UNIT II: FILIPINO CULTURE

HISTORY OF PHILIPPINE CULTURE

The culture of the Philippines reflects the country's complex history. It is a blend of the Malayo-
Polynesian and Hispanic cultures with influences from chinese.Before the spanish, there were already a mixture
of cultures, the native people similar to melanesians and australian aborigines a majority population of malays
and polynesians and small groups of people from other Southeast Asian countries.Philippines and Guam were
the furthest colonies from Spain hence Philippines was governed by Mexico.
 WHAT IS CULTURE?
Culture is derived from the Latin word cultus which means “care “ a care and attention provided to a human
person as he grows into a mature person.
Culture is a very powerful force that affects the lives of the members of a society. Culture shapes and guide
people‘s perception of reality, determines the food they eat and how they eat, clothing they wear, music they
listen to, the games they play. It shapes their understanding of good and evil, love and hate, health and sickness,
life and death, among others. In short, the individual‘s culture becomes immediately evident by his clothing,
food, belief, mannerism, and others. Culture tells what the individual does, what to do, and how he should do
those things, and he should relate to other people. It is culture that makes man different form one place to
another.
 Kinds of Culture
1. Material Culture. This refers to concrete and tangible things that man creates and uses. This includes
dwelling units, tools, weapons, clothing, books, machines, artifacts relics, fossils etc – things that man creates
by altering the natural environment. These concrete things increase the person‘s chances for survival and enrich
his life. This culture is the area of anthropological study.
2. Non-material Culture. This refers to non-material things or intangible objects which the person uses,
follows, professes, or strives to conform. It includes, knowledge, laws, lifestyles, techniques, ideas, customs,
behaviors, among others. These things are inherent in culture. This kind of culture is the area of sociological
study.
 Non-Material Culture
1. Beliefs. These are man‘s perception about the reality of things and are shared ideas about how the
environment operates. Man‘s evolution, attitudes, values, ideology, and religion may influence man‘s belief.
Superstitious beliefs are not based on scientific evidences. Scientific beliefs are phenomena and are based on
experimentation and research studies. Superstitious are barriers to social and technological development.
2. Knowledge. Knowledge is a body of facts and beliefs that people acquire and accumulate over time.
It consists of information about places, events, and people. It binds or links individuals in a society. Knowledge
may be natural, supernatural, technical and magical.
3. Norms. These are guides or models of behavior which tell how people should behave in a particular
situation; what people ought or not ought to do. They set limits by which individuals achieve their goals. They
regulate people‘s behavior in a given society; a societal prescription on how one is to act in given situations –
for example in any sport, restaurant, church recreational center, etc.
4. Sanctions. Prescribed norms of conduct exposed by society to an individual for him to conform to
moral standards and accept those that are favorable to a group. Formal sanctions are prescribed norms of
conduct that are written guide for individuals to conform with. Informal sanctions are those prescribed norms of
conduct transmitted by word of mouth from one person or group to another.
 Characteristics of Culture
 1. Culture is learned and acquired. Culture is not instinctive nor a part of biological equipment of
man. It is acquired through the senses and experiences – from the neighbors, family, playmates, schools,
churches, and other agents of socialization. The means of acquisition are imitation, conditioning, suggestion,
formal or informal instruction and mass media communication.
2. Culture is shared and transmitted. To continuously preserve culture, it is best to share to other
people or to transmit it to the next generation, or else it will die a natural death. Culture is transmitted through
language (oral, written or symbolic).
3. Culture is adaptive or dynamic. Culture is always changing. New ideas, procedures, and techniques
are added, modified or discarded. People must be prepared and ready to conform to these changes. The changes
going on today is very rapid than in the primitive times due to fast advancement of science and technology.
4. Culture is cumulative. Certain features of culture have been retained today and they are modified
and innovated to make them ne and updated. Thus, man‘s modification and innovation are learned form already
existing culture in the past.
5. Culture is ideational. Culture is an ideal pattern of behavior which the members are expected to
follow. Thus, the members of society see society from the standpoint of culture.
6. Culture gratifies human needs. Culture continues to exist if it satisfies human needs biologically
and psychologically. An individual is likely to follow and observe cultural techniques that satisfy his needs.
7. Culture is social. Culture is a group product developed by many individuals interacting in a group.
The habits and knowledge of the members in a group are shared by other members. Out of the sharing of ideas,
culture sprouts.
8. Culture is integration. By integration, it means that there is tendency for individuals to fully
appreciate those elements in culture that are best for them and are very often integrated in their personality and
become a part of their behavior.
Prepared by;
Mitch D. Peral
 WHAT IS NORMS?
These are guides or models of behavior which tell how people should behave in a particular situation;
what people ought or not ought to do. They set limits by which individuals achieve their goals. They regulate
people‘s behavior in a given society; a societal prescription on how one is to act in given situations.
 There are 2 types of norms
Formal norms
Law ( impose in the society to protect the people and violations of such as killing, rape, and etc. is
pusnishable by the law)
Informal Norms
- Folkways (repetitive things that u do on a daily basis such as eating, sleeping, taking a bath, watching tv
playing,etc.
 There are two forms of folkways
1. CUSTOMES- are repetitive ways of doing things, such as manner and style of dressing, marriage
ceremony, hand kissing as a sign of respect, and activities in eating, fighting, birth, death, burial, etc.(The
way you do things and your styles)
 2. TRADITIONS -are the ways of believing, such as belief in God, belief in life hereafter, belief in
superstition. (your beliefs system)
- Mores (Moral norms, refers to your behavior example ur are expected to say "PO" when ur parents are talking
to you and "Mano" to ur lolo and lola. U are also expected to follow what ur parents told u and behave)
- Taboo (prohibited and restricted. For example you are prohibited from living with ur partner if u are not
married, u are prohibited from kissing in public, not taking a bath, not brushing ur teeth etc)
 WHAT IS BELIEFS?
These are man‘s perception about the reality of things and are shared ideas about how the environment
operates. Man‘s evolution, attitudes, values, ideology, and religion may influence man‘s belief. Superstitious
beliefs are not based on scientific evidences.
EXAMPLES OF FILIPINOS BELIEFS
1. Sweeping the floor at night will drive away incoming blessings.
2. Singing while cooking will make you single for the rest of your life.
3. Groupfie of 3? The person in the middle will be the first to die.
4. Combing your hair at night will bring bad luck.
5. To keep skin acne-free, girls should wash their face with the discharge from their very FIRST MENSTRUAL
PERIOD.
6. Don’t sleep with your hair wet; otherwise, you’ll lose your mind.
7. When you bite your tongue, someone is thinking of you.
8. A couple shouldn’t eat from the same plate or soon they’ll fall apart.
9. Don’t trim your fingernails and toenails at night because it will bring you bad luck.
10. Opening an Umbrella Inside: Bad Luck. stagnate for being condemned as an inferior group.

 Filipino Cultural Values and Practices

Positive or Acceptable Cultural Values and Practices
1. “Balikatan” System. When an individual is confronted with a problem or difficulty, everybody shares
the burden of helping the person who is in need of assistance.
2. “Balikatan” System A certain task is effectively and easily completed if everybody shares his time,
effort and money to expedite the completion of a task.
3. “Pakikisama” of Conformity. This is a positive way of yielding to the group‘s unanimous or
majority’s decision so as to complete a task. Without it, there would be disunity in the group.
4. Smooth Interpersonal Relationship (SIR). This is a value based on good relationship with people. SIR
is characterized by the use of go-between and euphemism. The use of “go-between” necessitates the hiring of a
third party to act as a “bridge” referee to assuage a bruise, heal a “wound” in his relations with people whose
goodwill is important.
5. “Pakikiramay”. This is a sympathetic attitude to another person and it is emphasized by the statement
―”di ka nag-iisa”.
 6. “Compadre” or “Comadre” System. The closeness of family ties is usually extended to ritual kinship
to include “ninong” and “ninang”.
7. “Utang na Loob” or the sense of gratitude. One aspect of this is in gift-giving, that is, when a gift is
given, it is “utang na loob” of the recipient. Another aspect of “utang na loob” that cannot be repaid in kind and
remain outstanding throughout life.
8. Desire for Socio-Economic Improvement. Every Filipino family wants to succeed and for the children
to be successful in their aspirations. Parents feel that education can bring success to their children as if it is the
only legacy, they can give to them.
9. Hospitality value. This value is done by people welcoming visitors with warmth and enthusiasm at
home, or by inviting them to visit their homes or wherever circumstances warrant. Hospitality can promote
goodwill and cooperation.
10. Fiesta celebration. Celebration can serve very important purposes. It strengthens family loyalty and
unity; it serves to acquire new friends and allies; may heal individual‘s animosity and misunderstanding, etc.
Negative or Unacceptable Cultural Values and Practices
1. Indolence. Many Filipinos are lazy, lacking initiative and ambition. Many still subsist on asking alms,
or waiting or relief or “awa”. Their attitude is like the legendary “Juan Tamad”.
2. The “Ningas Cogon” attitude. This is an attitude with great interest and enthusiasm in the beginning
but eventually dies at the end.
3. “Mañana Habit”. This is the tomorrow-attitude or procrastination attitude. People set aside their work
for tomorrow what they can really do today.
4. “Bahala-na” attitude. This is a kind of fatalism in which the person leaves everything to fate. He lets
fate control his destiny and decides his success. This term comes from “Bathala na” which means that God will
take care of everything.
5. Indulging in Gambling. This is one favorite pastime of Filipinos which has more negative effects than
positive ones. It brings evil to society because of the negative effects they bring especially to the young adults.
6. “Hiya” Complex. This is an uncomfortable feeling of being found in an unacceptable position or
uncomfortable feeling of doing something not socially acceptable, accompanied by a feeling of shame or
embarrassment.
7. Amor Propio. This is associated closely with “hiya”. It is a Spanish term meaning self-love, or self-
esteem, the fear of losing social acceptance.
8. “Lagay” and “Areglo”. These are established socio-political connections for some material
consideration to be able to obtain favors.
9. “Palakasan” scheme. Obtaining a job, getting a promotion, transfer, and other special privileges and
favors are often done by “palakasan”.
10. Use of euphemistic expression. Euphemistic expression is stating an unpleasant opinion, truth or
request as pleasantly as possible to please another person as not to directly hurt his ego. It is sometimes called
“white lies”.
11. The “suerte”, “tadhana”, “malas” and “buenas” forms of fatalism. These are beliefs in fate,
predestination, in horoscope and hula (fortune telling).
12. The existence of spirits, ghosts, and supernatural beings. The beliefs on these ―unseen beings‖ still
persists in our thought and we imagine them to be existing in this material world. Many people believe that
spirits possess supernatural powers and so we pray to them, offer food to the “anitos” and “anitas” so that they
will not harm us or bring bad luck to our activities.
13. The Gaya-Gaya practice. Generally, imitation is not bad because it is one form of learning especially
if there is a good model to imitate. On the other hand, “gaya-gaya” has negative value if it indicates lack of
creativity.
14. Karma. Many Filipinos believe in karma, the Indian word which means “the law of nature”. The
saying “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” is referred to karma.
Prepared by;
Remia Mendoza

REFERENCES
Banaag,Lee Mark T.,et al(2016) Socio-Anthro: Integrated And Interdisciplinary Approach to the study of
Society, Culture and Politics, Books atbp. Publishing Corp. Philippines ISBN: 978-621-409-045-7