THE FILIPINOPerspectives and Contexts

Arts and Culture is Power

Arts is not meant to embody art itself, but to express the very soul of man.

Cultural identity distinguishes the power to reiterate political ideologies that is based on the very fabric of the society’s existence. ( not the reality, of course )

A well defined arts and culture, defines the future of the society.

Paano ba natin sisimulan?

Search for identity

Sino ba ang Filipino?

Search for existence

Ano ba ang Filipino?

Search for meaning

Bakit tayo Filipino?

Filipinos are not Malays Filipinos did not descend from the

Malays (Manuel, Jocano, Hornedo, et al) Our culture and languages are not

derived from Malay “There is no such thing as a Malay race in anthropological science” - Dr.Arsenio

Manuel Rizal is not the “Pride of the Malay

Race” (Ozaeta, 1949) but of the Filipino people

The belief that the Philippines was inhabited by successive waves of migration of Negritos, Indonesians and Malays has no basis in historical fact.

David Zorc, a world class linguist, with specialization in Austronesian languages had this to say:

“while Filipinos want to claim Indonesians and Malaysians as their progenitors (hence the Maragtas, Code of Kalantiaw, etc.),

in truth it was from the Philippines that the Indonesians and Malays came, and at a much greater time depth than anyone estimated."

What is Culture?

To culture is to cultivate, as in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, sericulture, beauty culture, voice culture, etc.

Any activity, product or expression attained through the application of human skill is CULTURE, that which is not is NATURE, such as trees, rivers, mountains, birds.

In its broadest sense, culture may be defined as:

Way of life, a design for living

Shared patterns of behavior and meaning, of expectations and responses

Shared system of vital ideas about the world

UNESCO defines culture as:

“The whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and

emotional features that characterize a society or social

group. It includes not only the arts and letters, but also modes of life,

the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems,

traditions and beliefs.”

Cultural Questions (Being Questions of Perception, Valuing, and Meaning)  

What brings out the good, the best in the Filipino? How do you inspire or what inspires Filipinos towards positive, productive or constructive behavior/social action?

How do you get Filipinos to cooperate and work together harmoniously, happily, efficiently and effectively?

What are we most productive/creative at/in? What is the nature of the Filipino cultural genius (both local and nationally shared)?

How do you bring out honesty, sincerity, and loyalty?

How do you resolve conflicts? How do you criticize one’s work

or raise standards of excellence without arousing ill will and resentment?

How do you inculcate or promote discipline and dedication to one’s task?*

*The feeling of being taken advantage of; being exploited, abused; being treated unfairly, unjustly, or being demeaned, insulted (pinagsasamantalahan, minamaltrato, ginugulangan, nilalamangan, iniinsulto o binabastos) is abhorrent to the Filipino, it being a serious affront to one’s dignity as an ultimately sacred being.

A Filipino Perspective Build on Our Strengths - Need for Positive Self-Image:

- Social Self-Images are Self-Fulfilling

- Root cause of Philippine under- development: Filipino tendency towards self bashing,

esp. among the Westernized elite, preventing us from tapping our greatest asset for sustainable development - our cultural strengths and resources.

Cult of smallness Celebration of Defeat Dona Victorina Syndrome

Work for the Good of the Nation as a Whole:

ACT LOCALLY, THINK NATIONALLY,

Pride, Commitment, Excellence

Promoting Filipino Cultural Identity

Cultural Identity as the Basis of Economic Competitiveness: Cultural identity has it source in

originality, indigenousness, authenticity, uniqueness, historicity, magnitude, and excellence

Anywhere in the world people prefer the distinctive, one with character, not anything bland

and featureless

FILIPINOS LOVE TO CONNECT, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE

Among the most highly relational in the world, Filipinos are hardly alone. They are happy being together - when they eat, sleep, work, travel, pray, create or celebrate. They feel connected to the world, God and nature, but most of all to people.

“Nobody likes to be left out of a photo op”

Togetherness is happiness

Filipinos hardly eat alone Invite a person to your party,

how many will come?Bantay(watcher) & extra bedPicture-taking maniaPrizes for everybody“Do not praise small items” -

Juan Flavier

Pabalot, balato, bonus (forms of sharing)Pasalubong( quasi-sacred

ritual: gift from a journey)Cannot keep secrets Relational terms for calling

each otherTexting capital of the worldNo isolated notes (hagod,

slides, “scooping”)

Notes are PeoplePitch Relations Reflect People Relations

In individualistic cultures where people preserve their private space and separateness from others, musical pitches also tend to be discrete or isolated from each other.

In communal cultures where togetherness and connectedness with others is highly valued, musical pitches tend to be bridged by slides or a microtonal continuum.

FILIPINO PROXEMICS OF PRIVACY

To be alone a German needs four thick walls which shut off all light and sound from the outside.

A Japanese needs only thin paper screens

A Filipino does not need a physical structure to spend time alone. All that is needed is for him to stay in a corner and keep quiet.

This is proof that even in our precious moments of solitude, we are still willing to share our whole being, should the need arise

MY SPACE IS YOUR SPACE

OPEN HOUSE: In most Western cultures, guests are allowed to move around only within the confines of the living room.In Filipino culture, guests may roam anywhere inside or outside the house, even in the bedrooms

“FEEL AT HOME”: How long can your relative or close friend temporarily stay in your house?

Most Romantic in Southeast Asia

A Mobile Lifestyle Survey conducted by Asia Market Intelligence for Siemens in late 2002 among six SEA’n countries found that Filipinos send “I love you” messages the most often:

Filipinos 58%

Indonesians 41% Malaysians 36% Singaporeans 31% Thais 30% Indians 24%

WORKPLACE AS EXTENSION OF THE HOME

Filipinos are strongly family-oriented and most comfortable in a homey setting

Superiors tend be regarded as filial authority

As in the family, rituals for affirming togetherness would be very helpful, such as prayers, singing, recreational activities, sharing of concerns

Like parents, superiors are expected to provide care and support in all levels

FASHIONABLE ELEGANCE

The highly sociable Filipino always likes to be in style – neat, fit and smart. Whether rich or poor, reformer or rebel, manager or laborer, the Filipino dresses well and smells nice. A well-groomed person is socially attractive.

Loners More Prone to Heart Disease

People with lots of friends are usually the healthiest in the world

Lack of friends and close social ties are the hidden cause of heart disease

As social ties increase, mortality rates decrease

Married people, members of religious groups and the like often live longer

Social isolation breeds depression, which may lead to lower immunity to disease and even suicide

MULTI-SIGNIFICANCE:Bringing People Together

An effective Filipino tool for connecting people to each other is to endow an activity, presentation or creation with as many different meanings, functions and qualities as possible.

TRANSPARENCY: Openness and Trust

The Filipino is a highly accessible and accommodating person, basically trusting and open, yet quite sensitive and demanding of respect and recognition of one’s dignity.

Bukas ang kalooban, not private

Windows all around ancestral houses

Aliwalas, airy spaciousness and openness of interiors

“Space surrounds space”High value placed on being

natural, informal, personal

LISTEN TO THE FEELING TONE

Do not listen to what the Filipino says as much as how he says it.

Listen to the feeling tone, read between the lines

Filipinos communicate non-verbally most of the time

Be sensitive to non-verbal symbols, facial expressions, gestures, or body language to understand what the Filipino is really trying to say

“Makuha Ka Sa Tingin”

88 WAYS OF LOOKING IN TAGALOG

TINGIN – to look DILAT, PANDILATAN – stare

squarely at MASID, MASDAN – observe or

look at searchingly MALAS – observing look MATYAG – close observation LIYAW – to spy, watch, observe

ANINAG – see thru a transparent or translucent medium

ANINAW – see thru a haze TANGHOD – to look fascinatedly TANGA, TUMANGA – to look at

something absentmindedly SULILING – to glance sideways,

affectedly or disdainfully MATA, MATAHIN – to look at

something with critical eyes, condescendingly

SILAY – briefly but seriously TITIG – steadfastly and fixedly IRAP – with annoyance LISIK – sparkling of the eyes as

when one is extremely irked or irritated

LIING – to look out of the corner of one’s eyes

MUSING – with a frown SULI – vexedly DAYAP – with an evil eye

ILAM – to look sideways SULYAP – sidewise quickly DUNGSOL – look again and again LINGAP – cast a glance LINGA – look here and there as if

searching for something LINGI, LINGIGIG – look here and

there, worriedly because of some noise

LINGOS – here and there, unmindfully

BALILILING – with a turn of the head

LINGON – over one’s shoulders TUNGO – downwards TINGALA – upwards SIPAT – looking over (a surface) to

check levelness, (or a line, row) to check alignment

SUMIK – looking as if listening BANTAY – to look at what is one’s

own (to keep an eye on)

TANAW – looking from a distance TANGHAL – looking from a

distance contemplating the beauty or grandeur of something

NOOD – to look at something that brings delight

TINGHAD – strain one’s neck in order to see an object not on the level of one’s eyes

MULAGAT – stare SILIP – peep

SIGLAP – superficial, accidental glance without much attention

SIGLAW – glimpse; involuntary passing notice

PATUMANGA or DANGA – look born of awe or dread

LISAW – disquieting look because of anger

LILAP – peculiar flushing of the eyes of drunks

TUNGANGA – open-mouthed curiosity or indifference

BALING – look from one side to another

SULINDING, PASULINDING – glance obliquely, superciliously

MANGANINO, MANALAMIN – to look into a mirror

SILAW – dazzled ALIBAY – follow a moving object

with one’s eyes BANAAG – glimpse, have a

glimmer of MULAT – open eyed At marami pang iba

EXPRESSIVENESS: Maximalism

The common Filipino is a maximalist, filling up every available space with forms and things. It springs from an expressive exuberance deeply rooted in emotional sensitivity and the strong urge to connect.

Treat the other person as you treat yourself because the other person

is also yourself - Filipino core idea

THE CORE VALUES

KAPWA (Shared Identity) PAKIRAMDAM (Shared Inner Perception) KAGANDAHANG LOOB (Shared Humanity)

KAPWA

SHARED IDENTITY (Shared Inner Self, “The other person is also yourself”)

the core of Filipino psychology, it is humaneness at the highest level

implies unique moral obligation to treat one another as equal fellow human beings

PAKIRAMDAM

(Knowing Through Feeling or Tacit Knowing; Participatory

Sensitivity)

A unique social skill inherent in Filipino personhood

The need for openness and basic trust is a precondition for this active process of sensing subtle cues

SHARED INNER PERCEPTION

KAGANDAHANG LOOB

SHARED HUMANITY (Pagkamakatao; A Shared Inner Nobility; A Quiet Sense of Responsibility for Others; A Great Compassion for All Living Beings)

Nudges a person towards genuine acts of generosity, kindness and caring

Levels of Filipino Social Interaction

AMONG OUTSIDERS:

PAKIKITUNGO (courtesy)

PAKIKISALAMUHA (mixing)

PAKIKILAHOK (joining)

PAKIKIBAGAY (adapting)

PAKIKISAMA (getting along with)

PAKIKISAMA

DEEPEST LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH ANOTHER PERSON STILL CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER (IBANG TAO)

Characteristic tendencies of this trait are giving in to another person’s wish, demands, wants or desires. The motive for this could be politeness or expectation of future concessions or immediate rewards

Levels of Filipino Social Interaction

AMONG INSIDERS:PAKIKIPAGPALAGAYANG-

LOOB (rapport)

PAKIKISANGKOT (involvement)

PAKIKIISA (oneness, unity with)

KAPWA: THE OTHER PERSON IS ALSO YOURSELF

The Filipino tends to do business with friends and relatives, or those with whom he has the closest personal ties.

He prefers a trust-based, long-term and deep relationship rather than one based on short-term, material gains.

An impersonal, formal, legal, purely business transaction – devoid of emotional depth - is alien to the Filipino and may only bring out the worst in him.

SOCIETAL VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH

FILIPINO PERSONHOOD

KALAYAAN (Freedom)

KATARUNGAN (Justice, Equality)

KARANGALAN (Honor, Dignity)

BIPOLARITY: The Unity of Opposites

An intuitive logic vastly superior to the either/or of mechanistic cultures is Filipino bipolarity.

In bipolaristic logic, it is axiomatic that if a thing is true or valid, then its opposite must also be true or valid.

A PERSON AND HIS ACTIONS ARE ONE, NOT SEPARATE

To criticize a person’s work is also to criticize the person himself, so how does one urge him to improve his work and raise standards without hurting him?

The solution is to use a bipolar approach: Praise-Criticize or Better, PRAISE-CRITICIZE-PRAISE

(KISS-KICK-KISS)

BRIDGING DIFFERENCES: Curves not Angles

The Filipino prefers mediation to confrontation. Pahiwatig, pakiusap, pakikibagay, biro are only a few of the orchestral wealth of techniques for bridging differences.

Vitalistic, Life Energy-Seeking

Filipinos love

biomorphic, non-architectonic shapes

informal, asymmetrical balance

rich tactile valueskinaesthetic interaction

KINESTHETIC INTERACTIVENESS:Connecting Through Touch

Filipinos love to feel, literally touching their way through life. Rich textural qualities, biomorphic shapes, tasty foods, lush sounds and social clustering make life exceedingly warm and intimate.

A hundred words for touch

DAMA, HIPO, KAPA, KAPKAP, HIMAS, LAMAS, HAPLOS, HAGOD, SALAT, HAWAK, KAPIT, DIIT, LAPAT, SUNGGAB, SAMBILAT(clutch, grab, snatch violently), AKAP, SAGI, ANTIG, LAMUKOS, LAMYOS, KUYUMOS, KUSKOS, KALABIT, KAMOT, KALMOT, DAITI, KANTI, TAPIK, TIPA, KUTOS, SANGGI, KADYOT, SABUNOT, SAMPAL, BUNTAL, PALO, SUNTOK, SUNGGO (bump against lightly), SIPA, SIKO

SIIL (violent pushing or shoving with the elbow), SALAGOY (touch lightly), LUKOT, SIKLOT, KALIKOT, LAPIROT, BALUTBOT, DUTDOT, SUNDOT, KUTKOT, KUROT, PINGGER, KALKAL, KALIKAW, BUTINGTING, BULATLAT, DIKIT, KISKIS, KIMIS, KILITI, SINTAK, SUONG, AKAY, AKBAY

DALA, KARGA, BUHAT, BITBIT, SAPO, SALO, KIMKIM, KIPKIP, SUKBIT, BABA, PASAN, SUNONG, KANDONG, KALONG, PANGKO, SAKBIBI, etc.

KINESTHETIC INTERACTIVENESS:The Magical, Healing Touch

Traditional rituals are a way of connecting to the divine. Through touch people get healed. A “magical” transference of vital energy occurs in many levels, physical and metaphysical.

Hug If You Want To Live

Hugging is a key to happiness – Leo Buscaglia

Hugs make you feel psychologically more secure and together

Touching releases endorphins (the “happy hormones”), which kill pain and increase immunity to disease

Positive feelings strengthen the blood’s immune system

PAKIKIRAMDAM AND LAMBING: Soft, Flowing Movements

Pakikiramdam, knowing through feeling or participatory sensitivity makes the Filipino especially compassionate, affective, malambing, gentle, and kind.

Sharing of Moods and Feelings

Pakikiramdam is the ability to participate in the inner life process or monitor the flow of feelings in others, especially if deeper feelings are involved.

This is the source of the much vaunted Filipino affinity with the underdog, melodrama, and sentimental and compassionate nature.

Pakikiramdam is more than sympathy or empathy: it is dynamic, profound and immeasurable.

For ex, whereas in the U.S., funeral parlors have fixed opening and closing hours, in the Philippines they are open 24 hours. It is simply unthinkable for Filipinos to subject lamay to fixed, limited schedules just because of commercial considerations.

When Filipinos bury their dead, it is not only close relatives who attend the ritual but even distant relatives, friends of relatives, relatives of friends, all those who have become neighbors of the deceased, peers, officemates, classmates and friends.

The Participatory Filipino: Pantay-pantay, walang lamangan

Pagbibigayan, sharing, interdependence; equitable distribution of resources

micro interweaving of colors, visual elements

interlocking/ interconnected wide spaces (non-compartmentalized)

salitan, interlocking rhythms in music

Verbs expressing mutual, reciprocal action and equal possession of

similar qualities magsi- magsilabas, magsigising,

magsitayo magsipag- magsipaghanda,

magsipagkalat magka- magkaisa, magkasundo magka- magkasama, magkapatid,

magkatulad, magkakulay magkasing- magkasingganda,

magkasimpangit

ka - karamay, katuwang, katulong,

katabi, kaklase, kalahi, kauri,

kalaro, kasapi kasing - kasintigas, kasinlapit,

kasintanda, kasindali,

kasing-asim, kasinggaling mag-an- magsagutan, magsabunutan,

magtakbuhan,magtawanan magka-an magkalinawan, magkainisan,

magkarinigan, magkasintahan magsing- magsing-irog

maki- makisangkot, makialam,

makiisa,makibahagi, makibaka,

makisama, makigawa,

makibili, makihalo, makitulog makipag- makipag-away, makipag-

kamay, makipag-usap makipag - an makipag-agawan,

makipagsagutan makipagka - an makipagkaibigan,

makipagkasunduan

ka - an kasunduan, kaibigan,

kasintahan pakiki- pakikiramay, pakikiramdam,

pakikiisa, pakikiapid pakikipag- pakikipagtalo, pakikipag-

sayaw, pakikipag-usap pakikipag - an pakikipagtulungan,

pakikipagtawanan, pakikipag-ugnayan,

pakikipag-unawaan, pakikipagsulatan, pakikipagsapalaran

pakikipagka - an pakikipagkasunduan,

pakikipagkaibigan paki- pakialam, pakisuyo, pakibasa paki – an pakibagayan, pakisamahan,

pakilapitan, pakibihisan ta- kain ta

PROVIDING CHOICES:Variability of Form, Medium and Technique

A greater range of materials, forms, techniques, ideas and possibilities for engaging in productive or creative work allows for wider and democratic social participation

FILIPINO DIGNITY IS THE CREATIVE HUMAN ESSENCE

There is nothing more dehumanizing to a human being than to feel he is merely being treated as a machine The consequences for an organization are a rapid turnover rate, absenteeism, safety violations, high accident rate, high rates of illness, and low productivity.

FILIPINO DIGNITY IS THE CREATIVE HUMAN ESSENCE

In the work place and in other relationships which fail to recognize the individual as more than a robot, we see negative behavior such as lack of cooperation and absenteeism – John W. Burton

CREATIVE IMPROVISATION Extemporaneous

or on-the-spot creativity comes very naturally to the Filipino who has the finest artistic yet improvisatory traditions such as the duplo, balagtasan, balitaw, tultul, kulintang, kuntao and okir. Creative spontaneity is highly valued.

ROUTINE KILLS CREATIVE SPONTANEITY

Filipinos tend to fall into a stupor if work becomes routine. The solution is job rotation, multi-tasking, change of activity, breaks, leisure and play or better, to make work INTRINSICALLY REWARDING and

CULTIVATE A PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE so that every moment

of the work situation becomes A CREATIVE CHALLENGE.

Personal Identity Within The CommunityWithin a shared matrix of

communal values, every person’s inherent uniqueness must be socially recognized. His/ her personal identity must find creative expression in a particular social role.

FILIPINO CULTURAL GENIUS

HIGHLY RELATIONAL Most active in the exploration of meaning in

relationships as seen in our prolific affixation system, one of the richest in the world

Promotion of togetherness through activities,

practices, and creations characterized by multiple functions, values and qualities

 

A highly caring, nurturing orientation  

Strong family values

Genius in interpersonal skills

Excellence in service industries

Highest in religiosity

Superior in mental health

The phenomenon of EDSA and other manifestations of our genius in designing social institutions

Preference for human scale in social organization, including size of political constituency (governance with a face)

Giving everybody an active role. Decision-making is a collective activity

There is no separation of participant/performer/creator and observer/audience/spectator

The individual is recognized within a shared social matrix

HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY, CONSENSUS-BUILDERS

THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF HUMANITY ARE ROOTED IN A

COMMON CORE OF BEING(UBOD),

A CREATIVE, LIVING AND DIVINE GOODNESS

A contagious joie de vivre and optimistic attitude, a great capacity for happiness

A highly adaptable, versatile, flexible, creative and expressive people

Amazing babaylans, psychic healers and practitioners

Passion for freedom, justice and dignity

THE NOTION OF LIFE AS AN INTEGRATED WHOLE

The principle of absolute equality of man and woman

Non-sexist languages

Strong educational, knowledge orientation

Happiest People

Filipinos are happiest in Southeast Asia, 43%, Malay, 42%, Thai, 39% (SRG Happiness Index, 9,000 surveyed in 1987)

Young Filipinos are the happiest in Asia, 78%, Thai, 77%, Malay 76%, Indian, 73%…Taiwanese, 7%, Hongkong youths are the saddest, 5%.

(Channel V Network Survey,Nov. 2000)

Filipinos are the happiest in East Asia (2003 survey)

Happiness Protects Against Colds People who are energetic, happy and

relaxed are less likely to catch colds, research has found.

Conversely, those who are depressed, nervous or angry are more likely to complain about cold symptoms – whether or not they get bitten by the cold bug.

A team from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh found that people who had a positive emotional attitude were not infected as often as people with a negative emotional style – BBC News July 26, 2003

WAKASWAKAS

Salamat Po!