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Loob: Holistic and Interior Dimensions
kagandahang-loob, kabutihang-loob, utang na loob and kalooban are terms that show sharing of one’s self to others.
great philippine values are essentially interpersonal. the use of intermediaries or go-betweens are such values that
relate to persons (values of loyalty, hospitality, pakikisama, respect to authority, etc).
the Filipino generally believes in the innate goodness of the human being
The holistic concept of “loob” brings a person into a faceto-face encounter with God; elevating one’s experience in the
realm of spirituality such as asking forgiveness to God and family. At this point, one is invited to look up in the heaven
to experience God because one’s self-reflection already reached celestial being. Therefore, a person does not to
forsake one’s humanity but experiences how to be truly human.
the interior dimension of “loob” focuses on humanheartedness such as compassion, kindness and harmonious
relationship with people. further, as the innate goodness of human beings, “loob” embodies moral conscience and
ethical dimension. “loob” as interior, encompassed harmony, deepens the reality of human beings and gives order to
their lives which are connected to the creator
2. Filipino’s Philosophy of Time
Filipinos looks at life as a series of ups and downs (gulong ng palad).
Look upon every event, fortunate or unfortunate, as fleeting or transitory. “When one weeps, one will surely smile.”
Floods, earthquakes, EDSA revolutions, continuous poverty – all these were seen to be transcended hoping that one
day, the sun would shine and nature would heal itself.
Often, Filipino Time is mistakenly interpreted as always delayed in the committed time of arrival. This notion can be
misleading since the Filipino farmers are “early risers” to go their field and waste no time for work. The concept of
“siesta time” or “power naps” is also important for Filipino culture that must not be necessarily considered negative.
3. “Bahala na” attitude (Come What May)
The pre-Spanish Filipino people believed in a Supreme Being, Batula or Bathala.
Filipinos seem to reckon not only with nature and human nature but also with cosmic presences or spirits, seen to be
the ultimate origin to the problem of evil.
Filipinos puts his entire trust in this Bathala who has evolved into the Christian God (Mercado, 2000)
Subconsciously putting complete trust in the Divine Providence; it contains the element of resignation.
Filipinos accept beforehand whatever the outcome of his problem might be.
4. Bayanihan Spirit
The Bayanihan spirit shows Filipinos’ concept of helping one another most especially in times of need without expecting
anything in return. Filipinos strongly believe in helping their “kababayans (fellow countrymen)” in any possible way they
can do to extend a helping [Link] is a beautiful Filipino mentality of helping one another.
The Bayanihan (pronounced as buy-uh-nee-hun) is a Filipino custom derived from a Filipino word “bayan”, which
means nation, town or community. The term bayanihan itself literally means “being in a bayan”, which refers to the
spirit of communal unity, work and cooperation to achieve a particular goal.
The concept of Bayanihan is traced back to in a country’s tradition which can be observed in rural areas, wherein the
town’s people were asked especially the men to lend a hand to a family who will move into a new place. The relocation
does not only involves moving the family’s personal belongings but most importantly it concerns the transfer of the
family’s entire house to a new location. A traditional Filipino house (Bahay Kubo) is made of indigenous materials such
as bamboo and nipa/anahaw leaves.
In order for the volunteers to carry the house, bamboo poles are tied length-wise and cross-wise and go under the
house. Approximately, it will take about 15-20 volunteers to carry a house and together they’ll move in unison heading
to the family’s new place. As a token of gratitude, the family serves food to the volunteers at the end of the move.
5. Utang na Loob (Debt Cycle)
Obligation and responsibility are often viewed in terms of reciprocity ( utang na loob), comprised of debts ( utang), and inner-self-
free will ( na-loob). The process begins with an unsolicited gift and continues going often into to the next generation.
The essence of utang na loob is an obligation to appropriately repay a person who has done one a favor. The favors which elicit
the Filipino's sense of utang na loob are typically those whose value is impossible to quantify, or, if there is a quantifiable value
involved, involves a deeply personal internal dimension. This internal dimension, loob, differentiates Utang na Loob from an ordinary
debt("utang"); being an internal phenomenon, utang na loob thus goes much deeper than ordinary debt or even the western concept
of owing a favor. Filipino psychology explains that this is a reflection of the "kapwa" orientation of shared person-hood or shared
self, which is at the core of the Filipino values system.
