Typical Filipino (XV) - Typisch Philippinisch (XV) - "Bahala Na" - Fatalismus oder Resignation

 

“Bahala na” is a philosophical expression Filipinos used when they are confronted with problems. They will say “Bahala Na”, meaning “come what may,” “whatever will be, will be,” 'leave it to God', like the Spanish word “que sera, sera”. ... So it can literally be translated as God already or God will take care already.

Is it correct to say "Bahala na" is a Filipino negative trait?  Yes, it is tantamount to leaving one's fate to another.

Manche halten diesen Wesenszug für Fatalismus. Wörtlich bedeutet der Ausdruck, die Dinge (Bathala) Gott anzuvertrauen oder einfach sich selbst zu überlassen. Da Filipinos auf das Wohlwollen anderer Leute bauen, zum Beispiel ihrer Vorgesetzten und ihnen möglichst alles recht machen wollen, kann man BAHALA NA  gut verstehen. Man will einfach hoffnungslos langwierige und verstrickte Entscheidungsprozesse vermeiden. BAHALA NA ist die Schublade, in der alles verschwindet, was "zu schwierig" ist, weil letztendlich alles doch von vielen anderen Menschen, ihren Wünschen, Meinungen und Launen abhängt.

Some consider this trait to be fatalism. The expression literally means to entrust things to God or simply to leave them to themselves. Since Filipinos rely on the goodwill of other people, BAHALA NA can be understood very well e.g. with their superiors trying to please them as much as possible. One just want to avoid hopeless drawn out and entangled decision-making processes. BAHALA NA is the drawer, in which everything disappears, which is "too difficult", because ultimately everything depends on many other people's opinions and moods.