Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES

Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

Pr
oje
ct
in Prepared by:
CHERRY ANN RAMOS
BSN 2A

Submitted to:

MARIA VISITACION M. TABURNAL, Ph.D.

INSTRUCTOR
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

Health Beliefs and Practices

1. PASMA/ BINAT
Is an “exposure illness” which occurs when a
condition considered to be “hot” is attacked
by a “cold” element and vice versa. An
individual’s homeostasis is attained by a
balance between hot and cold elements, and
an illness is caused by a dominance of either
hot or cold. Specifically, childbirth it is a belief that the mother should not be exposed to
extremely cold environment (e.g. taking a bath) because during childbirth the pores are
open. Thus, making the mother susceptible to the entrance of “lamig” or “hangin” which
are elements of cold. Manifestations of this will depend on where the lamig settles in the
woman’s body and results in pasma.

2. LIHI
Is a concept used to explain why some
children are noted to have certain specific
characteristics. It is referred as a term for
conception and or maternal cravings. During
the lihi period or first trimester of pregnancy,
the woman experiences a number of physical
discomforts including feelings of dizziness,
nausea, irritability, and general weakening of the body and time that develops intense
craving for certain food or intense liking of a certain objects.

3. TRADITIONAL MEDICINE/ ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

 Folk Doctor combines traditional techniques with some Western medicine.
 Faith Healers is
religion based health care. A
practitioner who claims divine
power bestowed by the Holy
Spirit or God.
 Albularyo, a general
practitioner who uses a
combination of healing modalities
that may include prayers,
incantations, mysticism and
herbalism. Claim to draw healing
powers from a supernatural source (shamanism).
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

 Hilot acts as a midwife, a chiropractor or massage therapist to promote health and

healing.

4. NAMAMANA
Is a Filipino language translation of acquiring a behavioral or disease trait from a parent.
It is a belief that when a relative has
the condition, it is possible that it
will be pass on the younger
generation. For example genetic
condition with accompanying
physical deformities such as
achondroplasia- pandak/ unano and
birth defects.

5. SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS/ PAMAHIIN

Are irrational belief that future events are

influenced by specific behaviors, without
having a causal relationship. For example,
pregnant woman eating twin bananas will
cause her to give birth to twins. During
menarche, a woman is advised to skip or sit
three steps on a staircase with a belief that a
period will last for three days and when there
is period you are not advised to take a bath.

6. USOG
Is a filipino superstition that attributes an
illness to the greeting of a stranger. It is
believed that young children are susceptible
to usog. If after encountering a stranger, a
child may develop a fever or abdominal upset
then a stranger is sought out and asked to
wipe his or her saliva on the child’s forehead
or abdomen. Sometimes they will say pwera
usog (excluding usog).
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

7. SUMPA/ KULAM/ KARMA

Sumpa is belief in Filipino culture pertaining to a curse which is inflicted by a human
being. It is same as Bad Karma, which is
said to have afflicted a person when his/ her
illness is a result of a misdeed in the present
or previous life.

8. PINCHING A NEWBORN’S NOSE SO IT WON’T BE PANGO

If you were not born with aquiline nose, you probably resented anyone who disregarded
this myth. Maybe you thought your mom forgot to
pinch your nose from the time when you were a
baby. However, it turns out that no pinching could
ever change your nose because you probably got it
from your parents. The truth is pinching the nose of
infant can actually do more harm than good.

9. EATING ANT TO GET A GREAT SINGING VOICE

We Pinoys love to sing, and probably out

of that love, came all sorts of myths
about being able to sing like Sarah
Geronimo. But the thing is, ants can’t
help you sing better. Although ants
produce formic acid which kills off
bacteria and could help clear up throat
infections.

10. THE FIVE SECONDS RULE

Any food you drop on the floor will be

bacteria- free and is still consumable if you
retrieve it within five seconds. Studies have
actually been done based on this premise and
it’s interesting to note that the adherence of
bacteria depends on the floor’s level of
contamination.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

Filipino Cultural Characteristics

1. FIESTAS/ FESTIVAL
Fiestas in the Philippines are held to
celebrate a patron saint. It is part and
parcel of Filipino culture through good
times and bad times. For some
Filipinos, fiestas can be a way of
supplicating the heavens or to make
amends for past wrongs. It is a way to
celebrate their blessings, commemorate
their past and observe solemn religious
rituals. Celebrations may take the form
of music, dancing, feasting, beauty
contest, ball, processions, sports
challenges or a host of other events.

2. CHRISTMAS
Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world, which runs from September
through to the first week of January.
Festivities starts with a series of midnight
masses known as Simbang Gabi, leading
up to the Christmas eve feast at midnight
followed by Christmas day. All big family
celebrations, it is a time for eating,
drinking and gift giving. There are caroling
and decorations made of traditional star
shaped bamboo lanterns, symbolizing the
star of Bethlehem.

3. FILIPINOS ARE
RELIGIOUS
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

In all corners of a Filipino house, you can find brazen images of crosses and other
religious paraphernalia. They go to church every Sunday, or sometimes even twice or
three times a week.

4. FILIPINOS TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR FAMILIES

In the Philippines, it is family first. So,

whether you are part of the immediate
family or you belong to the third or
fourth generation, you are treated as a
family member. Sometimes, even the
closest of friends are considered
family.

5. FILIPINOS ARE VERY RESPECTFUL

From the moment they were born, they are already
taught how to be respectful by using po and opo,
words that end sentences when addressing elders.
They have a culture of pagmamano, which is where
they raise the backs of the hands of their elders to
their foreheads as a sign of respect.

6. FILIPINOS HELP ONE ANOTHER

More popularly known as bayanihan,

Filipinos help one another without
expecting anything in return so that
undertaking their tasks and
responsibilities become much easier.
Sometimes it is called community spirit.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

7. FILIPIOS ARE VERY RESILIENT

In times of calamities and catastrophes,

Filipinos always manage to rise above
the challenge. Instead of wallowing,
they manage to pick themselves up and
smile.

8. FILIPINOS LOVE TO EAT

Aside from breakfast, lunch,

and dinner, Filipinos manage
to squeeze in a little meal in
between too. Whether they
eat every hour or every three
hours, they savour every bite.
They also love going to
buffets.

9. FILIPINOS LOVE TO SING

This is the reason why karaoke has

become so prevalent. As part of their
recreation, Filipinos spend some quality
time with their families or friends singing
or belting out new and old songs.
 Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES
Nabua, Camarines Sur
COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

10. HOSPITALITY

Filipinos are known for being

hospitable, especially to tourists and
wanderers who do not have place to
stay. They even offer the comforts of
their own homes for tourists who need a
place to stay for a night or two.