Kapwâ, Loób, and Ambivalences of a Relational Ethics of Work A Filipino Contribution to Philosophy of Work

Abstract

This paper argues that a strong work ethic can be derived from Filipino indigenous concepts such as Kapwâ (fellow being) and Loób (the core of a person)—two foundational sources of many values central to Filipino culture, which shape the understanding of work and workplace behavior of those who associate with this culture. This work ethic provides a non-western framework of relationality, expanding an understanding of work from outside Anglophone academia. The analysis draws on diverse literature from organizational psychology, philosophy, and ethnographic studies of Filipino workers, including those focused on migrant workers. On this basis, it shows how a specific, relational work ethic can be derived from Kapwâ, Loób and some values that emanate from these concepts, reflecting on its positive contributions as a potent source of resistance against exploitation, but also on the risk of perpetuating vulnerabilities and facilitating abuse.