Philippine E-Journals

Superior Man and the Bayan: Confucian Insights into the Filipino Identity

Thomas J. Ward

Discipline: Sociology

 

Abstract:

The paper looks into the similarities between Confucian values and Filipino values such as the importance of the family, responsibility to one’s forebears, utang-na-loob which is equivalent to the Confucian en, bahala na as resembled by the Ming, and saving face or the notion of hiya. When used positively, as argued by various scholars on Philippine society, these vales could translate to more meaningful and beneficial outcomes. Even moreso if these are viewed in an East Asian context which can help identify the Filipino’s affinity with his East Asian neighbors and thus enable him to realize the possibilities of duplicating the economic successes of such Asian giants as Japan and Korea.