Roots of the Filipino Character

Roots of the Filipino Character

The strengths and weaknesses of the filipino
have their roots in many factors such as:
(1) the family and home environment;
(2) the social environment;
(3) culture and language;
(4) history;
(5) the educational system;
Roots of the Filipino Character

(6) religion;
(7) the economic environment;
(8) the political environment;
(9) mass media; and
(10) leadership and role models.
1. The family and home environment
The main components of the home environment:
• Child rearing practices
Child rearing can be both difficult and
rewarding at the same time. The goal of
every parent is to have your child grow up
to be a respectable and resourceful adult
in society.
Characterization:
a. High nurturance
b. Low independence training
Low discipline
• Attempts to maintain discipline come in the
form of many “no’s” and “don’ts” and a
system of criticism to keep children in line.
• Subtle comparisons among siblings also are
used by mothers to control their children.
Family Relations
• Pakikipagkapwa-tao
Family Attitudes and Orientation
2. The social environment
• The social environment of the Filipino is
characterized by a feudal structure with great
gaps between the rich minority and the poor
majority.
Main components:
a. social structures
B. social systems such as interpersonal
religions and community interaction
3. Culture and languages

Language and culture cannot be separated.

Language is vital to understanding our unique
cultural perspectives. Language is a tool that is
used to explore and experience our cultures and
the perspectives that are embedded in our cultures.
4. History

• We are the product of our colonial history,

which is regarded by many as the culprit
behind our lack of nationalism and our
colonial mentality . Colonialism developed a
mindset in the Filipino which encouraged us to
think of the colonial power as superior and
more powerful.
5. The Educational System

• Aside from the problems inherent in the use of

a foreign language in our educational system,
the educational system leads to other problem
to us people.
“ They develop a mind-set that things learned
in schools are not related to real life.”

• The lack of suitable local textbooks and

dependence on foreign textbooks,
particularly in the secondary level.
• Schools are highly authoritarian, with the
teacher as the central focus.

• The Filipino student learns passivity and

conformity.

• The Filipino student is taught to be

dependent on the teacher.
6. Religion
Religion is the root of Filipino optimism
and its capacity to accept life’s hardships.
However, religion also instill in the Filipino
attitudes of resignation and a pre-occupation
with the afterlife. We become vulnerable also
to being victimized by opportunism,
oppression, exploitation and superstition.
7. The Economic Environment
Many Filipino traits are rooted in the poverty and
hard life. Our difficulties drive us to take risks,
impel us to work very hard, and develop in us the
ability to survive.
Poverty, however, has also become an excuse for
graft and corruption particularly among the lower
rungs of bureaucracy.
8. The Political Environment
The Philippine political environment is
characterized by a centralization of power.
Political power and authority is concentrated in
the hands of the elite and the participation of
most Filipinos often is limited to voting in
elections.
9. Mass Media

• Technology intends to reach mass audience

• The primary means of communication used
to reach the vast majority of the general
public.
• The most common flatforms for media are
newspapers, magazines, radio, television
and the latest is the internet.
10. Leadership and Role Models
Filipinos look up to their leaders as role
models. Political leaders are the main
leaders thus when they violate the law or
show themselves to be self-serving and
driven by personal interests, there is a
negative impact on the Filipino.