Philippine Culture Essay

The subtlety of the Philippines is genuinely diverse. This is due to the colorful combination of different nations with our unpolished. Its polish is reflected by the complexity of the history of the Philippines through the blending of Pre-Hispanic native Austronesian civilizations. There atomic number 18 a number of countries that have influenced Philippine culture such as Spain, United States, China, India, and the Arabs. The influences of these countries are visible in the assorted practices of the Philippines up to the present. The Spaniards brought the Spanish speech, Catholicism and early(a) religious celebrations such as fiestas. The Ameri mickle influence is evident in the use of the English language and the presence of contemporary pop culture such as fast- intellectual nourishment, music, movies, hoops and media. The Arabs and Indians brought Islam to the southernmost is domain of a function of the Philippines along with their own customs and traditions. The Chin ese brought trade and work to the country as well as their affirmation of the importance of follow and family.SocietyThe topical anaesthetics of the Philippines are called Filipinos. Their primary ancestors are the Malays who came from the southeastern Asian country which is now called Indonesia. The Philippines is a combined society, both singular and plural in form. It is singular as one nation, barely plural in that it is break up geographically and culturally. The nation is divided in the midst of Christians, Muslims, and other religious-ethno-linguistic groups between urban and rural nation between upland and lowland people and between the rich and the poor. Although different in numerous ways, the Filipinos are really kind and give appropriate discover to everybody encounterless of race, culture and belief.FamilyIn a traditional Filipino family, the father is considered the head and the provider of the family while the arrest takes responsibility of the domestic ne eds and in charge of the emotional growing and value formation of the children. Children see their mothers as soft and calm, while they regard their fathers as strong and the most eminent figure in the family.another(prenominal) particular trait of Filipinos is their strong respect for elders. Children are taught from birth how to allege po and opo to teach them as early as possible how to aright respect their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Upon arriving home, conservative families expect children to practice the kissing of hands or touching their parents or elder family members hand to their foreheads with the words mano po as a sort of greeting.Within the family, the parents are expected to receive the soaringest respect from the children along with the elder siblings, as they are given over the responsibility to reflection afterwards younger siblings when parents are not around. Answering fanny or addressing parents or elder sibling s with an arrogant tone are not at all tolerated in children. The children are likewise not allowed to leave the household without their parents permission.Upon reaching adulthood, Filipino children are not obliged to leave their homes after finishing school. In fact, most of them maintain their close relationship with their parents by staying at home at least before they get married. Moreover, Filipinos harbor close connection with other relatives. They recognize them from the second degree to the finis they can identify.WeddingsThe majority of Filipino weddings are now Catholic weddings, but some native traditions remain. Most have special sponsors who act as witnesses to the marriage. The principal sponsors could be godparents, counselors, a favorite uncle and aunt, flush a parent. secondary sponsors handle special parts of the ceremony, such as the candle, cord and caul ceremonies. Candle sponsors snowy two candles, which the bride and groom use to light a single candle to represent the joining of the two families and to invoke the light of Christ in their married life. Veil sponsors place a white veil over the brides head and the grooms shoulders, a symbol of two people clothed as one. Cord sponsors curtain the yugal (a decorative silk cord in a figure-eight shape) over the shoulders of the bride and groom to symbolize everlasting fidelity. The groom gives the bride 13 coins or arrhae, blessed by the priest, as a sign of his dedication to his wifes well-being and the well-being of their future children.DeathDeath in the Philippines is one of the most of import occasions in family life, as attested to by a tragicomical statement that families have large reunions only during Binyag, Kasal at Libing (Baptisms, Weddings, and Burials/Funerals). Once a Filipino dies, it is traditional to hold a wake. Deceased men are dressed in the traditional Barong Tagalog while women are dressed in either blackened dresses or in their best dress. Relatives tha t are immediate to the deceased are customarily dressed in black, and women use black veils as well. Caskets of Filipinos are often covered with glass, with the inner part of the eyelid containing ribbons with the names of the deceased persons immediate family. Behind the casket is a crucifix between two candles. Flowers are often given in condolence to the family, with a message from the donor written on a ribbon attached to the flowers. Family members keep vigil, pray, eat, talk, and socialize with guests. It is traditional, as with the other aspects of Philippine culture, to be hospitable to the guests this is done by offering food and refreshments to those wail with the family.After the death of a person, a nine-day period of having a novena of prayers and Masses offered up to the deceased is held, although the beginning of the Siyam na araw varies, but unremarkably ends the week after the death. Another period follows after death, the 40-day mourning period. Family members taper their state of bereavement by wearing a small, black impertinent plastic pin on their left look or breast pocket area. A ceremonial mass is held at the end of this 40 day period. Common belief states that the soul goes to Heaven after these 40 days, following the belief that Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven after the verbalize period of days. The 1 year death anniversary is similarly a bit significant, as well as the subsequent birth anniversaries of the deceased. numerous foreign relatives come to mourn the death of their lost ones. Death is very emotional experience among those close to the deceased.ValuesThe Filipinos are cognise to be hospitable. But aside from this trait, on that point are many other values that the Filipinos possess which help them die hard harmoniously with their neighbors. These have also do the Filipinos appealing towards others due to their pleasant demeanor. The following are some of the Filipino valuesBayanihan is the creation of an associ ation with neighbors and helping whenever one is in pitch-black need. Close Family Ties are something the Filipinos are well-known for. The primary social social welfare system for the Filipino is the family. Many Filipinos live near their family for most of their lives, correct as independent adults.Pakikisama or harmony, involves getting along with others to preserve a harmonious relationship.Hiya is shame and a motivating factor behind fashion. It is a sense of social decency and compliance to public norms and behavior. Filipinos believe they must live up to the accept standards of behavior and if they fail to do so they act upon shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family.Utang na Loob or Debt of Gratitude, is owed by one to a person who has helped him majuscule. There is a local saying Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalinangan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan, meaning, oneness who does not look back o where he started, ordain no get to where he is going.Amor Propio is charge for self image. Filipinos believe that how they present themselves to others is an classical aspect to be accepted in society.Delicadeza or sense of propriety refers to sensitivity regarding the limits of proper behavior or ethics in a situation. Filipinos try to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.Palabra de Honor or word of honor is very important to the Filipinos. They believe that one must keep their word whenever they make a promise for the person to whom one has made a promise will count on it.BeliefsBefore the coming of the Spaniards and the introduction of Roman Catholicism, the indigenous inhabitants were believer of animism, or the worship of nature. Bathala was the supreme god of the tagalogs, symbolized by the sun. otherwise Tagalog gods and goddesses include the moon, stars, and even objects such as trees, shrubs, weeds, or rocks. The spirits exist of aswang (ghoul), tikbalang, (a man having the head of a horse), kapre (a giant that smokes tabacco), tiyanak(resurrected aborted babies), dwende (dwarves and elves), engkanto (minor spirits), and diwata (fairies and nymphs).FoodA normal Filipino meal consists of at least one viand (ulam) served with boiled or fried rice (kanin). Filipinos also regularly use spoons together with forks. They also eat with their hands, especially in informal settings and when eating seafood. Accompanying rice, favourite dishes such as adobo (a meat stew made from either porc or chicken), lumpia (mat or vegetable rolls), pancit (noodle dish), and lechon (whole roasted pig) are served on p late(a). some other popular dishes include afritada, asado, chorizo sausages used in pancit or fried rice, empanadas, mais (corn), mani (roasted peanuts), paksiw (fish, cooked in vinegar and water, some spices like garlic and pepper), pan de sal (salted bread rolls), pescado (fried or grilled fish), torta (omelette).Indigenous Filipino and regional cuisine include dinuguan, kare-kare (ox-tai l stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and sinigang (tamarind dope up with a variety of pork, fish or shrimp). One delicacy eaten by the Filipino people but are reprehensible to some westerly cultures is balut (a boiled fertilized duck egg). Popular snacks and desserts indulged in are chicharon, halo-halo, puto, bibingka, ensaymada, polvoron, and tsokolate. Popular local liquors include lambanog, tuba, and basi.ArchitecturePre-Hispanic architecture is usually characterized by using indigenous woody materials. The bahay kubo is the mainstream form of housing. It is characterized by the use of indigenous materials such as bamboo and coconut as the main source of wood. Cogon grass and nipa decoration leaves are used as roof thatching, although coconut fronds are also used. Most are usually on stilts due to the frequent floods and rainfall during the wet season. Regional variations include the use of thicker and denser roof thatching in mountain areas, longer stil ts on coastal areas especially if the body coordinate is built immediately on the water.The architecture of some tribes in other regions is characterized by very angular wooden roofs, bamboo in place of leafy thatching and ornate wooden carvings, especially on Mindanao Island. The Spanish introduced stones as housing materials. The introduction of Christianity brought westerly style churches and subsequently became the center of most towns. Colonial era architecture hushed survives in Intramuros and Vigan. Contemporary architecture usually favors western-style structures although pre-Hispanic housing is still largely common in rural areas. American style suburban gated communities are popular in the cities, especially Metro capital of the Philippines and touch provinces.Famous Artworks in the PhilippinesEDSA People Power MonumentEDSA, Quezon urban centerThe commemoration towering along EDSA was intentional by statue maker Eduardo Castrillo in 1993. The structure was cast t o serve as a tribute to the brave Filipinos who marched along the now-historic a venue of EDSA during the 1986 People Power Revolution to overthrow former professorship Ferdinand Marcos.Quezon Memorial CircleElliptical Road, Quezon CityThe Quezon Memorial Circle, the tallest triad structure in Quezon City, was designed by Filipino architect Federico Ilustre. The three good pylons of this 66 (Quezons age when he died) meter tall remembrance correspond to the three major islands of the Philippines(Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Each is topped with a mourning angel place a sampaguita wreath, all crafted by an Italian carver named Francesco Riccardo Monti. Housed inside the two-story barrel-like base is a museum with the remains and other priceless treasures of the late President Manuel L. Quezon. The construction of this Carrara marble-made depositary was completed in time for the centennial of Quezons birth in 1978. By the mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos, the state of af fairs was declared a field Historical Landmark under the presidential Decree No. 260.U.P. OblationUniversity of the PhilippinesThe University of the Philippines renowned landmark, the Oblation, is a masterpiece of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino. In 1935, Guillermo was equip by Rafael Palma (then University President) to craft a monument that would express in visual form the second stanza of Jose Rizals Mi Ultimo Adios (Last Farewell). The concrete statue calico in bronze stands 3.5 meter high (to represent the 350 years of Spanish resolution of the Philippines) on a pile of rocks symbolizing the islands of the Philippines. Funding for the statue was raised through a 2-month fund campaign that garnered P2,000. The model for the statue was widely rumored to be Fernando Poe, older though there are sources that claim that the real model was Guillermos student apprentice Anastacio Caedo.Andres Bonifacio MonumentBonifacio Circle, Monumento, Caloocan CityThe sculpture featuring a 45-foot high pylon topped by a winged figure of success was crafted by national artist Guillermo Tolentino in 1929. It commemorates the famous proletarian combatant Andres Bonifacio with his revolutionary group, the Katipunan, fighting for the causes of Philippine Revolution injustice, suffering and resistance. The Supremo in his Barong Tagalog, holding a bolo on his right hand and a revolver on the other, stands in front of 22 darkened bronze figures at the base of an octagonal obelisk, the number of sides of which symbolize the first eight provinces that build up against the Spaniards. Other historic figures on the monument are Emilio Jacinto (the Brains of Katipunan) and the three hooded martyred priests (Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora). booster cable to the monument are three steps which represent the three centuries of Spanish rule.Cultural Center of the PhilippinesRoxas Boulevard, ManilaStanding on the 21-hectare piece of land along Roxas Boulevard, Manila is Leandro Locsins (National Artist for Architecture) envisioned edifice that serves as the Philippines national center for performing arts the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). This architectural work is considered one of the most significant landmarks in the country. Completed in 1969, the CCP main building faces the reclaimed land inManila Bay with its marble frontage. At its sides are two arching columns beamed 12 meters from the terrace. In front is a large lagoon with fountains illuminated by underwater lights during nighttime. It houses four autopsy theaters, an ethnographic museum, galleries, and a Philippine arts and culture library.Manila metropolitan TheaterPadre Burgos Street, ManilaThe Manila Metropolitan Theater- located at the Padre Burgos Street was formerly Manilas premier venue for theatrical performances. Built in 1935, this art deco structure was designed by the distinguished Filipino architect Juan M. de Guzman Arellano. The bronze sculptures of female figures on the f acade of the theater are works by the Italian sculptor Francesco Riccardo Monti. Inside, there are relief carvings of Philippine plants that adorns the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building designed by the artist Isabelo Tampinco. It needed to be reconstructed after the US and Filipino liberation in Manila in 1945, fell into nonperformance in the 1960s, was partly restored in the following decade, and fell again into disrepair. It is shortly undergoing renovation through Manila City governments invent to restore its historic buildings.The TransfigurationEternal Garden Memorial Park, Balintawak, Quezon CityThe constitution and bronze sculpture entitled The Transfiguration (1979) is one of cat sleep Abuevas (national artist and Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture) religious-themed creations, found at the Eternal Garden Memorial Park. His other famous masterpieces that attest to his pietism include the Kiss of Judas (1955) and the Thirty Pieces of History.Pinaglabana n ShrineBarrio Paraiso, San Juan, Metro ManilaA major work of art by Filipino sculptor Eduardo Castrillo is his creation the Pinaglabanan Shrine (1974), located in San Juan, Metro Manila. Also known as Spirit of Pinaglabanan, the shrine is composed of three cut and welded brass figures on a 10 x 4.3 x 4.3 meter form concrete base. This was built in commemoration of the first battle of the 1896 Revolution, which happened on this site.Filipino Struggles Through History (Mural)Bulwagang Katipunan, Manila City HallOne of the most striking murals of Carlos Botong Francisco entitled Filipino Struggles Through History (1963) can be found in the Bulwagang Katipunan of Manila City Hall. As commissioned by former Manila Mayor Antonio Villegas, this 270487 centimeter mural was painted in three panels chronicling the history of Manila and the Philippines. It depicts the panoramic episodes of the first great Rajahs of Tondo, the Spanish compound period, the 1896 Revolution and other events up t o the American colonial period. Also seen in this mural are famous Philippine historical personalities such as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Francisco Balagtas, and Limahong.