Ningas cogon this refers to the rapidity with which a

➢ NINGAS COGON – This refers to the rapidity with which a new organization
may first gather enthusiastic support and then be entirely neglected.
➢ The Go Between – This serves to prevent a direct quarrel between individuals
or groups.
➢ MAÑANA HABIT – The mañana or procrastination is an example of the
indolence of the Filipinos as in the much-abused phrase “saka na lang.”
➢ LACK OF DISCIPLINE – Pollution, traffic rules and following the law are things
Filipinos tend to ignore. They like to sell their wares on the streets, beat the
red light and throw their garbage in the wrong places.
➢ “BAHALA NA” – This is a kind of fatalistic resignation that really represents
withdrawal from engagement or crisis or a shrinking from personal
responsibility.
➢ AMOR PROPIO – means ego defensiveness, dignity, or one’s personal pride
akin to the traditional oriental attitude of having ‘face’. In Philippine society,
building up one’s self -esteem is essential, and to this end amor propio in all
respect reinforces the Filipino trait “hiya”. Like for example, a person may
hesitate to collect a long overdue financial debt or item borrowed because to
raise the matter face to face may place a person’s amor propio at risk and can
cause the latter to flare up.
From the discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the Filipino, there is
much that is good in us but there is also much that needs to be changed. It is also
clear that many of our strong points are also the sources of weakness
.
As people, we are person-oriented and relationships with others are very
important part of our lives. We are thus capable of much caring and concern for
others. On the other hand, our person orientation in the extreme leads to lack of
objectivity and disregard for universal rules and procedures where everyone,
regardless of our relationship with them, is treated equally. Our person orientation
leads us to be concerned for people and yet to be unfair to someone.
Our family orientation is both strength and weaknesses, giving us a sense of
rootedness and security, both very essential to any form of reaching out to others. At
the same time, it develops in us an in-group that prevents us from reaching beyond
the family to the larger community and the nation.

10
Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection ( Weaknesses of the Filipino
Character)
Lack of Self-Analysis and Self-Reflection. There is a tendency in the Filipino
to be superficial and even somewhat flighty. In the face of serious problems, both
personal and social, there is lack of analysis or reflection. We joke about the most
serious matters and this prevents looking deeply into the problem. There is no felt
need to validate our hypotheses or explanation of things. Thus, we are satisfied with
superficial explanations and superficial solution to problems.