Toward Pamamahalang Pilipino

Management discourse in the Philippines remains heavily influenced by traditional western paradigms that prioritize organizational efficiency, profits and shareholder returns. However, there are incoherences between the traditional western paradigm and the Filipino cultural orientation surrounding dignity, solidarity and holistic wellbeing. Traditional western management constructs cannot fully reflect the lived realities, relationships and language that form the spirit of local Filipino experiences. While concepts of efficiency and wealth maximization still hold importance, it is important to pay attention to the social, cultural, and spiritual contexts that characterize the nuance of authentic Filipino management. Doing so can catalyze the evolution of a kind of management thinking we can own - something we can call Pamamahalang Pilipino. 

What would characterize Filipino management? Pamamahalang Pilipino would hold economic or entrepreneurial value creation as important but not a sufficient goal or purpose. Entrepreneurship through diskarte (creativity and resourcefulness) leverages not only on economic opportunities, but more importantly, opportunities for socio-cultural development - furthering individual dignity and communal ties.

For instance, let us consider the humble sari-sari store - a community convenience shop in neighborhoods across the country. The sari-sari stores allow the local suki (trusted customers) to buy daily necessities through easy credit on utang or palista (debt) that builds goodwill. The storeowner carefully balances profits to sustain the business with maintaining good pakikipagkapwa tao (empathic relations) among neighbors. 

What would a distinctively Filipino perspective on management further look like in practical terms? Here indigenous psychology traditions like Sikolohiyang Pilipino (SP) provide pivotal cultural insights. Core SP concepts like kapwa (shared identity), pakikisama (social harmony), bayanihan (solidarity), and utang na loob (gratitude through reciprocity) all underline a nuanced communal orientation.

These socio-cultural notions can shape organizational policies, rituals and norms in the Philippine context to reflect dignity, reciprocity and empathy. For instance, decision-making would be consultative invoking pagtatanung-tanong rather than authoritarian control. Leadership draws more from the elder kuya/ate role rather than impersonal expertise. Strategies would value pakikisama (harmony) rather than disruptive competition. Such cultural practices shape a distinctly Filipino feel within organizational culture. They mold processes, policies and norms to align with dignity, empathy, and reciprocity. The result is a communal workplace tied by deep bonds across hierarchies.

Thus, leadership guided by Pamamahalang Pilipino would pursue multiple dimensions of holistic value creation - economic, socio-cultural and spiritual - through business practices. The aim is dignity, flourishing and meaning rather than wealth maximization alone. Diverse stakeholders like employees, customers, suppliers, community and environment would be integrated rather than focusing only on shareholders. This culturally grounded understanding of management moves from impersonal industrial engineering towards responsible shepherding of shared resources.

How then can “Pamamahalang Pilipino” further reframe management centered on dignity, harmony and flourishing? Let us build on the spiritual dimension. Linguistic clues provide guidance here. The word “pamamahala” (to manage) echoes “bahala” which connotes the divine providence governing lives under Bathala (God). This etymological connection suggests looking at management through a spiritual lens as an act of service or stewardship aligning organizational interests with responsibilities towards community and creation.

Thus, management anchored in Filipino values places equal importance on business outcomes and positive societal impact guided by a covenantal relationship between business leaders, employees, the nation, and a Higher Being. Success gets redefined to include multiple bottomlines measuring organizational contribution to environmental sustainability, social equity and national development alongside profits. Furthermore, in a sense, embracing management as a profession can be considered as a vocation - seeking to emulate how a benevolent God would govern and manage an organization or the country.

As we delve deeper into understanding authentic Filipino experiences, we uncover cultural gems that can elevate our management thinking. Far from lacking sophistication, our socio-cultural insights contain profound truths about human cooperation, empathy and solidarity.

Indeed, there is something distinctly Filipino to offer the world. We need not merely imitate prevailing Western paradigms but rather have confidence that our own kind of management - Pamamahalang Pilipino - holds unique promise. Hopefully, we can continue this conversation and rediscover what it means to be an authentic Filipino manager.