Article on Filipino Concept of Magpakatao

Roots of Filipino Humanism (1)”Kapwa”

Nagmamasid (Observing) Mixed Media by Hermisanto. Rice on acrylic, on burlap. Image inspired by the
bulul of the Ifugao peoples, carved wooden figures used to guard the rice crop and in ceremonies related
to rice production and healing.

“Kapwa is a recognition of a shared identity, an inner self, shared with others.

This Filipino linguistic unity of the self and the other is unique and unlike in most modern
languages. Why? Because implied in such inclusiveness is the moral obligation to treat
one another as equal fellow human beings. If we can do this – even starting in our own
family or our circle of friends – we are on the way to practice peace. We are Kapwa
People.” — Professor Virgilio Enriquez, founder of Sikolohiyang Pilipino.

Pakikipagkapwa. It means connecting myself with others, feeling myself in the other and
having a sense of shared identity and a shared inner self. That sense of having a
common human identity, community and destiny lies deep in our psyche…It’s the
translation in our particular culture and history of a universal truth that tells us to treat
others the way we ourselves want to be treated because at our innermost core we have
a shared humanity.

I can’t help but reflect on how powerful this deep, age-old Filipino sentiment can be
when rekindled and placed in action, in our homes, communities, schools or workplaces
and yes, especially in our social and political life today.
This sense of a shared identity is reflected in many Tagalog words, words that carry
with it sentiments and feelings that resonate at a subliminal level.

Kababayan means my fellow-countryman; root word– bayan, country. When Filipinos

meet other fellow Filipinos, that instant recognition and connection spark up because,
we are, kababayan.

Kaakbay means to support. The root word “akbay” conjures images of lifting up,
shoulder on shoulder.

Kaibigan means friend; the root word is “ibig” which means to love.

Kasama means someone I am with, the root word “sama” means “to be with or be
together with.”

Kaanak means one’s kin; root word being “anak” which means sons and daughters.

Filipino media has capitalized on the deep registers these words have on the Filipino
psyche. One TV network is known as Kapuso, kapuso meaning being one at heart. Its
rival network is the Kapamilya Network, meaning belonging to the same family. Kapwa
Ko, Mahal Ko (Love my Fellowman) is a decades-long public service program that has
been providing assistance to the poor and the needy.

Researching into the origin of the word “Kapwa”, I came across this. It seems that the
word originated from two words: Ka– a union that refers to any kind of relationship, a
union, with everyone and everything. Puwang– space.

The word Kapwa refers us to that “space” that we share with others as fellow-Filipinos
and fellow-human beings, sensing that “space” as being both a psychic and physical
space. (And with that, we can imagine a time when life and work was more communal.
When, after the day’s shared work was done, our ancestors would be sitting around in a
circle, perhaps around a communal fire, under a starry night, perhaps drinking some
rice wine, while discussing village concerns or simply sharing their stories.)

The list of Filipino or Tagalog words that start with the prefix ka- is long. While I am not
a linguist, it signals the sense of sharedness and relatedness we have that underpins
Filipino personhood. With the arrival of Western colonizers—first the Spanish, then the
Americans, with the passing of time, this sense of shared identity has been suppressed,
overlaid with Western individualism and values; and, a world-view that separates
oneself from the other.

According to Professor Enriquez, Kapwa is the “unity of the one-of-us-and-the-other”.

After extensively researching the cultural heritage of indigenous Filipino groups and
tribes and their IKSP (Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices), he concluded
that Pakikipag-kapwa is a core Filipino value underlying the Pagkatao ng Filipino (the
Personhood of the Filipino). He maintained that “Kapwa implied moral and normative
aspects that obliged a person to treat one another as fellow human being and therefore
as equal.” Such a position was “definitely inconsistent with exploitative human
interactions,”. But he also foresaw that this Filipino core value was threatened by
spreading Western influences. “…once AKO (the I) starts thinking of himself as
separate from KAPWA, the Filipino ‘self’ gets to be individuated as in the Western
sense and, in effect, denies the status of KAPWA to the other.”

Today, most people who hear the word “kapwa” think it means neighbor. But standard
Tagalog dictionaries like Vito Santos’ define kapwa as “fellow being” and “other person.”
And older, Spanish dictionaries translate kapuwa as “both” and “the one and the other”,
or “others.” From all this research, Enriquez concluded that the original Filipino idea of
“others” was inclusive. He wrote: “The English “others” is actually used in opposition to
the “self,” and implies the recognition of the self as a separate entity. In contrast, kapwa
is a recognition of a shared identity, an inner self shared with others.” He also said, “A
person starts having a kapwa not so much because of a recognition of status given him
by others but more so because of his awareness of shared identity. The ako (ego) and
the iba-sa-akin (others) are one and the same in kapwa psychology.”

As further described by Dr. Katrin de Guia, “Kapwa is a Tagalog term widely used when
addressing another with the intention of establishing a connection. It reflects a viewpoint
that beholds the essential humanity recognizable in everyone, therefore linking
(including) people rather than separating (excluding) them from each other. Enriquez
felt that this orientation was an expression of ‘humanness at its highest level’.” – from
Kapwa: The Self in the Other, Worldviews and Lifestyles of Filipino Culture-Bearers

Pakikipagkapwa, seeing ourselves as connected with others, leads us to better relations

within our families, with schoolmates or fellow workers. It leads towards concern for our
community, our country and for our environment, both social and natural.

More importantly, it leads us towards putting the human being’s needs as the highest
value, over and above other values be it Money, Power, Prestige, the State, Ideas and
yes, even Religion.

The times we are living in are calling for us to awaken and rekindle that pakikipagkapwa
that have been suppressed under centuries of colonial influence, a call to hark back
towards our b7iancestral way of being in the world— one that is imbued with a deep
sense of community, cooperation and solidarity.

It may be that the “mythic Filipino” is not dead and gone, just sleeping but ready to
awaken, to inspire and reanimate the best qualities that we have rehsiding in our
depths.

Imagine what our lives, our society and our world be like if we, parents and children,
leaders and followers, employers and employees, politicians and citizens practiced
pakikipag-kapwa. On a personal level, the “kapwa” in us will consider the welfare and
well-being of those whose lives we touch and will be more considerate of the effects of
our action on them. On a community level, the “kapwa” in us will be concerned about
what is happening in the immediate environment and will respond in whatever way is in
reach to help make the community a better and safer place to live in. On a wider and
social level, the “kapwa” in us will not tolerate disrespect for human rights, will value
human life, each human life. It will not disrespect women, or dispossess minorities.
Neither will it endanger human life, nature, and our planet by abusing and misusing our
resources in the search for greater profit, ensuring that life on our planet will be
sustainable for generations to come. It will reject all forms of injustice and
discrimination.

This universal value of a shared identity as it expresses itself in our culture is also
manifested in other cultures because it is rooted in our common humanity. Yes, we are
Kapwa People and within us lives a powerful force that can help build a culture of
peace.

Footnote: Many thanks to Dr. Katrin de Guia who, through her book and conferences,
has made Sikolohiyang Filipino (Filipino Psychology) more accessible and relevant to a
wider audience.

Source: De Guia, Katrin, Ph.D. Kapwa, The Self in the Other, Worldviews and Lifestyles
of Filipino Culture-Bearers. 2005. Anvil Publishing Inc. Pasig City, Philippines.

Summary/Insights

         The article emphasizes the culture and the values of “pakikipagkapwa”.
Pakikipagkapwa it means connecting ourselves with others, feeling myself in the other,
and having a sense of shared identity and a shared inner self. That sense of having a
common human identity, community, and destiny lies deep in our psyche. It’s the
translation in our particular culture and history of a universal truth that tells us to treat
others the way we ourselves want to be treated because at our innermost core we have
a shared humanity. This implies that “magpakatao” means we have to have that sense
of relation to others.

We Filipinos are well known for our generosity, hospitality, and resilience and
that’s because of our culture. It is our core Filipino value underlying the Pagkatao ng
Filipino. But often it's really hard to walk down the route of "pakikipagkapwa" or
"magpakatao." However this concept of  “kapwa” in us will not tolerate disrespect for
human rights, will value human life, each human life. It will not disrespect women, or
dispossess minorities. Neither will it endanger human life, nature, and our planet by
abusing and misusing our resources in the search for greater profit, ensuring that life on
our planet will be sustainable for generations to come. It will reject all forms of injustice
and discrimination. The Filipinos are supposed to have these "pakikipagkapwa"
characteristics and beliefs, but there will be cases when "magpakatao" is so difficult. We
tend to indulge in many kinds of toxic traits because we chose the direction that is easy
and that is the opposite of Filipino Magpakatao 's idea, which is to be related to others
that leads us to better relationships within our communities, the society, and our fellow
Filipinos.

We should give value to this concept because this what makes us Filipino. This
universal value of shared identity, as expressed in our culture, is also conveyed in other
cultures because it is rooted in our shared humanity. We are Kapwa Filipino, and within
us exists a strong force that can help create a community of peace. The idea of this
“magpakatao” or “pakikipagkapwa” should be our basis for us to live an authentic life
molded with values and morals.

Santillan, K.L., (2018, July 7). Roots of Filipino Humanism (1)”Kapwa”. Retrieved from
https://www.pressenza.com/2018/07/roots-of-filipino-humanism-1kapwa/