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Values are integral part of every culture. With worldview and personality, theygenerate behavior.

Being
part of a culture that shares a common core set of valuescreates expectations and predictability without
which a culture would disintegrate andits member would lose their personal identity and sense of
worth. Values tell peoplewhat is good, beneficial important, useful, beautiful, desirable, constructive,
etc. They answer the question of why people do what they do. Values help people solvecommon
problems for survival. Over time, they become the roots of traditions thatgroups of people find
important in their day-to-day lives.Filipino values may be attributed into many influences. These can be
from itsancestors or influenced fro its colonizers. Some values are bipolar, meaning it can bepositive or
negative.
Positive Filipino Values
1. Bayanihan system or spirit of kinship and camaraderie- A Filipino community spirit and cooperation
wherein a groupof individuals extends a helping hand without expecting any remuneration. It is
characterized by communal work towards one goal exemplified in carrying a nipa house or pushing a
passenger jeepney.
2. Damayan system- sympathy for people who lost their love ones. In case of death of a certain member
of the community, the whole community sympathizes with the bereaved family. Neighbors, friends, and
relatives of thedeceased usually give certain amount of money astheir way of showing sympathy.
3. Familism or close family relations- a Filipino trait of giving highest importance tofamily above other
thing. A trait wherein familymembers should be taken care and supportedregardless of whether he/she
did somethingwrong, a family member must given attentionand should not be abandoned.
4. Fun-loving trait- a trait found in most Filipinos, a trait thatmakes them unique that even in time
ofcalamities and other challenges in life, theyalways have something to be happy about, areason to
celebrate.
5. Hospitality- a Filipino trait of being receptive andgenerous to guests.
6. Compassionate- a Filipino trait of being sympathetic to others evenif the person is a stranger. An
example of this isgiving alms to beggar. This is observed when wehear Filipinos saying kawawa naman
or nakakaawanaman.
7. Regionalism- a Filipino trait of giving more priority orpreference in giving favors to his provincemate
before others.7. Friendly- a trait found in most Filipinos. They aresincere, loyal, kind and sociable
person.
9. Flexible or magaling makabagay- the ability of Filipinos to ride on or adjust to thenorms of other
group jut to attain smooth andharmonious relationship.Example: OFW
10. Religious- most Filipinos possess strong conformance oftheir religious belief in action and in words.
11. Respect to elders- a Filipino trait of being courteous both inwords and in actions to the people of
olderpeople.
12. Remedyo attitude- a Filipino trait of being creative and resourceful. The ability to dothings that are
next to impossible. Example in fixing appliances thatlook impossible to repair.13. Matiyaga- Filipinos re
known for their tenacity and strong determination inevery undertaking.14. Utang na loob- a feeling of
obligation to repay someone who extended assistanceto another which may take place in undetermined
time and inwhatever way.
Negative Filipino Values
1. Bahala na atitude- a Filipino trait characterized by retreating or withdrawal fromcertain undertaking
and leaving everything to God to interfereand determine the outcome of his deeds.2. Colonial complex
or blue-seal mentality- a Filipino value of showing high admiration and preference toforeign produced
goods over local ones.3. Crab mentality- a Filipino attitude characterized by an attempt to pull
downsomeone who has achieved success beyond the others. This Idone out of jealousy and insecurity.
4. Euphemism- a Filipino way of substituting a word or phrase that is thoughtto be offensive or harsh
with a mild and acceptable one inorder to not offend or hurt another person.5.Filipino time- in reality, it
means always late, a Filipino attitude ofimpreciseness towards time.6. Gaya-gaya attitude- a Filipino
attitude of imitating or copying other culturespecifically in mode of dressing, language, fashion or
evenhaircut.
7. Jackpot mentality- a get rich quick mentality of some Filipinos who would ratherengage in fast ways
of acquiring money than through hardwork andsacrifice by getting in lottery, joining raffle draws and
other.8. Kapalaran values- a Filipino trait of accepting his fate by believing that everything iswritten in
his palm. Such traits contributes to lack initiative andperseverance among Filipinos.9. Maana habit-
delaying or setting aside a certain task assigned on the next dayalthough it can be done today.
10. Ningas-cogon- being enthusiastic only during the start of new undertakingbut ends dismally in
accomplishing nothing. A commonpractice observed in some politicians who are visible onlyduring the
start of certain endeavor.11. Oversensitive- Filipinos have the tendency to be irritated easily or
hurtupon hearing some criticisms or comment.12. Lack of sportmanship- not accepting defeat in
competitions but rather putting theblame either to their opponents or to the sport officials.
13. Pakikisama- submitting oneself to the will of the group for the sakeof camaraderie and unity. Failure
to comply with thegroup demand, the person will be called walangpakikisama or selfish. The
adherence to group demandshave taught our young to engage in bad habits likesmoking, alcoholism and
even drug addiction.14. Tsamba lang attitude- simplicity by declaring that his/her accomplishmentsare
results of luck and not from perseverance and ability.








"Filipinos greatly value family ties" (inhirited from the Chinese)

No other trait of the Filipino is more known the world over than his being a hospitable host.A foreigner
new to the Philippines is usually treated to genuine hospitality in many ways-an invitation to dinner or
night entertainment can go as far as an invitation to spend a night in the house of the Filipino host.It is
not uncommon for a guest to be accommodated in the best room of the house.

Dont feel ill at ease if your host appears to have gone out of his way to make you feel
comfortable.Hospitality is deeply entrenched among the Filipinos,hence it is only natural for host to
welcome a total stranger to his house.

Filipinos greatly value family ties,a trait inherited from the Chinese,who began to settle in the
philippines centuries ago.Family members help one another and this attachment is usually seen in
several occasions-the birth of a family member,marriage or death.It is also reflected in cases where a
family member approaches an uncle or cousin for employment or other favor.It is for this reason that
nepotism is rampant in Filipino-owned companies.as the case of utang na loob(of being beholden)is as
strong as not losing face is to a Chinese.

Another trait that has lingered on is respect to elders.Ar an early age,Filipinos are tauught to respect
their elders and obey their will. It is common practice,especially in the province,to kiss the hand or
forehead of ones grandparents or older relatives,as a sign of greeting and respect.Elders are key in the
family,and their advice usually followed.Children are taught to attach"po" or"Opo"to whatever they say
especially when speaking with older people.

Filipinos value personal relations.Known as pakikisama,personal relations often influence business and
other key decisions.The word implies consideration,fairness,and camaraderie.A person can go to
considerable extend just to prove he has pakikisama and is a worthly part of group.(Pakikisama or
Comradeship).
Bayanihan or the spirit of helping one another is said to have been inherited by the Filipinos from their
Malay forefathers.In the rural areas,bayanihan is reflected in many ways.During the planting and harvest
seasons,all members of the family and neighbors help out without expecting payment in return.Helping
one another is also carried out in such activities as when having a party where neighbors,friends and
relatines help in cleaning and decorating the house,cooking,setting the table and entertaining the
guests.

The same spirit of bayanihan is manifested not only in celabrations,but also in times of sickness and
death.When a member of the family dies,friends and relatines help the bereaved family in one way or
another.from preparing the food to the giving of finacial aid or contribution called ambag to help defry
burial expenses.The wake is common practice,with neighbors and friends keeping vigil with the family of
the deceased.In this country of paradox, however,it is not uncommon to see mass for the dead
celebrate inside the house,while mah jong and gambling tables become beehives of activities on the
front lawn or spiling into the street.After the burial,friends and relatives pray for the soul of the
departed for nine consecutive evenings.On the ninth day of the prayers, food and drinks are served to
the guests.

There are also traditions connected with birt and baptism.Practices to make child delivery easier vary
from one province to another .A popular provincial practice is for the father to build a fire under the
house to drive away the evil spirit that might get the newborn.

During baptism,it is a common practice for the godfather tor godmother to give Pakimkim,which may be
in the form of cash or gift,to the baby.There is a belief thet without a pakimkim,the baby will not be
sucessful when he grows up.Where several children are being baptized at the same time,the parents
usually rush to leave the church ahead of the others in the belief thet the child will became more
sucessful than the rest.


Of Courtship and Marriage

Courtship,the Filipino ways,is probably among the most romantic in the wold.the girl is usually
showered with much attention and this attention often extends to the girls whole family.This show of
affection to the girls relatives is respected until today because as the saying goes,when you marry a
Filipino or Filipina,you also marry into his or her family.Family ties are a strong force in the country.
"Harana"

In some rural areas(although this is fast becoming a vanishing custom),the practice involves a night
serenade called Harana where the boy serenades the girl he is courting with love songs.the young man
also serves the girls family by performing daily choer such as chopping wood,mending the
fence,etc.These actions originated in the past when boys were too shy to court the girls directly and
parents arranged the marriages of their children.Engagement and marriage are two events where the
provinces in the Philippines differ in their rituals and practices.a bride is not supposed to try her
wedding gown before the wedding as this could bring bad luck.

It customary for the groom to shoulder the entire wedding expenses including the bridal gown.while this
may no longer be practice in the cities where the engaged couple divides the expences,the tradition is
still alive in the rural areas.In Quezon province,the grooms relative bring the wedding dress to the brides
house on the eve of the wedding.In certain parts of Camarines Sur,the bride stays with her godmother
the night before the wedding,as the godmother is usually assigned to dress up the bride.At the wedding
ceremony,if one of the lighted candles goes out,the belief is either the bride or groom will die soon so
great care is taken to make sure the candles remain lit.After the wedding ceremony,whoever stands up
first will rule the household.Tice is usually thrown at a newly married couple when they step outside the
church,since rice symbolizes prosperity.Modern couples however have substituted the rice grains for
paper bits or small sampaguita buds,the national flower.Lately,some more shrewd newly weds have also
tried to revive the provincial custom of having sponsors and relatives pin money to their wedding
clothes as they dance at the reception.

Filipinos are religious and superstitious people.Long years of Spanish colonization led to the existence of
some beliefs even up to the present.and these are clearly reflected in the way they celebrate.




One of the Worlds Longest Christmas

Philippines Christmass tree & X'mass Lantern

Celebration of the Christmas season un the Philippines is one of the longest in the world-it start from
December 16 and end on the first Sunday of January the following year.dec-16 marks the start of the
nine-day simbang gabi or misa de gallo,which are held at around four Oclock in the morning.After the
mass,the people usually have breakfast consisting of local delicacies at stalls set up in the
churchyard.Favorites are ricecake like bibingka and puto bumbong,washed by salabat or hot ginger tea.

On Christmas eve,a midnight mass is held,and followed by the traditional noche buena or midnight
supper.The dining table during this season is usually filled with local dishes as well as fruits.On Christmas
day,children visit their godparents and relatives to pay respects to them.The children are then given
money and gifts,known as aguinaldo.Family reunion is usually held on Christmas day and usually held in
the home of the oldest member of the family where members of the family exchange gifts.

Various customs are observed to celebrate the coming of the New Year.On New Years Eve,people make
noise by lighting firecrackers and noise increase as it reaches midnight.Filipinos make it a point to serve
good foods on their dining tables and pay all their debts on the first day of the year in the belief that
there will be abundance the rest of the year.The more chinese-oriented succumb to placing eight or 12
round food stuff on the dining table,each to signify good health,wealth and luck in the year to come.

Holy week

There are also traditions connected with the observance of the holy week,especially in the Catholic
sector of the Philippine society.The pabasa or the chanting of the life of Christ is held in private homes
during the Holy Week.


Refreshments are served to the readers of the pabasa and on the last day,a feast is prepared for all
guest.On Maundy Thursday,devotees hold the visita Iglesia where they try to visit as many churches as
they can.On good Friday(Karfreitag),some people punish themselves by flogging themselves on the
back,while others wear crowns of thorns or carry crosses as a form of sacrifice.A few even go as far as
getting crucified on a wooden cross for a few minutes.Other highligt of Good Friday is the sunset
prucicion,a solemn procession where people walk the towns main thoroughfare with lighted candles as
the churchs best antique carosas and Santos,holy images depicting the various stages of Christ passion
play,are paraded.

One popular custom held among the people is the holding of the town fiesta.This is usually held in honor
of the patron saint of the town.During the fiesta season,the churches are decorated and processions are
held.All house holds prepare good food,as there usually are guests.Filipinos in the provinces usually
splurge during town fiesta.

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