Tatak Pinoy: FILIPINO TRAITS & VALUES

         Years after being colonized by foreign countries, Filipinos have saved the original values that they practice even before alien cultures invaded our own.

         Although we have adopted to the influences of the mixture of Spanish, American, Chinese and Japanese culture, Filipinos were able to cultivate and made these traits their own marks of being a genuine Pinoy.

Filipino people are said to be very versatile when it comes to adapting to new surroundings. They are flexible and they always come in trend.

But, aside from those positive traits and values that we acquire from our ancestors, we Filipinos, acknowledge that we also give ourselves in negative qualities, qualities that we possess since the start of the world.

Now let us take a quick look to the common traits and values that Filipinos from around the globe share.

POSITIVE TRAITS

1.   FAITH IN GOD

It is a common thing for Filipinos to be seen on their bended knees, with their candle in one hand or sing praises on the top of their lungs. There is no question as to whether Filipinos believe in God.

We may be a member of different churches, but we put faith and strongly acknowledge the presence and existence of one true God.

2.   CLOSE FAMILY TIES

Other countries may find it absurd, but for us Filipinos, we prefer to stay and live with our family even after we are married off. The family members are almost complete when you try to visit a house owned by a Filipino. From the grandparents up to the last bit of their grandchildren, these people are what comprise a Filipino home.

3.     HOSPITABLE

It is one of the Filipino traits that people from other countries often commend to us. We are notable in terms of being accommodating to our visitors. When we have visitors, we always welcome them with warm smiles, good conversation and tasty food.

4.     OBEDIENT AND DUTIFUL

Filipinos always acknowledge those that are in authority or someone superior to them. Even inside the family, children can be found obediently following their parents instructions.

5.     RESPECTFUL

It is a part of our custom and even in our language to pay respect to the elderly or to people superior to us. We use the words “po” at “opo” when talking to someone older to us and do act of “pagmano” as a sign of respect.

6.     HELPFUL

Whenever someone needs someone else’s aid, Filipinos are always ready to give a hand to that person. One great example of Filipino custom portraying helpfulness is the act of “bayanihan.”

7.     DILIGENT AND PATIENT

Because of the situation of our country, agriculture as one of the primary sources of a living has contributed to these traits of Filipinos. They do strenuous planting and the same in gathering them.

8.     RESOURCEFUL AND CREATIVE

Being dubbed as a third world country, Filipinos have learned to adapt to their conditions. Consequently they learned the practice of improvising things by recycling trashes to useful things.

9.     CHEERFUL

Filipinos often find themselves in struggle to survive for a day. In response to this, they tend to cheer themselves up and just laugh their problems off.

10. THRIFTY AND FRUGAL

For a typical Filipino, it is ordinary to see them eat foods that are considered too plain, they buy simple clothes and things that are really needed. They don’t spend money to just everything ar anything they want.

NEGATIVE TRAITS

1.     NINGAS- KUGON

There is a tendency for Filipino people to show eagerness on the start of the way but lacks of it as the work progresses.

2.     MAÑANA HABIT

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Philippines is still under developed country. Filipinos often put off doing things until it is too late.

3.     CRAB MENTALITY

Another dark side of Filipino traits is how insecure we could get to somebody who is on his/ her way to success that we find a way to pull that person back down, rather than striving to be better.

4.     COLONIAL MENTALITY

We perceive the Filipino made products as inferior to what imported products offer us.

5.     BAHALA NA

When cornered to a situation that seems to remain unsolved, we often let the fate dictates on whatever will happen.

6.     SORE LOSERS

Many times, Filipinos become very competitive and hate losing. At times, when we lose, we find a way to get even.