Leader’s Edge
communi-K • vol. 6 no.2
Ang Doble-Kara ni Juan (The backside of the English title ‘The Ambivalent Filipino Values System’) By Calvin Perez
D
uring my early years, I got caught up to the so-called Filipino values such as bahala na, pakikisama, ningas cogon, hiya, mañana habit, etc. and as I move along with my life, what formed into my knowledge system was that those were pointed out to be the culprits, the scapegoat of the Filipino failures, or basically the weak characteristics of being Filipinos. On the other hand, I got to learn lessons that would inculcate the values
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of hard work and teamwork. However, it was distinctly used to prove that the aforementioned traits were the sole reason why our beloved country lagged behind more successful Asian neighbors. Are Filipino values really bad? If I may answer it, I’d say it has a potential for the good or bad, can be useful to assist or deter any personal or national development depending on how these values are comprehended, practiced or lived by individuals. This is where the ambivalence of our value system comes into play. There is the essence of ‘pakikisama’ (cooperation). It can either be for wrong means or for development. In our social system, positive values can take on negative and hideous appearances. The
‘utang na loob’ (gratitude from within) can lead to favours especially for employment and approval for something means. On a larger scale, it can lead to nepotism (for employment) and corruption (for approval). However, these negative results can only take place once they are willed to happen. The ‘utang na loob’ can be positively returning favors, e.g. the person is blessed financially and decided to help the needy. Another Filipino trait which excites me more to discuss is the ambivalence of one indecisive Filipino value, is the ‘bahala na’ (resignation) mentality that has dominated our culture for a long time and is very relevant until the present. The bad side were, for example, it meant a false sense