Culture of Philippines

Culture of Philippines
Many people may ask where is the Philippines? The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia. Well known for the rich cultural heritage and a rich natural environment in the atmosphere widely throughout the country. Although Filipino culture acknowledges and greets visitors with a strikingly Western character, a strong Asian appearance shortly unravels soon after, creating a friendly and hospitable image Filipinos hold with unity of their diverse origins from 77 ethnic groups. The Philippine styles include the president, the enriched cultural experiences, celebrations of their traditional festivities, the geographical location, and the life in their specific lifestyle today. The president, Benigno Simeon Aquino III plays an important role to Filipino society as the current 15th president of the Philippines. His father held an important position residing as the 13th president and was assassinated in 1983. Aquino’s mother took over the position of power shortly after but then passed away due to cancer. In 1998, Aquino represented a position in public services to guarantee the democracy his parents fought for bringing exponential changes to people’s lives. From 1998 to 2007, he served as Representative of the 2nd District of Tarlac. Not long after, he then took part with the Philippine Senate position bringing about the protection of human rights, honesty, and responsible governance. With Aquino’s strong and influential background, people began to recognize and call on urging him to run for presidency in 2010 to continue his parents’ work eventually resulting in his proclamation as the President Elect of the Philippines. In Aquino’s inaugural address on June 30, 2010, he told the Filipino people: “We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the nation” declaring his presidential state. The English language is widely spoken throughout the country but Filipino is the national language. The culture is strongly enriched in historical plays, handicrafts, handbags, basketry, and woodcarving. Folk dances are popular in traditional events, including tinikling, which is the use of bamboo poles and rhythmic jumping. The Filipino character infuses a part of a lot of culture varieties together. The bayanihan, spirit of kinship, and camaraderie extremely shines some fame onto the Filipino heritage and is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The closest family relations involving history are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. Christianity was introduced in the 16th century from the piousness that comes from the Spaniards. The Filipinos are divided geographically and culturally into regions, each regional group is recognizable by distinct traits and dialects. Some of the traits and dialects involve sturdy and frugal llocanos of the north, the industrious Tagalogs of the central plains, the carefree Visayans from the central islands, and the colorful tribesmen and religious Moslems of Mindanao. Tribal communities can be found scattered across the archipelagos. Tourists tend to be attracted by colorful street parades, fireworks, church services, and lots of dancing and music in the streets making a spectacular display to witness. Another phenomenal aspect of Philippine culture consist of national sports and pastimes of basketball, cockfighting, boxing, chess, snooker and pool are examples where the Philippines can boast many world champions. As with Basketball, the Philippines are influenced even to this present day by American culture and ways of presenting the sport. Culture is strongly influenced by the family and holds an important part in reminding many westerners of the ‘old fashioned’ values that seemed to have disappeared to some extent in the countries where they traveled from. The values put on family is encouraged by the fact that many Filipinas will move abroad to work for better salaries and prospects to support their families back in the homeland financially. Another aspect of the culture that many tourists come across and find confusing is the fact that, when eating involves usage of a fork and spoon as opposed to knife and fork. Rice is the main constituent of most dishes and usage of a spoon is more practical. If visiting the Philippines, there will be surely witness of how important music and dancing is to the culture and heritage. It is seemingly displayed that everyone takes part into singing or playing music. Every inch of the Philippines, there is live music to watch, listen to, and even take part in the excitement and joy. The people of the Philippines love to share and support the stage with any willing performers. A typical occasion or tradition for the Philippines includes many festivals and processions. The explanation for the most of all these fiestas has to be found in the domination of one specific religion in the Philippines. Almost most, nearly 90% of the Filipinos are Roman Catholic. The majority of the cultural celebrations are closely related to the Catholic religion belief system. In January, April, May, and June are the perfect times to visit to see the beautiful culture and festivities at its best. The festivals and processions every year are days of great joy and happiness for the Philippines country. Fiestas or any community celebration usually feature music, dancing, and food feasts. The most known fiestas would be the procession of the Black Nazarene, the Ati-Atihan, the Sinulog, the Flores de Mayo and the Santa Cruzan. The Philippines is an archipelago in Southeastern Asia, composing of 7,107 islands between the Philippine Sea and South China Sea. Its three main islands are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The northern neighbors consist of Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, further north would be Japan. The western countries would touch on Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Borneo and the chain of Indonesian islands would lie to the south. The climate resides as a tropical marine monsoon from November to April while May monsoons to October in the southwest. There are only two seasons, wet and dry as the monsoon rains. The terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal lowlands. The country’s current environmental issues include uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas, soil erosion, air, and water pollution in major urban areas. Initial greetings are warm, friendly, and informal, accompanied by a handshake. Socializing in the home is highly popular as well as the enjoyment people discover by gathering in public areas such as urban neighborhoods. Villages is known to host social activities in a plaza where political events, dances, meetings, and sports that can be played nearby. Usually during leisure time, people tend to spend time socializing with relatives and neighbors or admiring the arts of films. The Philippines has come a long way from their history to achieve their country’s outstanding values today. Although the Philippines is weak economically, the unemployment rate is high, and displays some signs of improvement. The rate of tourists visiting and admiring the Philippines is fairly high. The aspect of the belief system and traditions the country follows is very influential and encouraged. With the aspects Philippines is displaying, can lead a path to the direction of a growing country economically that also attracts a wide variety of tourists with festivals and cultural traditions the country widely supports with the generosity of the native people. From the information provided the Philippines shows high standards of being a strong independent country.

Works Cited. * Lily Rose R. Tope. & P. Ninan-Mercado. “Culture of the World: Philippines”; Publisher: Marshall Cavendish. 2002.

* Advameg, Inc. “The Philippines”; everyculture.com. 2012. (http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/The-Philippines.html)

Cited: * Lily Rose R. Tope. & P. Ninan-Mercado. “Culture of the World: Philippines”; Publisher: Marshall Cavendish. 2002. * Advameg, Inc. “The Philippines”; everyculture.com. 2012. (http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/The-Philippines.html)