Kagandahang Loob: Transforming our relationships with one another
What does it mean to have "kagandahang loob"? And how does it impact how we design for and respond to each other's needs?
Hello, mga ka-Ugnayan!
We’re rounding out the month of July with many reflections on this month’s theme of Kagandahang Loob or Kindness, represented by the image of a flower.
Fun fact: I appreciated it a lot when my own mother (!) pointed it out to me that Kookie’s flower illustration had hearts growing from the center, perfectly illustrating the essence of this theme.
Kagandahang Loob
(Tagalog) kabutihang loob; pagkabukas-palad; kabaitan; mabuting pakikitungo
(English) pure character; kindness; goodwill; generosity; benevolence; good nature
(in Sikolohiyang Pilipino) our shared humanity
Three threads tie the sampaguita garland of kagandahang loob in my mind:
Recognizing our shared humanity
Designing for the needs of our kapwa
Responding to the needs of our kapwa (especially in crisis)
Recognizing our shared humanity
The Filipino concept of kapwa (which we wrote about last May)1 recognizes a shared identity with our fellow beings. Kagandahang loob is the linking sociopersonal value that recognizes our shared humanity — highlighting how Filipinos value sustaining healthy and harmonious relationships, and giving a part of ourselves for our kapwa.
Kung ang pagkilala ng kapwa ang simula ng ugnayan, ang kagandahang loob naman ang naglilinang at nagpapatibay ng ugnayan.
Some say this is where we begin transforming our perception of the other person as “hindi ibang tao”: welcoming them as our kapwa2, opening us up to the needs and wellbeing of others3 and the deeper experiences of connection — akin to an ancient animist feeling of oneness with all creation.4
It attunes us to the values and purposes of a larger collective or society, making those of us who value kagandahang loob (kindness) to also be likely to value karangalan (dignity), katarungan (justice), and kalayaan (freedom)5 in society as well.6
And while kagandahang loob doesn’t start with a self-oriented lens, our acts of altruistic service for others serve us in the end, precisely because hindi tayo iba.
In what ways do our views of the world change when we expand our view beyond our own needs?
What shared humanity, dignity, justice and freedom do you wish for yourself and your kapwa?
They say that true kagandahang loob is done without selfish motives. But in what ways does serving others serve you too?
Designing for the needs of our kapwa
Last month, Ugnayan Cards received the honor of being recognized for “designing with malasakit”7 And at the heart of that is the idea of compassion — or empathy with action, when we see the world with outward orientation on our kapwa vs. an inward focus on just ourselves. In a recent Philstar article, Kookie writes about how we want to design in such a way that makes others want to say: “thanks for thinking of me”.
In designing Ugnayan, we tried to meet the needs of those yearning for meaningful connections beyond small talk, and creative ways of facilitating connections in groups. And today, we continue to re-design with curiosity — asking more questions to do better for our community of connection-seekers and ka-puwang8 (literally “those we share space with”) who join our pursuit of a more connected and compassionate world.
In human-centered design, we often design with a specific persona in mind. In designed informed by our shared humanity, I believe we should design to serve not just individuals but whole communities.
No matter what field of work you are in, design is part of our daily lives — whether it’s designing images / visuals, products, services / systems. In what ways might you integrate the idea of designing with our shared humanity in mind?
Responding to the needs of our kapwa (especially in crisis)
They say people’s true character comes out in times of crisis. While you’ll have your share of photo-opping and finger-pointing politicians (or presidents) and opportunistic businessmen in times of calamity, we want to spotlight how the floods due to Typhoon Carina activated the other-orientation in many of our kababayans, both here and abroad — with people checking in on one another, and creating fundraisers and relief operations for various groups affected.
It was moving to see people coming together, like our friends from Good Food Community and Food Today, Food Tomorrow, who quickly mobilized their networks to create temporary community kitchens to serve the many families displaced by the floods.
And the work of recovery continues well beyond the days of the flood.
In recognizing our shared humanity, we’re dedicating a portion of our pre-order sales (until August 16, 2024 only) to continue fundraising for post-Carina relief and recovery, specifically for healthy meals for communities in Payatas and Bagong Silangan in Quezon City.9 See how your order can contribute to these efforts.
1 Ugnayan deck = feed 1 family (P150)
1 postcard set + 1 sticker set (3 sheets) = feed 1 family (P150)
1 Ugnayan deck, 1 postcard set and 1 sticker set sold = feed 2 families (P300)
* Plus, if you pick up your pre-order from the ANTHILL Fabric Gallery Pop-up at Power Plant Mall between August 21 to 31, you can avail of a 5% discount on ANTHILL products too! Only applicable for orders placed on or before August 16.
We hope to continue findings ways to extend kindness in expanding circles of care, and we hope you continue to join us in spreading kagandahang loob through pakikipag-ugnayan.
Hanggang sa susunod na liham,
Jen Horn | @pagbubuo
Tagapagpadaloy, Ugnayan Cards
Reyes, J. (2015) Loob and Kapwa: Thomas Aquinas and a Filipino Virtue Ethics. Ke Lueven Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences
de Castro, Modesto. (1987) In Solidarity with the Culture: Studies in Theological Re-Rooting. Quezon City: Maryhill School of Theology.
de Guia, Katrin. (2005) Kapwa: The Self in the Other. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing.
Yacat, J. (2013) Filipino Psychology (Sikolohiyang Pilipino). The Encyclopedia of Cross-Cultural Psychology. pp. 151-156.
To be coursed through Good Food Community