CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Since, Filipino values have become one of the most important parts of the

Philippine history. Filipinos up today and yesterday were described through their

traditional values. Actually, it was one of the major factors of invasion and

domination of the Philippines by the neighboring nations. The coming of invaders in

the country marked the beginning of the entrance of foreign influences that brought

changes and alternations in the moods of the long-cherished Filipino values.

For the fact, Young Filipinos of today look far different from their forefathers in

the manner they speak, act, dress, in the mode of living and other aspects. But then,

cultural traces inherited from ancestors are carried from generation to generation in

varying degrees. Presently, traces of this culture can be gleaned through typical

ways shown in relation to their everybody dealings with each other.

Because of our vulnerability to outside influences, our actions today in terms of

cultural traits are very much affected by our connections with the foreigners who

came to our shores. We easily picked up many of their cultural traits.

It is for us now to decide whether we should be better known as Filipinos in the

manner we act. We can’t deny that it is a fact that we began to fail identify in us

Filipinos qualities that we should uphold as true Filipinos.

In this research work, the researchers want to give the readers a glimpse of

Filipino values, its austere condition at present.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study is conducted to find out the current plight of Filipino values. The

study specifically answers the following questions:

Are Filipino values really fading out?

1. What are common qualities of Filipinos as of today?

2. What are some of the traditional Filipino values?

3. What are the factors behind the slowly fading of Filipino values?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study gives the reader a glimpse of values upholds in every

Filipino individual. This study is purposely for everybody especially for those who are

interested in the topic particularly people who are conditionally studies on the same

or connected topic. It aims to give the readers the awareness of the current plight of

the Filipino National character. Moreover, the study aims to knock the heart and

awaken the minds of the readers to move them into action. In addition, the author

wishes to encourage the readers to pay attention to the most neglected social

problem, the fading of Filipino values. This study will also give the readers the

chance to go over the most common traditional values and make proper valuing to

reinforce observation and practice our beautiful customs, beliefs, and traits as

Filipinos. To sum up, we are considering the study as a revelation that all of us are

the root cause of the problem.

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SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study limitedly deals with the present status of Filipino values including the

factors behind its fading. Furthermore, its effect in the current Philippine economical,

social and political condition will also be discussed.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms were defined according the purpose of the study to make

them clearer to the readers:

Character. Is the aggregate of feature and traits that form the individual nature of a

person.

Culture. Is the ways of living built up by a human group and transmitted to succeeding

generations.

Deteriorate. To make or become worse in character or quality.

Fade. To disappear gradually of die out.

Manner. Is the prevailing customs of people, class or period or the ways of behaving

with reference to polite standards.

Traits. A distinguishing character or quality.

Values. The abstract concepts of what is right or worthwhile.

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CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents a brief discussion of related literature and studies of

local authorities which have provided background of the study.

According to Bacilig, values are our inner powers. They make us feel truly

strong and alive. They give us the needed enthusiasm and energy in life. Love,

affection or care as a value is the willingness to reach out to other persons in order

to give them support and to experience their support in return. When we give

importance to love, we are not afraid to make friends with others. Faith in God as a

value is the inner connection that there is God, in whom we can place all our trust,

and whose laws we should always follow and obey. When we value faith, we are not

afraid. We are certain that God will take care of us.8

Reinventing the Filipino values is not a matter of chance. It should be left to

chance. It is a movement, a concerted, deliberate effort to establish a new order of

life. It is also a creative process. Colonization is merely a temporary detraction.

Life goes on according to its anima and hidden strength. This study

especially elucidates critical issues underlying ethnicity, religion, historiography,

language and many more. The issue on trans-nationalization and intellectual

experience is a great leap beyond the boundary of our natural culture. It is hoped

that the leap is not from the frying pan to the fire. Certainly, Filipino values are our

distinct contribution to the many cultures around the globe.

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Carino and Peñalosa reveals that the answer is in our hands. What we do

to preserve Filipino values and not what we say, will determine what tomorrow will

be. We Filipinos talk much but do little. We should change our ways. Let us train and

teach our youth to do their part. For unless we do so we will continue to be the sick

man of Asia. Or maybe even the dying man of Asia.

Values are things that we consider good and important, and help us make

decision. These justify our actions and behavior.

Here are some suggestions to help us as we grow up:

1. Let us look at the lives of great men and women. Let us discover their values

that are the many things they considered most important in life. Let us learn from

them, and be inspired by the example that they gave us.

2. Let us look at ourselves. Let us be willing to set aside some of our time for

silence and reflection. Only then we can be able to listen to our hearts and

become aware of our own values.

3. Let us not be afraid to live according to our values. In whatever we say or do, let

us act and behave because of the good and beautiful things that are most

precious to us.

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CHAPTER 3

SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY

This study entitled “SLOWLY DETERIORATING AND FADING OUT FILIPINO

VALUES” is conducted to find out the current plight of Filipino values.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

Are Filipino values really fading out?

1. What are common qualities of Filipinos as of today?

2. What are some of the traditional Filipino values?

3. What are the factors behind the slowly fading out of the Filipino values?

FINDINGS

This chapter presents the findings of the study based on the problems above-

mentioned.

The value upheld by every Filipino individual significantly affect the current

status of our nation. In fact, it has played a major role in the economic, political,

social, and moral aspects of the Filipino people in the nation building. From the

earliest centuries of the Philippines, sets of values accompanied by traditions and

customs were maintained by our forefathers.

The Filipinos are usually caught in the midst of social changes, of depression

and other natural crises. Problems usually encountered by every Filipino challenge

their establishing and thereby pose aspects of life. Despite of this hazard, they were

able to resist on these because of having the traits of being a true Filipino.

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1. What are common qualities of Filipinos as of today?

A. Close Family Ties

The family is considered the basic unit of our society. It is usually composed of

grandfather, grandmother, parents and children. It maybe observed that the Filipino

family is closely-knit.

It is an extended clan of blood relatives. The close ties are also

reflected in the frequent family reunion held on such as weddings, anniversaries,

Christmas, New Year, All Saints Day and Town Fiestas.

However, closeness of family members can be readily seen by the way parents

bring up their children. Even when family members are far from each other because

of work situation or demands or when children are married and living in other places.

We also love to care for our old folks until they die. As much as possible, we don’t

allow them to be cared for by any institution for the aged.

B. Strong Belief in the Education of Children

This is a sure mean of success run in every Filipino family. Traditionally,

parents try their best always to spend every centavo of earning to send their children

to school. If parents cannot support schooling, usually elder sister or brother

shoulder the education of the younger ones until everyone finishing a career. It is a

pride of every Filipino to be able to have their children earns a career.

C. Respectfulness

The children have a great respect fir their parent and elders. They have been

thought to kiss the hands of the elders. This manifest the due respect we should give

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to our elders not only for the holiday but for the rest of the year and the year to come

as well.

Furthermore, Filipinos use “Po” and “Opo” when talking to their elders. The

children are expected to consult their parents about any activity or plan they wish to

undertake.

D. Hospitality

Filipino hospitality is said to be outstanding. Anytime a visitor come, he is sure

to be offered food or drinks. If the guest stayed overnight, he is made to feel

comfortable as if he were in his own house. Hospitality, on the other hand, has its

good and bad sides. This trait may encourage overdependence and laziness. The

trait may also lead to poverty as a result of lavish spending for fiestas, wedding and

anniversaries. However, it is good if its end is to help a person in need. Thus, the

government may utilize this trait in getting support for its charitable projects, and

promoting, cooperation and brotherhood.

E. Humility

This trait may be seemed in the way a Filipino speaks with others. A Filipino

does not drag about himself. Sometimes, we mistake humility with timidity and

shyness. Our tendency to depreciate ourselves often a mistake action of humility.

F. Courage

The Filipinos are courageous people as attested to by those who suffered and

died for their country. This is a value that should be preserved by our people. The

demand and complexities of modern life can only be met by people with strong

hearts and healthy minds and bodies.

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G. Loyalty to Friends

The Filipinos considered friendship as important to them which means helping

each in times of need. Extending help or doing a good turn to one’s friend will always

be valued and never forgotten. A friend is considered a member of the family that

any help he can give is heartily welcomed.

H. Honesty

Honesty is the virtue and righteousness in deed and in thought. In a person,

this virtue strengthens him against cheating and lying. It results in cooperation and

trust among neighbors, friends and co-workers. In the highest officers of the land,

“katapatan” is the sole measure of leadership and public trust.

I. Delicadeza

Delicadeza is the virtue that determines a person’s sensitivity to what is

right or wrong. A sense of prudence and poverty is implicit in a person with

delicadeza. It also serves as an early warning device in recognizing the traps of graft

and corruption, whether the guise of “pagtanaw ng utang na loob” or an innocent gift.

J. Orderliness

Kaayusan in Tagalog terms is the learn like an orderliness. It begins at

home at an early mental discipline instilled on children by their parents. An order

home is an evidence of this virtue on work in the family in the formative years of life.

Kaayusan ripens into the habit of discipline allocation of time and energy to work and

play. It usually results in a citizen with a sincere respect and adherence for the spirit

and the letter of the law.

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K. The Bayanihan Spirit

Filipino people are fond of group work, offering help freely to friends or

neighbors needing a help. A person planting or clearing his fields or moving his

house may call several neighbors for help work done this way is done gaily and

cheerfully and without expectation of payment except for a free meal.25

L. Godliness

Filipino value denotes the religious character of the people who firmly believe

in the supernatural and in kinds of spirit dwelling in individual person, place or thing.

M. Hardworking

Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper condition. The desire to

race one’s standard of living and to possess the essential of a descent for one’s

family combined with the right opportunities and incentives makes the Filipino work

very hard. This is manifest most noticeably in willingness to take risk with jobs

abroad and there to work one, two or three jobs. The result is productivity and

entrepreneurship for some and survival despite poverty.

N. Ability to Survive

Filipinos have an ability to survive which is manifested in our capacity for

endurance despite difficult times and our ability to get by on so very little. This

survival instinct is related to the Filipinos other strengths basic optimisms, flexibility

and adoptability, hard work and deep faith in God. It is manifested in the millions of

Filipinos who bravely live through the harshest economic and social circumstances.

O. Joy and Humor

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Filipinos have a cheerful and fun loving approach to life and its ups and downs.

We have a pleasant disposition, a sense of humor and a propensity for happiness

that contribute not only to the Filipino charm but to incommunicability of the Filipino

spirit. This sense of joy and humor is manifested in the Filipino love for social and

celebration, in our capacity to laugh even in the most crying times, and in appear of

political satire.

2. What are some of the traditional Filipino values?

A. Extreme Personalism

Filipinos view the world in terms of personal relationships and the extent to

which one is able to personally related to things and people determine the

recognition of their existence and the value given to them.

This personalism is manifested in tendency to give personal interpretation to

actions. Because of personalistic world view, Filipinos have difficulty dealing with all

forms of impersonal stimulant. Extreme personalism thus leads to the graft and

corruption evident in the Philippine society.30

B. Lack of Discipline

The Filipinos lack of discipline encompasses several related characteristics.

We have a casual and relax attitude towards time and space which manifest itself in

lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor time management, and in

procrastination or reward, resulting in the use of shortcuts, in result in efficient and

wasteful work system, violation of rules leading to more serious and casual work

ethic leading to carelessness and lack of initiative.31

C.Passivity and Lack of Initiative

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Filipinos are generally passive and lacking in initiative. One waits to be what

has to be done. There is a strong reliance on others to do things for us. Filipinos

tend to be complaint and there rarely is a sense of urgency about any problems and

even violation of one’s basic rights. In many ways, it can be said that the Filipinos is

too patient and long suffering.

Too easily resigned to one’s faith, Filipinos are thus easily oppressed and

exploited.

D.Colonial Mentality

Filipinos have a colonial mentality which is made up of two dimensions: (1)

lack of patriotism, (2) actual preferences for foreign things. Filipino culture is

characterized by openness to the outside adopting and incorporating the foreign

elements into our image or ourselves. And yet this image is not built around a days

core of Philippine history and language. The result is a cultural vagueness and

weakness. The Filipino colonial mentality is manifested in the alienation in the elite

from their roots and from the masses as well as in the basic feeling of national

inferiority that makes it difficult for the Filipino to relate as equal to Westerners.33

E. Kanya-Kanya Syndrome

Filipinos have selfish, self-serving attitude that generates a feeling of envy and

competitiveness towards others. The Kanya-kanya Syndrome is also evident in the

personal ambition and the desire for power and status that is completely insensitive

to the common good.

Filipino demonstrates also the so-called “crab mentality” using the leveling

instruments of tsismis, intriga and unconstructive criticism to bring others down.34

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F. Ningas-Kugon

Filipinos are guilty of ningas-kugon, which is the starting out project with full

vigor and interest which abruptly die down leaving things unfinished.35

G. Filipino Time Mania

Filipino time is one of the attractive traits of Filipinos. Ironically, we Filipinos

have to accept the fact that are not sincere in keeping our time. We waste precious

in most of our daily activities.36

H. Hiya

Filipino accepts or does something because of hiya, some of us even get into

debts by spending lavishing during Fiestas because of hiya to visitors.

3. What are the factors behind the slowly fading of Filipino values?

Facts in the Deterioration of Filipino Values

A cynic eye view of the Filipino National character has been aired in TV. We

are all parts of the problem and our desperate means. Still, one wonders whether

constantly being reminded of our shortcomings will contribute constructively to

building a national character we can all be proud of. Traditional Filipino values has

been compared with the lofty institutional tenets that every school child learns to pay

his service to against the welfare of the common tag is set family centeredness. The

Filipinos loyalty is not to his national but to the “padrino” who protects his family.

Hopeless to say that the erosion of the Filipino values were becoming waist,

Filipino values like:

1. Wholestic – this is the value that makes Filipino integrate and separate.

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2. Regionalism or Region-Oriented – regionalism is a product of Filipino small-

group-centeredness which social critics trace to the Barangay of old.

3. Compassionate – this is the value that makes Filipino compassionate.

4. Delicadeza

5. Personal Integrity

The disregard of the traditional values of delicadeza and personal integrity is

the public servants who could destroy democracy in the country. The steady erosion

of the time-honored principles and nation strong service that make the government

and national strong has been also disregard. The traditional value of treasuring

one’s sacred honor has been cast aside and replaced by “Armor of Arrogance”.

Many of these in public welfare, but their own selfish and narrow interest or the

interest of the family.

In connection with the slowly fading of Filipino values, it was almost seven

years ago after the EDSA Revolution happened a few Filipinos thought that the

EDSA People Power would change people’s character for the better. Christian

values prevail in the ultimate choice between good and evil are that selfishness

would turn to selfishness and generosity, are Delicadeza, dignity and honor in all

level of human relationship. Now expectation the values of the people who made the

event happened.

CONCLUSIONS

The following conclusions were drawn based in the findings of the study:

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1. The Filipino values, exposed at it has been to foreign influences, has not

entirely lost it values, beliefs and traditions we have cherished for long.

Many old-fashioned virtues as mentioned before continue to be treasured

in most Filipino houses. However, it is a fact that many Filipinos have

succumbed to cording foreign influences.

2. Fading of Filipino values as evident in the current happening all over the

country is continuously getting worst. It can be said that the Filipinos are

undergoing change. The major cause of this process of change is

urbanization and the whole complex of factors associated with the urban

life.

3. For most of the institution, the main problem seems to have been identified

and the suggestion is within us in which the solution may lie. The rest must

be left to the wisdom, patience and sacrifice of the Filipino people. Despite

of the deterrent values which keep on going with us, still, there are much

that is fine and admirable in the national character of the Filipinos people.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the conclusions being drawn, the following recommendations

may be considered:

1. It is strongly suggested that we have to reinvent Filipino values. Through a

proposal systematic training aimed to revive and develop desirable values using

the experimental learning approach there may be hope to save our country from

further bankruptcy of values. It is hoped that the older and present generation will

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act together now to ensure that the coming generation will be properly equipped

with the correct value system that will enable them to assume moral stewardship

of the country tomorrow.

2. The researchers hope that readers see themselves in it. From the strengths and

weaknesses mentioned earlier. We hope that all of us will start eliminating

weaknesses and developing strengths, and this start with analysis,

understanding and appreciation of them. We must take good look of ourselves,

objectively with scientific detachment but also emotionally.

3. Also recommended is that amidst of the changes that are seen in our Filipino

values. Filipinos should understand their relation with the society, Filipinos should

prove that they rise above self-interest, that they are capable of obeying rules for

common goods. We must not follow negative development in our country.

4. We, the researchers believe that Filipinos deserve to move a step closer on this

journey of thousand miles. We must change. And understanding ourselves is the

first step.

5. Lastly, similar studies should also be conducted to further substantiate the

present findings.

REFERENCES

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A. Books

Abecia, J.B. The Development Of the Filipino Community. Quezon

City: GFC Books, 1987.

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. Quezon City:

Garotech Publishing, 1990

Azurin, Arnold Molina Reinventing The Filipinos. Diliman Quezon City: CSSP

Publication,1995.

Bacilig, Fr. Mario, Bush Forth. Makati City: Salesiana Publishers, Inc., 2000

Building a People, Building a Nation. Instructural Materials Corp.

Cabato, Carmen M. and Tamisen, Gloria. “Towards Filipino Identity,” Values

Education. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Carino, Isidro D. and Peñelosa, Amor B. Reviving and Developing Desirable Values

in Filipino Boys and Girls. Quezon City: Carson Resources and

Management Services, 1995.

De Guzman, Jovita. Psychology of Filipinos. Metro Manila: Bookmark, Inc., 1987.

B. Dictionary

Random House Webster’s Dictionary. New York Ballantine Books, 2001

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