Introduction
The visitor to Metro Manila
commonly sees the Philippines as the most westernized of Asian countries and in
many ways, it is. But there is also a rich underlay of Malay culture beneath
the patina of Spanish and American heritage. National cultural life is a happy
marriage of many influences, as the indigenous Malay culture is assimilated and
adapted to different strains in a practice typical of Malay temperament. An
upsurge of Philippine nationalism stimulated a desire to preserve the ancient
heritage without restricting its openness to foreign artistic influence.
The Philippines is an archipelago
of 7,107 islands. It stretches from the south of China to the northern tip of
Borneo. The country has over a hundred ethnic groups and a mixture of foreign
influences which have molded a unique Filipino culture.
Before the Spanish explorers came, Indo-Malays and Chinese merchants had settled here. In 1521, the Spaniards, led by Ferdinand Magellan, discovered the islands. The Spanish conquistadores established a colonial government in Cebu in 1565. They transferred the seat of government to Manila in 1571 and proceeded to colonize the country. The Filipinos resisted and waged Asia's first nationalist revolution in 1896. On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent from Spain and proclaimed himself president. After ruling for 333 years, the Spaniards finally left in 1898 and were replaced by the Americans who stayed for 48 years. On July 4, 1946, the Americans recognized Philippine independence.
The Philippines is the third largest English-speaking country in the world. The country is divided into three geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It has 17 regions, 80 provinces, 122 cities, 1,512 municipalities, and 42,025 barangays
Before the Spanish explorers came, Indo-Malays and Chinese merchants had settled here. In 1521, the Spaniards, led by Ferdinand Magellan, discovered the islands. The Spanish conquistadores established a colonial government in Cebu in 1565. They transferred the seat of government to Manila in 1571 and proceeded to colonize the country. The Filipinos resisted and waged Asia's first nationalist revolution in 1896. On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent from Spain and proclaimed himself president. After ruling for 333 years, the Spaniards finally left in 1898 and were replaced by the Americans who stayed for 48 years. On July 4, 1946, the Americans recognized Philippine independence.
The Philippines is the third largest English-speaking country in the world. The country is divided into three geographical areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It has 17 regions, 80 provinces, 122 cities, 1,512 municipalities, and 42,025 barangays
Ethnic Make-up:
Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay
4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%,
Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Culture of Philippine
The Filipinos does not come out into the
world just as they are now today. The Philippine is not a pure cultured country
and neither the Filipinos’ blood that runs within their veins pure – for just
like the intermarriage of different cultures into the fabric of Philippines
culture so also the Filipino is a product of the marriage of different races
who conquer the archipelago- nor their dominant beliefs and traditions today is
a pure culture of their own.
Mixed culture
Philippine culture is a mixed conglomeration of
different culture taken from and influenced by those who conquest it since the
beginning of its arousal from the beds of the Pacific Ocean.
Historically, it was said that the first inhabitants who
settled on the Philippine archipelago are the Negritos and their fellow
Australoid Sakai race who migrated from the South Asia during the Pleistocene
Era who cross the soil bridge toward the Philippine archipelago whose culture
become the first Philippine culture ever recorded in the Philippine
history. However, their cultures have not become the dominant culture of
Filipinos today but somehow have some traces of it like fishing. But the most
influential race that migrated into the Philippine archipelago that marks a
great impact on the Philippine culture today and that shape the Filipinos today
are the Malay race.
The Malay
race (Modern day culture)
The Malay race are said to be the second group who inhabited
the country who come from Taiwan or Formosa then. They are called Austronesian
or Malayo-Polynesian people. They have a more advance culture than the
Negritos. For they are highly civilized race that has brought and shape the
Philippine literature, Philippine art, and the Philippine government today
altered only by the culture of the Spaniards and American conquerors who
conquest the Philippines whom these conquerors have injected and intermixed on
it. Thus, this conglomerated culture has now become the modern day culture of
the Filipinos today. One of the culture that mostly influence the Filipino
today from both Malay, Spaniards and Americans, that affects predominantly the
Philippine literature and Philippine art is Malay’s native and Islam beliefs
and the Spaniards and Americans Roman Catholicism beliefs or the catholic
Christianity. For most of the writings of the Filipino writers and authors
today, have either a reflection or vestiges of their Islam and Malay philosophy
or catholic Christian beliefs, as well as the art of their wrings and the
designs of their books.
Languages in the Philippines
Filipino (formerly Pilipino) is based on Tagalog and is the official language of the Philippines. In spite of being the national language, only about 55 percent of Filipinos speak the language. In addition to Filipino are about 111 distinct indigenous languages and dialects, of which only about 10 are important regionally.
Filipino (formerly Pilipino) is based on Tagalog and is the official language of the Philippines. In spite of being the national language, only about 55 percent of Filipinos speak the language. In addition to Filipino are about 111 distinct indigenous languages and dialects, of which only about 10 are important regionally.
English is generally used for educational,
governmental and commercial purposes and is widely understood since it is the medium
of instruction in schools. The Philippines are the third largest group of
English speaking people in the world, after the United States and the United
Kingdom.
Since English is widely spoken in the Philippines, it is common to hear Filipinos use a mixture English and Filipino words or phrases, known as "Taglish" (a mixture of English and Tagalog), in their everyday conversations. A steadily dwindling minority still speak Spanish, which had at one time been an official language.
Since English is widely spoken in the Philippines, it is common to hear Filipinos use a mixture English and Filipino words or phrases, known as "Taglish" (a mixture of English and Tagalog), in their everyday conversations. A steadily dwindling minority still speak Spanish, which had at one time been an official language.
Filipino Society &
Culture
Filipino Family Values
The family is the centre of
the social structure and includes the nuclear family, aunts, uncles,
grandparents, cousins and honorary relations such as godparents, sponsors, and
close family friends. People
get strength and stability from their family. As such, many children have
several godparents. Concern for the extended family is seen in the patronage
provided to family members when they seek employment. It is common for members
of the same family to work for the same company. In fact, many collective
bargaining agreements state that preferential hiring will be given to family
members.
Filipino Concept of Shame
Hiya is shame and is a
motivating factor behind behavior. It is a sense of social propriety and
conforming to societal norms of behavior. Filipinos believe they must live up
to the accepted standards of behavior and if they fail to do so they bring
shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family. One indication of
this might be a willingness to spend more than they can afford on a party
rather than be shamed by their economic circumstances. If someone is publicly
embarrassed, criticized, or does not live up to expectations, they feel shame
and lose self-esteem.
Meeting Etiquette
- Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting
the eldest or most important person first.
- A handshake, with a welcoming smile, is the standard greeting.
Gift Giving Etiquette
- If you are invited to a Filipino home for dinner bring sweets or
flowers to the hosts.
- If you give flowers, avoid chrysanthemums and white lilies.
- You may send a fruit basket after the event as a thank you but not
before or at the event, as it could be interpreted as meaning you do not
think that the host will provide sufficient hospitality.
Dining Etiquette
- It is best to arrive 15 to 30 minutes later than invited for a
large party.
- Never refer to your host's wife as the hostess. This has a
different meaning in the Philippines.
- Dress well. Appearances matter and you will be judged on how you
dress.
- Compliment the hostess on the house.
- Send a handwritten thank you note to the hosts in the week
following the dinner or party. It shows you have class.
Table manners
- Wait to be asked several times before moving into the dining room
or helping yourself to food.
- Wait to be told where to sit. There may be a seating plan.
- Do not start eating until the host invites you to do so.
- Meals are often served family- style or are buffets where you
serve yourself.
- A fork and spoon are the typical eating utensils.
- Hold the fork in the left hand and use it to guide food to the
spoon in your right hand.
- Whether you should leave some food on your plate or finish
everything is a matter of personal preference rather than culture-driven.
Conclusion
The transformation of local cultures in the Philippines and
the Pacific presents a range of historical and theoretical issues. The lasting
impact of Spanish rule in the Philippines was a religious transformation which
had a vital impact on local cultures as well as on the growth of national
culture over the past fifty years. It was only in Mindanao and in the presence
of Islam that limitations occurred on the spatial spread of Catholic influence
throughout the archipelago. To a certain extent local social institutions were
modified, but in the transformation from Spain to the United States and to
nationhood, Philippine culture was maintained both in terms of interpersonal
relationships and cultural institutions. The American presence left its legacy
in a widespread public education system, which had both positive and negative
influences.
