Seeds of corruption – 2

A corrupt act does not just happen on the spur of the moment. Nor is it an isolated reaction to a conducive situation. Behind every such act is a time frame usually covering several years during which the underlying tendency gradually took root in the mind and heart of the individual. That is why as one tries to find the causes of corruption he inevitably ends up looking at the early stages of life of the person concerned particularly those spent within the family.

It is common knowledge that within the intimate circle of the family the child first learns his early lessons on behavior. By observing the reactions of the people around him, his parents particularly, he knows what actions delight or displease other people. Such observation repeated several times makes up his idea of right and wrong – right if the act is affirmed, wrong if it is condemned.

Values, defined as the generally accepted standard of what is good and desirable, are acquired this way. Values therefore determine the quality of an individual’s actions which taken as a whole also determine the quality of his personhood. What’s the relation between values and corruption? Values may encourage or discourage corruption depending upon what kind of values they are. Honesty, for example as a value can deter the commission of wrong-doing. But covetousness and love of luxury can encourage such act. Concern for others can check the temptation to digress from the norm, but concern for the self can work the other way. It’s all a process of balancing one value against another the choice depending on which weighs heavier in the individual’s conscience.

In this game, the values which have been persistently and consistently promoted in the home and later in the community are of course the values that prevail. Is Juan a liar? Most probably lying was practiced in his home. Is he lazy? Most probably laziness was characteristic of his parents and siblings. Is he adversarial in attitude? His parents and brothers and sisters must have had such tendency.

Talking of upbringing calls to mind certain socio-cultural values local psychologists have identified as uniquely Filipino. Among these are close family relationship, utang-na-loob, and social acceptance. Each of these values are action-determinant and understanding them can give one an insight of their relationship to the corrupt practices in this country.

The family defines the Filipino. Thus in Cebu, there’s a saying: Ungo si Tatay mo, ungo si Nanay mo, ikaw anak man, ungo kamong tanan. Closely knit, family members work hard to promote the welfare of the family even at the expense of other people’s welfare. By other people is meant those who are outside the extended family circle, people referred to as sila (they) as against kami (we).Conscious of this, what does a government official do when there are goodies for distribution? Of course, he takes care first of his relatives. That’s why when there’s a job opening, who gets the first call? Despite the prohibition on nepotism, his kins get it. When there are big time projects, whose bid gets a favorable appraisal?

In addition to relatives the family-oriented values also affect decisions involving classmates, club members and other social groups as well as those with whom ritual kinship has been incurred. The span of influence is therefore broadened and broadened too is the likelihood of slanted decision-making.

Utang-na-loob is a sense of gratitude felt by an individual who has received favors from another. It is an undefined feeling arising from an undefined interplay of mutual gift giving occurring over a period of time. A person who feels utang-na-look towards another is inclined to do favors to the latter, sometimes to the prejudice of other people’s interest. Take a barangay chairman who owes his election to the town mayor. Do you think he can say no to the latter’s recommendees for job placement? Or take a congressman whose campaign fund was boosted by a contractor. Do you think the former would not find ways to reward the latter with fat infrastructure projects?

Social acceptance relates to a Filipino’s craving for social approval and recognition. It has something to do with popularity and is a strong motivation towards probity and uprightness. However, the effectiveness of this value as a deterrent to corruption can be counter-balanced by a favorable attitude from one’s immediate group towards questionable deals he enters into. A congressman, for example, who pockets kickbacks from his projects may have done something irregular, but if he uses his money to feed malnourished kids, people would lionize him and his acceptance rating would be high.

Corruption is endemic in this country? One reason could be because there’s corruption in the home and in the community.

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