1

THE FILIPINO CULTURE OF TINGI

A Descriptive Paper
Presented to the Faculty of
College of Arts and Sciences
University of the Cordilleras











In Partial Fulfilment
Of the Requirements of the Course
English 2
11:45 1:10 TTS











By

Anna Mae Catabay Gacutan
December 2012

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE1
TABLE OF CONTENTS2
RESEARCH OUTLINE3
INTRODUCTION5
BODY9
Tingi in the Philippine Economy9
Filipino Character and the Beginning of Tingi11
Filipinos Current Conditions and
Tingis Popularity15
The Impact of Tingi on Manufacturers17
Benefits of Tingi on Consumers20
Consumers Cost, Manufacturers Benefits23
CONCLUSION28
REFERENCES31









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RESEARCH OUTLINE

Thesis Statement: While both buyers/consumers and
manufacturers believed they both benefit from tingi
culture, consumers focused on maximizing their limited
budget through buying tingi while manufacturers continue
gaining profit due to increasing market demand.

Statement of Purpose:
1. What is the nature of tingi?
2. What Filipino character or values cause the emergence
of tingi and its popularity?
3. What are the impacts of tingi to consumers and
manufacturers?


I. Introduction
A. The nature of tingi
B. History of tingi
C. Types of tingi
1. Sachet packaging
2. Pira-piraso (selling by piece)
3. Tumpok-Tumpok (selling by small pile)
4. Pahulugan (instalment)

II. Body
A. Tingi in Philippine economy
B. Filipino character or values that cause the
beginning of tingi
1. Ancient/Indigenous Filipino character/values
2. Current Filipino character/values
a. Creativity
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b. Adaptability
c. Endurance
C. Filipinos current conditions causing tingis
popularity
1. Decreasing purchasing power
2. Coping with the status quo
3. Thinking small perspective
D. Impacts of tingi on manufacturers
E. Advantages of tingi on consumers
F. Disadvantages of tingi on consumers

III. Conclusion
A. Summary
B. Findings
C. Recommendations






















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INTRODUCTION

The Nature of Tingi
Tingi (piecemeal) is not a new idea in the
Philippines. This packaging a la Liliput has been used to
target the household consumers. All over the country, each
neighbourhood has sari-sari stores in every possible corner
where customers can buy a pack of coffee good for one cup
serving or a sachet of shampoo enough for one bath. Stalls
at the wet markets also have a system of repacking in
smaller quantities - one peso for a piece of tomato, three
pesos for a tablespoon of pepper, etc.; every possible food
item that buyers can think of, they can purchase it in
smaller quantities. In fact, food items are the most
popular candidates for tingi. And the list continues to
grow, from toiletries (a sachet of shampoo) to school
supplies (a piece of yellow pad paper) and even cell phone
loads (Unlitext, Alltext20, and Sulitext10). Interestingly,
tingi culture became part of Filipinos everyday life.

History of Tingi
Tingi came from two words konting hingi (ask for a
little amount). Based on history, konting hingi started in
barter, the common form of trade back then. In this trade,
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the exchange of goods is necessary as there is no currency
available yet. During the exchange, each participating side
would ask for a little bit more than the actual value of
their goods. In this case, both would give a little bit
more in order to create a better relationship with each
other for future transactions. Then the currency was
introduced together with the method of exact measurement.
The goods were priced based on their sizes or weight.
Because the goods were measured, those bits and pieces that
were given for free as part of konting hingi, were
eventually priced.

Types of Tingi
There are four different types of tingi that Filipinos
get across with day by day. These are the following:
First is sachet packaging. These are food and non-food
items that are packed in smaller sizes. The packaging
material is usually made of plastic so it is very light.
They are cheap to buy, ranging from Php5.00 to Php10.00.
There are a variety of products to choose from; it is even
harder to think of an item that is not sold in sachet in
the Philippine market.
Next type of tingi is pira-piraso (selling by the
pieces). This method caters to both food and non-food items
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too. Consumers can buy things by piece or two depending on
their budget a stick of cigarette or a clove of garlic.
These are sold in the sari-sari store and the stalls in wet
markets.
Then there is tumpok-tumpok (selling by the pile,
another way of selling tingi. This applies to food items
only like fruits, vegetables or small shrimps. The produces
are arranged in small piles or tumpok and sold at
affordable prices. Usually the average market goer buys
these goods because it is easier to estimate the amount
needed for the size of the family.
Finally, the last type of tingi is pahulugan
(instalment). Goods that do not fit an average family
income when purchased in one big-time can now be afforded
when paid in instalment.
With all these details about tingi the researcher sees
how the uniqueness of this culture defines the Filipino
Character and values. Because of its distinctness to the
Filipinos, the aim of this paper is to analyze the impacts
of tingi to both consumers and manufacturers. Most
Filipinos lack the capacity to purchase goods beyond their
budget and tingi serves as a bridge between the consumers
and the goods. And the manufacturers provide the
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opportunity for the buyers to purchase items at a lower
price and smaller size.
However, looking on a different aspect, tingi may seem
as only beneficial to the manufacturers alone at the
consumers cost. This paper then will weigh both sides and
prove that while both consumers and manufacturers believed
they benefit from tingi culture, consumers focused on
maximizing their limited budget through buying tingi while
manufacturers continue gaining profit due to increasing
market demand.















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BODY

Tingi in Philippine economy
Tingi, for Filipinos, is the very smallest degree of
retail (Joaquin, 2004). This unique Filipino culture
astonishes foreigners in the Philippines because, perhaps,
this is the only country in the world where people buy and
sell in pieces. Almost every Filipino buys tingi. In fact,
the 2012 data from Nestle, a company known for selling food
items, states that 40% of their products are sold in tingi.
This shows an undeniable presence of tingi in the
Philippines creating a relationship between the consumers
and manufacturers. This relationship continuously grows,
leading to the emergence of two types of economy which
Filipinos are known for, the sachet economy and informal
economy. Because these economies is what a typical
Filipino usually get to experience daily, it is good then
to describe each type.
A sachet economy is a form of marketing where goods
are sold in smaller quantities (Romero, 2004). Orders come
bit by bit as these goods, which are usually sold in bulk,
are packed in smaller portions. Big manufacturers such as
Procter and Gamble (Tide, Downy, Safeguard) and Robina
Foods (Lucky Me Noodles, C2 Green Tea) to name a few,
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participate in this form of economy. A recent study from
Synovate Global Omnibus (provide description) revealed that
90% of Filipinos buy items in sachet sizes, including non-
food goods such as shampoo(90%), toothpaste (47%) and
detergent (13%) (2005). And the former Department of Trade
and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas shares the same view. In
2004, he said that because of sachet economy, Philippines
have become one of the worlds biggest markets for goods
sold in tingi, earning itself the nickname, the sachet
economy.
Aside from being the sachet economy, tingi, is also a
part of the informal economy. According to Sicat (2011),
The informal economy is a collective term for
many low-productivity transactions in the economy. The
prices of services and the rules of doing business
transactions are not governed by rules determined by
law and public policy. The transactions happen through
personal dealing among participants. There is a small
amount of products and it is still divided in smallest
portion possible for easy disposal.

In an informal economy, the manner of doing business
is outside the laws governing the country. A more common
term used is underground economy. For example, if Mang
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Berting decides to sell the fruits of his mango tree, he
just needs to place a sign at his gate stating what he is
selling (mango) and how much would it cost. It is informal
since he doesnt need to rent for a pwesto (space) in order
for him to sell. And he can skip paying taxes too unlike
his large stores counterpart thus, making his business
outside the law. In this informal selling of goods, tingi
culture can also be observed.
Aside from being the sachet economy for big companies
who follow the regulations stated by the Philippine Laws,
tingi culture is a part of informal economy. Heres how:
Those who cannot find a livelihood as part of the organized
economic activities often end up as participants in this
low income sector (Reyes, 2000). The vendors of tumpok ng
kamatis (pile of tomatoes) or a piece of atis became
merchants selling, without restrictions, marketable produce
in smaller quantities so that the buyers can afford them.

Filipino Character and the Beginning of Tingi
Determining the Filipino character/values in the past
and today helps identifying the cause of tingis emergence.
Historically, tingi is part of the Filipinos
indigenous character/values. According to Nick Joaquin,
(2004), the value of thinking small from our indigenous
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roots started the tingi culture. During the indigenous era,
before the Philippines was colonized by Spaniards and
Americans, ancient Filipinos lived in a small community or
balangay consisting of 30 families. The communities aim is
to provide the basic needs of its members like food, water
and shelter. And with such small number, it became easier
to manage the resources and live by the indigenous
perspective of kumuha lang ng kayang ubusin (take only
what you can consume). The Filipino ancestors then would
hunt only for their family and communities consumption. For
example, three pieces of fish or a bunch of banana was
enough for a family of five, therefore when they gather
food; they wouldnt take more than that amount. This was
the indigenous practice that gave rise to the culture of
tingi. No one takes more than what they can consume because
everyones aim was to satisfy the physiological needs of
the individual and the community as a whole. However, when
the Filipinos were colonized by Spaniards and Americans,
they were introduced to foreign perspective of tubo or
profit and sobra-sobra or excessive. Currency and trading
arrived and the Filipinos aim was no longer to supply the
basic needs, it was to gain profit. Nevertheless, the
indigenous practice of consuming in tingi remained despite
the change of perspective.
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Together with the indigenous Filipino value system,
current Filipino character also helped in establishing the
culture of tingi. These are creativity, adaptability and
endurance, which are also considered as Filipino Strengths
(Enriquez, 1987). Adaptability is the great capacity to
adjust to circumstances. In the current economic situation
of the Philippines, 90% of the population belongs below the
middle class, the class D and E (A upper income; B upper-
middle income; C low-middle income; D low income; E
subsistence market). These are the members of the
population whose income is Php20, 000 per month or lower.
This means that most Filipinos with their limited budget,
buying tingi is their way to adapt and to satisfy their
basic needs. One Aling Maria, who earns Php150.00 a day,
would only buy those items that fit that amount. Therefore,
in order for her to buy the most possible variation for her
money, she would adjust and purchase food and non-food
items in sachet to guarantee her familys survival for that
day.
Creativity is another current Filipino character that
built the culture of tingi. Filipinos showcase this through
improvisation. This can be observed in sari-sari stores and
wet markets all around the Philippines. When a sari-sari
store owner buys a gallon of cooking oil, he/she would find
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a way of disposing the product instantly. So he/she would
divide the cooking oil in smaller portions allowing his/her
customers to have a cup for Php5.00. One can notice this
creativity in wet markets too. Vendors would separate 2
kilos of onions and sell them in tumpok-tumpok or pira-
piraso. Dividing large items in smaller quantities would
guarantee that these items are abot-kaya (affordable)
therefore more customers have the capacity to buy them. And
more customers mean more profit.
When Filipinos make do what is available in the
environment, this is endurance, another current Filipino
character that maintained the existence of tingi. This
character is depicted through the ability to survive amidst
the current impoverish status of the Philippine economy. In
this economy, aside from having majority of the population
that lives on a limited or most of the time insufficient
budget, the prices of commodities increased over the years.
Faced with this crisis, Filipinos budget their money to
maximize the items it can buy (Aldaba, 2011). Tingi culture
does make available a variety of necessities in smaller
amounts to fit a typical Filipino budget. And together with
the value of creativity and adaptability, endurance helps
the Filipinos carry on and survive the current situations
they come upon.
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Filipinos Current Conditions Causing Tingis Popularity
The presence of sachets and tetra packs is inevitable
to the local market. Coffee, toothpaste, sugar - these are
sold at large supermarkets down to the sari-sari store.
Items like the fabric conditioner that were before sold in
their standard sizes can now be purchase in sachets. Every
imaginable product there is are now fast becoming sachet-
driven because more and more consumers continue patronizing
these tingi items. The result of the survey conducted by
Synovate agrees to this; the most successful product that
gained popularity in consumers in terms of TV product
placements were hair products that can be purchased in
sachet. No wonder why Loreal, a known regular-sized and
expensive shampoo, commenced on micro-repacking just this
year.
With this significant increase in the success of tingi
on consumers, this paper would not only determine the
Filipino character causing the surfacing of tingi but also
the current Filipino conditions that were responsible for
the tingis fame. There are three factors responsible for
the consumers obvious preference of buying tingi. First,
is the decreasing purchasing power of the class D and E
consumers. Economies like the Philippines adopt a sachet
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economy because of the inability to allocate more money for
the regular sized items (Lingbaon, 2011). In a country
where majority of the population is below the middle class,
people buy tingi because their household budget is limited.
They live by the day, this means they only purchase what
they can consume or sometimes even less since that is the
most that their budget can afford or simply pagbili ng
ayon sa makakaya. For instance, if Mang Pedro earns Php200
per day for his family of five, buying a 200 ml bottle of
shampoo is illogical. It would eat up almost half of his
budget and his family will not only need shampoo for the
rest of the day. He still needs to allot money for food,
transportation, and bills, expenses that are more necessary
than a regular sized shampoo. He will then find a way of
spending his Php200 in such a way that all his family needs
are met. Those she will select the smartest choice, that
is, to buy in tingi. Not only that this option will meet
his family needs in smaller portions, but also might allow
him to even set aside a little something for savings.
Another current Filipino situation is tingi as a
mechanism in coping with the status quo. The prevailing
status quo in the Philippines is to live like the middle
class or even higher. Buying in sachet then is a good
coping strategy; it provides a taste of a middle class
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life, only in smaller sizes. Cosmetics, birth control
products, and medicines which are expensive in their
regular sizes and can only be acquired by the middle class
and higher, are sold in tingi offering the lower class a
glimpse of the status quo. Tingi culture allows the lower
class to experience what it feels to be prosperous once in
a while.
And lastly, the thinking small perspective
contributing to tingis growing popularity. According to
Nick Joaquin, The difference is greater than between
having and not having; the difference is in the way of
thinking. (2004). He means that scarcity of budget or
poverty is not the cause of tingis fame in the Philippine
market. It is because Filipinos are accustomed to thinking
small, of thinking petty. What may have affected this
perspective is the indigenous habit of the Filipinos.
Going back to history, everything operated in a micro-scale
- the nipa hut, the barangay, the miniature artifacts.
Hence, now, Filipinos buy small and sell small and the
cycle continues.


The Impact of Tingi on Manufacturers
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In the Philippines, its unique retail structure has
fuelled to move toward smallness (Chua, 2005). Sari-sari
stores account for nearly 90% of the countrys total retail
outlet. The presence of both the sachet economy and the
informal economy can be seen from large supermarkets down
to the neighbouring sari-sari store. And these retail
outlets continue to grow carrying ubiquitous sachets and
bits and pieces. With such growth, tingi made two major
impacts on manufacturers: It provided the manufacturers a
wider market and increased in profit. Heres how.
Tingi culture provided the manufacturers a wider
market. The 2011 AC Nielsen survey results agreed to this.
Based on the result, lower class earning less than Php20,
000 a month which comprises 80% of the population, would
buy on a need basis, mostly in small-sized packs. Adding on
this pool of regular customer is the middle class. Despite
having the capacity to purchase in bulk, 100% of them
purchase tingi too for other reasons. This swelling in
population of tingis buyers created a larger opportunity
for the manufacturers to market their products.
Having a wider market now leads to profit, another
effect of tingi on manufacturers. At first glance, one can
say that bulk sized item offer more profit than sachets,
that, makes more sense. However, though it is true that
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Filipinos in class D and E or the lower class buys in
smaller volumes, their huge number compensates for it.
Also, much less consumers buy products in their accustomed
sizes because they (the products) became unaffordable due
to constant price increase. So, the manufacturers brought
the products back within the reach of the consumer budget
through tingi sizes. This was the manufacturers way of
making possible the consumers continues access to commonly
used products during times of economic stress (Romero,
2004).
To maintain the flow of revenue, millions of
manufacturers budget are spent on advertising in mass media
like newspapers, billboards, radio and television. This
increase in profit impact on manufacturers is proven by
data from Unilever and Procter & Gamble (P & G), two of the
major producers of goods in the Philippines. According to
Unilevers Vice-President for Corporate Planning Chito
Macapagal, 70% of their sales were from sachet market.
Thats 70% of Php30 billion, or Php21 billion pesos three
years ago. And their rate increases every year. And P &
experience the same trend. According to their 2009 data
released on Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and
Logistics, Vol.23, 100% of their products are marketed in
sachet contributing to 60% of their total income for that
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year. In just their shampoo business alone, 68% of their
sales were generated by sachet (Sy-Changco, 2011).
According to P&Gs Marketing Manager Nicole Villarojo:
For the company, sachet marketing has become a
point of parity or standard that all players have to
conform to in this country. Decades of its presence in
the country have evolved a system of approval and
execution of the local office recommendations to the
headquarters to adjust to the local markets,
especially the bigger D and E class.
In a wider market equipped with advertising
strategies, manufacturers continue to cater their
customers needs through sachet marketing. It is through
sachet marketing that they can be assured of continues
customer loyalty and profit.

Benefits of Tingi on Consumers
From a bulk buyer stand point buying in tingi is a
waste of money. Logically, buying a stick of cigarette
would cost more than buying it in a pack of 20s. But for
constant tingi users, it provides a better option for their
tightly held budget.
When the Soap and Detergent Association the
Philippines was asked why sachet is a better option when in
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fact a consumer doesnt save at all, they answered, The
introduction of sachets (tingi) has made quality products
that offer hygiene benefits accessible to the poorest part
of the population. Their answer was implied but very clear
in essence; buying sachet is clearly expensive but everyone
can afford it.
Indeed, a sachet economy does make available a variety
of necessities (Dumlao, 2005). Thats one of the
advantageous impacts of tingi culture on Filipinos and
their least spending power. Tingi culture produces goods
that can be divided in usable portions such as a sachet of
toothpaste or four cloves of garlic which suits even the
modest budget.
There is another advantage of tingi culture
affordability. Consumer products in their standard sizes
became out of reach for most consumers (Simeon, 1999).
Because of this, consumers opted to purchase items in
smaller quantities and in lower prices.
Besides affordability, practicality is another
positive impact of tingi. This applies in two ways. First
is storage. There is no need to look for storage
containers or location as the product is consumed in one
use (Calooy, 2011). Also, toothpastes, soaps, and shampoos
that come in sachet can be easily packed when travelling.
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Then from a potential first time user, small quantities
offer a chance for product trial without committing too
much from a limited budget (Dumlao, 2005). A good example
of this is when consumers want to try a new brand of
shampoo. Since the shampoo is in sachet, they would only
spare a bit of their money, around Php4.00, for one pack,
just enough for them to distinguish the brand difference.
In case the newly tried shampoos result turned bad, the
regret on the consumers part would be far less than if
that shampoo was purchase in a larger size. That is because
they just spent a little amount on sachet than if they
spent a larger amount for the regular sized shampoo.
Convenience is the last benefit the customer gains
from tingi culture. Sari-sari stores which carry most of
the basic needs of the Filipinos account for nearly 90% of
the countrys total retail outlets. These outlets are
present even in poorer rural areas so consumers prefer
buying from them because of their accessibility. Sari-sari
stores in rural areas have everything, food and non-food
items even medicines can be purchased from them. Same thing
happens in the cities. If urban dwellers need a piece of
sanitary napkin, they will not waste their time going to
supermarkets or groceries they would just simply buy from
the sari-sari store across the street.
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These advantages showcase the Filipino character
strength of adaptability (Andres, 1987). Filipinos learned
to attune their spending habit according to what is
available.
But these advantages are obvious, a point of view that
is very shallow and external. While this paper do not deny
the positivity that tingi culture brings on Filipinos, it
is just but proper to present the costs of a tingi, a
sachet heavy economy.

Consumers Cost, Manufacturers Benefits
The popularity of sachet products in the Philippines
is underpinned by the desire of consumer within the lowest
income brackets to glance at the same products that were
once available only to the well off. Consumers from class D
and E can now conform to the status quo, only, in smaller
quantities. Furthermore, to fuel the consumers craving for
middle class items, aggressive marketing strategies are
used to lure the buying public. Take a look at the
advertisement of pH Care, a feminine wash. The product
claims of being a basic need for women to feel fresh and
comfortable daily and that washing your genitals with soap
and water is not enough. A 200ml of pH Care costs
Php189.00. The price is steep for class D and E. So to make
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the product sound as a necessity and cater a wider market,
pH Care is now sold in 10ml sachet at Php8.00 retail price.
Unilever employed the most forceful form of advertisement:
to make a product seems like a necessity to guarantee
purchases and offered the product in tingi to increase its
profit.
From a manufacturers perspective, this is fine. It is
how the marketing works, for the product to be recognized
and to be sold. However, a problem rise when the
manufacturers gain benefits at the cost of the consumers
and the disadvantages that tingi or sachet economy gives
the Filipinos far outweigh its advantages.
The first disadvantage of tingi culture, particularly
the sachet economy is that, the same quantity of product
cost a poor individual more money than it does on a wealthy
person (Tolentino, 2012). Simply because buying in tingi
costs more than buying in bulk. Compare a sachet of shampoo
for 10ml that has a retail price of Php5.00 and its
regular-sized 200ml bottle for Php79.00. For consumers
using the 10ml, they need to spend Php100.00 in order to
reach the 200ml consumption. They ended up paying Php11.00
more for the same volume. It really cost a lot more to
purchase in tingi than in regular size. This sachet
economy from tingi culture is a vicious cycle Filipino
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consumers have to spend for those highly expensive tingi
and never get to save. (Tanyu, 2012).
Secondly, tingi culture supports the profit-driven
perspective of the manufacturers at the expense of the
consumers (Chua, 2005). Consumers shoulder the cost of the
packaging not just the product. Separating the products
into smaller packages costs more money than bulk sizes.
This packaging cost is passed onto the consumers. Besides
the cost of individual packaging, retail display is another
type of cost that is factored in to the price of the
product. Manufacturer and distributors spend money not only
on stragically visible display locations but also for the
product to be actually carried by the store, known as
listed (Dumlao, 2005). Being listed requires a fee and in
todays competitive market, the display racks of each brand
inside the supermarkets are made wider and more eye-
catching for a fee. These costs become included in the
pricing of products and the consumers unknowingly shoulder
these costs.
The waste product from packaging material used in
sachets and items from the wet markets is another
disadvantage. Since more and more of the population use
sachet and plastic bags, more waste is generated. Plastic
is the dominant packaging material; it is light-weight and
26

non-biodegradable. Which means it would take 1000 years or
more for it to disintegrate. This continuous waste
generating activity poses a greater effect on the
environment. Plastic contaminates the water, blocks the
drainage that prevents flood and when burned, pollutes the
air. This costs the Filipinos their health in exchange of
supporting tingi.
Lastly, a sachet economy is a self-perpetuating cycle
that is most profitable where most of the population
remains poor (Tanyu, 2012). The low income class stays
large in number and even widens because more member of the
population experiences poverty. This creates a system for
greater demand for sachet and this system is exploited by
big companies that profit from tingi culture. They prefer
the tingi culture, the sachet economy to stay because of
revenue (Tolentino, 2012). For the consumers, tingi is a
band-aid solution to patch the increasing poverty.
However, what tingi fails to address is the long term
solution on how to make the prices of commodities
accessible to everyone, not just for the middle class and
above.
Tingi culture constructs an illusionary perception
that Filipinos purchasing power is not limited. That they
are not poor because they can still afford to buy (even in
27

smaller sizes). And that the Philippines economy is on its
best condition because all their basic, and not so basic
wants, are still available.
By looking at tingi in a broader perspective, the
disadvantages are compelling more than its benefits. This
culture benefits more the corporate entities that profit
from it and the consumers are on the losing end.

















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CONCLUSION

Summary
Stating that tingi (sachet) as the main retail trade
in the Philippines is not an exaggeration. Tingi culture
was present even in ancient times and has evolved overtime.
It has its advantages and disadvantages on manufacturers
and consumers.
For manufacturers, tingi culture created a wider
market. Every product became sachet driven. Because of
this, increased in their revenue was guaranteed. It serves
as a bridge to bring the brands in the most number of
consumers.
For consumers, its advantages are the following: It
brings out the most positive Filipino character like
creativity, adaptability and endurance. It is a mirror of
how the indigenous Filipinos manage their communities and
how they value every member. Also it proclaims the culture
of di pagkuha ng sobra-sobra, para may matira sa iba
(not to take more than what is appropriate so that others
may have it too).
On the other side the disadvantages includes the
following: First, buying tingi is more expensive. Then,
packaging material from tingi contributes to waste
29

generation. Also, the profit driven manufacturers benefit
more from tingi at the costs of the consumers. Lastly,
tingi culture, sachet economy in particular does not offer
a long term solution to the Philippines economic problems.
Tingi culture then only offers greater benefits on the
manufacturers.

Findings
These are the findings that the researcher found
during the course of research:
1. Tingi culture portrays the indigenous culture that
Filipinos inherited from their ancestors. It is a very
positive culture because it inhibits the Filipinos to
ask more than what they need. Instead, it teaches them
to only take what they can consume so that others may
enjoy it too.
2. Tingi culture allows the current positive Filipino
character strengths to flourish. They use these values
such as creativity, adaptability, and endurance, in
order to get by.
3. However, no matter how it sounds, still the
manufacturers benefit from tingi culture at the cost
of their consumers.

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Recommendations
The following are the recommendations for further
study or application in needed context:
1. Tingi culture on manufacturers point of view should
be known by the customers in order to weigh if buying
tingi is beneficial for them or not.
2. Use surveys and ask a specific group about tingi and
conduct a case study about their behaviour.
3. Filipinos should find ways to solve the long term
problems of poverty not by giving a band-aid solution
like sachet economy and not on the expense of the
consumers.












31

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