A Better Version of Ourselves
We want to be better at work to level-up our career, we work harder to earn more, we want to improve moving forward in whatever field we are in. We welcome the new year with open arms hoping for a better version of ourselves this 2015.
But to “change for the better” is easier said than done.
To actually effect change in what you do or affect varying situation in society, I believe that the “change for the better” should start within ourselves. That change will eventually radiate to those around us and affect them positively as a result.
Change For The Better with Krem-Top
In a similar way, Krem-Top coffee creamer recently launched a campaign to motivate and challenge individuals to exercise a habit of aspiring to become a better person. Dubbed as “Change for the Better” and having started since 2012, it is a call for everyone to commit and sustain the personal, not just during the turn of the year but throughout the year and beyond.
Going beyond “self“, it has become a call for the entire nation to rally towards becoming better Filipinos. Krem Top wanted to reminds us that even small changes when put or done together can create a huge impact in the community.
“The mission of the brand is not just to build the business but it also advocates creating change for a better country”, says Blen Fernando, Alaska Milk Corporation’s Vice President for Marketing and lead for this drive.
It now centers on values that are natural among Filipinos that will remind us of our identity and can strengthen our nationhood.
Krem-Top’s Change for the Better campaign, with the guidance of Dr. Mina Ramirez, identified Five Core Values that defines who and what we are as Filipinos. These core values make us different and stand out from the rest of the world.
Five Core Filipino Values
Based on Dr. Ramirez’s study “The Filipino Worldview and Values” and her insights from decades of practice as a phenomenological sociologist, here are the Five Core Filipino Values based on the Basic Aspirations of a Filipino:
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Matatag
Being in a country prone to natural disasters, Filipinos have adapted and learned to be strong in times of need and in hard situations life throws at us. We continue to stand up, be firm, and fight because we have our loved ones and life’s aspirations to be strong for. This strength is drawn from our love for our family and to the higher being we believe in. This is based on Filipino’s aspiration for “Kaayusan” (Order). In fact, Filipinos’ common expression is “Ayos Na”. When we are able to get through difficulties, we say “Ayos Na”. We, Filipinos long for “Kaayusan” and we will endure everything and be strong amidst hardships and challenges until we surpass the obstacles.
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Masigasig
When Filipinos dream of something, we do everything possible to get it. We do it for our families and loved ones. This is based on Filipinos’ aspiration for “Kasaganaan” (Abundance) and “Ginhawa” (Relief). A Filipino aspires for abundance not for himself but for his family. The Filipino translation for Happy New Year is Masaganang Bagong Taon (Bountiful New Year) because we equate happiness and celebration with abundance. In Bisaya, “Ginhawa” means breath. And the smooth flow of breath is the smooth flow of life which we call “Ginhawa”. “Ginhawa” according to lay theologian Dr. Jose de Mesa is the feeling of well-being in a Filipino. An example would be Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who endure being away from home to give their families a good life – abundance and relief from hardships.
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Mapagpasalamat
This is based on Filipinos’ aspiration for “Pamumuhay” (Life) and “Pananalig sa Diyos at Kapwa” (Faith in God and people). Filipinos know how to enjoy life. We have many holidays, feasts, occasions, and reunions. Filipinos are cheerful and naturally sociable. We love to connect to people. We are a happy race. We wear smiles on our faces even in depressing situations. This is because we always look at the bright side of life. We always have a positive outlook because we always find things to be thankful for, even in the smallest things. We would always say “Salamat sa Diyos” (Thank God) whenever good things happen because Filipinos, from whatever religion, would attribute life’s blessings to the Higher Being. We also acknowledge the good deeds of other people towards us and we do our best to return the favor.
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Magalang
The use of po, opo, and pagmamano (kissing of the hand) are distinct Filipino ways of respect. We say these words and use this gesture to show our respect and love for the elderly. The Filipinos’ respect is not just limited to the elderly but also to other people’s properties, emotions, and ideas. We are polite people. Our language itself is also respectful because it does not have any gender bias. Examples would be the words kapatid (brother / sister) or asawa (husband / wife) or biyenan (father-in-law / mother-in-law) or anak (son / daughter) which do not manifest differences in gender. These words are uniquely Filipino definitely respectful of the sexes.
Our respect for other individuals is embedded in our culture and in our language. This is based on our aspiration for “Lakas ng Loob” or “Kagandahang Loob”. Malakas and Maganda, Filipinos’ original creation story brings dignity to both the Filipino and Filipina. Both the man and the woman sprang from the bamboo. The man bowed to the woman. They held hands and went off together. Dr. Ramirez said, “This is a very non-sexist indigenous version of the creation story.”
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Mapagmalasakit
It is because of our love for the family extended to friends, neighbors and other people that make Filipinos naturally compassionate. This compassion enables us to help other people without asking for anything in return. This is based on Filipinos’ aspiration for “Loob at Damdamin” and “Kapwa” (Other People) as explained in Dr. Mina’s The Filipino Worldview and Values. “Loob” is the seat of Filipinos’ dignity. The personhood of Filipino is manifested in his “kalooban”. Filipinos tune in each other’s “kalooban” by checking on each other’s condition and chatting about each other’s lives. Filipinos reach out to other people. Due to our familistic culture, Filipinos use “kapwa” to refer not just to a stranger but to a relative, a next-door neighbor, a distant relative or a friend. Our “Mapagmalasakit” trait makes it easy for us to champion the Bayanihan spirit – to unite and help each other during calamities and celebrate together during special occasions.
“Filipinos may be hard pressed at times, but in general, we are rich. We are rich in natural resources; we are rich in our people. If we can just get to know more ourselves clearly and use our values to our advantage, we will become a better nation. It’s time to change for the better,” said Dr. Ramirez.
Social media advocate Jim Paredes shared how we realized how the value of pagmamalasakit still resonates in the youth today. “My daughter opened our home for the relief operations. She took the initiative to turn our home into a relief center for repackaging donations for the typhoon Yolanda victims,” said Paredes. “The Filipino existentialism also attracted me; the Filipinos being masigasig to pull ourselves out of poverty.”
The Krem-Top team is optimistic that this project will help create awareness about the need to keep or enrich or restore these core values of Filipinos. Know more about the Krem-Top Change for the Better campaign at their Facebook page www.facebook.com/AlaskaKremTop or follow @kremtopPH on Twitter.
So which one of the five core Filipino values are you lacking at or needs some “change for the better“? Share with us on how you plan to do this new year of 2015?
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About Author
Jon
Jonel Uy is the EIC of BloggerManila.com. Graduating from UP Diliman with a degree in Computer Science, he is also the Managing Director of #DigitalCircles.asia engaging and amplifying social media campaigns for brands. On Mondays, he teaches information technology classes at Grace Christian College. Know more about him at JonelUy.com