Philippine Cultural Values

This chapter focuses on Philippine cultural values.  Values refer to “the beliefs, behaviour and material objects that constitute a people’s way of life” (Maciones, 1997 cited in Saquilayan, et al).  There are kinds of values: (1) personal, (2) organizational, (3) cultural, and (4) spiritual values. 

1.   Personal values are reflections of our needs, desires, and what we care about most in life (Chernyak).  For example: family, money, work, friends

2.  Organizational values guide the organization’s philosophy and actions (Meier).  For example: work, punctuality, productivity, resilience, cooperation

3. Cultural values refer to “a collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and proper –or bad, undesirable, and improper, in culture” (Schaefer, 2001 cited in Saquilayan, et al, 2009).  For example, close-family ties, hospitality, procrastination

4.   Spiritual values are fundamental values which have roots in our being human.  For example: love, faith in God, hope, non-violence

Cultural values are embedded in the culture of a certain group of people living in a society.  They represent the ideals of the people, which serve as a “great cohesive force for the identity of the group,” and serve as guidelines of their collective thoughts and actions.

Horacio de la Costa identified the following values: (1) self-reliance, (2) sharing with one’s fellowmen, (3) national unity, and (4) heroism.  Virgilio Enriquez (1992) also identified the following: (1) Kalayaan, (2) Katarungan, (3) Katotohanan, (4) Karangalan, and (5) Pakikipagkapwa.

There are many more values mentioned by sociologists and anthropologists, as follows: (1) Smooth Interpersonal Relationship [SIR], (2) Reciprocity [Utang na Loob], (3) Hiya [Self-esteem], (4) Bahala na, (5) Close family ties, and (6) respect for elders.

      Smooth Interpersonal Relationship – a mechanism or facility of getting along with others with others in order to avoid outward signs of conflict or avoidance of potential situations that may result to hiya. 
Reciprocity – is understood when there is a service received or something done, whether it is solicited or not, that demands a return.

Hiya – being sensitive to an offense or insult

Bahala na – wherein an individual submits to the belief by leaving matters to fate.

Close family ties – is described as an “extended family”

Respect for elders – is shown in the kissing of hands of elders.



East versus West

This section shows points of difference between Eastern (oriental) and Western (occidental) people.  The distinction between East and West refers to the Eastern and Western Hemispheres of the globe and all those people living therein.  Eastern people are those generally considered Asian including Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, etc.; Western people are those generally considered Europeans, white Americans as well. 

The danger, however, in giving a comparison of these people from the two hemispheres of the globe is that, in so doing, we might give a hasty generalization of what a Westerner is or an Oriental is.  For example, when we find out that a Chinese is family-oriented, a Filipino is family-oriented, and a Japanese is also family-oriented, we conclude that all Asians are family-oriented, or shall we say, all Asians have this sense of collective consciousness.  This kind of reasoning is fallacious –considered as a fallacy of hasty generalization.  It is hoped that in giving a comparison, we only give the essential traits of both peoples.

First, a Westerner is individualistic whereas an Oriental is collectivistic.  Western people give value of the individual rather than family.  What is important for them is individual success, privacy and competence.  Oriental people, on the other hand, give value of the family (collective) rather than the individual.  What matters for them is cooperation, collaboration, and bayanihan.

            Second, a Westerner thinks in a linear manner whereas an Oriental thinks of time in a cyclic manner. 

Third, a Westerner defines an object/thing in terms of species et differentia whereas an Oriental is good in naming relationship.

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References:

1.  Victorio Saquilayan, Felisa Aguirre, Miramar Garcia, et al.  (2009) Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.

2.  Chernyak, Paul. https://www.wikihow.com/Define-Your-Personal-Values downloaded on Aug 31, 2018

3.  J.D. Meier. http://sourcesofinsight.com/organizational-values/ downloaded on Aug 31, 2018
4.  Emerita Quito, 1991, Merging Philosophy of East and West, Manila: De La Salle University Press