It was late at night in a barangay after a flood. The streets were still muddy, and families were gathered in the covered court. One father gave the last of his food pack to a neighbor with more children. A group of youth organized games to distract the kids from hunger. A teacher started listing families who needed extra blankets. No one told them what to do.

They acted because of values.

In moments of crisis, you see what really matters. Not the slogans on walls, not the posters in classrooms, but the values that live in people’s daily choices.

But here’s the dilemma: many Filipinos can memorize values — katapatan, pakikisama, malasakit — yet struggle to live them when tested. In school, we wrote them in posters. In work, we see them in mission statements. But when decisions get tough, values are often forgotten.

So how do you move from posters to practice? From words to daily behaviors? The answer is simple: know your values, claim them, and live them — one choice at a time.

That’s why I put together this guide: 50 personal values, their Filipino versions, and the behaviors that bring them alive. Use it for reflection, for team conversations, or even as a starting point for community building.

I’ve facilitated hundreds of team building and leadership programs across the Philippines, and I’ve seen this pattern repeat: values don’t appear in speeches, they appear in actions.

Why Personal Values Matter

Every choice you make carries a fingerprint of your values. They guide how you spend time, where you invest energy, and how you show up for others. Without clear values, it’s easy to get swept by trends, pressured by others, or pulled in too many directions. With values, you gain clarity, strength, and freedom.

1: Core Self Values (Who You Are)

These are the values that shape your inner compass. They define your identity and the standards you hold yourself to, even when no one is watching. When you strengthen these, you stand on solid ground.

Honesty
Honesty means telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable. When you’re honest, people know where they stand with you. Imagine a leader admitting to their team, “I made a mistake.” That simple act builds more trust than any polished speech. Without honesty, relationships crumble under doubt. With it, even difficult conversations can become bridges to stronger bonds.

Integrity
Integrity is living in alignment—your words, actions, and beliefs move in the same direction. Think of a teacher who refuses a bribe to pass a student, even when pressured by parents. That choice signals character. Without integrity, reputation collapses no matter how talented or smart you appear. With it, you carry credibility that can’t be faked.

Authenticity
Authenticity means showing up as your true self, not a mask. It’s the colleague who admits, “I don’t know the answer, but I’ll find out,” instead of pretending. Others feel safe around authenticity. Contrast this with fakeness—where people sense the gap between your real self and your act. Authenticity invites trust; pretense repels it.

Courage
Courage is not the absence of fear, but action in spite of it. A young employee who speaks up in a meeting, knowing it could be unpopular, shows courage. Contrast that with silence born from fear—the idea dies before it lives. Courage builds confidence and momentum; fear builds regret.

Humility
Humility is recognizing you don’t have all the answers and staying teachable. Picture a CEO asking the youngest intern for feedback. That act says: “I value your voice.” Without humility, leaders grow arrogant and blind. With it, they attract loyalty and keep learning.

Self-Respect
Self-respect means treating yourself as someone worthy of dignity. It’s declining an invitation that violates your boundaries, even if it costs popularity. Without it, you become a people-pleaser, drained and resentful. With it, you set the tone for how others treat you.

Discipline
Discipline is doing what matters even when you don’t feel like it. A student waking up early to review notes before class shows discipline. Contrast this with procrastination—it feels good in the moment but steals long-term success. Discipline creates freedom; laziness creates regret.

Growth
Growth is the desire to keep evolving. It’s the manager who reads one book a month to improve skills. Contrast that with complacency—the belief that “good enough” is enough. Growth keeps you moving forward; stagnation leaves you behind.

Gratitude
Gratitude is choosing to notice the good, not just the gaps. A family who prays before meals, thanking for both food and company, practices gratitude. Without it, life feels like a list of complaints. With it, even small wins bring joy.

Balance
Balance is knowing when to push and when to pause. Imagine a young professional who leaves the office on time to have dinner with family. That choice honors balance. Without it, burnout arrives fast. With it, energy lasts longer, and life feels whole.

Once you strengthen your core, you can extend outward. Values are not just about who you are—they’re also about how you treat the people around you. That’s where the second cluster begins.

2: Relationship Values (How You Treat Others)

Relationships shape much of your life. These values guide how you connect, love, and build trust. They determine whether people feel safe with you—or guarded against you.

Kindness
Kindness is showing care in small, practical ways. A stranger offering you their seat on a crowded bus embodies kindness. Without kindness, life feels colder and communities grow distant. With it, even ordinary days become lighter.

Compassion
Compassion is not just feeling for others, but acting to ease their pain. Think of volunteers bringing food to flood victims. Contrast this with indifference, where suffering is ignored because “it’s not my problem.” Compassion expands humanity; indifference shrinks it.

Empathy
Empathy means stepping into someone else’s shoes. A parent who remembers how it feels to be a confused teenager can guide with patience. Without empathy, conversations turn harsh and judgmental. With it, bridges of understanding are built.

Respect
Respect is treating people as worthy, regardless of status. It’s greeting the janitor with the same warmth as the CEO. Contrast that with arrogance, where only the powerful receive courtesy. Respect uplifts communities; arrogance divides them.

Loyalty
Loyalty means staying committed, especially when it’s inconvenient. Think of a friend who shows up during your lowest moment. Without loyalty, relationships are shallow and fragile. With it, bonds become unbreakable.

Patience
Patience is giving people time to grow and improve. A mentor who explains the same lesson three times until it clicks shows patience. Contrast this with irritation, which discourages growth. Patience nurtures potential; impatience destroys it.

Forgiveness
Forgiveness is choosing to release bitterness. It’s the spouse who says, “Let’s start again,” after a painful fight. Without forgiveness, wounds fester and harden into walls. With it, healing and reconciliation become possible.

Generosity
Generosity means sharing not only money, but time, energy, and attention. A teacher staying late to help a struggling student shows generosity. Contrast this with selfishness—clutching resources and isolating yourself. Generosity multiplies joy; selfishness multiplies loneliness.

Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is becoming someone people can rely on. When you keep confidences, others know they can open up without fear. Without it, suspicion reigns. With it, teams, families, and friendships thrive.

Love
Love is the deepest value—choosing the good of another as if it were your own. Parents sacrificing sleep for their newborn embody love. Without love, rules feel rigid and empty. With it, even hard truths are received with grace.

When relationships are grounded in strong values, your energy turns toward contribution. The next cluster highlights the values that shape how you work, build, and achieve in the world.

3: Work & Achievement Values (How You Contribute)

Work is more than a paycheck. It’s where you express your gifts, create results, and contribute to something bigger than yourself. These values guide how you show up in the workplace and how you pursue goals.

Excellence
Excellence is giving your best, not settling for mediocrity. A nurse who double-checks medication to ensure patient safety embodies excellence. Without it, “pwede na” becomes the standard, leading to mistakes and mistrust. With it, your work becomes a signature of pride.

Creativity
Creativity is the courage to see possibilities others miss. A carpenter using recycled wood to craft new furniture shows creativity. Without it, routines grow stale and progress stalls. With it, even small resources become tools for beauty and innovation.

Curiosity
Curiosity is the hunger to ask, “Why?” and “What if?” A child taking apart a toy just to see how it works demonstrates curiosity. Without it, learning stops and assumptions rule. With it, doors of discovery keep opening.

Innovation
Innovation is turning fresh ideas into real solutions. Think of Filipino engineers creating bamboo bicycles—sustainable and practical. Without innovation, problems pile up unsolved. With it, society leaps forward.

Hard Work
Hard work is showing up, day after day, with effort. A farmer tending to fields before sunrise is living this value. Without hard work, dreams remain fantasies. With it, results compound, and doors of opportunity open.

Accountability
Accountability is owning your results, good or bad. An employee who admits an error and fixes it models accountability. Without it, blame games flourish and progress halts. With it, trust and respect grow in teams.

Leadership
Leadership is influencing others toward a shared goal. A barangay captain leading relief efforts after a typhoon embodies leadership. Without it, groups scatter without direction. With it, ordinary people achieve extraordinary results together.

Service
Service is putting others’ needs before your own. A doctor in a rural clinic who works despite low pay demonstrates service. Without it, professions become self-centered. With it, purpose shines through every action.

Professionalism
Professionalism is showing respect for your role and others’. It’s the teacher who comes prepared, dressed neatly, and ready to listen. Without it, chaos and disrespect dominate workplaces. With it, reliability and order thrive.

Perseverance
Perseverance is refusing to quit, even when the road is rough. A student working through repeated exam failures until they pass shows perseverance. Without it, setbacks define your story. With it, victories taste sweeter because they were hard-earned.

Work values shape how you contribute, but life isn’t just about achievement. The bigger picture asks: What do you stand for? What values guide how you relate to society and culture? That’s the next cluster.

4: Societal & Cultural Values (What You Stand For)

These values reflect your stance in the larger world. They shape the communities you build, the causes you fight for, and the traditions you honor.

Justice
Justice is ensuring fairness and equity. A lawyer defending marginalized groups embodies justice. Without it, oppression thrives. With it, dignity and order are upheld.

Equality
Equality is believing everyone deserves the same chance. Schools offering scholarships to poor but deserving students show equality in action. Without it, talent is wasted. With it, society taps into its full potential.

Freedom
Freedom is the right to choose your path. A journalist speaking truth despite threats embodies freedom. Without it, fear controls lives. With it, creativity and progress flourish.

Responsibility
Responsibility is taking ownership of your role in society. A citizen who segregates trash and pays taxes demonstrates responsibility. Without it, communities break down. With it, collective progress accelerates.

Sustainability
Sustainability is choosing actions that protect future generations. Farmers practicing organic methods embody sustainability. Without it, we consume today at tomorrow’s expense. With it, life thrives across generations.

Tradition
Tradition is honoring practices that keep culture alive. A family preparing noche buena together reflects tradition. Without it, roots are forgotten. With it, identity remains strong.

Progress
Progress is the will to improve systems for the better. A city investing in renewable energy projects shows progress. Without it, societies get stuck in old problems. With it, people experience better ways of living.

Diversity
Diversity is valuing differences in people and perspectives. A workplace that hires across ages, genders, and backgrounds lives this out. Without it, echo chambers form. With it, creativity multiplies.

Cooperation
Cooperation is working with others toward common goals. Neighbors organizing a cleanup drive embody cooperation. Without it, challenges overwhelm individuals. With it, impossible tasks become possible.

Bayanihan
Bayanihan is the Filipino spirit of communal unity. Villagers lifting a neighbor’s house and carrying it together is the classic example. Without bayanihan, hardship isolates families. With it, communities become resilient and joyful.

Society and culture give you context, but beyond that lies the deepest layer: your spirit. What values lift you above survival and success, anchoring you to something greater? That’s the final cluster

5: Spiritual & Transcendent Values (What Lifts You Higher)

These values remind you that life is more than accomplishments or possessions. They connect you to purpose, meaning, and the legacy you leave behind.

Faith
Faith is trusting in something bigger than yourself. A family praying together despite financial struggles demonstrates faith. Without it, despair takes over. With it, hope endures.

Hope
Hope is believing tomorrow can be better. Survivors rebuilding after a storm show hope. Without it, motivation dies. With it, resilience shines.

Wisdom
Wisdom is the ability to see beyond the immediate. Elders guiding young leaders through stories embody wisdom. Without it, mistakes repeat. With it, paths become clearer.

Peace
Peace is harmony within and around you. A person who mediates conflicts calmly lives peace. Without it, life feels chaotic. With it, relationships and communities flourish.

Compassion for All Living Beings
Compassion here extends beyond humans. A child feeding stray dogs embodies this value. Without it, cruelty spreads. With it, life in all forms is honored.

Stewardship
Stewardship is caring for resources entrusted to you. A company that reforests land it uses demonstrates stewardship. Without it, resources deplete. With it, abundance is preserved.

Reverence
Reverence is treating life with sacred respect. Farmers bowing in gratitude before planting rice embody reverence. Without it, life feels disposable. With it, dignity surrounds every act.

Joy
Joy is delighting in life, not only when things go well. Friends laughing together despite difficulties show joy. Without it, life feels heavy. With it, burdens become lighter.

Mindfulness
Mindfulness is living fully in the present moment. A student putting aside their phone to listen deeply embodies mindfulness. Without it, life is distracted. With it, clarity and calm grow.

Legacy
Legacy is the impact you leave for those after you. A teacher remembered decades later for inspiring students embodies legacy. Without it, life fades quickly. With it, your influence lives on.

Values are not decorations—they are daily choices. They guide your relationships, your work, your society, and your spirit. Choose three that matter most this week. Live them visibly. Let others see your values not in what you post, but in how you act.

Table of 50 Personal Values

This list draws from my work as a trainer, my studies in Values Education, and decades of observing what truly shapes Filipino communities.

Value	Filipino Version	Behaviors That Show It
Honesty	Katapatan	Speak the truth, admit mistakes, avoid deceit
Integrity	Integridad	Align words with actions, keep promises
Authenticity	Pagiging Totoo	Express true thoughts/feelings, avoid pretenses
Courage	Tapang	Speak up, take risks, act despite fear
Humility	Kababaang-Loob	Acknowledge limits, listen, give credit
Self-Respect	Paggalang sa Sarili	Set boundaries, avoid degrading actions
Discipline	Disiplina	Follow routines, resist distractions, finish tasks
Growth	Paglago	Read, practice, seek feedback, welcome change
Gratitude	Pasasalamat	Say thank you, keep gratitude journal, show appreciation
Balance	Balanse	Manage work-rest, prioritize family, honor health
Kindness	Kabutihan	Offer help, smile, give small acts of care
Compassion	Habag	Support those in pain, volunteer, comfort others
Empathy	Empatiya / Pakikiramay	Listen deeply, put self in others’ shoes
Respect	Paggalang	Use polite language, honor elders, listen before speaking
Loyalty	Katapatan (sa tao o samahan)	Stand by friends, keep commitments
Patience	Pasensya	Wait calmly, allow growth, avoid rushing others
Forgiveness	Pagpapatawad	Let go of grudges, restart relationships
Generosity	Pagkamapagbigay	Share time, money, skills, or attention
Trustworthiness	Pagkakatiwalaan	Keep confidences, be reliable, follow through
Love	Pagmamahal	Show care daily, prioritize others’ good
Excellence	Kahusayan	Aim for quality, double-check work, go beyond “pwede na”
Creativity	Pagkamalikhain	Explore ideas, make art, find new solutions
Curiosity	Pag-uusisa	Ask questions, research, explore new topics
Innovation	Inobasyon	Turn ideas into solutions, test new methods
Hard Work	Sipag	Arrive on time, persist in tasks, go the extra mile
Accountability	Pananagutan	Admit errors, report honestly, take ownership
Leadership	Pamumuno	Inspire others, give direction, model behaviors
Service	Paglilingkod	Volunteer, help without expecting return
Professionalism	Propesyonalismo	Dress neatly, respect time, prepare fully
Perseverance	Tiyaga	Try again after failure, endure hardships
Justice	Katarungan	Speak against unfairness, support equal treatment
Equality	Pagkakapantay-pantay	Value all voices, avoid favoritism
Freedom	Kalayaan	Respect rights, allow choice, fight oppression
Responsibility	Pananagutan	Pay bills, care for family, fulfill duties
Sustainability	Pananatili ng Yaman	Recycle, conserve energy, protect nature
Tradition	Tradisyon	Celebrate fiestas, honor cultural practices
Progress	Pag-unlad	Support new systems, embrace better methods
Diversity	Pagkakaiba-iba	Welcome different views, respect backgrounds
Cooperation	Kooperasyon	Join group tasks, collaborate willingly
Bayanihan	Bayanihan	Help neighbors, join community work
Faith	Pananampalataya	Pray, trust higher power, attend worship
Hope	Pag-asa	Stay positive, encourage others in hardship
Wisdom	Karunungan	Apply lessons, seek mentors, reflect before acting
Peace	Kapayapaan	Avoid fights, mediate conflicts, choose calm
Compassion for All Beings	Awa sa Lahat ng Nilalang	Care for animals, protect environment
Stewardship	Pangangalaga	Manage resources well, care for what’s entrusted
Reverence	Paggalang (Banal)	Show respect for sacred things, practice rituals
Joy	Kagalakan	Celebrate small wins, laugh often, share happiness
Mindfulness	Pagmumuni / Kamalayan	Be present, notice details, breathe intentionally
Legacy	Pamana	Mentor youth, document stories, build lasting impact

In one workshop, I asked managers to identify their top three values. A participant chose integrity, and in the following week, he declined a deal that looked profitable but was dishonest. His team said it was the first time they saw a value become a decision in real time.

How to Live by Your Values

Studies on organizational culture show that values lived consistently lead to higher trust and performance. In Filipino terms, this is palabra de honor — your word is your bond.

A government employee once told me: “Sir, madaling sabihin ang values, mahirap isabuhay.” She was right. Her office had posters of integridad, malasakit, at serbisyo, but when deadlines piled up, shortcuts and blame-shifting became the norm. Values stayed on the wall, not in the work.

Living your values isn’t about knowing the words. It’s about turning them into daily choices — especially when it’s inconvenient. That’s where the real test comes in.

Here’s a framework you can practice: Clarify → Commit → Check.

1. Clarify Your Values

If you don’t know your values, others will decide for you.

• Start by asking: “When was the last time I felt proud of myself? What value was I honoring?”
• Or, “When was I most disappointed? What value was violated?”

For example, if you felt proud when you stood up for a teammate, maybe loyalty is central. If you were angry when your boss broke a promise, integrity might be a non-negotiable for you.

Without clarity, you end up living by convenience. With clarity, you live by conviction.

2. Commit to Visible Actions

Values are verbs. They’re not what you say, but what you do.

• If you value kindness, hold the door for someone, or send an encouraging text.
• If you value growth, schedule 30 minutes a day to learn something new.
• If you value justice, don’t stay silent when you see unfair treatment.

Think of the barangay spirit during calamities. People don’t announce “I value bayanihan.” They show it by sharing food, carrying loads, and checking on neighbors.

Without commitment, values fade into slogans. With commitment, they shape habits.

3. Check Your Alignment

Reflection is where values sink in.

At the end of the week, ask yourself:

• Did I live my values today?
• Where did I compromise?
• What will I do differently tomorrow?

Some leaders keep a small notebook. Others discuss it with their team or family. This weekly check is like a mirror — it shows whether you’re truly walking your talk.

Without checking, drift happens. With checking, course correction becomes natural

Many organizations fail here. They publish core values in annual reports but never translate them into behaviors. Employees see the gap and lose trust. That’s why people joke: “Our values are honesty and excellence — except when it’s hard.”

But when values are lived out, it’s powerful. A company that really practices integridad wins loyalty from clients. A family that embodies pagpapatawad heals faster from conflicts. A community that shows bayanihan rebuilds faster after storms.

Challenge for You

Don’t just admire the list of 50 values. Pick three. Write down one behavior for each. Live it for one week. Let others see the difference in action.

Because in the end, values are not decorations — they are decisions.

FAQ

Q: How do I choose my personal values?
A: Reflect on peak moments of pride or regret. Values show up in both.

Q: Can values change over time?
A: Yes. Some values stay constant (e.g., honesty), others shift with life stages (e.g., adventure when young, legacy later).

Q: What if my work doesn’t align with my values?
A: That’s a signal. Either redesign your role to fit your values, or prepare to shift environments. Misaligned values drain energy fast.

As a facilitator and a Filipino, I’ve learned that when values move from posters to practice, real change happens. It’s what I’ve witnessed in communities, in companies, and in the everyday lives of people who choose to live by them.