What values do the Filipinos commonly have? What are the positive and negative traits that contradict and complement each other?

1. Filipino Traits and Characteristics
Grade 3 Sibika
ZPG 2012

2. Positive Traits
Faith in God
• We may have different religions in
different sectors of our country, but what
is consistent is that we all have one
strong form of faith.
Close Family Ties
• We enjoy the feeling of having and
knowing family members are around us.
From cousins, aunts, uncles and
grandparents, some families share their
homes, celebrate holidays and lend a
hand to relatives when it is needed.

3. Positive Traits
Welcoming to visitors
• When we have people visit our
homes, we always welcome them with
smiles, conversation and food.
Obedient and dutiful
• In our culture, we always respect and
follow what our parents and adults
advise us to do. Not talking back, and
trusting the adults around us has
always been a part of who we are.

4. Positive Traits
Respectful
• From the “mano”, to saying “po” and “opo”
to our elders, these words that are a part of
our language show how we respect people.
Helpful
• It is expected that we help out in the house
and offer help to siblings, friends and
relatives when we can. We have the
“bayanihan” spirit in us and it is why in
times of calamities or disaster, Filipinos are
mostly helpful to one another.

5. Positive Traits
Diligent and patient
• Majority of our livelihood in the Philippines
is based on agriculture. It takes a lot of
back-breaking work to plant the fields. Then
it takes patience to care, water and harvest
it.
Resourceful and creative
• During the times when we don’t have the
means to accomplish something, we find
ingenious ways of using what we have to
solve our problems.

6. Positive Traits
Cheerful
• Because we’ve been through a lot of trials in
our history, Filipinos have learned not to be
depressed. Rather, we find a joke and try to
have fun even during times of difficulty.
Thrifty and frugal
• We don’t like to waste anything since we
don’t have a lot. We are careful of what we
have, knowing that it will serve us well for a
long time.

7. NegativeTraits
Nignas-kugon
• We start something eagerly but lose
momentum and don’t tend to finish or
reach long-term goals.
Mañana Habit
• Sometimes, Filipinos would like to put off
doing things until it is too late. Examples
are: fixing what needs to be fixed, or
saving money for future expenditures.

8. NegativeTraits
Crab Mentality
• Filipinos sometimes get jealous of other
people’s successes that they find a way
to pull the other person down, rather
than striving to be better.
Colonial Mentality
• If something is made in America or of a
foreign brand, we think it is of greater
quality. So we buy foreign products more
than we would buy locally made
products.

9. NegativeTraits
“Bahala Na”
• When helpless, we tend not to act to solve
our problems. We usually don’t plan
ahead, or plan for contingencies. Instead
of covering all our bases, we simply let the
fates dictate what will happen.
Sore Losers
• Many times, Filipinos become very
competitive and hate losing. At times,
when we lose, we find a way to get even.

10. Negative Traits
Lack discipline
• Pollution, traffic rules and following the
law are things Filipinos tend to ignore.
We like to sell our wares on the
streets, beat the red light and throw
our garbage in the wrong places.

11. Which Filipino traits have you seen in
your family and friends?
Which Filipino traits do you see in
yourself?
How can you change your negative traits
into positive attitudes?