Hard work and adaptability: The values that shaped Filipinos' identity

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Kiefer Likens
When talking about Filipinos, so many things come to our mind such as the country’s stunning scenery, pristine, world-class beaches, food, established values, and of course the hospitality of the Filipino people. 

Among the many good things associated with them, there are other things that Filipinos can be proud of. These are the two virtues that stand out and are widely known around the world and have helped shape their identity. 

Hard work 

Hard work is one of the two famous virtues of Filipinos. It is an indispensable tool in accomplishing a task be it in school, at work, or in any of our personal undertakings. Other values are of no use without this value of hard work. 

Unfortunately, not all of us are gifted with this value, but the good thing is, hard work can be learned by self-discipline, especially if it is instilled in a child’s formative years. 

Once in a while, some of us may never give our 100 percent effort towards our work which would usually lead to substandard outcomes. A number of factors could be attributed to this underperformance in work. 

Oftentime we tend to lose interest in what we have started or the Filipinos’ infamous “Ningas Cogon,” trait, the fizzled out enthusiasm.

Other factors are demotivation, for some reasons, we get demotivated along the way, and hindrances beyond our control which would lead us backing down from our undertakings. 

Paramount Importance 

To many Filipinos, hard work is of paramount importance in life. Through hard work, Filipinos are able to support their families’ financial needs by working in institutions, business establishments or by running their own businesses. 

Today, millions of Filipinos have been working in different countries around the world earning decent pay enough to support the financial needs of their families back home. 

Filipino workers are sought-after citizens by foreign employers because of the latter’s value of hard work. The Filipinos’ proven work ethics, adaptability, and creativity make them attractive and increase their employability to foreign employers. 

Hard work encompasses adaptability, creativity, and resilience which the Filipino also possess. Hard work alone will not suffice to do tasks effectively and efficiently. Complexity and intricacy of some tasks require a worker’s creativity, resilience and adaptability to produce the desired result. 

To many Filipinos, hard work starts at a very young age. In the Philippines, seeing children as young as seven years old helping out their parents on the farm, doing

household chores, going out fishing with their fathers or older siblings, and other tasks that augment their family’s income is normal. 

Worse, many Filipino children have been exploited by opportunist employers. They have been forced to work under harsh working conditions. Many of these children also have stopped their schooling to work, thus, compromising their future.

jvalenciaz
Adaptability 

Another virtue of the Filipinos is adaptability. They are adaptable to any environment and cultures unfamiliar to them. Their adaptability is best exemplified in the plight of the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). 

It is a well-settled fact that Filipinos know no boundaries. When it comes to the welfare of their families, they are willing to risk and ready to embark on any undertakings. 

They will venture to places and cultures unfamiliar to them such as in the lives of the Filipinos working abroad. With less support system, and enduring homesickness, Filipinos 

Inseparable 


These two values are inseparable. They complement each other to be able to achieve the desired goals. The value of adaptability is utilized when a worker
encounters problems while performing his/her tasks or when a worker is new and unfamiliar to the new environment and cultures as encountered by an employee in a new working environment and his/her unfamiliarity with the different personality of the organization. 






By: Samuel A. Escabarte
samuelescabarte@gmail.com

Let’s have a trivia: 

Answer to the question: What is the complete name of former Sen. Manny Pacquiao? 

Name: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (Dec. 17, 1978) 

Wife: Maria Geraldine “Jinkee” Capeña Jamora Pacquiao

Children: Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr, Michael Stephen, Mary Divine Grace (Princess), Queen Elizabeth (Queenie), and Israel Pacquiao. 

Place: Kibawe, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines

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