Just how honest is the average Pinoy?

Norberto Robles, Taguig City: The average Pinoy is relatively honest. But when his or his family’s survival is at stake, honesty takes a backseat.  

Mario Tejada, Ilocos Norte: To the average Pinoy, honesty is the best policy, but it remains only a policy. Like promises, policies are made to be broken.  

The average Pinoy is very honest

Jose Parco, Kalibo Aklan: Basically, the average Pinoy is very honest. Some very good examples are honest taxi drivers who return personal items their passengers left in their vehicles; honest janitors in our airports who, mind you, return fortunes in cash to their rightful owners! These are people who make us Pinoys feel very proud. They have a pure heart. What a pity, though, that I cannot say the same of our “honorable” public officials!  

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: I would like to believe that the average Pinoy is honest. Some, though, go out-of-bounds because of personal interests.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Yes, Pinoys are very honest and this has been widely reported, studied and confirmed. I think that they only get involved in dishonesty when the circumstances are beyond their control.  

Dianne Aquino, Caloocan City: On the average, Filipinos are an honest lot, to the point of sometimes putting himself in trouble and shame.  

June Deoferio, Cavite City: I think 8 out of 10 Pinoys are honest, even though we come from a Third World country.  

Honesty is big news in this country

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: The average Pinoy seems ignorant of the adage, “Honesty is the best policy”. Thus, whenever one returns a lost wallet with its contents intact, such an act is praised widely and treated as exceptional. The common events are bribe-giving in Malacañang and Congress and the many scandals.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: The fact that when somebody returns something found, it becomes newsworthy and the person gets credit for this act means that honesty, somehow, is a rare virtue for a Pinoy. I’d peg the honest Pinoy at two out of 10.  

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Times have changed. Nowadays, honest Pinoys are the exceptions, unlike during the time of our forebears who wouldn’t feed their family with food from money not earned honestly. It must be the influence of decades of corrupt politicians, cheating businessmen and advances in technology. People want to keep up with modern living, with cars, cell phones, big houses and the many non-necessities of life.  

Nony de Leon, Bulacan: How newsworthy are incidents of honesty in our society? If such deeds are so rare that they make it to the news, that shows how honest the average Pinoy is. Another gauge is the size of lost-and-found stocks in other countries versus ours. We are finders, keepers.  

Honesty is innate in us

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: As history recounts, ancient Filipinos are known for their honesty. I believe that up to now, honesty is a value we treasure most.  

Concepcion Gaspar, Laoag City: Honesty is still a predominant trait of the average Filipino. We are a breed of people that prefer to give our family the fruits of hard labor rather than of dubious means. Living this way gives us a clear conscience and peace of mind.  

Eric Gopilan, Quezon City: We often hear about large sums of money being returned to its rightful owner by fellow Filipinos. Honesty is innate in us. 

Nick Ocampo, Angeles City: Pinoys are most well-known for their honesty and hospitality around the world.  

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I think the average Juan dela Cruz is, by nature, honest as local and foreign media cite examples of Filipinos who returned found cash or jewels.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Honest enough, gauging from the huge number of OFWs all over the globe who are generally trusted and admired for their honesty and tact.  

Felix Ramento, Manila: The average Pinoy is fairly honest, especially as a friend who can be depended upon in times of trouble.  

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: I must say that I cannot estimate the average Filipino’s honesty. How do we define “average” in this instance? All I can say is that the Filipino is basically honest. There are only certain situations and exigencies where we find dishonest ones. And sometimes, a person does a dishonest act not because he is dishonest, but because he is forced to do it. For instance, if the policy of a company where one is employed allows dishonest transactions, what can one do if he were in the frontline in such a situation? Resign? Maybe, when his conscience can’t bear it anymore. By golly, there are so many other situations where people are now tempted to become dishonest  and I am sure that my fellow texters have stated them all  especially where corruption is practiced!  

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: The average Pinoy is quite honest and maintains high moral principles. He doesn’t lie and steal, but his virtue is endangered by his polluted social atmosphere.  

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The average Pinoy is intrinsically honest. Once he becomes somebody like a politician, he becomes dishonest and a scourge to society.  

It’s a vanishing trait

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: In 2001, a bus inspector went to my residence to return my lost wallet. Today, between a wallet and a cellphone, chances are, the latter won’t be returned anymore.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Honesty is rare nowadays and is in danger of extinction  in homes, offices and society as a whole. Almost everyone is untrue and dishonest.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: With our values deteriorating, there are only a handful left of average Pinoys whose honesty remains intact.  

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: The honesty of the average Pinoy is outstanding, but that was yesterday. Today, honest Pinoys are slowly disappearing as many among us tend to do what our leaders do. To many, honesty is a thing of the past.  

Mary Jane Tomon, Quezon City :Before, honest Filipinos were everywhere to the point that no one in the family would feed their loved ones food bought with money that came from dishonesty. Nowadays, I think there are fewer honest people due to issues of cheating, stealing, lying and corruption in government. In general, whatever your religion or tribe may be, dishonesty is now like a contagious disease in our everyday life.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Honesty is always defeated by extreme need and necessity. It is becoming a vanishing virtue among average Filipinos.  

Survival comes first

Nillo, Las Piñas City: Sad to say, the average Pinoy nowadays doesn’t recognize the word “honest” anymore. Without a decent job to feed a family, honesty is meaningless.  Benjamin

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: I always believe in the inherent honesty of the average Pinoy. I say this because the average Pinoy’s dishonesty is just the result of adverse circumstances, such as extreme poverty, especially if he has a big family to feed. “Kapit sa patalim,” as the saying goes. The number of Filipinos in this situation is alarming and something must be done fast to address this problem. What is contemptible for me are those Filipinos in power who have an insatiable desire to enrich themselves at the expense of others. These kinds of Filipinos deserve to be lynched and should be banished forever.

C.K. Yeo, Iloilo City: Pinoys are honest as long as they can provide for their family; otherwise, they become creative. But the time it takes men to succumb to temptation varies; some are slow, others as fast as bacterial infection. Of course, there are exceptions, like super rich businessmen and politicians whose appetites for money are endless.  

Honest when the situation calls for it

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: The average Pinoy is honest when needed. Sadly, the need isn’t always there.  

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Here in our beloved country, if you are brutally honest, as Jesus Christ was, you will have many enemies! It seems that for the average Filipino, honesty is ‘situational’. If he knows that he won’t be found out, he will lie, especially if it’s to his advantage or survival. Honesty, as practiced by many of our political leaders and lawyers, is no longer a virtue; to them, it’s a tool to be used only when necessary!  

T. Totañes, Parañaque City: The average Pinoy is as honest as his situation permits.  

Dennis Acop, Baguio City: My hunch is that there are enough Pinoys who are honest and that are equally enough Pinoys who are not! Knowing the extreme challenges that abound in the internal environment, however, I really admire destitute tricycle drivers or taxi drivers who still have the honesty to return the lots of cash or valuables left by passengers. Contrast them with the rich and powerful who, despite their obvious blessings, still do not seem satisfied and go on to skim millions in kickbacks off legitimate government contracts intended to benefit the people. I believe that given the right environment where leaders provide a good example, more Pinoys can be honest. I know this because I have lived and visited overseas where I saw Pinoys who were the preferred employees by foreigners (as opposed to other nationals) due to their reputed honesty and hard work.  

Rose Leobrera, Manila: It depends on the situation. In the household, for example, very few husbands don’t cheat on their wives. Husbands will definitely lie about their infidelity; this is dishonesty. Even in the work area, there are those who sleep on the job yet record complete working hours. Many maids, too, are dishonest. Students as well tend to be dishonest to pass. Politicians, lalo na.  

Who is the average Pinoy?

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Honestly, I find this question quite difficult to answer. By the way, who is the average Pinoy? The query should have been: “Just how honest is the Pinoy?”  

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: The mythical average Filipino is just as honest or as corrupt as the average Spaniard, the average Mexican or the average Italian, he cannot be more honest or less corrupt than the average American, the average Japanese or average Singaporean.  

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: First of all, let’s define “average”. An average wage earner earns only the minimum wage. Let’s take it from there. Kung sino pa ang mahirap, siya pa ang mas honest. When I was working for the city government, I noticed that our parking attendant, who only finished Grade 3, refused to leave before 5pm in contrast to our department head, who often went home early, leaving his alipores spending hours playing games on the computers, attending parties, etc. during office hours. Malakas, eh!  

Only a few rotten eggs grab the headlines

Fortunato Aguirre, Bulacan: We often read of millionaires robbing the poor and politicians accepting bribes from the Palace, yet the average Pinoy would return bundles of cash that they find.  

Voz Butuyan, Pangasinan: Honesty is a Pinoy trait worth telling and retelling to generations, despite a few rotten eggs that grab the headlines!  

J-Dub Wenceslao, Quezon City: I always look at things this way. There will always be crooks in every government department, right? But along will come an honest individual  you can bet your life on that. That’s why I still have high respect for the police force. They had an officer, who’s retired now, named Estanislao Dalumpines of the Makati Police who was a straight, honest cop throughout his whole career. I salute you, Sir!  

Third World citizens tend to be dishonest

Raul Mondonedo, Metro Manila: I would say that only 20 per cent of Filipinos or less are honest and the rest are all dishonest. Most people living in Third World countries ourselves included, of course  are dishonest because of poverty. We have this attitude of “to each his own” here.  

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: Only about 20 per cent of Filipinos are honest. Most people living in a Third World country are dishonest.  

Many dishonest leaders in our midst

Ed Alawi, Davao City: The average Pinoy is honest and hospitable. Sad to say, we have in our midst a greedy oligarch, corrupt government guys, scammers and opportunists.  

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Most poor Pinoys are honest, but rarely can we find honest ones in the upper echelons of society, where most politicians are entrenched.  

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: With Garci and Joc-Joc Bolante joined by the game of Euro generals, what can we expect from the average Pinoy?  

Norman Villamayor, Mandaluyong City: I hope not as honest as some of our government officials would like to project themselves to be.  

Erwin Espinosa, Pangasinan: Very honest ang average Pinoy. Mga kurakot na pulitiko lang natin ang hindi honest.  

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: Filipinos would have a high level of honesty, if corrupt people in government weren’t taken into account. Our government, not the people, is low in uprightness.  

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Before, the average Filipino was basically honest in dealing with his fellowmen. But now that cheating, lying and stealing have become the name of the game, the probability is high that cheating, lying and stealing now runs in his veins.  

Digoy Coro, Batangas: Unlike most of our government officials and leaders, the average Pinoy has average honesty and delicadeza.  

It depends on one’s upbringing

Gerry del Cano, Muntinlupa City: Honesty depends on the upbringing and values of a person, whatever the circumstance or situation.  

Rex Earlou Calmerin, Iligan City: Basically, we are not perfect. In my opinion, a Filipino may be Christian, Muslim or from any religion, but still wouldn’t follow the law of his God. We are victims of crime, vices and intolerance. However, we never forget lessons from our parents, like respecting grandparents, obeying traffic signs, praying to God and singing our national anthem.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Honesty among average Pinoys depends on their upbringing and the amount of money or cost of the material thing involved.  

Speaking for myself

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: I am an average Filipino and I can proudly say I am honest.  

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: If the average Pinoy is a jeepney driver, sidewalk vendor or a janitor, his honesty is 70 percent. The 30 percent dishonesty is brought about by force majeure. If he is an employee who is a college graduate, his honesty is 50-50. He wants to be 100-per cent honest, but the dishonesty of his bosses forces him many times to be dishonest. If he is a politician, he is 10 per cent honest in his prayers to win and 90 per cent dishonest when he wins. There are some church clerics who are 99 per cent honest, but the majority are only 30 per cent honest. Pinoy pseudo-messiahs are 100 per cent dishonest. As for media people and militant groups? No comment. Me? I am 100-per cent honest when it comes to money and to the performance of my duties. In other matters, oh, never mind!  

We can’t tell truth from lies

Merlino Quinsay, Ilocos Sur: If lies are heard and read (as in reports, documents, etc.) in institutions like school, church and government, the average Pinoy can’t even tell truth from lies!  

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: He’s only honest when asleep. When awake, his dishonest mind never sleeps.  

THE WAY I SEE IT

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: The cat is now out of the bag! PGMA will soon “Cha-cha” her way to become Prime Minister in 2010. If Cha-cha is stymied in any way, she may use Martial Law as a pretext to control unrest anywhere. Neat?!  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: Gov. Panlilio should heed the advice of his fellow priests. Pursue your political dreams or give up priesthood. No man can serve two masters, Ka Ed.  

Nony de Leon, Malolos, Bulacan: The DOJ and everyone else ought to just stop talking about the Nicole case. The predator and scavenger in US should now be fully satiated.  

Nito Aquino, Makati City: After saying he was changng media partners, Pacquiao quickly retracted his statement, for convenience, like non-rape victim Nicole who also recanted.  

REACTIONS

Juan Deveraturda, Zambales: The chair-wrecking columnist calling Manny Pacquiao as “voracious Pacman” is uncalled for, impolite, and insulting to the person who is revered as a modern-day hero by the Filipino people. It’s not our business, in the first place, to criticize Manny on how he manages his business transactions as it is he who gets hurt in the ring anyway everytime he fights. Let us leave him alone in his financial dealings and cheer him up instead of insulting and criticizing him.  

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: To Ludwig Aguinaldo: Glad to know you’re okay. Don’t nurse that tampo too long. It’s bad for your health. Pleasee get back on the Inbox train again. God bless you.  

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: Re the Ludwig Aguinaldo row: It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain thought without accepting it. (Aristotle).  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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