FILIPINO PHILOSOPHY
Our values system represents the cultural and personal guiding principles, life goals,
behavior, and norms in all aspects of the lives of people in the community. It serves to guide
people’s beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors which are crucial factors that help people and their
community to grow and empower. It provides channels for people to create the kind of future
they want to experience and live. In the Philippines, Filipino values are the set of values that
majority of Filipinos have historically held important in their lives that include the unique
assemblage of consistent ideologies, moral codes, ethical practices, etiquette, and cultural and
personal values that are cultivated and embraced by the society. The traditional Filipino
values remained highly embraced and practiced in the present times such as close-family ties,
hospitality, respect for others, a religious adherence, hard work and industrious, Hiya, utang
na loob, or debt of gratitude, Pakikisama, Joy, Humor, flexibility, adaptability, and creativity,
ability to survive, and the like. These Filipino values play a significant role in the
establishment and development of the Philippine educational system.
There were many well-known Filipino philosophers and thinkers whose work greatly
contributed to the development of the Philippine educational system. Their philosophical
thoughts significantly influenced the teaching and learning processes, strategies, approaches,
as well as the continuous innovation and improvement of the educational system.
Jose Rizal (1861-1896) Rizal's concepts of the importance of education is enunciated
in his work entitled “Instruction” wherein he sought improvement in the schools and the
methods of teaching. For Rizal, the mission of education is to elevate the country to the
highest seat of glory and develop the people’s mentality. Since Education is the foundation of
society and a prerequisite for social progress, Rizal claimed that only through education could
the country be saved from domination.
Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centers on the provision of proper
motivation to bolster the great social forces that make education a success, to create in the
youth an innate to cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal. He believes in the
importance of the school as a social organization.
According to him, the school must train the citizen in the three phases of life: Moral,
Intellectual, and Physical. The school should prepare the individual to live efficiently both as
an individual and as a member of the community to which he/she belongs. “The school is the
book in which is written the future of the nations. Show us the schools of the people and we
will tell you what those people are”.
Apolinario Mabini (1864-1903) “Thou shalt cultivate the special gifts which had been
granted thee, working and studying according to thy ability, never leaving the path of
righteousness and justice in order to attain thine own perfection”.
Florentino T. Timbreza, the “Father of Filipino Philosophy”. The 1st Filipino to
author the 1st book on Filipino Philosophy (Pilosopiyang Filipino) based on the indigenous
experience and practical wisdom of the Filipino People. He is a co-author of the 1st and only
Encyclopedia of Philosophy in the Philippines (Ensayklopidiya ng Pilosopiya). He is also the
“1st Filipino to present and defend a dissertation paper in Filipino for a doctorate degree in
Philosophy and the 1st Filipino author to translate the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu in Filipino
Language (Ang Tao Te Ching ni Lao Tzu sa Filipino).
, He was recognized and honored for his extensive works not only on the propagation
and intellectualization of the National language but also on the articulation and formalization
of Filipino Philosophy.
According to Timbreza, pagkatao bears various connotations in English, but it is close
to the concept of personhood or selfhood. The Filipinos though relate it with personal dignity,
self-esteem, good name, personal honor, moral integrity, good-naturedness, good characters,
credibility, and trustworthiness (malinis na pangalan, sariling karangalan, kabutihang-asal,
kagandahang-loob, magandang-puri, kabaitan, mapagkakatiwalaan). It is also essentially
related to self-worth, self-image, and self-respect. For Filipinos, Pagkatao or self-esteem is
regarded not only as one’s most precious wealth as human person, but also the measure of
one’s true greatness (kadakilaan).
Real wealth consists of credibility, and good reputation (which also connotes word of
honor and delicadeza). Worldly riches and social fame can be bought and lost, but one’s good
character is priceless and lasting. The value of self-worth gives weight to personal honor
rather than riches that come from an evil source, e.g. graft and corruption.
Emerita S. Quito (1926 -2017), highlighted the ambivalence of Filipino Traits and
Values.
HIYA (SHAME)
Negative, because it arrests or inhibits one’s action. This trait reduces one to
smallness or to what Nietzsche calls the “morality of slaves”, thus congealing the soul of the
Filipino and emasculating him, making him timid, meek, and week.
Positive, because it contributes to peace of mind and lack of stress by not even trying
to achieve.
NINGAS-COGON (PROCRASTINATION)
Negative, by all standards, because it begins ardently and dies down as soon as it
begins. This trait renders one inactive and unable to initiate things or to persevere.
Positive, in a way, because it makes a person non-chalet (they appear not
to worry or care about things and that they seem very calm), detached, indifferent,
nonplussed should anything go wrong, and hence conducive to peace and tranquility.
PAKIKISAMA (GROUP LOYALTY)
Negative, because one closes one’s eyes to evils like graft and corruption in order to
conserve peace and harmony in a group at the expense of one’s comfort.
Positive, because one lives for others; peace and lack of dissension is a constant goal.
BAHALA NA (RESIGNATION)
Negative, because one leaves everything to chance under the pretext of trusting in
Divine providence. This trait is laziness disguised in religious garb.
Positive, because one relies on a superior power rather than on one’s own. It is
conducive to humility, modesty, and a lack of arrogance.
KASI (BECAUSE,i, e., SCAPEGOAT)
Our values system represents the cultural and personal guiding principles, life goals,
behavior, and norms in all aspects of the lives of people in the community. It serves to guide
people’s beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors which are crucial factors that help people and their
community to grow and empower. It provides channels for people to create the kind of future
they want to experience and live. In the Philippines, Filipino values are the set of values that
majority of Filipinos have historically held important in their lives that include the unique
assemblage of consistent ideologies, moral codes, ethical practices, etiquette, and cultural and
personal values that are cultivated and embraced by the society. The traditional Filipino
values remained highly embraced and practiced in the present times such as close-family ties,
hospitality, respect for others, a religious adherence, hard work and industrious, Hiya, utang
na loob, or debt of gratitude, Pakikisama, Joy, Humor, flexibility, adaptability, and creativity,
ability to survive, and the like. These Filipino values play a significant role in the
establishment and development of the Philippine educational system.
There were many well-known Filipino philosophers and thinkers whose work greatly
contributed to the development of the Philippine educational system. Their philosophical
thoughts significantly influenced the teaching and learning processes, strategies, approaches,
as well as the continuous innovation and improvement of the educational system.
Jose Rizal (1861-1896) Rizal's concepts of the importance of education is enunciated
in his work entitled “Instruction” wherein he sought improvement in the schools and the
methods of teaching. For Rizal, the mission of education is to elevate the country to the
highest seat of glory and develop the people’s mentality. Since Education is the foundation of
society and a prerequisite for social progress, Rizal claimed that only through education could
the country be saved from domination.
Rizal’s philosophy of education, therefore, centers on the provision of proper
motivation to bolster the great social forces that make education a success, to create in the
youth an innate to cultivate his intelligence and give him life eternal. He believes in the
importance of the school as a social organization.
According to him, the school must train the citizen in the three phases of life: Moral,
Intellectual, and Physical. The school should prepare the individual to live efficiently both as
an individual and as a member of the community to which he/she belongs. “The school is the
book in which is written the future of the nations. Show us the schools of the people and we
will tell you what those people are”.
Apolinario Mabini (1864-1903) “Thou shalt cultivate the special gifts which had been
granted thee, working and studying according to thy ability, never leaving the path of
righteousness and justice in order to attain thine own perfection”.
Florentino T. Timbreza, the “Father of Filipino Philosophy”. The 1st Filipino to
author the 1st book on Filipino Philosophy (Pilosopiyang Filipino) based on the indigenous
experience and practical wisdom of the Filipino People. He is a co-author of the 1st and only
Encyclopedia of Philosophy in the Philippines (Ensayklopidiya ng Pilosopiya). He is also the
“1st Filipino to present and defend a dissertation paper in Filipino for a doctorate degree in
Philosophy and the 1st Filipino author to translate the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu in Filipino
Language (Ang Tao Te Ching ni Lao Tzu sa Filipino).
, He was recognized and honored for his extensive works not only on the propagation
and intellectualization of the National language but also on the articulation and formalization
of Filipino Philosophy.
According to Timbreza, pagkatao bears various connotations in English, but it is close
to the concept of personhood or selfhood. The Filipinos though relate it with personal dignity,
self-esteem, good name, personal honor, moral integrity, good-naturedness, good characters,
credibility, and trustworthiness (malinis na pangalan, sariling karangalan, kabutihang-asal,
kagandahang-loob, magandang-puri, kabaitan, mapagkakatiwalaan). It is also essentially
related to self-worth, self-image, and self-respect. For Filipinos, Pagkatao or self-esteem is
regarded not only as one’s most precious wealth as human person, but also the measure of
one’s true greatness (kadakilaan).
Real wealth consists of credibility, and good reputation (which also connotes word of
honor and delicadeza). Worldly riches and social fame can be bought and lost, but one’s good
character is priceless and lasting. The value of self-worth gives weight to personal honor
rather than riches that come from an evil source, e.g. graft and corruption.
Emerita S. Quito (1926 -2017), highlighted the ambivalence of Filipino Traits and
Values.
HIYA (SHAME)
Negative, because it arrests or inhibits one’s action. This trait reduces one to
smallness or to what Nietzsche calls the “morality of slaves”, thus congealing the soul of the
Filipino and emasculating him, making him timid, meek, and week.
Positive, because it contributes to peace of mind and lack of stress by not even trying
to achieve.
NINGAS-COGON (PROCRASTINATION)
Negative, by all standards, because it begins ardently and dies down as soon as it
begins. This trait renders one inactive and unable to initiate things or to persevere.
Positive, in a way, because it makes a person non-chalet (they appear not
to worry or care about things and that they seem very calm), detached, indifferent,
nonplussed should anything go wrong, and hence conducive to peace and tranquility.
PAKIKISAMA (GROUP LOYALTY)
Negative, because one closes one’s eyes to evils like graft and corruption in order to
conserve peace and harmony in a group at the expense of one’s comfort.
Positive, because one lives for others; peace and lack of dissension is a constant goal.
BAHALA NA (RESIGNATION)
Negative, because one leaves everything to chance under the pretext of trusting in
Divine providence. This trait is laziness disguised in religious garb.
Positive, because one relies on a superior power rather than on one’s own. It is
conducive to humility, modesty, and a lack of arrogance.
KASI (BECAUSE,i, e., SCAPEGOAT)
