While many in Western societies lightly hold to what remains of the Bible-based values on which our nations were founded (which values are constantly eroded and undermined by those who teach situational ethics, and the like), the far more diligent Filipinos know well their national values–and prize them! Some of the greatest of these values have sound Bible foundations. Here are just two of them.
BAYANIHAN (pronounced “buy-a-ni-hun”) is a Tagalog word. Tagalog is the national language of the Philippines. Bayanihan is a word highly regarded by Filipinos.
Bayanihan means, “working together.” An almost mystical word these days, bayanihan originally expressed the co-operation seen in the removal of a thatched nipa palm and salawi hut from one site to another. This was (and in the provinces, still is) a communal effort.
First, long bamboo poles are placed under the floor of the hut. Friends and neighbours of the family that own the hut then use the poles to carry the hut to its new location. What would have been an impossible task for one family becomes a simple one when a number of families co-operate and work together.
WORKING TOGETHER
Bayanihan is mostly seen these days in rural areas, because most houses in towns and cities are now constructed with concrete blocks, wood, and corrugated iron panels. Only in the barrios (villages) does the co-operative act of moving a hut take place–-and there, bayanihan is a word that still has a literal application.
The almost mystical aspect of the word bayanihan derives from the community spirit and goodwill that goes into the moving of a nipa hut. It is unnecessary for the owners of the hut to pay, for help is always at hand! Bayanihan is a Filipino demonstration of the old adage: “Many hands make light work.”
Bayanihan expresses the nobility of thought that exists in a caring community that knows how much can be accomplished with “a little help from your friends.”
I first heard the word bayanihan when our son Paul (later a missionary evangelist in the Philippines) returned from a remote province and mentioned a barrio that went by that name. It was not until a later visit to the Philippines that I learned the full significance of bayanihan.
As a figure of speech, bayanihan, conveys the concept of co-operation, a concept valued highly in the culture of the Republic of the Philippines.
Bayanihan is a Christian value, in that it is the Tagalog equivalent of the ancient Greek word sunergeo, which means, “working together.” Sunergeo is a word found in some of the most loved verses in the New Testament.
“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord WORKING WITH them, and confirming the word with signs following.” Mark 16:20
“And we know that all things WORK TOGETHER for good for them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“We then, as WORKERS TOGETHER with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1)
“Do you see how faith WROUGHT WITH his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:22)
In today’s business world, synergy is a well-known concept. When a project is too large for one small firm alone, that firm may decide to join with other small firms, in order to secure the contract.
Competition is put aside. None of the firms, acting alone, would have the ability to take on the project. Working together, however, they can do it. The profit is shared after synergy has accomplished the project. Sunergeo is a word that must surely challenge churches everywhere – especially in relation to evangelism!
BAYANIHAN DOES THE JOB!
Bayanihan is as helpful an attitude as it is to a rural Filipino. He knows that when helping move someone else’s hut that if he ever needed his own hut moved, his neighbours would just as willingly help him-– that’s what bayanihan is all about!
Bayanihan means working together voluntarily. That’s why it is a noble word. In the city, the values of life tend to get lost at times, but city-dwellers need bayanihan as much as barrio people. Maybe more! Bayanihan is a value we all should preserve – and practise!
Over 2000 years ago, a good word had fallen into disuse. It was the word agape – the ancient Greek word for selfless love. Eros, the word for sensual love, was dominant at the time. Phileo, the word for affectionate love, also was widely spoken. However, God’s love in sending His one and only Son to die for us all – His choosing to love and save sinners regardless of their response – could be properly defined only by the word agape. So agape was revived! God’s love for us gave new life to an old word. More than descriptive, agape is unique!
Likewise, Filipinos are blessed to have the word bayanihan in their language!.But even better than bayanihan on the lips is bayanihan in the heart!
When bayanihan is not only spoken but practised, it conveys a unique sense of unity. There’s an old proverb that says, “One hand washes the other.” (Have you ever tried to wash one hand without the other?)
UTANG NA LOOB: DEBT OF GRATITUDE
To a Filipino, utang na loob (oo-tung-na-lo-ob) is a debt of gratitude. It is a debt that can never be repaid. Utang na loob is felt when a favour of great value has been bestowed.
For example, when an influential person helps a poor man’s son to get a government position, or sponsors him for a scholarship – how can the poor person possibly hope to repay such a favour? Of course, he can never repay it!
However, he will thereafter show utang na loob – an attitude of gratitude. For the rest of his life, he can be relied on to be faithful to his kind benefactor. (Even if he were able to repay the money, he could never repay the moment when his need was met by a worthy person.)
The Apostle Paul had utang na loob! In Romans 1:14 he wrote, “I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Or, as the Ampilified Bible puts it: “I have an obligation to discharge and a duty to perform and a debt to pay.”
Paul could never hope to repay the Lord for saving him from his sins, but he could respond by preaching to those who had never heard the gospel-–whoever or wherever they were. This sense of obligation, of utang na loob, motivated Paul to give his life for the sake of His gospel.
Utang na loob is why we minister to Filipinos-–and other ethnic groups. We owe our Lord a debt that we can never repay. So we give God thanks with grateful hearts, and dedicate our lives to the preaching of the gospel.
Walang utang na loob means “no sense of gratitude”-–a shameful thing! Before we came to the Lord, we all displayed walang utang na loob, because we were not thankful to God for sending his Son to die for us.
Many people display walang utang na loob simply because they do not understand that they must not only believe that He is the Son of God, also but receive Him as their Lord!
When I made the first of what was to be more than 20 visits to the Philippines, I had a word of wisdom from the Lord. He said to me: “Turn believers into receivers.”
So when I preached in the villages, I would ask my listeners: “Do you believe that Jesus Christ was born of the virgin, Mary?” “Oh, Yes!”, they would reply. “Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died on the Cross for our sins?” Again, they would reply: “Of course!”
After gaining further agreement on such basic Bible doctrines, I would then ask: “Have you ever received the One in whom you believe?” This was usually followed by a puzzled silence. Then I would say: “Since you have already told me that you believe in Jesus Christ, and the Bible tells us that “to as many as received Him, to them He gave the privilege of becoming the sons of God”–then you surely will have no problem (walang problema) in receiving Him! (John 1:12)
This simple, Holy Spirit-inspired word of wisdom was responsible for many Filipinos coming to the Lord.
Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ into your life, personally? If you already believe it in your heart, then start telling others that He is your Lord!
That’s a very good way to show utang na loob! Of course, the very best way is to surrender yourself to Jesus, and do whatever He tells you to do – for the rest of your life! Remember, you can never repay the debt, but you can show gratitude to God – you can display utang na loob!