Professional Documents
Culture Documents
of behaving or
doing
something
that
is specific to
way
of behaving or
a belief that
has
along time,
or
the practice of following behavior and beliefs that have been so established:
:
The Filipino people are rich in customs and traditions. Many of these are in connection
with their family life such as DATING, MARRIAGE and BURIAL, RELIGIOUS and many
more........
About Dating
Women during the Spanish regime were generally shy, refined and inhibited. Their
behavior was strictly monitored by the family to maintain their good reputation. A girl
was not seen alone with a man; he did not touch them, not even her hands when
talking to each other they were always an arm's length apart. A man got to know a
woman only by being a friend of the woman's trusted friend who would help in case he
wanted to have the opportunity to see the girl of his dreams. He did not directly
approach the woman; that was impolite. On the other hand, the woman did not face a
man alone; to exchange glances with the man was unbecoming.
A man who had the courage to ask for a date had to pass several tests. First, he got the
permission of the girl's parents to visit their daughter. Once he was permitted, his
formal visit was in full attendance of the older members of the family who also
participated in the conversation. The hardest test was how to convince the girl to say
yes because the woman played hard to get. She kept putting off her answer. When the
man finally succeeded, the girl was strictly chaperoned during their date so that he was
not even able to whisper romantic words.
About Marriage
MARRIAGE is a sacred to the Filipinos. One becomes the butt of jokes if he or she
remains single. A bachelorette is considered a potential competitor for the attention of a
husband.
Parents train their sons and daughters in the proper choice of a mate. Both are
reminded that if they marry, they had to get along well not just with one another but
with their in-laws as well.
Before marriage, the boy's parents seek the approval of the girl's parents for MARRIAGE
with their daughter. This called pamanhikan. The man's parents often take along
someone whom they believe is highly respected by the girls parents. This was especially
when they fear that the girl's parents would say no. The grandparents of the man also
join the pamanhikan. They first engage into discussions regarding the latest happenings
and when the proper climate is established, the man's father states the purpose of their
visit, which is to ask for the girl's hand in marriage. The girl's parents are not expected
to agree immediately. They will first talk about the shortcomings of their daughter. If
the future in-laws persist the parents of the bride give their consent. The details of their
marriage are discussed and agreed upon during the next visit of the future parents-inlaw.
The wedding reception is held in the bride's home. Members of the community
volunteer to help bridegroom in one way or another by either contributing some money
or by offering their services in the preparation of the wedding feast.
Dancing is the moving spirit among many Filipinos. Their skill on the dance floor is
superb. Early indigenous dances represented nature. Other Filipino dances reflected
Malay, Muslim, Spanish, and American influences.
Children of yesterdays played games that no longer familiar to the children of today. Their games were played
either indoors or outdoors in involving little active participation.
Some games were imitations of what the elders did. The bahay-bahayan, lutu-lutuan were imitations of mother's
household activities which the girls enjoyed playing. Other games were replicas of daily happening in the rural
areas.
A typical example was the game Pusa at Aso. In a circle, sticks, slippers, and wooden shoes were placed to
symbolized the bones of the dog' which was IT. The CATS who were the other players tried to get into the circle to
steal the bones without being caught became the dog. This was repeated as many times for as long as the players
are not tired of the game.
A more exciting game called Juego de anillo involved knights on bicycles trying their best to hook a ring dangling
from a ribbon. Hulugang panyo reminded one of the days when ladies dropped their hankies to call the attention of
the gentlemen.
A game popular to boys and adults is playing with the trumpo or top. The trumpo is a conical-shaped wood made
from guava branches with a pointed nail at the tail of the cone. The trumpo spins on the iron-nail. In an outdoor
game called podigo, one players would try to split another boy's trumpo placed in the middle of a drawn circle after
spinning, he becomes the next taya or it.
Luksong tinik and Piko are moderately active games which are usually played by girls. Piko involves hopping on one
or two legs through a series of rectangle drawn on the ground. Luksong tinik is played by two player who are
seated facing each other and stretching their bare feet are in contact.
Touching the toes are their fingers, one above the other is spike form. The other players jump over the feet; then
over the feet and one hand, and so on until all the hands are spread over the feet. A player may continue playing
as long as he does not touch any of the formal spikes; the moment he touches them, he becomes the it.
Quite games at siesta time can either be the siklot or sungka. Siklot uses sigay shells, sampaloc seeds, or pebbles.
The player gently tosses the shells and catches them back with her hand. The forefinger hits the shells that fall to
the floor one by one. When the player succeeds in catching and hitting everything, he gets a prize. The game
continues until all the shells have been captured.
Sungka like siklot, also needs shells sigay or tamarind seeds. The game hole carved in it. Each hole to begin should
contain seven shells. One player drops one shell onto each hole. He picks the other shells in the hole where he
drops his last shell, then continues dropping a shell in each hole. He continues playing as long as he has shells to
drop. Should he drop his last shell into an empty hole, then his chance to play ends. It is now the other player turn.
THE
FILIPINO
RELIGION
Before the introduction of Christianity, the Filipinos were mostly pagans. They
worshipped spirits which they believed dwell in objects like trees, mountains, rivers,
ect. They worshipped nature, the sun the moon, and the stars. They also believed
in a supreme God or deity. Because of their belief in a deity and in animate or living
things
their
religion
was
called
animo-delsm.
It was not long after the Spain colonized the Philippines that the Filipinos become
Christians. Today, majoruty of the Filipinos are Catholics. But a group of Filipino
Catholics headed by Mr. Gregorio Aglipay founded the Philippines Independent
church. This splinter, nationalistic group does not recognize the Pope as the head of
the Catholic church. But their beliefs and doctrines are the same as of the catholic.
This
group
are
called
Aglipayan
after
their
founde.
Another Filipino church and one of the true Filipino church that has originated in the
Philippines is the IGLISIA NI CRISTO which has a fast growing membership
throughout
the
Philippines
and
the
world.
Filipinos when Brother FELIX Y. Manalo launched this church in 1914. Rapid growth
after 1945 produced some 600,000 members by the late 20th century, imposing
chapels throughout the nation, and wealthy centralized organization under Bishop
ERANO G. MANALO, the son of FELIX. Strong discipline from the leaders dictates a
literal interpretation of the BIBLE and suggest individual contribuitions and the
casting of votes, making the church a substantial political power. Unitarian in
theology and Philippines in its language, liturgy, and music it represents a popular
anti-Western movement for spiritual independence.
THE
FIESTA
CELEBRATIONS
Fiestas are held on the birthday of the patron saint celebrated with the holding of a
novena, a nine-day devotion of masses followed by special prayers of praise to the
patron saint. The plaza around t5he church is decorated with colorful buntings. On the
ninth day which is the feast day of the saint, a high mass is celebrated by one or
several priests. Suddenly the plaza is transformed into a mini-market where readymade clothes, toys, fruits, and native delicacies are sold. A brass band plays after the
mass and then makes a round of the immediate vivinity playing popular Filipino songs,
marches and kundimans. This sets a happy, festive mood in the community with
residents going on splurge entertaining relatives and friends from other towns.
The town fiesta is an event that the residents look forward to. Three or four months
before the fiesta the family takes good care of a piglet and chickens earmarked for the
fiesta. Of course, the fiesta is an occasion when friends and relatives can be together,
enjoy each other's account of the past year's experiences and partake of the palatable
dishes prepared for a day. Children living out-of-town make a special effort to come
home
and
be
with
their
parents,
relatives,
and
friends
for
the
fiesta.
The fiesta is a Filipino heritage that has been handed down from generation. It has its
advantages as well as its disadvantages. Must we continue pertrating it as it is? Can it
be
perpetuated
with
certain
modifications?
Easter Sunday is a memorable day. The faithful wake up early for the salubong, a reenactment of the Risen Lord's meeting with His Mother at dawn.
There are many more religious celebrations and festivities observed by the Catholics in
the Philippines which vary from community to community and all of which give honor
and glory to Jesus Christ this is according to all Catholics believers.
Other Religions like the INC, the Baptist, Jehovas Witness, Born Christians and some
Biblical in teaching do not celebrate the so called celebration.
ABOUT THE ALL SAINTS DAY (PANGANGALULUWA) (practice by the catholic religion)
November 1 is a day for remembering the dead. According to the catholic belief though
it is not biblical. Tradition has it that the immediate members of all the deceased go to
cemetery a few days before All Saints Day to clean and white-wash the tombs of their
dead. On the day itself, the family attends a mass before going to the cemetery
bringing with them flowers, drinking water and food to last till midnight. The cemetery
becomes a busy and crowded place. Candles are lighted during the day and all through
the night to the wee hours of the next day.
Another custom during ALL SAINTS DAY called pangangaluwa, is based on the belief
that the suffering of souls in purgatory would be lessened if the living would pray for
them and material help is given to the living, this is according to the catholic believers.
At about 10:00 in the night until the early morning hours, men and woman went
singing from one house to another representing the souls in purgatory and asked for
alms. Later, however, barrio folk did not entertain these souls anymore because instead
of aski8ng for alms, the mangangaluluwa stole things underneath the houses and
picked fruits on trees in the yards. They would then least on all these stolen goods.
Over this says, a tapis with tassels on the edges is worn. Beneath the saya and tapis is
the enagua, a slip with lace edging.
The elegant clothes of the Filipino women are properly taken cared of. Women give
special attention to their clothes especially those made of fibers such as fina or
sinamay.
After washing, some clothes were starched. The starch used was made from rice lugaw
pressed with a wooden sandok or ladle form a cheesecloth duyan (hammock) tied tto
the clothes line at four points. below this was a wooden batya or basin to catch the
starch. This was then gently patted on the barong tagalog and butterfly sleeves of the
women's baro. The starched clothes were later stretched into shape and dried on the
flat galvanized iron sheets.
Stains are removed from the clothes by dropping calamansi juice on the stained spots
after which the clothes are bleached in the sunlight.
Starched clothes were sprinkled with water before pressing with a flat iron filled with
glowing charcoal.
very
expensive.
The verandah or porch is still a part of today's houses. Pots of ferns and flowering
plants surrounded the wall kept verandah. The artistic touch of the Filipino is still
evident in his house. In a one-room house, you can see curtains hanging on the walls
and windows, and a family picture and a saint prominently displayed in one corner of
the
room.
The Filipinos also displays neatness and cleanliness in keeping their houses. The
Filipinos housewife uses different kinds of brooms for cleaning. There is the salary or
soft broom for sweeping the floor; a smaller one for dusting wall carvings and picture
frames; the walis-tingting or stiff broom for cleaning and stone floors; and the plumero,
a broom made from chicken feathers for dusting. Buckets, wooden scrub brushes with
thick bristles, bunot or coconut husk, dustpans, bar soap, gugo or native shampoo, is-is
leaves, banana leaves, kerosene and coconut oil are also used for cleaning the houses.
Floor wax was prepared by homemakers from candles, atsuete and kerosene melted
from glowing embers. In some homes, hardwood floors were swept from scrubbed with
is-is before wax was applied. When the sticky wax was dry, the floor was scrubbed
again until it became very shiny. The furniture, window sills, staircases and walls were
also scrubbed with is-is leaves or polished with wax. Kitchen tables were cleaned with
is-is leaves, water, sand and ash. Those made of zinc were wiped with kerosene.