What is Society? What is good or bad about the society?

Societies are social groups and structures that guide, interact, influences and contribute

to all aspects of its members and the environment. Society is a complex idea bounded by social

territory, political authority, dominant cultural expectations, systems and structures that form its

existence. This includes the natural environment and physical landscape where the society sits.

This geography also provides the natural resources that the society can utilize and exploit in

various ways. The socio-political nature is a component of the larger picture. Governance for

instance, and the way people are guided by leaders, affects how the society is enabling or

disabling the development of the person. Some would argue that a shared leadership on one

hand (democracy), and a one person ruling (autocracy) on the other, influences the progress of

a particular group. Others would also argue that democracy is an indicator of economic and social

development. The norms and behaviors also characterize the identity of a society and could be

unpacked through several components. Traditions for example represents the collective practices

and cultural backgrounds of the people living in a particular area. The history of a place, also

influences the culture and norms, and in many ways the architecture and physical structures as

well. Religion plays a vital role to influence peoples’ behavior and thinking. This can be either be

through external influence, as the case in the Philippines where Catholicism is a by-product of

colonization, or historical practices that has been passed on for several generations like Taoism

or Buddhism. Language, literature, dance, film and music also characterizes the society and the

people. Arts, which reflects the way human activities create visual, auditory and performing

artifacts emphasize the way people express themselves and how they were influenced by various

factors that can either inspire or provoke a sense of emotion, promote an idea, initiate a dialogue

or other functions. Another way of looking at a society is also at the extent of industrialization.

Different communities have various ways to utilize their wealth, prestige, power and resources

that oftentimes create inequality to its members. Just in the past hundred years before

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industrialization, many societies were focused on their own growth by utilizing their own available

resources and for their own use. The birth of the industrial revolution, globalization and

ecommerce gave opportunities for societies to share and impact others globally. The

advancement of transport, communication and technologies also resulted to increase global

trading and transactions. These aspects converged cultures, ideologies and principles and built

a thriving and emerging global society composed of thousands of micro cultures.

The Philippines is composed of several sub-cultures embodied in various provinces and

islands. The influence of the natural environment, socio-political aspect, norms and behaviors,

religion, arts and industrialization makes these societies very diverse and complex from each

other. As a country having complex histories, culture, dynamics of politics, gender roles and

physical environment, one could never truly generalized some key societal traits that’s “uniquely

Filipino” and be understood as universally good. However, I came up with key concepts from a

much narrow viewpoint. First, I would argue that the having strong family values is anchored to

millions of Filipinos since childhood. The sense of familiarity or belongingness is felt and

evidenced in cultural traditions like fiestas, holidays, family vacations and gatherings, weddings,

burial ceremonies and the way Filipinos live. A house or a piece of land is shared by a multi-

generational- household and extended family. This family value is also tied to having a greater

sense to responsibility and selfless interest to look after each other particularly to parents and

grandparents. Second, Filipinos have a great sense to community and interest to be involved

in the bigger unit outside of one self. This is reflected in “bayanihan practices”, big celebrations,

emergence of civil service organizations supporting group interests and others. The role of social

media and communication has become a vital tool and platform for Filipinos to reach out to their

families that exacerbates the level of involvement, engagement and interaction to families,

relatives and the bigger community. This is seen, generally as a good practice primarily because,

this sense of “belongingness” gives an individual a higher purpose outside of himself therefore

demonstrating values like sympathy, generosity, hospitality, discipline and responsibility. Third,

religion plays a crucial influence in Filipinos’ dogma of “what is right” grounded by conservative

and traditional ideologies. Strong family ties and involvement in their children’s decisions and well-
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being also anchors this assumption. The aspects of religion, particularly with Christianity, where

majority of Filipinos are associated with, is seen as a measure of right and good, in its broad

sense. The values that is shown in the scripts (Bible), the cultural practices (Christmas, Weddings,

Funeral etc) highlights selfless deeds, peace, kindness and love.

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