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 trad tradit itio iona nall valu values es.. Actu Actual ally ly,, it was was one one of the the major ajor fact factor ors s of inva invasi sion on and 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 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 abovementioned. 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. ii
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 ii
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.
E.
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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.
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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 smallgroup-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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