happens
mess we are in is an important even in unplanned or anticipated
coping mechanism. Playful, events.
sometimes, disrespectful, we laugh
at those we love and at those we - We possess a tolerance for
hate and we make jokes about our ambiguity that enables us to remain
good fortune and bad. unfazed by uncertainly or lack of
information.
5. Hard work and industry
-We have the capacity for hard

work given proper conditions;
- to raise one’s standard of living

and to possess the essentials of a
decent life for one’s family
6. Faith and religiosity
- Filipinos have deep faith in God.
7. Ability to survive
- Filipinos make do with what is

available in the environment.
- It is manifested in the millions of

Filipinos who bravely live through
the harshest economic and social
circumstances.
Values in Education
Values Education or Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao has core

courses such as Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human
Person and Personal Development.
Schools could promote Values Education through nurturing in their

students the ten priority values and attitudes:
• Perseverance
• Respect to others
• Responsibility
• National Identity
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Care for others
• Law-abidingness
• Empathy
• Diligence
Schools could promote Values Education through

nurturing in their students the ten priority values and
attitudes:
Other Studies On filipino Moral
Character
There had been studies of the Filipino moral life. Research
identified the “Kami” mentality of Filipinos. One norm of
morality in the Philippines is based on “group-centeredness”
or “group thinking”. One’s in-group determines for the
individual for what is right or wrong.
Other moral characters of Filipinos:
-Conscience from the outside

Ex. Parents tell their daughter who is being courted: “Iha, please
entertain your boyfriend at home. Do not go outside.
In this instance, what will neighbor say?: Nakakahiya naman.

Which is shame or hiya makes the parents and the girl conform to
the social expectations of the neighbors lest they become the
object of tsismis or gossip.
The “group thinking” cited by Fr. Gorospe is called “sakop

mentality”. The sakop may refer to “person’s relatives,
peers, classmates, townmates, officemates, etc. – This
thinking or mentality explains the “Pakikisama” in both
positive and negative sense.
-It explains the barkada attitude and euphemism.

Impact of culture on Morality
Speaking of the significant of culture on the morality of

people let us think of the Japanese “shame culture.” “Guilt
cultures emphasize punishment and forgive as ways of
restoring the moral order, shame cultures stress self-denial
and humanity as ways of restoring the social order,” What
keeps Japanese from acting contrary to moral standards is the
fear of being put to shame. At most they would do when put
to shame is hara-kiri, (suicide). Contrast this to the “guilt
culture” in the Philippines. When a Filipino commits an
immoral act, he would of course feel guilty but after
confessing his sin, he may feel as if he is back to the normal
thing and can sin again.
Can it be said that a society that easily resorts to mob rule,
mob mentality, where only a few have the guts to stand up
and insist on what conscience dictates, is in need of moral
development?/ Filipino homes and schools to do something,
to teach the moral development they want or hope to see.

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The Filipino

1. Extreme family centeredness

- waiting to be told what to do,

- lack of patriotism, or of an active

6. Kanya-kanya syndrome talangka

- it is evident in the personal ambition

7. Lack of self-analysis and self-

- In the face of serious personal and

b. Social and economic environment

c. Culture and language

h. Leadership and role models

a. Sense of patriotism and

b. A sense of the common good

c. A sense of integrity and

d. The values and habits of

e. The value and habits of self-

1. Pakikipagkapwa-tao 2. Family orientation

-open to others and feel one

3. Joy and Humor 4. Flexibility, adaptability and

-We have the capacity for hard

- to raise one’s standard of living

6. Faith and religiosity

- Filipinos have deep faith in God.

- Filipinos make do with what is

- It is manifested in the millions of

Values Education or Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao has core

Schools could promote Values Education through nurturing in their

Schools could promote Values Education through

Other moral characters of Filipinos:

-Conscience from the outside

In this instance, what will neighbor say?: Nakakahiya naman.

The “group thinking” cited by Fr. Gorospe is called “sakop

-It explains the barkada attitude and euphemism.

Speaking of the significant of culture on the morality of

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