PHILIPPINE POPULAR CULTURE

CATEGORIES OF CULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINE SOCIETY

The different categories of culture in the Philippine society are the following:
Based on Nationality
Filipino Culture

Based on Ethno linguistic Group

Tagalog, Ilonggo, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Waray, Bisaya, Manobo, Maranao etc.

Based on Historical Epoch of Philippine Culture

Culture before the coming of the Spaniards
Spanish period culture
American period Culture
War period: Japanese Occupation
New Republic Culture
Pre-Martial law period culture
Martial law period culture
Post martial law period culture

Based on Economic Means

Agricultural culture
Fishing culture
Business/commercial culture

Based on Geographical Location

Lowland culture
Upland culture
Rural culture
Urban culture

Based on Religion
Christian culture
Roman Catholic Culture
Protestant Culture
Muslim Culture
Iglesia ni Cristo Culture
Jehovah’s witnesses culture
Other religious sectors/culture
Pagan culture

Based on Technology
Advanced/modern culture
Primitive/traditional culture
Based on Age
Teenage culture
Culture of the retired and the aged

Based on Economic status

Elitist culture
Mass culture

Based on Response to Colonialism

Mainstream culture
Indigenous culture

OTHER SYMBOLIC USES OF CULTURE

Culture of poverty. It refers to the learned ways of life of the poor, a vicious cycle of
deprivation and want transmitted from one generation to another.

Culture of opulence. It refers to the ways and life of the rich and the famous in their world
of glitz and glamour.

Culture of corruption. It refers to the established patterns of illegally amassing wealth and
obtaining power or concessions in the government or private office.

Culture of silence or culture of sabotage. It refers to the individual or group attitude to

keep silent as resigned response to authority

Pop culture. It refers to the popular ways, practices and interests of contemporary society.
Example: pop music or dance craze

Culture of apathy. It refers to the prevalent inaction, indifference, lack of emotion and
interest of the people in regard to the issues and concerns which need attention and
resolution.

Culture of conspicuous consumption. It refers to the ways and practices of the super-rich
in buying goods and obtaining services in excess of what they can actually consume and use.

Culture of exploitation and dehumanization. It refers to the socially entrenched patterns

of abusive and exploitative practices by the moneyed and power-wielding members of the
society against the culturally deprived and materially disadvantaged group of the society.
 SOCIOLOGICAL MEANING OF ETHNIC GROUPS AND RACISM

Race refers to a population that through generations of inbreeding has developed more or less
distinctive physical characteristics that are transmitted genetically. It refers to group of people
who perceive themselves and are perceived by others as possessing certain distinctive and
hereditary physical traits. Sociologically, race refers to a group of people whom others believe
are genetically distinct and whom they treat accordingly.

Race is commonly used to refer to physical differences between people brought about by
physical characteristics of genetic origin. This commonness of genetic heritage may be
manifested in the shape of the head and face, the shape and color of the eyes, the shape of
the nose, lips and ears, the texture and color of the hair, the skin color, height, blood type,
and other physical characteristics.

Ethnic group represents a number of persons who have a common cultural background as
evidenced by a feeling of loyalty to a given geographical territory or leader, a feeling of
identification with and unity among historical and other group experiences, or a high degree of
similarity in social norms, ideas, and material objects.

An ethnic group refers to a group of people sharing an identity which arises from a collective
sense of a distinctive history. Ethnic group possess their own culture, customs, norms, belief,
and traditions. There is usually a common language, and boundary maintenance is observed
between members and non-members, as well as by birth; ethnic group membership may be
acquired through marriage in other socially sanctioned rites.

PATTERN OF ETHNIC RELATIONS

-Pattern of Racism

1. Racism refers to the belief that some human races are inherently inferior.

2. Prejudice is an emotional prejudgment or attitude towards a person or group of

people. It refers to a categorical like or dislike of a group of people based on real or
imagined social characteristics, usually associated with their race, religion, ethnic group,
sexual orientation, or perhaps occupation.

3. Discrimination refers to the act of disqualifying or mistreating people on the basis of

their group membership or on a scriptive groups rationally irrelevant to the situation.
Whereas prejudice is a state of mind, discrimination is actual behavior. Prejudice and
discrimination work hand in hand to create and sustain and ethnical stratification.
Theories of prejudice

Economic Theory - assumes that racial prejudice is a social attitude transmitted by the
dominant ethnic majority class for the purpose of stigmatizing some groups as inferior so that
exploitation of the group resources will be justified.

Symbolic theory -asserts that prejudice arises because of racial or ethnic group is a symbol
of what people hate, fear, or envy.

Scapegoat theory -maintains that human beings are reluctant to accept their mistakes for
their troubles and failures so they look for an ethnic- minority to shoulder the blame.

Social norm theory -asserts that ethnocentrism is a natural development of group

living. Hatred and suspicion for the out-group are the standard and normal way of doing
things, particularly in dealing with people.

4. Stereotypes are often simplified and unsupported generalizations about others and
are used indiscriminately for all cases. A few examples are Ilokano, “Kuripot” (stingy).
Bicolanos, “Sili” (pepper or spicy people)

-Patterns of competition, Conflict and Domination

As pointed out in the process of ethnocentrism, people tend to view their own way of life,
including their behavior, beliefs, values, and norms, as they judge others by these standards.
When people are strongly ethnocentric, they are distrustful of outsiders, seeing them as a
symbol of strangeness, evil and danger.

When ethnocentric attitudes are coupled with inter intergroup competition for territory and
scare resources.

-Economic and Political Subjugation

The economic takeover of one nation by a more powerful one and the subsequent political and
social domination of the native population is called colonialism. If the takeover of one nation
is through the military superiority of the more powerful one for the purpose of territorial
expansion and establishing colonies, it is termed as military colonialism.

On the other hand, if the economic takeover is made through the great technological
superiority of the more powerful one, the institutionalization of their business in their former
colonies, the control and domination of most of a colony’s natural resources, the imposition of
trade policies and economic treaties favorable to their side; the establishment of outlets for
their surplus capital; the need for more cheap labor, raw materials, and make to fuel their
growing economy, the process is termed Neo-colonialism or economic imperialism.
Displacement and segregation of the Native Population
Economic and political subjugation of a minority population by a more powerful group is not
the only pattern of conquest that occurs when different racial and ethnic group meet.

When a weaker group occupies a territory that a stronger group wants to inhabit, the stronger
is likely to displace the weaker. Displacement of native population can be made possible
through the influx of powerful settlers or invaders with their vastly superior weapons.
Displacement takes the following form:

By attrition, that is, a number of the weaker group may die of starvation or disease either
deliberately of not.

By population transfer; and

By genocide-deliberate and ruthless extermination of weaker group.

Examples: by destroying the principal means of survival; by introduction of disease for which
the native lacked natural immunities; programs of mass extermination, and displacement of
tribal groups from their ancestral lands, to give way for “developmental” projects.

Segregation involves the enactment of laws and/or customs that restrict or prohibit contact
between groups. Segregation may be ethnic or racial or based on sex or age.

-Patterns of accommodation and tolerance

Interracial and interethnic accommodation can be carried through out miscegenation or
amalgamation. – the intermarriage of members of the majority and minority groups. This can
result in the blending of their various customs and values and the creation of a new cultural
hybrid. This involves a customs and values and the creation of new cultural hybrid. This
involves a cultural and biological blending in which the customs and values of both groups are
to some extent preserved and their biological characteristics appear in the offspring. This is
the melting pot concept popularized by the writer Israel Zangwill. Blending is more likely to
occur when ethnocentrism is not strong and when power among various racial and ethnic
groups is relatively equal and when relations among them are more cooperative or
competitive.

-Patterns of Acculturation and Assimilation

In Acculturation the different ethnic groups selectively borrow elements from each other’s
cultures while retaining basic aspects of the culture of their former respective societies.

In assimilation, the different ethnic groups evolve a common culture and simultaneously
level out their sub-cultural differences.
-Patterns of cultural pluralism or ethnic Diversity
Cultural pluralism refers to the coexistence of different racial or ethnic groups each of which
retains its own cultural identity and social structural networks, while participating equally in the
economic and political systems,

ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINES

According to distinctive physical traits
The Negritos who are regarded as the aborigines of the Philippines

The Indonesian- Malayan stock which is predominant among the Filipinos.

The Chinese who make up the largest national group

The Americans and the Spaniards, and a few other Europeans who came as colonizers.

According to cultural standpoints

Cultural minorities or Indigenous cultural communities

Muslims

Christian groups

According to linguistic groupings

PANAMIN reports that there are about 87 ethno linguistic groups in the Philippines- e.g.,
Tagalog, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Ilonggo etc.

According to religion
Roman Catholic
Muslims
Aglipayans
Protestants
Inglesia ni Kristo
Buddhist
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Other religious sect
Muslim of Southern Philippines
The muslims make up the largest single non-Christian group. They have nine ethno-linguistic
groups, namely:

Tausug
Maranao
Maguindano
Samal
Yakan
Sanngil
Badjao
Molbog
Jama Mapun

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES / INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (ICCS/IPS)

Homogenous societies continuously lived as organized community bounded and defined
territory

Occupied, possessed and utilized such territories since time immemorial under claims of
ownership

Sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions, and other distinct cultural traits or
who have become

historically differentiated from the majority of the Filipinos

There are at least 110 ethno linguistic groups comprising the ICCs/IPs with a population of
about 14 million based on extrapolation of Philippine population growth.
 Indigenous culture
-Originated in a particular region or environment
-Indigenous Knowledge and Practices

MEASURES AND EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE PREJUDICE AND

DISCRIMINATION
Contact and acquaintance
Conduct sociological inquiry
State-funded public educational institutions
Affirmative action programs
Increase

POP CULTURE:
-Is the culture
-Which are popular
-Well-liked
-Common
-This often defined or determined by the mass media
-Also defined “leftover”

Popular culture is the accumulation of cultural products such as music, art, literature, fashion,
dance, film, cyber culture, television and radio that are consumed by the majority of a
society's population. Popular culture has mass accessibility and appeal. The term "popular
culture" was coined in the 19th century or earlier. Traditionally, it was associated with lower
classes and poor education as opposed to the "official culture" of the upper class.

John Storey and Popular Culture

There are two opposing sociological arguments in relation to popular culture. One argument is
that popular culture is used by the elites (who tend to control the mass media and popular
culture outlets) to control those below them because it dulls people’s minds, making them
passive and easy to control. A second argument is just the opposite, that popular culture is a
vehicle for rebellion against the culture of dominant groups.

In his book, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture, John Storey offers six different definitions of
popular culture. In one definition, Storey describes mass or popular culture as "a hopelessly
commercial culture [that is] mass-produced for mass consumption [by] a mass of non-
discriminating consumers.” He further states that popular culture is “formulaic [and]
manipulative,” not unlike how he views the process of advertising. A product or brand has to
be “sold” to an audience before it can be entrenched in mass or popular culture; by
bombarding society with it, it then finds its place in popular culture.
Britney Spears is a good example of this definition; her road to stardom and place in popular
culture were based on marketing strategies to build look along with her fan base. As a result,
she generated millions of fans, her songs were played frequently on numerous radio stations,
and she went on to sell out concerts and garner the public's fascination with her meltdown.
Like the creation of Britney Spears, pop culture almost always depends on mass production for
mass consumption because we rely on mass media to get our information and shape our
interests.

Pop Culture vs. High Culture

Pop culture is the culture of the people and it is accessible to the masses.

High culture, on the other hand, isn't meant for mass consumption nor is it readily available
to everyone. It belongs to the social elite. The fine arts, theater, opera, intellectual pursuits.
These are associated with the upper socioeconomic strata and require more a high brow
approach, training or reflection to be appreciated. Elements from this realm rarely cross over
into pop culture. As such, high culture is considered sophisticated while popular culture is
often looked down upon as being superficial.

Popular culture and mass culture

Mass Culture:
-Seen as commercial culture
-Mass produced for mass consumption
-Industrial revolution

Mass culture is the set of ideas and values that develop from a common exposure to the same
media, news sources, music, and art. Mass culture is broadcast or otherwise distributed to
individuals instead of arising from their day-to-day interactions with each other. Thus, mass
culture generally lacks the unique content of local communities and regional cultures.
Frequently, it promotes the role of individuals as consumers. With the rise of publishing and
broadcasting in the 19th and 20th centuries, the scope of mass culture expanded dramatically.
It replaced folklore, which was the cultural mainstream of traditional local societies. With the
growth of the Internet since the 1990s, many distinctions between mass media and folklore
have become blurred.

Mass culture vs Popular culture

Mass culture refers to how culture gets produced, whereas popular culture refers to how
culture gets consumed. Mass culture is culture which is mass produced, distributed, and
marketed.
Mass Culture is a set of cultural values and ideas that arise from common exposure of a
population to the same cultural activities, communications media, music and art, etc. Mass
culture tends to reproduce the liberal value of individualism and to foster a view of the citizen
as consumer
Popular culture (the preferred term in cultural studies and where the focus is on uses rather
than production), although some theorists distinguish it from traditional folk culture because it
is oriented toward profit and is organized according to the laws governing commodity
exchange.

Cultural products that are both mass-produced and for mass audiences. Examples include
mass-media entertainments—films, television programmes, popular books, newspapers,
magazines, popular music, leisure goods, household items, clothing, and mechanically-
reproduced art.

History of Popular Culture (Popular Culture from 1900 to 21st Century)

-(Highlight the evolution and changes)
-1900, 1920, 1945, 1960’s, 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000

-Traditionalist (1900);
Baby Boomers (1946-1960);
Gen X (1960-1980);
Millennials (1980-2000)

-Mass society

FINAL TOPICS
FILIPINO CULTURE
Genres of Philippine pop culture
Social Beliefs And Customs
Religion, Festivals, And Holidays
Music: P-Pop, OPM & Dance
Literature And Arts
Cuisine
Clothing/Fashion
Sports
Television
Virtual Culture

Pop culture of the millennials

Issues of Popular Culture in the Philippines:
-Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Cultural Imperialism, Censorship, Cyber Issues
D. Pop Culture and the Rise of Social Media in the Philippines:
(http://www.columbia.edu/~hauben/ronda2014/Culture-Philippines.pdf)
Cultural Preservation:
-Restoring cultural confidence and pride

The act of using deliberate and well-designed methodologies to maintain cultural heritage
from the past for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Ex. NCCA, NCIP, NHC

Cultural Promotion:
-Encouraging the emergence of cultural and artistic talent by offering opportunities for an
expression in an open environment.

Ex, DOT