Filipino Values & Social Interactions

Kapwa and The Struggle For Justice, Freedom, and Dignity

• Analysis of human interaction and language reveals social psychology and worldview.
• Human interaction holds high significance in the Philippines, serving as focus of study.
• It is relevant in the process of identifying and analyzing Filipino personality, psychology, worldview, and philosophy.

Levels of Interaction - Filipino Language

• Filipino provides conceptual distinction in levels and modes of interaction.
• There are at least eight recognizable levels categorized under two categories.
• Santiago and Enriquez identified the two categories in 1976.

Ibang-tao as or “Outsider" Category

• Pakikitungo: Levels of amenities/civility.
• Pakikisalamuha: Level of "mixing."
• Pakikilahok: Level of joining/participating.
• Pakikibagay: Level of conforming.
• Pakikisama: Level of adjusting.

Hindi ibang-tao or "One-of-us" Category

• Pakikipagpalagayang-loob: Mutual trust/rapport.
• Pakikisangkot: Level of getting involved.
• Pakikiisa: Level of fusion, oneness, and full trust.
• The eight levels are more than just interrelated modes of interpersonal relations.
• Levels range from uninvolved civility in pakikitungo to total identification in pakikiisa.
• Interpersonal relations vary conceptually and behaviorally.

Santiago (1976) on Language of Food

• It reflects interpersonal relationships through food sharing.
• Observed in Filipino Bulacan middle class.

Bisita (not one of us)

• Special dishes served on guest china, observed and noted by Fernandez in 1986.
• Dishes for guests are not native cuisine but adapted from colonizers.
• Examples of such are puchero or salad.
• Sawsawan and regular food are instead shared with family.

Hindi Ibang-Tao (one of us)

• There is no fuss over one's presence.
• Expected or unexpected presence involves daily tableware and customary fare.
• Pritong galunggong and ginisang ampalaya are examples.
• This means one is hindi ibang-tao (one-of-us).

Fernandez (1986) on Filipino Cats (Food)

• Preparation, source, and serving indicate intimate and practical relationship between humans and nature.

The Use of Sawsawan (Sauce)

• Indicative of a relaxed, non-prescriptive relationship between the cook and those cooked for.
• The cook does not impose the food's flavor, allowing enhancement with sawsawan.
• Food functions to keep this harmony operative.
• Mutual function-sharing occurs between cook and consumer.
• Food acts as a social lubricant
• Food is an infinitely flexible communicator in relationships.
• Food is better than language because it is less offensive and unmistakably meaningful, noted by Fernandez in 1986.

Food/Eating

• Social necessity and phenomenon of sharing.
• Fosters goodwill and friendship.

When Sharing Food

• Relationships involve either ibang-tao (outsider) or hindi ibang-tao (one of us).
• Kapwa concept embodies both categories.

Domain of Interpersonal Relations

• Theoretically fertile and lexically elaborate in Filipino.
• All levels may be grouped under pakikipagkapwa.
• Kapwa acts as a core concept for explaining Filipino interpersonal behavior.
• Kapwa embraces both "outsider" (ibang-tao) and "one of us" (hindi ibang-tao).

THE SHARED INNER SELF

• Filipino-English dictionaries generally translate Kapwa as "both" and "fellow-being,"
• Panganiban 1972, Enriquez 1979, de Guzman 1968, Calderon 1957
• The closest English equivalent of kapwa is "others."
• The Filipino word kapwa differs from "others."
• English "others" opposes the "self", implying a separate identity.

In Filipino terms...

• Kapwa unites the "self" and "others."
• Kapwa is a shared identity and inner self.

Construct of Smooth Interpersonal Relations (SIR) (Lynch, 1961)

• Acquired and preserved through pakikisama, euphemism, and a go-between.

Concept of Shared Inner Self (SIS)

• Rooted in kapwa and dangal concepts.
• SIR is a means of avoiding conflict.
• SIS stems from collective values and deep respect for dignity of a fellow human.

Concept of Kapwa as Shared Inner Self

• Psychologically and philosophically important.

Pagtutunguhan (dealing with/acting toward)

• This is another term to describe the levels of interaction
• Only the term pakikipagkapwa can be used for this purpose while also describing an idea or value that Filipinos consider very important.
• Also denotes the most "superficial" level of interaction which is the level of amenities.

Pakikipagkapwa

• Refers to "humanness at its highest level," according to Santiago and Enriquez 1976.
• A person has kapwa by recognition of status and awareness of shared identity.
• The ako (ego) and iba-sa-akin (others) are one and the same in kapwa psychology
• “Hindi ako iba sa aking kapwa” means "I am no different from others"
• Once ako separates himself from kapwa, the Filipino "self" becomes Westernized.
• This Westernization denies the status of kapwa to the other and the self.

Brislin (1977)

• Noted all cultures distinguish between "in-group" and "out-group”.
• Also refers to members vs, nonmembers, and insider vs. outsider.
• This might be a "universal" or "etic" distinction.

Hiroshi Wagatsuma (1982) and Yusihiro Sato (1988)

• Investigated sofa (outside) and uchi (inside) distinction.
• Uchi is also the Japanese word for "family" and "home"
• Sometimes admired and other times resented for their intense nationalism.
• The Japanese uchi-soto distinction can be used in understanding the Japanese concept of a gaijin or foreigner
• This includes American or European
• Grimm (1988) noted a hostile aspect of the uchi-soto dichotomy in his work among the homeless in the Sanya district of Tokyo. -He claimed uchi is defined in terms of soto as rival
• "Without the outside, the inside has no meaning."
• For the Japanese to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder... as equals would probably require an invasion from outer space.”
• Humans do not need extraterrestrials to sincerely acknowledge “we are human beings.”
• Perhaps all cultures have ethnocentrism based on outsider vs. insider.
• There seems to be at least one culture that does not fit this mold perfectly.

Ethnocentrism

• Unrelated to studying psychology in the Philippines. -Local papers advertise preference for foreigners classified ads sections.
• Social science researchers will study xenocentrism instead.
• Inclusion vs. exclusion or membership vs non-membership is not unknown to the Filipino.
• Filipinos draw the line in a most flexible manner.

For the middle-class Filipino in Bulacan

• Ibang-tao (outsider) and hindi ibang-tao (one of us) are both considered kapwa
• The unity of the one-of-us and the other.
• In another culture, membership could be black and white with no intermediate gray.
• The Filipino can still accommodate a nonmember, just as if he were a member.

Saling Pusa

• Not the best form of membership and an "ambiguous category" in Edmund Leach's 1964 language.
• The anthropologist stated that the saling-pusa informal member can break rules that are expected to be strictly followed by members.
• Concepts indigenous to Filipinos are not necessarily peculiar to the Philippines only.
• However, they have associated meanings close to the Filipino experience.
• Filipino concept of saling-pusa is "playful" in tone and may not be found in other cultures.
• Value is attached to the feelings of kapwa so that hypocrisy in social interaction is avoided.
• If a young girl discovers she was a second choice, she may be hurt because she was a panakip-butas ("filling a gap").
• This does not suggest imprecision about insider/outsider distinction.

Filipino Pronouns

• dual kitais a "we"
• tayo which is an inclusive "we".
• kami is also be an inclusive form of "we".
• Kita is focused on the listener in relation to the speaker, while tayo includes the listener and kami excludes him as a referent.
• The socio-psychological point to remember is that the Filipino deals with kapwa in the Filipino imperative and the words kita, kami, and tayo.

Pakikipagkapwa as conviction

• Emanates from shared inner self.
• Not simply implying pakikitungo (amenities), pakikisama (adjusting), or other interaction levels.
• Also means accepting and dealing with the other person as an equal
• They Filipino way demands respect, even if the person is an office clerk or president.
• Includes a regard for the dignity and being of others.
• Aside from socio-psychological dimension, it has a moral/normative aspects.
• Situations and relationships vary depending on the environment.
• Inconsistent with exploitative human transactions.

People's Power Revolution (1986)

• Demonstrated the pakikibaka joining/struggle as a valid aspect of pakikipagkapwa.
• Recognizing adversity and injustice.
• Tagalog proverb recognizes interpersonal relations complexity.
• "Madali ang maging tao, mahirap ang magpakatao” It is easy to be born human, but it takes a new level of difficulty to live as man.
• The Pampangos have another proverb with essentially the same meaning: "Malagua ing maguing tao, masaquit ing magpacatau."
• The Tagalogs have a similar proverb stating “Kung mahirap ang maging tao, lalong mahirap ang makipagkapwa-tao” or If it is difficult to be a tao, it is even more difficult to makipagkapwa-tao by Eugenio from 1967.
• Giving the Filipino a bad deal is a challenge to kapwa-tao
• The Filipino does not always concede. -They know how to resist even in apparent powerlessness.

The Value of Kagandahang-Loob: Reciprocity or Nobility

• Kagandahang-loob (shared inner nobility) -Shows the internality and externality dimension.
• Filipino psychology confuses so many American-oriented scientists.
• Manifested through generosity or kabutihan acts.
• Kagandahang-loob seen in lending to neighbors/accommodating a guest.
• Acts of generosity must spring spontaneously from the person's goodness of heart/kabaitan to qualify.
• Display must have no motive other than inherent graciousness.

Karangalan: Beyond the Superficiality of Hiya

• English-oriented social scientists think Filipinos value hiya ("shame") must be told about dangal/karangalan instead.
• Puri, onor, dignidad are synonyms.
• "Dignity" is closest English word but is only one aspect of the concept.
• Best defined by looking and observing the two components such as, dangal and puri.

Puri or Praise/Accolade

• It is the external manifestation of Karangalan.
• Recognition is given to the person for a sterling quality or accomplishment.
• It is recognition that comes entirely from without.

Dangal

• May have evaluation with absolutely no relation to society's view of him.
• Man may be self-important yet seen as fool by his neighbors/peers.
• Evaluation and society's appreciation coincide sometimes.
• Dangal is recognized through rites of approval via parangal.
• Much owes much to external recognition and may be variant of puri.
• Dangal is entirely internal within Filipino psychology.
• Intrinsic quality that allows one/sector to shine despite status in life.
• It is usually referred to as honor or self respect
• This is the all inner strength that allows one to face rich and mighty with confidence.
• When a person stakes his dangal in defense of a principle or objective, personal commitment and personhood is the result.

Kalayaan: A Matter of Life and Death

• Often interpreted freedom and license to do as one pleases which carries its own limitation.
• The concept of "freedom" as a way for person or group to act in whichever so long as the rights of others are affected.
• Filipino appreciation extends beyond Western equivalent.
• Capacity is determined not by the parameters of law due but by the need of them, kalayaan carries life.

For a resident of Metro Manila

• Sense of kalayaan is oftentimes measured within existing rules, or social norms.

For the greater portion of the population

• Kalayaan as a whole means life.
• The freedom to act as a person of a community survives or perishes through freedom or the lacking of.

The Aetas of Zambales...

• Simply had has choice but to move their kaingin fields despite forestry laws to the contrary.

The Duck Raises of Laguna

• must intrude into the fish otherwise livelihood will cease.

Katarungan: In Unity and Beyond

• Katarungan (social justice) is invoked as an indispensable peace.
• It has the same breath as food/employment.

JAJA (justice for aquino, justice for all)

• Justice and sovereignty which upon highlighted the assassination.
• Benigno Aquino Jr. underscored importance/justice was named JAJA. -JAJA : acronym for "Justice for Aquino, Justice for All."

Katarungan para kay Lean

• Was prominently seen in placards.
• Displayed as Filipino nationalists mourn the death of student leader Leandro Alejandro.

National Reconciliation

• "National reconciliation" Qualified into national reconciliation with justice.
• Fallen dictator must face responsibility for his excesses.
• Justice continues through the life of Nemesio Prudente, nationalist president.
• Had his life twice endagerd,and human rights lawyers have been murdered.
• Demand/justice increased,debate nature justice has has grown.

Writers on the development of law in Europe

• Speak of justice expressions values the people the social experience

Concept of Law

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Centrality of Law to Justice

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Exploration of evolving confrontative values and critiques of traditional studies on Filipino concepts like hiya. Focus on xenocentrism over ethnocentrism in social science studies. Analysis of social roles and relationships using concepts like saling-pusa and panakip-butas.