Bahala Na SCALE

SCALE / TOOL DEVELOPMENT
GROUP 5
PURPOSE OF THE TEST / TOOL
BAHALA NA IS A FILIPINO TRAIT THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE TAGALOG
WORD “BATHALA” WHICH MEANS GOD OR SUPREME BEING WORSHIPED BY
FILIPINOS BEFORE THE SPANISH CAME TO THE COUNTRY AND
INTRODUCED CATHOLICISM. AS OBSERVED ONLY A FEW FILIPINO TRAITS
HAVE A SCALE OR USED AS A TOOL. THEREFORE, WE DECIDED TO CREATE A
SCALE FOR DEFINING THE FILIPINO TRAIT “BAHALA NA” AND BE ABLE TO
DETERMINE THE FACTORS OF THIS TRAIT.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
SIKOLOHIYANG FILIPINO – BAHALA NA
The Filipino cultural value of bahala na has no exact English translation. Bostrom (1968)
was the first psychologist to analyze this value by comparing it with American fatalism.
This is obviously a pervasive interpretation that when Thomas Andres published the
Dictionary of Filipino Culture and Values, he still defines bahala na as ‘‘the Filipino
attitude that makes him accept sufferings and problems, leaving everything to God.
‘Bahala na ang Diyos (God will take care of us)’ . This attitude is a fatalistic resignation
or withdrawal from an engagement or crisis or a shirking from personal responsibility’’
(Andres, 1994, p. 12). The Sikolohiyang Pilipino perspective interprets bahala na
differently. Lagmay (1977) explained that bahala na is not ‘‘fatalism’’ but
‘‘determination and risk-taking’’. When Filipinos utter the expression ‘‘Bahala na!’’ they
are not leaving their fate to God and remaining passive. Rather, they are telling
themselves that they are ready to face the difficult situation before them, and will do
their best to achieve their objectives. The expression is a way of pumping courage into
their system so that they do not buckle down. In fact, even before they have said
‘‘Bahala na!’’ they have probably done their best to prepare for the forthcoming
situation.
BAHALA NA AS A SITUATIONAL EXPRESSION
The ‘bahala na’ expression is very common to Filipinos. Different situations allow us
to construe the term ‘bahala na’ in many ways. Gripaldo (2005) in his analysis of the
term, provided numerous situations when ‘bahala na’ is used. Often, when a person
feels uncertain of his/her situation, he/she decides to (1) leave everything to God.
Another notion of the ‘bahala na’ (2) focuses on the ability of the speaker to take care
of the situation despite the uncertainty of the results. A third meaning of the term
speaks of a (3) situation where the person is left to do what is needed or what he
wants but must be prepared to face the consequences of the action. The first three
situations give emphasis on the utterance of ‘bahala na’ by the speaker for the his/her
own purpose.
BIPOLARITY OF BAHALA NA
Lagmay (1977) proposed that the bahala na response is evoked when (1) it is difficult
to have a foresight of results or consequences, (2) information, resources and even
personal capabilities are lacking, (3) when one is unprepared, (4) support or help
from others are not present and (5) when one wishes to assess his capabilities,
strengths and weaknesses. In all the identified situations, one could say that future,
whether distant or near, because of some deficiency or other, is basically uncertain.
Lagmay (1977) proposes that this uncertainty is central to every ‘bahala na’ situation.
From this, he said, we can piece out carefully a definition of the ‘bahala na’ attitude,
which takes into account the Filipino culture, as well as a definition which explains
the dynamics of the ‘bahala na’ attitude in a way that is significant for a
psychological theory.
BAHALA NA AS A VALUE DEEPLY ROOTED IN FILIPINO CULTURE
Much of the dynamics of ‘bahala na’ is deeply embedded in the use of the term. Only
prolonged exposure to the Filipino culture could give a substantive understanding of
the term. This then necessitates that understanding ‘bahala na’ orientation must be
done with reference to the Filipino culture.
Thus, in measuring the bahala na orientation, a guiding definition of the term must be
that, first, it is a response to a distant or somewhat distant future, which is caused by
a perceived sense of incapacity for the moment and lack of substantial information
for determining the possible consequences or result of a situation. Second, it is an
expression of acceptance of things as they are. This shows that people with the
‘bahala na’ orientation can tolerate ambiguity and has an implicit trust in him/herself
(Lagmay, 1977).
DIMENSION / CONSTRUCTS
ITEMS AND RESPONSES
PROPOSED SCORING
PROPOSED RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY STUDIES
PROPOSED SAMPLING
THE STUDY WILL USE A NON-PROBABILISTIC CONVENIENCE SAMPLING
AND SNOWBALL SAMPLING IN DATA GATHERING. THE DATA WILL BE
GATHERED ONLINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC GUIDELINES.

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