In Tagalog, or Filipino, the word “kápwa” denotes a key concept of Philippine culture, which largely determines the social norms of human behavior.
The culture of the Philippines is a striking example of collectivism. But if for a Soviet person this concept mainly related to joint work for the good of the country and the primacy of public interests over private ones (including family and clan interests), then for a Filipino the principle of kapwa-tao (literally “close person”) primarily means loyalty to the interests of one’s family and – then – to a clan, a certain group. At the same time, the family circle of a Filipino includes distant relatives and friends. From early childhood, a child should feel like an integral part of his group: the baby is taught that he can and should rely on his family in everything, and also that it is better to solve any problem not independently, but with the help of loved ones. Naturally, a Filipino grows up with a feeling of complete unity with his family. “The broom is strong because [the rods] are tied together” (Matíbay ang walís, pagká’t magkabigkís), teaches a Filipino proverb.
The traditional principle of kapwa-tao dictates that a Filipino perceives the interests of his family or clan as his own, and, conversely, his own desires are tested against the interests of his group. This is a basic moral norm, and its violation entails serious social censure, up to and including exclusion from the ranks of one’s own. As cultural scholars write, a Filipino who is considered waláng kapwa-tao, that is, lacking a sense of belonging to and responsibility to the collective, is not worthy of respect and may lose the right to be considered a Filipino in the eyes of the public. Such a person is sometimes compared to a coconut – brown on the outside, but white on the inside – referring to his tendency toward Western individualism.