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Values
Traditional values pertaining to family, authority, and
harmony reflect collectivist values characteristic of
many Asian cultures. However, descriptions of "surface"
versus "core" values indicate contrast, complexity, and
possible stereotypic portrayals of the character in
literature. A more detailed examination of traditional
values and related issues follows.
Family
To understand Filipinos is to accept the complete
centrality of the family and that means the extended
family, including several generations. No other single
aspect of life is likely to be as important, lasting or
influential on choices and decisions from childhood to
old age. The typical Filipino individual exists first
and foremost as a member of a family and looks to the
family as the only reliable protection against the
uncertainties of life. (Gochenour, 1990, p. 18)
Reliance on the family for love, support, and refuge has
historically been as much an economic necessity as it is
a cultural tradition.
However, the relationship to family is not just a
practical trade off of autonomy for social security. It
transcends socioeconomic, educational, and regional
differences and is part of a collectivistic cultural
orientation or way of perceiving the place of the
individual in the social context (Gochenour, 1990;
Santos, 1983). For Filipinos, the family is the source
of one's personal identity and of emotional and material
support; it also is the focus of one's primary duty and
commitment. Dependence on, loyalty to, and solidarity
with the family and kin group are of the highest
priority (Okamura & Agbayani, 1991).
Concern for the welfare of the family is expressed in
the honor and respect bestowed on parents and older
relatives, the care provided to children, and the
individual sacrifices that are made on behalf of family
members (Okamura & Agbayani, 1991). A primary focus on
the needs of immediate as well as extended family
members may translate into behaviors such as
considerable sharing of material things. A Filipina, for
example, can walk into a store to buy a blouse for
herself and come out with one for her sister instead (Gochenour,
1990). Filipinos living in the United States will
routinely send money, clothes, household goods, and
other items as well as bring many gifts on personal
visits to extended family members "left behind" in the
Philippines.
In fact, the vast majority of Filipino-Americans
,particularly the most recent immigrants, send large
sums of money back home to their kin; these "remittance
dollars" add up to billions a year and are the biggest
source of hard currency in the Philippines [Schoenberger,
1994]. Examples of individual sacrifices on the part of
various family members might include postponing marriage
or passing up a job promotion that would entail
transferring to another location away from the family.
However, family loyalty also might dictate that a young
parent temporarily leave his or her family and children
in order to pursue better educational, training, or
employment opportunities in the United States or other
countries (Santos, 1983). This sense of family
obligation begins early on when children are conditioned
to be grateful to their parents for their birth. A
lifelong debt of gratitude or utang na loob ("debt from
within") thereby creates binding relationships of love,
respect, and obedience (PAPEP, 1982).
Since the above is on the subject of "Values," I post
this from a expat List member living here in Manila.
This is on bribery, corruption, and others things hard
for foreigners to get in perspective when living here.
He writes:Lets not get confused between tipping somebody
for good service, or tipping a Government official to
break a law or be for the direct benefit of both parties
involved. The former you normally tip after the service
is provided, i.e. to the taxi driver, waitress,
hairdresser etc. the later is arranged before the
service. The later is not a tip but is a bribe. It is
not normal in the US to give tips to Government
officials such as Customs Officers, IRS inspectors etc.
but more to those people in the service industry. By
tipping a taxi driver etc, it is legal by giving certain
gifts to Government Officials is illegal, not only in
the Philippines, but also a US person giving a tip to
Foreign Government officials is also violating US law
read "Foreign Corrupt Practices Act". Whether it is
legal or not is not the big issue, as small time tippers
are unlikely to be penalized.
The major issue is the affect it is having on the
Philippine economy. Corruption adversely affects
individual segments in an economy; high-level corruption
is particularly damaging the Philippine economy and
development. It is undermining efforts to establish and
strengthen market-based economic systems; interfere with
the international community's efforts to support and
promote economic development; discourage foreign private
investment; and foster a climate conducive to financial
crime and other forms of lawlessness.
The Philippine economy has a major problem with lack of tax collection.
Furthermore, the Philippines has been blacklisted as one
of the worst countries in the world for money
laundering, not because of drug dealing or
terrorism but because of Corruption. It was one of 3
countries threatened with sanctions last year if it did
not put anti-money laundering laws in place, why did it
take so long? because some of the government officials
responsible for approving the law were concerned of
their own doings. They finally introduced a law on the
deadline day, therefore avoiding the sanctions. It is
not the poor and lower paid who are gaining, it is the
poor who are suffering. Money is being stolen from the
Government, money that should be used for developing the
country, help build hospitals, roads, create jobs etc.
The following is a statement from The World Bank and
this was when Estrada was in charge!
"Why a Stronger Anticorruption Program Now?
From an international perspective, a vigorous and
credible program to combat corruption in the Philippines
is vital for three reasons:
• The Philippines is cited with increasing frequency (by
business surveys, the media, and anticorruption watchdog
agencies) as a country where corruption is a factor that
inhibits foreign and domestic investment and which may
be eroding the country's competitive position. Such
investment is vital to economic growth and social well
being.
• Because corruption undeniably saps resources available
for development, distorts access to services for poor
communities, and undermines public confidence in the
government's will and capacity to serve the poor, an
anticorruption strategy is an essential complement to
the Estrada administration's pro-poor and pro growth
stance.
• Corruption has emerged as a pivotal international
criterion for allocating scarce development aid
resources, and countries will
increasingly be judged by their actions in combating
corruption."
To think bribing/corruption is part of the culture, is
not something to be proud of, however, I do not believe
it is part of the culture, just look at the number of
people on the streets during the people power,
demonstrating against corruption by their President. So
next time you are giving a "tip" to the customs officer,
for yours and the officers benefit just remember you are
participating in the economic woes of the country and
hurting the people you say you love. Its easy to say
other people are doing it especially the rich, but two
wrongs do not make a right. The way to stop it, is stop
paying the bribes and punish those who participate. Jon
Speaks, expat Living in Manila
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