Unpacking the Harmful Effects of Filipino Negative Cultural Values

Introduction

The world has always celebrated the unique cultural heritage of the Philippines, while aspects like resilience, hospitality, and family closeness accompany it. However, the Filipino culture has several negative values that impede the progress and well-being of Filipinos. There is a need to unpack these negative cultural values and how they adversely affect the nation’s growth, and we’re going to explore some in this article.

Colonial Mentality

One of the prevalent negative cultural values in the Philippines is colonial mentality. Filipinos tend to equate Western cultures with superiority and look down on their own cultural values. The effects of colonial mentality can be seen in the way Filipinos interact with one another, including language, behavior, and thoughts. The Philippines has an abundance of cultural gems that often go ignored, and this mindset results in the loss of the country’s indigenous traditions, beliefs, and practices.

Crab Mentality

Another negative value prominent in Filipino culture is crab mentality. This value refers to the act of bringing people down and not allowing them to achieve their goals. The term is derived from crabs that pull down other crabs attempting to escape from a bucket and maintain their social hierarchy. Crab mentality is prevalent in several spheres of Filipino society, including politics, education, and business. It results in a significantly competitive atmosphere, intense rivalries, and people trying to work against each other instead of cooperating for common objectives.

Bowing Down to Authority

Filipinos have a profound respect for authority and people in power. While showing respect and honor to people is an admirable virtue, bowing down to and tolerating abusive authority figures are negative cultural values. The problem with excessive deference to authority is that it reinforces the notion that power is absolute and that abusing it is acceptable. The result is a culture that often accepts corrupt practices and favors from people in positions of power.

Lack of Initiative and Proactiveness

Filipinos are often portrayed as overly passive and lack initiative and proactiveness. The negative attitude associated with this cultural trait has led to several problems, including lack of innovation, poor work ethic, and a lower standard of living. This harmful cultural value needs to be addressed and reoriented towards adopting a more proactive and innovative approach towards life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, negative cultural values like colonial mentality, crab mentality, overly-deferent behavior, lack of initiative, and proactiveness have long-term harmful effects on society. As a nation, the Philippines needs to move towards more positive and progressive cultural values to fuel a prosperous future. We need to embrace change to work cooperatively instead of against each other and help create a better future for ourselves and those generations yet to come.