Samuel Psalm John M.

Unabia October 22, 2019

RPH Sec 76 Marginal Notes and Synthesis

Filipino Personality Traits: and Values for Social Support: FOW as human resources for
work life balance in Japan ( 1 )

Marginal notes:
1. There is a need of elderly care in Japan.
2. Philippines is the largest supplier of human resources because Filipinos work overseas
due to financial issues.
3. The method used in this research were Analysis of Literary Documents and Interview
survey
4. Pakikisama is being friendly, helpful, and to conform with others to have a better
relationship and show desire to be treated equally.
5. Pakikisama can also be a negative trait (vote buying, complying to group to avoid
isolation)
6. Hiya shows that Filipinos are passive individuals who see themselves as low value/
inferior.
7. Inferiority is the main cause of hiya.
8. Japanese and Filipinos have a lot of similar traits that shows Filipinos are qualified as
human resources for the elderly in Japan. (ex. Utang na loob and Shame)
9. Family are important for an individual for it is their source of identity, support, and
responsibility.
10. Filipinos use/reason out family on their bad actions to reduce the feeling of guilt.
11. Filipinos believe in fate which is a negative concept.
12. Bahala na can also be seen as a positive but a daring trait to an individual
13. Amor propio shows that Filipino wants to know their value so they should be treated as a
person.
14. Bayanihan shows camaraderie and cooperation of Filipinos (mutual respect) to help
someone in need.
15. Hospitality is biased to the visitors by welcoming them better than one’s family.
16. Ningas Cogon is a negative trait that we should avoid doing.
17. Respect for the elderly trait shows that Filipino are really capable caring the elderly.
18. Being submissive to everyone is a bad thing for people can use it and take advantage to
someone.
19. Manana is a negative trait that we inherited from the colonial period that we procrastinate
in work or studies.
20. Fiesta Grande is a positive trait that we inherited from the Spaniards that we
celebrate/honor patron saints by having extravagant feasts.
 Synthesis
Japan is a country known to have the highest proportion of elderly citizens. The low birth
rate and the rapid aging causes japan to be in need of young caregivers from around the globe.
Changing the way of thinking and considering cooperation of human resources on a global scale
can anticipate in improving Japan's issue. Due to financial issues in the Philippines, Filipino
caregivers and nurses prefer to work overseas. By that, Philippines is known to be the largest
supplier of human resources around the globe. Remittances from the overseas workers also help
in improving the country's economy. Knowing the issues from each country, it is a win-win
situation as the Philippines provide human resources for Japan's needs, this also improve the
Philippines' economy.
I will talk about the major personalities presented in the reading and how it would be
useful assessing one’s personality.
The method used in gathering information and widening the perspective of this research
were Analysis of Literary Documents and Interview survey. Selected Literary documents and
books by Filipino authors from around the Philippines, were collected to contribute in gathering
more information about psychology, social psychology, sociology, social comments by the
perspective of the Filipino authors. Interview surveys were conducted to gather examples of
personality traits and values of the Filipinos.
Pakikisama is defined as being helpful, thoughtful and to show respect towards others to
be treated equally. Pakikisama may be a positive trait but knowing the Filipino people to be
rational thinkers, some benefit from Pakikisama and use this in a negative way such as, vote
buying and complying to a group to avoid isolation. Both positive and negative ways of
Pakikisama is very common among the Filipinos.
Another trait mentioned was Hiya. This trait defines that Filipinos are passive individuals
that sees their value as very low or being inferior. By that, Inferiority is the main cause of Hiya.
This research provides information that proves the similarity of the traits between the Japanese
and the Filipino citizens. Which is why the Filipinos are qualified to provide human resources for
the elderly in Japan.
Filipinos are known to be family-centered, as valuing and taking good care of their
family will always be part of the Filipino trait. The Filipinos value their family as it is their
source of identity and support. Knowing the Filipino community, we are known to be rational
thinkers. There will always be a negative side to every positive trait. Knowing the Filipinos to be
family-centered, this is being used to reason out their bad habits to reduce the feeling of guilt.
Bahala na is a trait shown when one is being stressed or having a difficult time in coping
with problems as he or she loses compassion with what is needed to be succeeded. By that, one
trusts in his or her fate by not minding to accomplish the work and just leaving everything to his
or her faith to God.
Amor Propio shows that Filipino wants to know their value so they should be treated as a
person. This trait explains that one demands respect by being aware of his or her value. This trait
defines expanding of confidence and pride towards others and this is commonly seen in
organizations.
Bayanihan is defined as being thoughtful towards others and this involves the
cooperation and bonding among the people in the community. This value denotes camaraderie
and helping one another in times of crisis as Filipinos are known to have a trait of Pakikisama.
The Filipinos are well-known to be very hospitable around visitors especially those
coming from other countries or the foreigners. This shows how much Philippines give to
foreigners that homey feel whenever they visit the Philippines. The downside from this is, the
treatment to foreigners from our own family or our own country's citizens are biased as we
always aim to have that good image towards the other countries.
Our lives throw us many different challenges in our everyday living and by that, our
consistency in being passionate and enthusiastic about a task or a goal is being tested. Ningas
Cogon explains that one is only compassionate in the beginning but in the process, as one faces
many different challenges that tests our patience and consistency, the enthusiasm fades out as we
lose interest.
Kissing the hands of the elderly is unique, as only the Philippines has this kind of trait to
express our respect towards them. This is also commonly seen in public as always have a priority
lane for the elderly and for public transportation. This trait is passed from generation to
generation as we consider the elderly as the "Fountain of Wisdom".
The millennials are known to be easily distracted as they study or do something they are
responsible of. Manana explains how the Filipinos have a strong tendency to procrastinate and
set aside their work. Being in the 21st century, gadgets and technology are a big distraction from
what we are responsible of doing. Social media encourages us to procrastinate and leave our
responsibilities behind.
Filipinos are known to always be extravagant in what we are doing or celebrating. This is
mostly seen in provinces where the patron saint is honored. This is part of the Filipino culture as
it has been inherited from the Spanish. Not only this is seen in the Philippines but also in the
neighboring countries such as Indonesia.
As observed, Filipinos possess negative and positive traits and it is alright for there is no
country that only have positive traits. With this in mind, knowing the Filipino traits would help
us understand on what are the things that can we can change in order for us to be a better
individual. For example, we know that we got the manana habit from the colonial period and
until now it is still observable to other Filipinos. We know that manana is a negative trait because
it delays progress and hindrance to productivity this means we should avoid procrastinating. By
understanding the negative and the positive traits of Filipinos, assessing one’s personality is
important so that one can check if he has many Filipino negative traits or vice versa so that he
can change his characteristics for the better. Being ignorant in this topic would not only be
harmful to the individual (because he will not change his personality) but also he does not
acknowledge or appreciate the positive qualities that we Filipinos have.
Symbol:

Yin Yang has been a concept in Chinese philosophy that shows how
opposite forces are interconnected in the natural world. Just like in
our reading, it has presented negative and positive attributes
(opposite forces) of the Filipino personality and these attributes that
we possess affect our daily lives (natural world). In this concept, it
also shows that in every goodness there is still badness and, in
every badness, there is still goodness. This means that one of the
quality will still be evident in every aspect but this should not stop us
becoming a better person for ourselves and to our fellowmen.