How can 15 million voters be scammed into voting for an obviously clueless candidate who since Day 1 of becoming president has PREDICTABLY managed to plunge the Philippines into more chaos and widened hunger and poverty?
Why are Filipino voters easily misled by politicians for the price of a can of sardines and two bit trashy entertainment?
What thread is weaved between the pinoy patron who says “akong bahala sa iyo” – and the beneficiaries who say “kayo na hong bahala sa min” without an iota of hesitation?
Clearly, whether it was the 15 million Aquinotards or the 188 Tongressmen – the behavior was consistently illogical and totally bereft of reason. It really wouldn’t matter if their choices do not affect the rest of us – our income and our taxes. But I digress.
These sort of behaviors are repeated in the Philippines on a daily basis – in the office, in the neighborhood homeowners / homeseekers associations, in the malls, in households – and not just in government.
The Five Dimensions of Culture
What can we learn if we apply the Hofstede framework to the Philippines?
The Five Dimensions of FILIPINO Culture
Fortunately, there is no need to reinvent the wheel as Hofstede has actually done the work for us. After scoring the Philippines, he came up with the following conclusions.
1. Power Distance – Filipinos are hierarchical.
This means that Pinoys accept a top-down order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification whether that should be one’s role or not. Filipinos accept inherent inequalities, prefer centralization, subordinates expect to be told what to do and the dream boss is a kindhearted dictator.
This also implies that Filipinos are not independent. What does being independent mean exactly? To cultures which are independent,
2. Individualism versus Collectivism
The Philippines scored in a manner that showed a collectivist society.
No wonder, the “palakasan” system exists. Yup in the Philippines – it’s not what you know, it’s whom you know. If you don’t know the “in” group – tough luck you are “outside the kulambo”. It also shows how a palamunin meme is able to survive this long.
It is also affirmed by the highly extended Filipino families – where you have generations of families living under just one roof or in one “compound”.
What does it mean to be individualistic? Based on the 5D model, it means
Individualistic pinoys are often called “mayabang”, “demanding”, “parang kung sino” – and even… antipinoy 
))) – wear it with HONOR and PRIDE! :p
3. Uncertainty Avoidance
Hofstede scored the Philippines a 44 on this dimension. It meant that Filipinos have a low preference for avoiding uncertainty. What does this imply?
The “bahala na si batman”, “filipino time”, “hope” were phrases that immediately came to mind. Instead of coming up with goals, schedules and the like to provide certainty – Filipinos leave it to fate. Obviously, the phrase “plan your work and work your plan” has yet to hit the Philippines.
It also accounts for the preference of “bahala na si Noynoy” instead “astig ang plataporma at experience ni Gordon”.
4. Masculinity versus Feminity
I was surprised to find out that Hofstede scored the Philippines as “masculine”. Meaning Filipinos are actually competitive.
This implies that given the enabling conditions for economic success, Filipinos can and have the will to compete. Beating the competition, however, is another thing. Thus, it behooves me that a government which has competitive citizens is keeping competition away via the constitutional restrictions. The deeper implication is that government isn’t protecting the competitive citizens – but protecting vested interests
5. Time Orientation
The Philippines score showed a short term orientation culture.
In this aspect, Filipinos are very much like the West. For the talk of “pinoy nasyonalismo” – we aren’t that different from the West in our behaviors.
To summarize – Filipino culture is hierarchical, collectivist, low avoidance of uncertainty, masculine, and short-term orientation.
No wonder – most Pinoys are uto-uto, hindi nag-iisip, at hibang.
Someone who understands this can easily push the buttons, find the “man in charge” and his subordinates will follow unquestionably – just like the 188 congressman who signed the articles of impeachment without reading it – because Belmonte said so.
The problem with this collectivist culture is that studies show that individualist societies are better at innovation and long term growth – but that’s a post for another day. One thing’s for sure – LONG TERM GROWTH does not exist in the Filipino vocabulary.
The great German Psychologist : Carl Jung, explained these thru : Collective Unconsciouness…which defines the mindsets of people…
It’s a very good area of study in his subject matter to explain the Filipino Psyche…I myself, cannot understand it…from the behaviour of the 188 Tonggressmen, to the immature behaviour of the Lawyer Aguirre in the Senate Impeachment hearing of Corona…
It’s a Culture of Corruption entwined with a Culture of Political Patronage, that is the stumbling block for us to progress. There is also the Culture of Apathy on the people…mindset of helplessness…
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BongV Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:42 pm
culture of apathy – that’s low avoidance of uncertainty
culture of patronage and corruption stems from hierarchical and collectivist orientation – “nakawin mo yan, akong bahala sa itaas – basta hati tayo”
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Hyden Toro Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:03 pm
You said it…and people don’t care…they just pay their taxes…accept their fate…”Ito ang atin Tadhana”…
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Good work, BongV! I hope you will be able to produce more articles that connect the dots concerning society-economy-policies. In this way, AP’s advocacy will be stronger and more credible. After all, it is not easy to debunk an advocacy that rests its foundations on multiple pillars.
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Hyden Toro Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:09 pm
We all are the Change…not Noynoy Aquino,not the YellowTards, not the self-serving politicians, not the Feudal Oligarchs,not the business monopolist Oligarchs, etc….all these people have hidden agendas of their own…our agendas are open…
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Control is disliked and attitude towards managers are informal and on first name basis.
-In IBM, we were told to call our managers on their first name. I thought I would do the same until I hear my co-employees attaching “Ms., Ate and “Sir” to the first name of their managers. Attitude towards manager here are formal. It sucks. I wish my manager would show her extreme attitude so that I can report her to HR. Sometimes when she’s angry she would slam the phone and curse. Then she will vent her anger on the whole team asking the progress of our tasks. I wish she takes her bad temperament to another level so I’ll finally have the reason.
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Critical Thinker Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 12:10 am
I remember answering a questionnaire given to me by my professor when I was in business school. It was based on Hofstede’s theory. The results of the study compared my attributes with those in the Philippines. It was with this study that my professor’s been working on that I came to realize why things are they are over in the Philippines. In a way, we shouldn’t be surprised as to why things are not going well over there. A lot of things that aren’t right there can easily be traced back to culture.
Aside from the academic revelation, I also experienced the difference in cultures from outside of the Philippines to inside the Philippines firsthand. When I was visiting the Philippines, I determined that my aunt’s store there can be improved on. I was thinking of an ad hoc business plan, marketing strategies, etc. There were so many ways her store can be very profitable. I freely shared this with her, hoping she can take it to heart. However, my aunt was resistant. She didn’t see much long term benefits to all these things I presented to her. She was afraid to rock the boat with the city council by presenting her plan and hoping for a license for an expansion of her business. She was content with the small store that she has. In a way, it’s unfortunate because, in the end, she became one of the millions who went overseas to earn more money, when she could instead be at home in the Philippines, enjoying the profits she could’ve made with her store.
So yes, in short, we shouldn’t be really surprised as to why things are they are over there. Only with a modification of the culture can things be effected. Whatever desires we have of improving the country, be it political, societal, or economic… it all starts with changing the perceptions of Filipinos.
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promdi Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 4:14 am
so how do you suggest to modify our fukc-up culture? ahh.. let me guess.. that “change starts within us” thingy? if i get 1 peso every time i heard that BS im probably sporting a diamond encrusted rolex watch by now.
do you believe in subconscious theory of sigmund freud? how can you change the fukc-up culture we have, when everytime i turn-on my TV i see nothing but kabulukan? wowowee? telenobela? bias news/commentary?
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BongV Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 6:29 am
economic policy….
open up the economy – allow foreigners to own 100% of private schools so they can introduce concepts which are different from the local schools
Singaporw has the same collectivist, hierarchical mindset – but they mitigated it by opening the economy in order to attract businesses which provide a different take on things – that influence will be felt – the sort of influence which the local sectarian and state funded schools are trying to keep out
BongV Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 6:31 am
economic policy….
pinoys awareness are limited because the economic policies restrict 100% foreign investments in the media and education
open it up, let ideas compete, and let natural progression take its place as new cultural points of view are assimilated
balutpenoy Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 5:39 pm
seniority over merit…. kahit hindi ka magaling basta mas matagal and tenure mo or mas matanda ka, ikaw ang dapat igalang. Well, it’s one of the main reasons why talented people are leaving the country in droves.
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Ozneh Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Yeah.. how come someone who failed the board exam teach me accounting principles just because she is my manager. It is an insult.
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balutpenoy Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Try slapping your performance numbers on her face at times, it’s a temporary relief, but better than none
BongV Reply:
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:56 am
that’s the hierarchical aspect of filipino culture. kahit mali ang matanda shut up ka kesyo matanda. when you provide the facts you are considered “disrespectful”, “mayabang”, “hambugero”, “arrogante” – it still does not make the facts and its implications go away. then when things come to pass AS PREDICTED – the matanda will say “kagustuhan ng diyos”.
f*ckin bloody morons – they had the opportunity to get it right – but let it slide – then they claim it’s divine will – it was their will to not act – divinity had nothing to do with it.
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balutpenoy Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I don’t know if this counts, but I’m glad we were raised on a half semi-non-practicing Catholic and half Protestant family; we were less exposed to the typical Filipino hierarchy. I saw that kind of hierarchy when I went to my high school classmate’s house for our report on Darwin’s theory. My classmate’s father questioned Darwin’s theory based on, well, theological grounds. My classmate just stared blankly to his father’s sermon-like explanation which went on for minutes.
The moment the father excused himself, i immediately asked why didn’t he at least explained what our teacher taught us about Darwin’s theory. I’m surprised he berated me for even harboring the thought of answering his father; he even said “ganyan ka ba sa mga magulang mo? Ang bastos mo naman”. I was like, wtf man!. To make the story short, I didn’t try to partner with him again in reports and projects. What a dork.
BongV Reply:
March 3rd, 2012 at 10:59 am
that reminds me of my professor in Management Communications during my freshman postgrad stint – I wind up working in the same company she worked in – and it was funny that her work was passed over so many times and she would come to me for tips. and I chucked – wait – isn’t this girl supposed to be my professor in grad school.. oh lawd
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balutpenoy Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Well, the sweet smell of vindication is one way to lessen the depressing tendencies of our culture
Although yeah, it still sucks big time
Ozneh Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
I have a question, why is that the U.S. and Japan scored significantly differnt in Hofstede’s work yet they are both successful and rich countries?
BongV Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
boils down to economic policy –
take for example – Singapore… they are also collectivist, hierarchical just like filipinos – however due to an economically liberal policy – SG attracts non-singaporean individuals – who bring in the innovation and job creation which singaporeans can’t muster. in the process, technology and culture is transferred – more singaporeans are now on the path to being individualist than hierarchical..
note also that when the US adopted European style welfare state policies – it’s public debt skyrocketed – the lynchpin being Greece.. as well as Portugal, Italy, Spain
Great work BongV, but have you ever thought of considering the cause of these twisted psychological inclination in Filipino psyche? The Filipinos were indoctrinated with the Christians belief system after all. The Christian belief system don’t use logical explanations of things in their teachings. But rather, they’ll tell you that you’ll go to hell if you don’t do as told. This Filipino psyche could get worst with the increased in fanaticism in religions specially with the Black Nazarene. And when something goes wrong, their favorite phrase is “bahala na ang dyos”. That phrase seems to void any responsibility of any solutions to a problem.
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TonyBac Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:35 am
What has Christianity got to do with the problems of the Filipino culture? I’m Christian, but I don’t think I sport this type of Filipino attitude anymore. On the contrary, it was my Christianity, through reading the Bible, that made me more logical (though I was a Catholic before). I don’t find the “bahala na ang diyos” attitude as an instructions for Christians, rather the instruction is to work hard without depriving others of their own rights, to live in harmony with other people without compromising your own individual beliefs and God’s grace will fall upon His children. Peace.
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Bill Kasi Reply:
March 4th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Miracles don’t have any logical explanations, otherwise it is not a miracle. Miracles revolves around Filipinos psyche. If only the Christians could pray more and donate bigger amounts for the church, that a possibility of a miracle could be granted. If only they could walk knelling down toward the altar, or better yet get nailed to the cross, that a possible miracles could happen. Why do you think they pray that the Eat Bulaga, or the Pacquiao tv show could come to them for miracles to happen in their lives? Or just go gambling and pray to get miraculously lucky? Why couldn’t they just innovate to get lucky? I’m not an anti-Christ but an anti-Christianity’s who exaggerated and manipulated the teachings of JesusC.
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Aegis-Judex Reply:
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Which reminds me of this adage: Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended on yourself.
What vexes me is that the average Filipino stop at the first part of the adage.
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Aegis-Judex Reply:
March 3rd, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Typo rage mode:
It should have been “…Filipino stops at…”
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Indeed, Pinoys are hierarchical. Fortunately for me, I was born into a family that encourages individualism. Thank God for that.
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