Culture and tradition

Culture and Tradition in Philippines

Culture
    The culture of the Philippines has been greatly influenced by the migrants that have come to this island nation throughout time. Most of the people that call themselves Filipinos actually descend from Austonesian tribes that most likely migrated from Taiwan to the Philippines thousands of years ago. It is suspected that the first Filipinos were related to the Ami Tribe.
     There are at least fifteen ethnic groups that currently call the Philippines home. These groups include: the Tagalogs, the Moro, the Bicolanos, the Igorot, the Mangyan, the Chabacano, the Ivantan, the Visayan, the Ilocanos, the Kapampangans, the Pangasinese, the Lumad, the Ibanag, the Badjao and the Palawan tribes. Each of these tribes has a unique set of traditions, beliefs and languages. However, while languages vary from tribe to tribe the official languages of the Philippines are English and Filipino. These languages are used for trade and business, and tribal languages are used for private communications between tribe members, religious ceremonies and leisure communications.
     The culture of the Philippines is made up of several religions. However, the majority of this nation is Roman Catholic. If fact Catholics make up 81 percent of the Filipino population. Other religions practiced in the Philippines include Protestantism, Islam and local tribal religions.
     The culture of the Philippines has been influenced by a number of outside cultures. One of the most influential cultures on the Filipinos was the Hispanic culture. Hispanics introduced Roman Catholicism to this country. They also influenced the development of Filipino music, folk art, dance and food. The Chinese also influenced the culture of the Philippines. However, their influence was mostly on Filipino cuisine. Their influence can be seen in the used of noodles in Filipino dishes.
     Learn about the culture and art of the Philippines including Filipino Sculptures antique carvings and clay pottery - Filipino Sculptures is your source for information on Filipino art, music and traditional culture. Art lovers who travel to the Philippines can find both traditional and contemporary pieces that will compliment just about any decor. For more on cultural and historical art of the world also check out African Mask.
     Spanish colonization of the Philippines lasted for more than three centuries. There is a significant amount of Spanish-Mexican influence within Filipino culture, customs and traditions. Hispanic influences are visible in traditional Philippine folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.
     Pre-Hispanic and non-Christian Philippine cultures are
derived from the Indigenous tradition of the Austronesian
primitive tribes called Malayo-Polynesian.

     The Philippines was a colony of the United States from 1898, at the end of the Spanish-American War, until 1946. American influences are evident in Philippine culture by the use of the English language, and in contemporary pop culture, such as fast-food, music, film, and sports.

Other Asian ethnic groups such as the Chinese, and Japanese have been settling in the Philippines since the colonial period, and their influences are evident in the popularity of mahjong, jueteng, Filipino martial arts, and other Asian cuisine.
     Family relationships are the basic building block of Philippine culture and society. Each Filipino is at the center of a large circle of relatives, usually extending to third cousins. Marriage is rarely permitted for members of the same kinship circle. The kinship circle is customarily enlarged through ritual co-parenthood, the Catholic custom of selecting godparents to sponsor one’s child at baptism. In the close-knit Filipino family, members are provided assistance when needed and expected to give their first loyalty to their kin. In rural areas the villages contain clusters of households supporting an extended family system within the Philippines culture.

     The social support provided by these close-knit communities is reflected in the absence of retirement homes.

Philippine Culture and Tourism

     The hospitality of the Filipino culture is one of the reasons why tourism in the Philippines is steadily growing.

     Foreigners and tourists who have experienced the Philippine culture and being with Filipinos find them very hospitable. This is a common trait that Filipinos are known for to most foreigners who have traveled around the country.

The attitude of Filipino people towards foreigners and other people is said to be exceptional. Even the humblest home along the road can serve as a shelter for a stranger who has lost his way. In Filipino culture, serving other people the best of what they have gives them an honor and a promise of true friendship. A typical Filipino house is not completely called a home without any facility ready for guests. It is filled with new and nice-looking items reserved only for them while ordinary ones are for everyday use.

     Arriving at your host’s house during mealtime may be awkward but if it’s in a Filipino house, you will be asked to sit down and share what they have on the table. Because eating alone without asking others according to Filipino culture is considered rude. These manners picture how Filipinos accept and properly respect the presence of their visitors. A form of hospitality that comes truly from the heart, just like how the country made its image as the land of true smiling people considering the struggling economy, political confusion and rising poverty in the country.

     You may be surprised to see how such situations are handled in Philippines culture. It is like taking everything from them except their love of joking. Joking and laughing at everything perhaps give them relief and makes them see things more positively.

     Traveling in this country means more of building a rapport with its people and understanding the Philippine culture, customs and traditions. Filipinos love entertaining foreign visitors; whether to help, or for whatever reason, interacting with them is unavoidable. Consequently, aside from the country’s stunning natural assets, meeting the Filipinos promises you true friendship and memories to keep.

Tradition

     When I think about filipino traditions I want to write about so called formal traditions similar to celebrating Christmas Eve with a turkey and all the fixings. However, I find that it’s the everyday customs and traditions that are deeply ingrained that reveal more about Filipinos and the Philippines. Let's look into some of the most popular filipino traditions including Mano Po, using the word Po, eating with a fork and spoon, balikbayan boxes and why it seems that all filipinos are related to each other.

Mano Po

     When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders they typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back the elder's hand lightly on their forehead. This act is called Mano Po. It is a way to give respect to elders and I've also understood it to be a way of accepting a blessing from the elder. Mano is spanish for 'hand' while the word Po is often used at the end of a sentence when addressing elders or superiors.

     My parents did not teach me to do mano po. Instead, I was instructed to always greet and say goodbye to my elders with a kiss on the cheek. In fact, I still do this today and I am 36 years old! At every family gathering I greet ALL my elders with a kiss and give them a kiss goodbye as well. I think mano po and greeting elders with a kiss are two of the most popular filipino traditions. Learn how to mano po.
Po

     The word Po is often used when speaking with an elder or to a superior. Typcially, it is added to the end of a sentence. For example, thank you would be "thank you po". In tagalog, salamat means thank you. To an elder you would say salamat po. The word po doesn't really have a meaning but adds formality as a sign of respect.

     My mom, who is in her 70's, doesn’t really like the filipino tradition of saying po. She tends to get a little frustrated with always hearing po after every exchange in a conversation. She made all of my cousins laugh by telling them to stop staying po all the time.

Filipinos are All Related to One Another

     It seems Filipinos are all related to one another. Our bloodlines certainly intersect somewhere but this so-called family relation is due to two things:

1) Our classification of family members is very simple, and

2) We refer to people that are not related to us as family members as a sign of respect. Let's look into this filipino tradition a little further.

     My mother has a first cousin. His name is Nelson. My mom and Nelson's mom are sisters. Nelson is my first cousin once removed. I, however, consider Nelson to be my Uncle because he is of the same generation as my mother. Because he is of my mom's generation I call him Tito, or Uncle.

Now, my mom's best friend from nursing school is Landa. Landa is a few years younger than my mom but still of my mom's generation. I call my mom's best friend Tita Landa or Aunt Landa. We are not related but I still call her and consider her to be my aunt.

     Additionally, Filipinos tend to use Lolo/Lola, Tito/Tita, Kuya/Ate as signs of respect for elders. For example, my mom introduced me to her coworker, Tessie. Tessie is clearly younger than mom but also older than me. I would never call Tessie by her first name alone. Instead, I call her Ate Tessie referring to her as an older sister.

Lolo = Grandfather, Lola = Grandmother

Tito = Uncle, Tita = Aunt

Kuya = older brother, Ate = older sister

Living with Parents

    Adult children living with their parents is another commonplace filipino tradition. In fact, I would have to say it is actually the norm. Unlike in the United States where children leave the home after finishing high school or college, Filipino children often continue living with their parents until they are married or even after they are married.

Eating with a Fork and Spoon

    Filipinos usually eat with a fork and spoon. The fork, usually in the left hand, is used to place or push the food into the spoon which is held by the right hand. The spoonful of food goes into your mouth.

When cutting meat you should pierce it with the fork and use the edge of the spoon to cut. Since rice is a staple at almost every meal the fork and spoon method is ideal. Every grain of rice can be placed easily onto a spoon instead of hoping the grains don’t fall through the tines of a fork.
         I love practicing this filipino tradition because you can prepare the perfect spoonful of food everytime. A little rice, a bit of meat, some sauce (or sabaw), and a little bit of vegetable in every bite.

Eating with Hands (Kamayan)

     In addition to the fork and spoon method, eating with your hands or kamayan is another common filipino tradition. Gather a small portion of meat or fish and a bite size portion of rice on your plate. Then use all your fingers to gather the food into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put it in your mouth using your thumb to gently push the food in.

Filipinos usually eat rice that has a slightly sticky consistency so making the little mounds is easier than if you were to use a jasmine or basmati rice. Of course, this method of eating doesn't work with soup/stew or noodles and other kinds of food but for your basic plate of rice, meat/fish and vegetables it works quite well! Next time you make dinner try eating kamayan.

Balikbayan Boxes

     It is very common for Filipinos to leave the Philippines to live and work abroad. A balikbayan is a filipino who is returning to the Philippines from living or working abroad. A balikbayan box is a box of items sent by the balikbayan to their family in the Philippines. The box can be sent or it can be brought by the sender when they themselves return to the Philippines.

Balikbayan boxes can be filled with almost anything but it is usually filled with items that cannot be found in the Philippines or items that may be too expensive for the average person to buy in the Philippines. Common items found in balikbayan boxes include: clothes, shoes, chocolate, nuts, vitamins, basketballs, coffee and tea, magazines, shampoo/conditioner, soap, body lotion, etc.

My parents sent balikbayan boxes throughout the year but always sent them to arrive in time for Christmas. We find out what the family needed/wanted and put everything in the balikbayan box. Our family LOVES getting the boxes. I suppose its just like Christmas Eve waiting and wondering what is in the box. My cousins would always tell me they savored the smell of the box right when it was opened- the smell of America. In February I continued the filipino tradition and sent a box to my mom. The box contained some gifts for the family and some of the belongings that my mom couldn't in her luggage when she left. In March it arrived and I was in the Philippines when it did. I opened the box and sure enough it smelled like home- like America, as they all said.