CHAPTER VII

SELF AWARENESS AND VALUES DEVELOPMENT

Lesson 1. SELF-AWARENESS
“Knowing other is wisdom, knowing your self is Enlightenment”
–Tao Tzu
Awareness is the first step in the creation process. As one grows in self-awareness, he will
better understand why he feels what he feels and why he behaves as he behaves. That
understanding gives him the opportunity and freedom to change those things he would like to
change about him and create the life he wants. Without fully knowing who he is, self-acceptance
and change becomes impossible.
As individuals, one should develops an understanding of himself, who he is and what he
wants (and why he wants it) to empower him consciously and actively make those wants a
reality. An American author says “the self is not something one finds. It is something that one
creates”. This simply connotes that every action you do, every thought you think and every word
you say do sends a message about yourself.

Know Thy Self

To be aware of self, we must first have some notion of what self is. By “self” we mean
simply the identity of the individual. The self identity is the means we use to distinguish any
individual from other individuals.
Generally speaking, people tend to classify themselves in three ways.
a. Personal attributes - a characteristic or trait that you possess physically
b.Social attributes - those qualities you think you demonstrate in your relations w/
other people
c. Social roles - this involves defining ourselves in terms of our social relationships of
other people and in a particular society.
Lesson 2. VALUES DEVELOPMENT

 Real success requires respect for and faithfulness to the highest

human values--honesty, integrity, self-discipline, dignity,
compassion, humility, courage, personal
responsibility, courtesy, and human service.

- Michael DeBakey

Every culture has its core basic set of values. Values are expressions of the ultimate ends,
goals or purpose of social action. They are society’s moral imperatives that deal with what ought
to be.

Values are things (an object, a person, considered important and an idea or way of
behaving) serving as guiding principles which influence our behavior and determine whether or
not such behavior seems not worthwhile. They are standards of conduct, beauty, efficiency, or
worth that people endorse and they try to live up or maintain. According to Tomas Andres there
are three basic kinds of values, namely:

1. Idea- beliefs, opinions, ways of saying things. Examples are religious

moral and political ideas.
2. Things- materials objects, people places. Examples are money and
friends, loved ones, car, etc.
3. Experiences- activities, events, actions and happenings. Examples playing
sports, listening to music, feelings, beliefs or attitude.

The Valuing Process

As a person grows older, his values continuously change. As he develops into maturity

1. Choosing – values must be chosen freely. The person makes a free choice without being
forced to do so. He is totally responsible for the choice he makes. Next, the choice must
 be made from alternatives. Then, the consequences of each of the alternatives must be
considered thoughtfully. If choices were made in a sudden impulse without thinking and
weighing the consequences, no valuing process exists.
2. Prizing – a value that has been chosen should be priced and cherished. This means that if
you choose a value you must be happy of what you have chosen and hold it as something
dear to you. In addition, you should be glad to be associated with it and willing to admit
so publicly.
3. Acting - you act upon your choice. You can be certain that a choice is of real value when
you act on it not only once but repeatedly and consistently in a number of situations. If
something you have is freely chosen for alternatives, and held dear is not yet acted upon
because you are still thinking about it, then it is not yet a value. It is only a value
indicator.

A true value fulfills all the requirements of the three categories described above. If one aspect
is missing, it is only a value indicator, not a true value.

FILIPINO VALUES AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Strengths of the Filipino Character

Pakikipagkapwa-Tao Filipinos are open to others and feel one with others. We regard
others with dignity and respect and deal with them as fellow human beings. Pakikipagkapwa-tao
is manifested in a basic sense of justice and fairness and in concern for others. It is demonstrated
in the Filipino’s ability to empathize with others, in helpfulness and generosity in times of need
(pakikiramay), in the practice of bayanihan or mutual assistance, and in the famous Filipino
hospitality. Filipinos possess a sensitivity to people’s feelings (pakikiramdam), pagtitiwala or
trust and a sense of gratitude or utang na loob. Because of pakikipagkapwa-tao Filipinos are very
sensitive to the quality of interpersonal relationships and are very dependent on them. If our
relationships are satisfactory, we are happy and secure. Pakikipagkapwa-tao results in
camaraderie and a feeling of closeness to one another. It is the foundation for unity as well the
sense of social justice.

Family Orientation Filipinos possess a genuine and deep love for family which includes
not simply spouse and children, parents and siblings, but also grandparents, aunts, uncles,
cousins, godparents and other ceremonial relatives. To the Filipino, one’s family is the source of
personal identity, the source of emotional and material support and one’s main commitment and
responsibility. Concern for the family is manifested in the honor and respect given to parents and
elders, in the care given to the children, the generosity towards kin in need, and in great
sacrifices one endures for the welfare of the family. This sense of family results in a feeling of
belongingness and rootedness in a basic sense of security.

Joy and Humor 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 also to the indomitability of the Filipino spirit.
Laughing at ourselves and the mess we are in is an important coping mechanism. Often playful,
sometimes, disrespectful, we laugh at those we love and at those we hate and we make jokes
about our good fortune and bad. This sense of joy and humor is manifested in the Filipino’s love
for socials and celebrations, in our capacity to laugh even in the most trying of times, and in the
appeal of political satire. The result is a certain emotional balance, optimism, a healthy disrespect
for power and office and the capacity to survive.

Adaptability and Creativity Filipinos have a great capacity to adjust and to adapt to
circumstances and the surrounding environment, both physical and social. Unplanned or
anticipated events are never overly disturbing or disorienting as the flexible Filipino adjusts to
whatever happens. We possess a tolerance for ambiguity that enables us to remain unfazed by
uncertainly or lack of information. We are creative, resourceful, quick learners, and have the
ability to improvise and make use of whatever is at hand in order to create and produce. This
quality of the Filipino is manifested in the ability to adapt to life in any part of the world, in the
ability to make new things out of old scraps, in the capacity to keep old machines running, and of
course, in the creative talent manifested in the cultural sphere. It is likewise seen in the ability to
accept change. The result is productivity, innovation, entrepreneurship, equanimity and survival.

Hard Work and Industry Filipinos have the capacity for hard work given proper
conditions. The desire to raise one’s standard of living and to possess the essentials of a decent
life for one’s family, combined with the right opportunities and incentives, makes the Filipino
work very hard. This is manifested most noticeably in willingness to take the risks with jobs
abroad and, while there, to work at two or three jobs. The result is productivity and
entrepreneurship for some and survival despite poverty for others.

Faith and Religiosity Filipinos have deep faith in God. Our innate religiosity enables us
to comprehend and genuinely accept reality in the context of God’s will and plan. Thus, tragedy
and bad fortune are accepted and some optimism characterizes even the poorest lives. Filipinos
live very intimately with religion. It is tangible, and touchable—a part of everyday life. We
ascribe human traits to a supernatural God whom we alternately threaten and thank, call upon for
mercy or forgiveness and appease by pledges. Thus prayer is important part of our lives. The
faith of the Filipino is related to bahala na which, instead of being viewed as defeatist
resignation, may be considered positively as a reservoir of psychic energy, an important
psychological prop on which we can lean during hard times. This pampalakas ng loob allows us
to act despite uncertainty.

Ability to Survive Filipinos have an ability to survive, which is manifested in our

capacity for endurance despite difficult times and in our ability to get by, on so very little.
Filipinos make do with what is available in the environment (e.g., eking out a living from a
garbage dump). This survival instinct is related to the Filipino’s other strengths—a basic
optimism, flexibility and adaptability, hard work and a deep faith in God. It is manifested in the
millions of Filipinos who bravely live through the harshest economic and social circumstances.
Regretfully, one wonders what we might be able to do under better circumstances.

Weaknesses of the Filipino Character

Extreme personalism Filipinos view the world in terms of personal relationships and the
extent to which one is able to personally relate things and people determines the recognition of
their existence and the value given to them. There is no separation between an objective task and
emotional involvement. This personalism is manifested in the tendency to give personal
interpretations to actions, i.e., “take things personally.” Thus, a sincere question may be viewed
as a challenge to one’s competence or positive feedback may be interpreted as a sign of special
affection. There is in fact some basis for such interpretations as Filipinos are quite personal in
criticism and praise. Personalism is also manifested in the necessity for the establishment of
personal relationships before any business or work relationships can be successful.
Extreme personalism Because of this personalistic world view, Filipinos have difficulty
dealing with all forms of personal stimuli. It is for this reason that one is uncomfortable with
bureaucracy, with rules and regulations and with standard procedures, all of which tend to be
impersonal. In the face of these, we ignore them or we ask for exceptions. Personal contacts are
involved in any transaction and these are difficult to turn down. Preference is usually given to
family and friends in hiring, delivery of services and even in voting. Extreme personalism thus
leads to the graft and corruption evident in Philippine society.

Extreme Family Centeredness While concern for the family is one of the Filipino’s
greatest strengths, in the extreme it becomes a serious flaw. Excessive concern for the family
creates an in-group to which the Filipino is fiercely loyal to the detriment of concern for the
larger community or for the common good. Excessive concern for family manifests itself in the
use of one’s office and power as a means of promoting the interest of the family, factionalism,
patronage and political dynasties, and in the protection of erring family members. It results a lack
of concern for the common good and acts as a block to national consciousness.

Lack of Discipline The Filipino’s lack of discipline encompasses several related

characteristics. We have a casual and relaxed attitude towards time and space which manifests
itself in lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor time management and procrastination. We
have an aversion for following strictly a set of procedures and this results in lack of
standardization and quality control. We are impatient and unable to delay gratification or reward,
resulting in the use of short-cuts, in skirting the rules (the palusot syndrome) and in
foolhardiness. We are guilty of ningas cogon, starting out projects with full vigor and interest
which abruptly die down leaving things unfinished. Our lack of discipline often results in
efficient and wasteful work systems violations of rules leading to more serious transgressions
and a casual work ethic leading to carelessness and lack of follow-through.

Passivity and Lack of Initiative Filipinos are generally passive and lacking in initiative.
One waits to be told what has to be done. There is strong reliance on others (e.g., leaders,
government) to do things for us. This is related to one’s attitude towards authority. Filipinos have
a need for a strong authority. One is generally submissive to those in authority and is not likely
to raise issues or to question decisions. Filipinos tend to be complacent and there rarely is a sense
of urgency about any problem. There is high tolerance for inefficiency, poor service and even
violations of one’s basic rights. In many ways, it can be said that the Filipino is too patient and
long suffering (matiisin). Too easily resigned to one’s fate. Filipinos are thus easily oppressed
and exploited.

Colonial Mentality Filipinos have a colonial mentality which is made up of two

dimensions: the first is a lack of patriotism or an active awareness, appreciation and love of the
Philippines; the second is an actual preference for things foreign. Filipino culture is characterized
by an openness to the outside—adapting and incorporating the foreign elements into our image
of ourselves. And yet this image is not built around a deep core of Philippine history and
language. The result is cultural vagueness or weakness that makes Filipinos extraordinarily
susceptible to the wholesale acceptance of modern mass culture which is often Western. Thus
there is preference for foreign fashion, entertainment, lifestyles, technology, consumer items, etc.
The Filipino colonial mentality is manifested in the alienation of the elite from their roots and
from the masses as well as in the basic feeling of national inferiority that makes it difficult for
Filipinos to relate as equals to Westerners.

Kanya-Kanya Syndrome Filipinos have a selfish, self-serving attitude that generates a

feeling of envy and competitiveness toward others, particularly one’s peers who seem to have
gained some status or prestige. Towards them, the Filipino demonstrates the so-called crab
mentality (referring to the tendency of crabs in a basket to pull each other down) using the
traveling instrument of tsismis, intriga and unconstructive criticism to bring others down. There
seems to be a basic assumptions that another gain is one’s loss. The kanya-kanya syndrome is
also evident in the personal ambition and the drive for power and status that is completely
insensitive to the common good. Personal and in-group interests reign supreme. This
characteristic is also evident in the lack of a sense of service among people in the government
bureaucracy. The public is made to feel that service from these offices and from these civil
servants is an extra perk that is to be paid for. The kanya-kanya syndrome results in the
dampening of cooperative and community spirit and in the trampling upon the rights of others.

Lack of Self-analysis and Self-reflection There is a tendency in the Filipino to be

superficial and even somewhat flighty. In the face of serious problems, both personal and social,
there is lack of analysis or reflection. We joke about the most serious matters and this prevents
looking deeply into the problem. There is no felt need to validate our hypotheses or explanations
of things. Thus, we are satisfied with superficial explanations and superficial solutions to
problems. Related to this, the Filipino emphasis on form (maporma) rather than on substance.
There is a tendency to be satisfied with rhetoric and to substitute this for reality. Empty rhetoric
and endless words are very much part of public discourse. As long as the right things are said, as
long as the proper documents and reports exist, as long as the proper committees, task forces or
offices are firmed, Filipinos are deluded into believing that what ought to be, actually exists. The
Filipino lack of self-analysis and our emphasis on norms is reinforced by an educational system
that is often more form than substance and a legal system that tends to substitute law for reality.

The Filipino Values

One way of understanding Filipino identity is through a study of Filipino values. Thomas
Andres, claims that generally, value connotes a sense of need. In this perspective, Andres agrees
that values can be construed as needs. Hence, when we speak of Filipino values, in the same
manner, we speak of Filipino needs. And to Andres, these needs or values are as follows:
 1. Famillism – this refers to the Filipinos’ need for emotional stability and familial
security. For the Filipinos, the family is their priority. This is why they work hard in the
office, in the school, in the farm, among others, forgetting that there are other things they
have to consider which are essential in the family namely: talking with the children,
doing some counseling and the like.

2. Reciprocity – this refers to the favor-gratitude value or need of the Filipinos. Filipinos
always expect gratitude out of a favor they do to someone. Reciprocity, therefore, is
associated of the utang-na-loob concept.

3. Social Acceptance – this is the Filipinos’ need to be accepted as persons, as subject, and
not as objects.

4. Social Mobility – this refers to the Filipinos’ desire or need for progress and
development. Despite the values of close family ties, the Filipinos are willing to go
abroad for the sake of possessing a decent or progressive way of living.

5. Self-esteem – this need is evident in the Filipinos’ desire to be respected or to be

esteemed, particularly when they have attained any achievement or success in life.

We cannot deny that behind our traits are our values. This is recognized by Andres.
According to him, there are values behind our traits, they are the following: holistic, creative,
familism, malambing, caring, companion oriented, Godly, regionalistic, compassionate,
utang-na-loob oriented, fatalistic, peace-loving, heroism-oriented, ingenuity-oriented,
hospitable, respectful, resilient, pliant-oriented, harmony-oriented, and beauty-oriented.

Good Citizenship Values

The 1987 Constitution is a formal document embodying social values deemed desirable for the
nation The Preamble states:

We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a
just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and
aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to
ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law
and the regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate
this Constitution.

From the Preamble, enshrined the 16 good citizenship values. They are as follows:

Faith
Respect for Life
Order
Work
Concern for the family and future generation
 Love
Freedom
Peace
Truth
Justice
Unity
Equality
Respect for law and government
Patriotism
Promotion of the common good
Concern for the environment

These values are capsulated in 4 distinct Filipino virtues and good habits:

1. PAGKAMAKA-DIYOS - acknowledging that God is the author of life and the source
of all wisdom and strength. That without God we are nothing because everything that
man has comes from God.

2. PAGKAMAKA-TAO – man has to be treated with love, respect, and equality.

Applying the golden rule: “do unto others what you would want others do unto you.”

3. PAGKAMAKA-BAYAN – patronizing our own products, prioritizing public service

to personal, respect to the Philippine flag and among others are manifestation of our
patriotism and nationalism

4. PAGKAMAKA-KALIKASAN – safeguarding and protecting nature by means of

participating in different environmental activities like tree planting, proper waste
management or segregation, information drive on the effects of abusing nature, etc.

Inculcation of these values is significant in transforming people who could truly build “a just
and humane society, sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.