As the CEO of RK Rubber Enterprise Co., I have worked with many inspiring individuals. However, I’ve noticed how deeply ingrained certain toxic Filipino traits can be in our culture. These harmful habits not only limit personal growth but also negatively impact relationships, work environments, and society as a whole.
Have you ever found yourself struggling to break free from negative behavior patterns? Do you sometimes feel trapped by societal expectations or cultural norms? If so, then this article is for you.
In it, we will explore some of the most common toxic Filipino traits and discuss why they need to be broken if we are to achieve success and fulfillment in life. Join me on this journey of self-discovery and let’s learn together how to overcome these limiting beliefs and behaviors.
Crab Mentality Of A Filipino
I want to talk about one of the most toxic traits that we Filipinos have – crab mentality. It’s a pervasive and harmful behavior holding us back for far too long.
Crab mentality is an attitude where people try to bring others down because they are jealous or resentful of their success. This can manifest in several ways, such as backbiting rumors, vindictive attitude towards successful peers, ridicule humor aimed at those who dare to dream big, apathetic behavior towards progress and passive-aggressive attitude in working with others.
The problem with this mindset is that it doesn’t just hurt the targeted person but also affects our growth and development as individuals and as a nation. We need to break free from this cycle of negativity if we want to achieve real success and fulfillment in life.
Speaking of cycles, another toxic trait we must address is the mañana habit. Let’s dive into how this behavior holds us back and what steps we can take to overcome it.
Mañana Habit
As we discussed earlier, the crab mentality of Filipinos is a negative trait that holds us back from achieving our full potential. However, another toxic habit that plagues our society is the Mañana Habit.
This behavior refers to the lack of planning and procrastination many Filipinos exhibit in their personal and professional lives. The Mañana Habit can manifest itself in several ways, including hoarding resources instead of sharing them with others, seeking instant gratification instead of working towards long-term goals, and being money-driven rather than prioritizing relationships and cultural norms.
These behaviors harm us and hinder the growth of our communities and society as a whole. As a businessman, it’s important to recognize these patterns within ourselves and encourage those around us to break free from this cycle. With intentional effort and consistent practice, we can move away from the negative effects of the Mañana Habit and begin building productive habits into our daily routines.
By setting achievable goals, managing time effectively, and prioritizing meaningful relationships over material possessions, we can create positive change in our lives while inspiring others to do the same. But first, we must address one more crucial area: toxic family ties.
Toxic Family Ties
I have seen the impact of toxic family ties on individuals’ personal and professional lives. In Filipino culture, entitled privilege and shameful pride are often at the center of these dynamics.
It is not uncommon for parents to demand unquestioning obedience from their children, even in adulthood. This can lead to financial insecurity as adult children struggle to establish independence and navigate social hierarchies outside the family unit. Furthermore, this dynamic can become exacerbated when someone experiences culture shock upon moving abroad or pursuing higher education opportunities.
The sense of obligation towards one’s family may intensify as the distance increases, leading to guilt and shame if they do not prioritize family obligations over personal goals. This can lead to an unhealthy cycle where people feel trapped by familial expectations and resentful about sacrificing their aspirations.
It’s heartbreaking to see how some families use emotional manipulation tactics like guilt-tripping or gaslighting to maintain control over their loved ones. Even worse, many individuals may internalize these patterns of behavior without realizing their insidious nature until much later in life.
Breaking free from toxic familial ties requires courage and self-awareness but is essential for growth and success in all areas of life. Remember that prioritizing your mental health and well-being does not make you selfish; it makes you stronger and better equipped to support yourself and others around you.
Ningas Cogon
Did you know that 60% of Filipinos are guilty of ningas cogon? It’s a term that describes people who start strong but eventually lose steam and enthusiasm midway through a task. This is one toxic trait we need to break if we want to achieve success in our personal and professional lives.
I urge you to stop procrastinating and shunning change. We need to be active participants in shaping our future instead of being passive bystanders waiting for things to happen.
Don’t disregard opinions just because they don’t align with yours, as this will lead to missed opportunities for growth and learning. Let go of the past by not clinging too tightly onto traditions that no longer serve their purpose or hinder progress towards a better tomorrow.
Remember, embracing new ideas and ways of doing things takes courage and resilience.
Gossiping Or Being Judgemental
Now, let’s talk about gossiping or being judgmental. In many Filipino communities, there seems to be a constant need for people to know what others are up to and then judge them based on their actions. This is often fueled by the bragging culture that we have been taught since childhood – pagpapapogi, as they call it. People want to show off their wealth, accomplishments, and even relationships to gain respect from their peers.
However, this can also lead to a shaming culture where individuals who do not conform to societal norms become targets of ridicule and criticism. Overreacting and blind loyalty are common responses when someone feels attacked or exposed by rumors or gossip.
I highly discourage such behavior as these toxic traits only promote negativity and hinder personal growth. Instead, focus on uplifting others and building meaningful connections with people without resorting to spreading rumors or judging others unfairly.
Moving forward, let’s discuss another harmful trait that needs addressing: colonian mentality. Let me explain why developing an independent mindset is crucial for our personal success and collective progress as Filipinos.
Colonian Mentality
As Filipinos, we have been colonized by different countries in the past. While it has undeniably influenced our culture and way of life, some remnants still remain to this day. One of which is the infamous ‘Colonial Mentality’. It’s a figure of speech that evokes emotions such as shame, guilt, and self-depreciation.
We all know someone who looks down on our fellow countrymen because of their language or accent. They are guilty of what we call ‘language stereotyping’. This behavior stems from cultural adherence – an unwritten rule passed down from a generation that dictates how one should act based on societal norms. Coupled with a superiority complex, these individuals often hold themselves in high regard while belittling others who do not meet their social expectations.
To break free from this toxic mindset, here are two sub-lists that can help us enjoy the journey towards mastery:
- Appreciate diversity
- Embrace differences
- Learn about other cultures
- Be proud of your roots
- Celebrate Filipino heritage
- Promote local tourism
I believe that it’s important for us to acknowledge the existence of colonial mentality within ourselves and those around us. By doing so, we can start taking steps towards breaking free from its grasp and living more fulfilling lives.
Let go of the need to compare yourself with others; instead focus on personal growth and development. Remember that every person is unique in their own way, and there’s no need to compete or put anyone down.
With this mindset shift, we can move forward into tackling another toxic trait: Toxic Competition.
Toxic Competition
I’ve noticed that many of us Filipinos have an overachieving attitude. We want to be the best at everything we do, from school to work and even in our personal lives. While this can be good, it often leads to unhealthy competition with others.
We start stereotyping others as lazy or incompetent just because they’re not working as hard as we are. Our extreme pride also makes us susceptible to unhealthy comparisons with others. Jealousy pitting is another harmful habit that stems from the toxic competition. We try to bring down those who are doing better than us instead of being happy with their achievements.
This behavior only creates negativity and resentment towards each other, which ultimately hinders progress not only on an individual level but also within our communities. It’s time we break free from these toxic traits and focus on collaboration instead of competition.
As we move forward into discussing messianic attitudes, let’s remember that overcoming toxic competition requires introspection and self-awareness. Let’s strive to support one another rather than tear each other down because true success comes when everyone succeeds together.
Messianic Attitude
Toxic competition is just one of the many harmful habits we must break as Filipinos. Another trait that can be equally damaging has a messianic attitude.
This refers to an overly critical attitude towards others and the belief that only you or your chosen few have the solutions to all problems. It’s easy to fall into this trap, especially when we see ourselves as “saviors” in our personal and professional lives. However, having a messianic attitude can lead to several negative outcomes.
First, it promotes a victim mentality among those who are not part of your inner circle. They may feel excluded or dismissed, leading them to believe they cannot contribute meaningfully. Second, it fosters an entitlement complex where individuals expect special treatment or recognition for their efforts without putting in the necessary work. Lastly, it leads to poor listening skills because people often become passive-aggressive when someone disagrees with their ideas or opinions.
Therefore, breaking away from this toxic habit means recognizing and addressing these tendencies through active communication and collaboration with others.
- Take responsibility for your actions and decisions.
- Practice empathy by trying to understand other people’s perspectives.
- Learn how to give constructive feedback without being overly critical.
It’s important to recognize that everyone has something valuable to offer, regardless of whether they share our beliefs. The world is much bigger than us and there will always be room for different voices and approaches. Let’s focus instead on building each other up rather than looking for someone to blame when things don’t go according to plan.
Looking For Someone To Blame
Excessive pride is one of the most toxic Filipino traits we must break. It’s a common theme in our culture, where people tend to put themselves first and think they’re better than others. This thinking creates an environment where everyone competes rather than works together towards a common goal.
I’ve seen firsthand how this mentality can harm individuals, teams, and organizations. Another toxic trait that Filipinos exhibit is hoarding resources. We often see this in situations like potlucks or group projects, where some people bring excessive amounts of food or supplies while others don’t contribute at all.
This behavior stems from double standards prevalent in our society – those who have more expect special treatment, while those who have less are expected to make do with what they have. The lack of initiative among some community members is another issue that needs addressing, as it causes delays or even failure when things don’t go according to plan.
Finally, language barriers pose significant challenges for many Filipinos trying to succeed abroad; however, instead of seeking help or improving their language skills, some blame external factors for their struggles rather than taking responsibility for their growth and development.
Conclusion
As a Filipino, writing about our toxic traits was not easy. It is never comfortable to confront the negative aspects of one’s culture or identity. But as a CEO, I believe acknowledging these harmful habits is the first step in overcoming them.
It may be tempting to blame colonialism or poverty for our negative behaviors, but we must take responsibility for ourselves and our actions. We can break free from the crab mentality by celebrating each other’s successes instead of tearing each other down. We can combat the mañana habit by prioritizing tasks and setting deadlines rather than putting things off until later.
Toxic family ties can be addressed by having open communication and healthy boundaries. And when it comes to ningas cogon mentality, we need to cultivate discipline and focus on finishing what we start.
Finally, preventing gossiping or being judgmental requires self-awareness and empathy towards others. Breaking away from these toxic habits will not happen overnight – it takes consistent effort and commitment. But imagine how much more productive and fulfilling our lives could be if we let go of these negative patterns.
Let us strive towards creating a better future for ourselves and future generations by breaking free from toxic Filipino traits.