TOPIC:

STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able:

1. Analyze the Strength and weaknesses of the Filipino Character

2. Determine the factors that influence the Filipino Character

3. Cite ways on how we change Filipino weak character and maintain the strength

VOCABULARY LIST:

CHARACTER – is defined as a trait, quality, or high moral code.

STRENGTH – are defined as character traits or skills that are considered positive. Strength include knowledge, attribute, skills and talents.

WEAKNESS – Opposite of Strength. Weaknesses are defined as character traits or skills that are considered negative or not as well developed.

CHANGE – to transform or alter someone or something into a new form or state.

INTRODUCTION:

A MORAL RECOVERY PROGRAM: ‘’ BUILDING A NATION, BUILDING A PEOPLE’’, means, Everyone contributes to the development of the Filipino people. We must analyze ourselves critically and compassionately avoid our weaknesses and strengthen our strength. Acknowledging yourself is the very first step toward being better. After we have learned to understand and value our Filipino, we would be able to focus on developing our society and accomplishing peaceful and equality goals.

STRENGTH OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. PAKIKIPAGKAPWA - TAO – Opening yourself to others and feel one with others with dignity and respect deal with them as fellow human beings.

- Sense of fairness and justice

- Concern for others

- Ability to empathize with others

- Helpfulness and generosity (Pakikiramay)

- Practice Hospitality

- Sensitive to other feelings (Pakikiramdam) and trust

2. FAMILY ORIENTATION – a genuine and deep love for family

- Commitment and responsibility

- Honor and respect

- Generosity and sacrifice

- Sense of trust and security

- Source of family results of belonginess and rootness

3. JOY AND HUMOR – Filipino have a cheerful and fun loving approach to life and its up and down

- Laugh at those we love and hate

- We make joke about our good and even bad fortune

- We smile even in the most trying of times

- Emotional balance and optimism

- Healthy disrespect for power and office

4. FLEXIBILITY, ADAPTABILITY AND CREATIVITY – Can adjust and adapt to circumtances

- Adjust to whatever happens even in unplanned or anticipated (Giving alternative plans etc.)

5. HARD WORK AND INDUSTRY – Capacity for hard work given to raise one’s standard living of a decent life for one’s family

- Willing to take risk with jobs abroad or work two or three jobs

6. FAITH AND RELIGIOUSITY – Have a deep Faith in God

- Accepting reality to comprehend as a human created by God. ‘’Pampalakas-loob’’

7. ABILITY TO SURVIVE

- Filipino made do with what is available in the environment. (Optimistic, faith in GOD, etc.)

WEAKNESS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER

1. EXTREME PERSONALISM – Take things personally

- Always trying to give personal interpretation to actions

- Say ‘’Thank you’’ with ‘’but’’ (Compliment- Criticism-Compliment)

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2. EXTREME FAMILY CENTEREDNESS – strong family protection good and for bad condition

3. LACK OF DISCIPLINE – Relaxed attitude but poor time management

- Impatient and unable to delay gratification or reward

- Love to take shorts-cut or ‘’ Palusot’’ system

- Carelessness

4. PASSIVITY AND LACK OF INITIATIVE – Strong reliance to other’s fate

- Yeah Proud Pinoy. It’s all because of the race (Nationality /Blood) not by persons attitude, hardwork, dream and perseverance etc.

- Very relax but their rarely is a sense of urgency (Ex: It’s Okay, we have 1 week left to finished , just relax)

- Too patient without any plan or action (Matiisin) ‘’BAHALA NA SYSTEM’’. No matter what, at least we tried

- Doubt and debate first than study, discuss until planning and action

- Waiting to be told what to do

- Reliance on others.

5. COLONIAL MENTALITY –

- Lack of love and appreciation on what they have

- Lack of patriotism, appreciation and love of the Philippines

- Actual preference of Foreign things

6. KANYA-KANYA SYNDROME – selfish

- Self-caring attitude

- Self-serving attitude that generates feeling of envy and competitive towards others.

7. LACK OF SELF-ANALYSIS AND SELF- REFLECTION

- We joke about the most serious matter that prevents looking deeply into the problem.

These weaknesses are rooted in many factors:

.1. Home

2. Social and economic environment

3. Culture and Language

4. History

5. Religion

6. Educational System

7. Mass Media

8. Leadership and role models

CHANGE is possible: The Goals and Strategies for Change

Based on the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino, the goals for change are proposed:

To develop in Filipino:

- A sense of patriotism and nationalism pride, a genuine love, appreciation and commitment to the Philippines

- A sense of integrity and accountability, and aversion towards graft and corruption in society and an avoidance of the practice in one’s daily life

- A sense of common good, the ability to look beyond selfish interest, a sense of justice and a sense of outrage at its violation

- The value of self-reflection and analysis, the internalization of spiritual values, the emphasis of essence rather than form

- The value and habit of discipline and hard work

‘’KEEP CALM and BE PROUD THAT YOU’RE A FILIPINO!’’

Thank you and GOD BLESS us!