CECILLE CONCEPCION
Caring is a universal virtue — the thread that weaves together individuals, tribes, and nations. It is also at the heart of humanity’s relationship with the divine. Across cultures and continents, we see its imprint: the African concept of ubuntu — “I am because we are” — captures the essence of shared humanity; Celtic spirituality connects people to land and one another; Australian Aborigines express it in anpernirrentye, proclaiming that “we are all one family tied together in a web of relationships in the common life stream of all living things.”
Yet in some places, the tradition of caring shines more distinctly. In the Philippines, it is not simply a value — it is a legacy. Deeply ingrained in the national character, it has been lived, embodied, and passed on from generation to generation. It defines who we are as a people and sets us apart in ways we can be proud of.
The Language of Care
There is no single word in Filipino that fully captures the depth of caring. Instead, it lives in a rich tapestry of terms — alaga (care and tending), aruga (nurture), kalinga (compassionate caregiving), tulong (help or assistance), malasakit(empathy and genuine concern), pakikiramay (sharing in another’s grief), pakialam (involvement or looking out for others), kalooban (inner goodwill), pakikipagkapwa-tao (shared humanity), bayanihan (communal unity and cooperation), damayan (solidarity in times of trouble), utang na loob (a deep sense of gratitude and moral obligation), bukas-palad (open-handed generosity), and kawang-gawa (acts of charity). Each carries its own nuance, often untranslatable on its own, but together they form a worldview where care is both personal and communal — at once a duty and a joy.
WHEN TYPHOON CARINA GAEMI STRUCK, THE MANDURAH FILIPINO AUSTRALIAN MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY, INC. IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA QUICKLY STEPPED UP. THROUGH A SIMPLE BINGO SOCIAL, THEY RAISED PHP 40,000 FOR GAWAD KALINGA’ WALANG IWANAN RELIEF EFFORTS –PROOF THAT FAITH AND BAYANIHAN KNOW NO BORDERS.
The Filipino Way of Caring
For Filipinos, caring isn’t just a value — it’s a way of life. It is an inherited legacy, deeply ingrained in our national character and passed down from one generation to the next. It defines who we are, and it’s something every Filipino can be proud of.
Interestingly, there is no single Filipino word that fully captures the essence of “caring.” Instead, we use a tapestry of terms, each carrying its own shade of meaning: alaga (nurturing), aruga (motherly care), kalinga (protection), tulong(help), malasakit (compassion), pakikiramay (sympathy), pakikipagkapwa-tao (shared humanity), bayanihan(community spirit), utang na loob (debt of gratitude), and many more. These words defy direct translation, reflecting a richness that is uniquely Filipino.
Caring in Everyday Life
Filipino caring is never abstract — it’s lived, intentional, and relational.
Picture a young mother rocking her baby to sleep before preparing a simple meal for her husband coming home from a hard day’s work. Picture neighbors helping watch over her children when her husband must leave to find work elsewhere. Picture a corner store extending credit so the family can get by until better days come.
“It takes a village to raise a child” is more than a proverb here — it’s reality. When that child graduates, the entire community celebrates. And when the family can, they repay the kindness.
This debt of gratitude (utang na loob) creates a cycle of generosity. For example, in villages where organizations like Gawad Kalinga run feeding programs for children, it’s often the local mothers who wake up before dawn to volunteer in preparing meals — a small act of love that nourishes both body and spirit.
Family, Community, and Beyond
Filipino caring extends far beyond the nuclear family. When we say “family,” we often mean the extended family — parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It’s common for several generations to live under one roof or within the same neighborhood.
When a need arises — a wedding, a birthday, a medical crisis, or even a funeral — everyone pitches in. It’s an unwritten law that children care for their aging parents. And beyond the family circle, pakikiramay calls us to comfort grieving neighbors, not just with words and prayers but with practical help: cooking, babysitting, running errands — whatever eases the burden.
This culture of caring is so natural to us that outsiders are often left amazed — sometimes even baffled — at how Filipinos can sustain such generosity and togetherness through good times and bad.
Even abroad, Filipinos carry this culture with them. Millions of overseas workers sacrifice and send hard-earned money back home to support their families and communities. Many also contribute to compassionate projects in the Philippines, helping bridge economic gaps and giving hope to those left behind.
Whether at home or abroad, Filipinos make life better for others in their circle, building connections and fostering cooperation. In this way, they keep the spirit of bayanihan alive, no matter where they are.
Caring as Faith in Action
At its core, this culture of caring is rooted in faith. As Scripture reminds us: “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). And in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16), we are warned against indifference to the suffering around us.
Caring, for Filipinos, is not just social or emotional — it is spiritual. It is an act of love for both God and neighbor.
A LITTLE WINTER NIGHT MUSIC
NOTHING LIFTS THE HEART LIKE MUSIC. IN A COZY PERTH CAFÉ, SIX GENEROUS ARTISTS — TRISTAN MURPHY, MARIAN NELSON, KATE NELSON, ANGELO RAVINA, EFA MCKENZIE, AND ISABEL SARGON — MOVED US TO TEARS AS THEY SHARED THEIR GIFTS PURELY OUT OF COMPASSION. BRAVO TO THEM, AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO JUMEIRAH MUSIC CENTER PERTH FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE!
A Living Legacy
The Filipino culture of caring is like a precious multifaceted gem — deeply layered, profoundly human, and anchored in faith. It is felt in the cradle, in the community, in our homes, and across oceans.
There is no perfect way to capture it in words. Perhaps the best way to understand it is to experience it — to see how Filipinos live it out every single day.
And in that experience, one thing becomes clear:
Caring is not just something Filipinos do. Caring is who we are.