People’s initiative for Filipino values
THIS is the sequel of last week’s article, “An autopsy of Filipino values?, which concluded that Filipino values are not dead, but yes, needs resuscitation.
The article explored the evolution and transformation of Filipino values which are misunderstood and judged through the negative Western lens but can be better analyzed through the colonial nightmares that drowned the collective Indigenous roots of the Filipino being.
The misunderstood Filipino values were viewed (published and taught) in the Western paradigm and were associated with social and cultural “damage.” The colonial way of life has been ingrained in the Filipino collective consciousness while the precolonial sense has been relegated to the collective subconscious. But, it is still there.
If the Filipino values and norms serve as having a general reference for the being and becoming of the Filipinos, it is always worthwhile to look back but the north star is right in front of all of us to collectively find and use as guide. It is certain — that the Filipino values are alive and need resuscitation. We cannot change the past but certainly can navigate the present toward an envisioned future, together.
Like crabs in a bucket
Recently, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for change, specifically mentioning the need to stop the “crab mentality.” This metaphor is derived from observations that a crab placed alone in a bucket will easily climb out and escape. But when placed in the bucket with a few of its mates, other crabs will pull it back down to their misery and the group’s collective demise.
Do we really need to go down to the level of such an analogy with a crab? Do we associate the crab’s survival instinct or natural navigational behavior to humans’ manipulative attitude and selfish envy of someone else’s success? Aren’t we ashamed of the crab? Or, do we blame the bucket, which in the case of the crab is not its natural habitat?
The Filipino’s “bucket” has to be revisited. We have documented how our overseas global Filipinos have become successful in the foreign lands where meritocratic opportunities are vast and fair. The crab that is “Filipino” is brought out of the bucket and set free to an environment, which mode is not survival but growth.
There are sad overseas Filipino narratives about “crab mentality.” Their stories are told instead of celebrating the victories of those who have helped each other. There are plenty of positive stories untold.
What if we tell and demonstrate to our children how Filipinos are helping each other to be successful? There are plenty of those kinds of stories every day that miss the headlines and are left unnoticed. We need to prove that good news also sell.
Filipino values through the positive lens
There are Filipino values that may have waned over time. They are forgotten gems that brought victory in our history and may help us write the succeeding chapters of our national book.
By learning from the past, redefining these values for the present and actively incorporating them into our individual and collective endeavors, we can rekindle the flame and unlock a brighter future where Filipino values become not relics of the past, but catalysts for a more just, equitable and prosperous Philippines. We need a people’s initiative for this.
Colonialization and modernization have not entirely deleted the Indigenous foundations of the nationalized Filipino given that certain values like kapwa (other person), kagandahang-loob (good will) and pakiramdam (empathy) remain tangible values in our national being and becoming.
Our native unawa (mind), damdamin (heart) and diwa (spirit) remain. Here are some of them:
Bayanihan is a deeply ingrained value of communal cooperation and shared effort that could fuel collaborative initiatives, fostering a sense of collective responsibility for progress. Vividly, we can still visualize the optics of how a bahay kubo (nipa hut) is tele-transported to a new location with so much fun, shared energy and synchrony. In our modern context, we need to demonstrate bayanihan for sustainability and environmental stewardship as we recognize our interconnectedness with the natural world and promote responsible use of resources that are critical for ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.
Pakikisama is Filipinos’ inner euphemistic drive for a “smooth interpersonal relationships” which, when harnessed constructively, could promote empathy, understanding and conflict resolution, fostering a more harmonious society conducive to progress. The Indigenous value of pakiramdam (empathy) breeds diversity, equity and inclusion that valuing individual differences and actively creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive is key to building a just and equitable society. Pakikisama should be elevated to the level of global citizenship and cooperation where we need to collaborate across borders and fostering understanding between diverse cultures is essential for addressing global challenges like climate change and pandemics.
Hiya is the fear of shame and public disapproval, related to amor propio, the sensitivity to social affront. While potentially hindering dissent, hiya can also be reframed as a sense of accountability and respect for community norms, leading to responsible behavior and fostering integrity. Hiya and amor propio provide for normative sanctions against behaviors that violate the value of social acceptance. Hiya should be declared against social injustice and violations of human rights. It may lead us into advocating for equality, fairness and human dignity for all members of society, fundamental for building a more peaceful and just world.
Utang na loob, the concept of gratitude and indebtedness, is often misused for patronage. But utang na loob can be reinterpreted as a sense of mutual responsibility and support, fostering trust and reciprocity within communities, driving collective progress. Utang na loob cultivate loyalty and strong community ties. It breeds gratitude.
Bahala nais interpreted as katamaran (indolence) but is derived from “Bathala na,” which speaks of our faith and hope. Our risktaking, if calculated, can lead to mastery of our fears, which is courage, and entrepreneurism, which has a promise of economic progress.
The real people initiative
We need to acknowledge the potential pitfalls of these values, like any neutral concept that is bound to give a double-edged sword of positive and negative implications. We need to move beyond romanticized notions and promote active, critical engagement with these values.
We can capitalize on the grassroots initiatives (a genuine people’s initiative) so that local communities and civil society organizations can actively embody these values through collaborative projects, social movements and initiatives promoting communal well-being and social justice. Supporting and learning from these grassroots efforts is crucial.
We need policy and education reforms that integrate these values — beyond slogans — into policy dialogues and educational frameworks that can help shape future generations who understand the importance of collective responsibility, empathy and ethical conduct in achieving progress. We need to use the power of social media to do these and communicate to our target audience — the young Filipinos, the alpha generation, who are known to be the awakened generation who are bound to be activists for their social causes.
The values and norms of pagkabahala (concern), hiya (shame), bayanihan (solidarity), pakikiramay (sympathy), dangal (honor) and kalayaan (freedom) are chief sources of our moral courage and sanction. We must have the moral courage to constantly approve what is right and disapprove of what is wrong.
We need to recover from the paralysis of our social conscience and break free from the fear of reprisal and the feeling of unworthiness due to the lack of moral ascendancy force people to keep quiet in the face of moral evils. We should stop our moral reluctance that forces us into silence. We should not allow the triumph of evil by doing nothing.
By reconsidering past ideas, Filipinos can potentially reclaim valuable values, tools and concepts that were prematurely abandoned, aiding in the development of new solutions for contemporary challenges.
Here is where we need a genuine people’s initiative. The rest follows.