Filipino Values in Missions Geri Abordo Filipino Values and our Christian Faith by Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano (Main text resource)

Filipino Values Bahala na! Pakikisama Palabas at Paporma Utang na loob

Bahala Na! Come what may… Anything goes… Whatever will be, will be… Leads to non-persistance ( pagpupursige ) By FAITH? By FATE? Fatalism

Bahala Na! Negatively plays into support- raising…non-responsibility “Basta gusto kong pumunta. Wala akong pera, pero bahala na!” “Naku, malapit na ang deadline para sa plane ticket. Wala pa akong na-raise na support. Tsk! Bahala na!” Fatalism may play into one’s ministry

PAKIKISAMA at its best… Seeks harmony with others Aims for unity, peace, cooperation Rooted in pakikipagkapwa-tao Branches into bayanihan Accomplishes a task faster

PAKIKISAMA at its worst… Forces one into doing something that is not really out of his heart Compels someone to act even contrary to one’s personal preference Facing temptations of compromise Lowering of standards Going against initial objectives

In Missions… Promotes unity among missionaries in the foreign field Can hasten the work that needs to be done because others will come and help STM barkadahan “Uyy, sama ka na sa STM, ikaw na lang ang hindi kasama sa ating tatlo…” “Tsk, kaibigan ko kasi si…kaya sasama ako sa STM, nahihiya kasi ako na hindi siya suportahan.”

Brocades, Facades, and Edifice Complex Palabas, Pa-bongga, Pasikat, Pa-impress, Paporma May be mistaken as hospitality Roots: Malay ancestor- with an abundance of natural resources around him, and small fortunes within easy reach, he is not adverse to throwing away a year’s salary on fiestas Chinese influence of “kingliness” Spaniards’ “gentility”, emphasis on appearances, privilege, status and delicadeza

In Missions… Danger of being overly concerned with what people may think of us, so we try to dazzle them with glowing reports of successful ministry overseas…masking of truth Danger of being extravagant in words, in promises The guise of hospitality may put one in a compromised situation

Utang na loob Shades: “Walang utang na loob!”- Shameless; Ingrate “Utang na loob ko sa kanya ang aking buhay.”- I owe him my life. “Utang na loob, huwag niyo po akong sasaktan.”- Asking for mercy. Covers the whole emotional-ethical range of mercy, charity, clemency, leniency, benevolence, and tolerance

Utang na loob Enslaving Can turn into a form of bondage Can be misplaced and exaggerated (e.g., Filipinos’ affection and gratitude to the US) Tends to create a patron-client relationship that is oppressive

In Missions… Pasalubong becomes a burden “Naku! Kailangan may pasalubong man lang ako kina…kasi nag-support sila sa akin para sa STM.” Feeling of unhealthy indebtedness to supporters “Na-invite ako mag-attend ng gathering nila. Ayaw ko sana, kaso nag-support kasi sa akin yan sa STM eh...” Adverse to support raising because one does not want to have utang na loob towards another person “Gusto kong mag-STM pero di ko kayang mag-raise ng support. Ayaw ko manghingi ng pera sa ibang tao. Magka-utang na loob pa ako sa kanila.”

In Missions… “If someone has done me a good turn, my first response, of course, is to be grateful and express my thanks to the person. Then, I direct my thankfulness to God with the thought that this person has been used by the Lord to meet my particular need. Therefore, God is my ultimate Giver…

In Missions… …Though I am sufficiently grateful to the person used by God. I should be most thankful to God Himself. Thus with this frame of mind, I won’t feel compelled to go out of my way to please, flatter or fawn over this particular person. If I can do something to help him or her in the future, then I will gladly do so. Not as repayment, but as a simple Christian gesture of helping someone in need.”

Filipino Values in Missions Geri Abordo Filipino Values and our Christian Faith by Evelyn Miranda-Feliciano (Main text resource)