BICOL UNIVERSITY

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM

LEGAZPI, CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022

ISO 9001:2015
TUV Rheinland ID 910863351

UNDERSTANDING
SOCIETY,
CULTURE, AND
POLITICS
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING MODULE

Quarter 2 – Module 6.1

Cultural, Social, and Political

Institutions

CORE SUBJECT
GRADE 12
Prepared by:
MS. CHRISTINE IRISH P. GOYENA
Teacher
 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

6.1
CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

OVERVIEW

In the previous lesson, you have learned and identified your social participation in primary and
secondary groups. You have understood that there are different social groups existing in our society
with varied level of belongingness and relationship. With that, you are now ready to socially involve in
bigger mainstream of various institutions in the society.
This lesson is divided into two parts. The first part discusses kinship, marriage, household, and
political and leadership structures. The second part concentrates on the role of the none-state actors
in the life of an individual in particular and society in general.
In this first part of the lesson, you will be situated in the context of your importance and be
aware of your responsibilities in the family and society. This part also deals with the importance of such
membership in various institutions of society. You will be able to analyze and identify their functions
that radically affects the cultural orientation of each individual.

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW IN THIS MODULE?

• Kinship, Marriage, and Household
- Kinship by blood, by marriage, by ritual
- Family and the household
• Political Organizations
- Bands, Tribes, Chiefdoms, States and Nations
• Authority and Legitimacy
- Traditional, Charismatic, Rational

WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN?

• Identify the forms of kinship,

marriage, and household

• Analyze the structure of the

different kinships

• Identify the different forms of

social and political organizations

• Analyze the political relationships

and structure in bands from
tribes, chiefdoms and state.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 2 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

DISCOVER

All of us belongs to a family, clan, and household. In the Philippines, most Filipino families live with
their grandparents and relatives. In general, however, an individual surely belongs to a household. Small
social units like the household is a very economic arrangement in fulfilling basic human needs, such as
the regulation child rearing and coordinating work.
Political structure on the other hand is an organized way of exercising power vested on the leaders
of groups that made up a certain society. The decisions are somehow being lead by the leaders that will
be beneficial to their members.

KINSHIP, MARRIAGE, AND HOUSEHOLD

KEY TERMS
• Kinship
• Lineage
• Descent
• Marriage
• Monogamy
• Polygamy
• Polygyny
• Family
• Nuclear
• Extended
• Blended
• Single-parent
• Household

KINSHIP
Kinship (pagkakamag-anak) is a social institution that refers to relations formed between members
of the society. It explains the nature and reason for the formation of the different types of bonds that exist
within society. Sociologists define kinship as the different forms of socially accepted relations among
people developed through blood or consanguineal relationships, marriage or affinal relationships, adoption
and other culturally accepted rituals.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 3 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

FORMS OF KINSHIP
Kinship by BLOOD Kinship by MARRIAGE Kinship by RITUAL
Relationship is traced through Relationship is forged by Relationship is achieved through
birth or blood affinity marriage alliances a ceremony of co-parenthood

KINSHIP BY BLOOD
Since time immemorial, kinship is traced through bloodline. Discussing kinship, descent and
lineage are often used interchangeably or simultaneously. Through the years, various descents have
evolved and institutionalized.
LINEAGE DESCENT
is a unilineal descent group whose members trace refers to biological relationship or Ancestral
their descent (pinag-mulan) from a common background. It is the principle whereby a person is
ancestor through an accepted sequence of known socially affiliated with the group of his or her parents,
linking ancestor. It is somewhat a principle used on grandparents and so on. The individual belongs
the basis of which the alignment of the members simultaneously to several descent groups – those of
of a kin or inheritance is chosen in a linear pattern. two parents, the four grandparents, and so on.

Using the illustration of Targaryen genealogy, let’s trace the lineage where Jon Snow belongs from
his common ancestor Viserys I. The green line shows the lineage, while the red line encompasses the
overall decent where he belongs.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 4 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS
Types of Descent (Haviland, et. al., 2008)
1. Unilineal Descent - a child is automatically assigned to the mother’s or father’s group at birth
a. Patrilineal Descent - a child is automatically made member of the father’s group only
b. Matrilineal Descent - a child is automatically made member of the mother’s group only
Example of patrilineal (unilineal) descent:

In the Philippines, especially during the Spanish Era, descents and family members where recognized
patrilineal. This makes Dr. Jose Rizal indirectly related to her mother’s side. Another characteristic of
societies following patrilineal descent, the father’s surname is used by the members of the family.

Example of matrilineal (unilineal) descent:

Mosuo Tribe- China

This society is entitled as kingdom of women, since women possess dominance in all aspects of
living especially in the family, they are the one who are expected to decide, work and provide for the family.
In terms of marriage, infidelity is not a deviant behavior, because women practice a walking-marriage
wherein women can sleep with any man in the neighborhood. Biological relationships between kids and
their fathers are not even important.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 5 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS
2. Double Unilineal Descent - a child is assigned to the mother’s or father’s group for specific
purposes
Example: Hunting and gathering societies
The child, especially a male offspring
is assigned to the father to ensure that
eventually he will follow his father’s footsteps
as a hunter.

3. Bilateral Descent - a child is made member of both mother’s and father’s group

Example:
Toda Tribe of Southern India – Their property is inherited patrilineally and ritualistic privileges
related to funerals are inherited matrilineally.

KINSHIP BY MARRIAGE (Affinal Kinship)

As provided by Article 1 of the Family Code of the Philippines, marriage is a special contract of
permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment
of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature,
consequences and incidents are governed by law and subject to stipulation, except that marriage
settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this code.
There are various forms of marriages such as monogamy, polygamy, polygyny, and polyandry.
Forms of Marriage

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 6 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

KINSHIP BY RITUAL
In other term, this is called as compadrinazgo literally translated as “godparenthood” (compadre,
kumara, ninong, ninang, and inaanak relationship). This is a ritualized form of forging co-parenthood or
family. This can be done through the performance of baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD

Family refers to “two or more people related by blood, marriage, or adoption;” whereas a household
is defined as “the basic residential unit where economic, production, consumption, inheritance, child
rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out” (Havilland, et. al., 2008). The household can have other
members aside from the family – nuclear, extended, blended, and single-parent
Family:

Household:

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 7 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

POLITICAL AND LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES

KEY TERMS
• Bands
• Tribes

• Chiefdoms

• States and Nations

• Traditional

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Human beings are considered social animals. Being such, they have a natural tendency to join
groups. However, considering that individuals have different interests, the tendency towards conflict is as
natural as the tendency to join social groups. Thus, there is a need to establish a political system where
power structures are defined to ensure that conflicts are managed.

DIFFERENT POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS

Bands
According to anthropological studies political
development and organizations started with the formation of
bands. The main basis of their integration is kinship by blood
or affinity. This is the form of organization that nomadic people
or indigenous people belonged before, and they stay close and
cooperate together as an important means for survival. Since
bands started from early years of human endeavors, the time
when people are living with nomadic life, we can visualize that
they try to live harmoniously with each other to survive from
their own hunger and hunger of the wild animals, as well from
the unconstrained environment. The number is small, predominantly foraging society of 50 or fewer
members that divides labor by age and sex only and provides relatively equal access for all adults to wealth,
power and prestige. Informal leadership and decision making is achieved through consensus between the
members of the band. An informal leader does not possess absolute political power and could not compel
others and can only give advice.
Note that conflicts between members of a band are also experienced, according to studies. As
band increase its size, conflicts between food supply and interests arise, making them to split from each
other’s company, a process also known as “band fission”, or create also a separate group which is also
called as “social velocity”.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 8 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

Tribes
A band that’s survives band fission and social velocity,
even as it experiences increasing population and a shift from
foraging and hunting community to one where a presence of
multiple communities engaged in pastoral or horticultural
forms of livelihood, eventually becomes a tribe. Just like bands,
social relationship between members of the tribes is egalitarian
by nature. The manner by which tribes are organized is through
the presence of “pantribal associations”, or what
anthropologists refer as “sodalities/fellowship”. These come in
the form of councils or tribal elders.
Even tribes are often headed by a village headman, such role does not have an absolute political
power. A village headman derives his authorities from having a senior position, coupled with an ability to
force or encourage others to obey him.

Chiefdoms
As humanity became more engaged with civilization
that influence them to achieve complex social relationships and
statuses. Territories and natural resources became important
possesions, technology became a weapon to wield or gain
power against rival communities. However, these changes
created pressure to the society to form hierarchical structure
of power and transform bands into Chiefdoms.
Social classes exist and are differentiated according to
the level of their power in relation to the permanent ruler
(chieftain), but social mobility can exist (a change of social
class). Furthermore, social status is affected by marriage, age, and sex.

State and Nation

An economic, political and ideological entity invented

by stratified societies sharing common identity such as
language, tradition, customs, and ethnicity; possesses
specialized government institutions to administer services and
collect taxes and tributes; monopolizes use of force;
possesses high level and quality of craft production

The discrimination of nations within a state influenced the desire of many states towards nation
building. By cultivating a sense of nationalism which may establish a common and homogenous national
identity, like a national language and national symbols, groups may not take into consideration the existence
of the unique cultural attributes of other national groupings. This leads to discrimination, and in some
instance, it could lead to forced integration into the culture of the dominant national identity and even to
actual genocide.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 9 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

AUTHORITY AND LEGITIMACY

Authority is the power to make obligatory decisions and issue commands. It is necessary for a
leader to possess authority. What makes authority obligatory and worthy of obedience is its legitimacy.
Legitimacy is a moral and ethical concept that grants one who possesses power the RIGHT to
exercise such power since such is perceived to be justified and proper. Legitimacy is the acceptance or
recognition of the right to exercise power.
Max Weber, a German sociologist and philosopher, proposed a classification of power, based on
different types of authority. These are Traditional, Charismatic, and Legal-rational authorities.

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
Authority is rooted in traditional values and existing social ties and
institutions. An example of people who wield traditional power are
monarchs and members of royal families. In the Philippines, many of
the political and social elite are perceived to have power and authority
because they belong to political families who have ruled for
generations, which also leads to existing political dynasties.

CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY
Obedience is based on the person qualities of the individual who wields
power. The person’s authority is recognized based on his or her
characteristics, whose qualities are considered to be exceptional, and
how he or she is perceived by other people in society. Great example
for this type are those celebrities running for positions in the
government.

LEGAL-RATIONAL AUTHORITY
Authority is based on a system of laws and regulations, and an
established bureaucracy, Person is able to exercise power because
he or she has been empowered by law. Power in this context,
depends on an individual's position in the social hierarchy, and the
roles and responsibilities that come with this position. People obey
through a legitimate command from the leader.

RECOLLECT

• Kinship is “a network of relatives within which individuals possess certain mutual rights and
obligations”
• There are various forms of kinship such as by blood, by marriage, and by ritual
• Family is defined as “two or more people related by blood, marriage, or adoption.”
• Household is the basic residential unit of society where economic production, consumption,
inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out.
• Political organizations are created to maintain order.
• Political systems are either centralized or decentralized.
• Authority is a crucial element in a political system.
• Authority is characterized as traditional, charismatic, rational, and even by state actors.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 10 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

DEEPEN
Great job! Now here is an in-depth activity that will enable you to critically think and
challenge your understanding about the Cultural and Political Organizations.

Activity 1: MY VIEWS AND OPINIONS

Instruction: Below are real issues in the community which affects family relationship and involvement and
participation in the community. Express your personal views on how this certain issues and
concern in the community affects you personally? How did you deal with it? And respond to
how these issues be resolved?

• Marital Issues
What is your stand on legalization of divorce in the Philippines?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

• Leadership and Administration Issue and Concern

What is your personal assessment on the leadership enactment of President Rodrigo Duterte on resolving
the health crisis in the Philippines?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

TRANSFER
Let us apply your understanding by doing this creative activity!

Activity 2: ESSAY
Instruction: As an individual, what do you think is the importance of being affiliated or belonging to a state?
Share your reflections through an essay. Minimum of 3 paragraphs and maximum of 4.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 11 of 12

 BICOL UNIVERSITY
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
CULTURAL SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
LEGAZPI CITY
1st Semester, A.Y 2021-2022 INSTITUTIONS

OPEN NOTES
Instruction: Write down any ideas or thoughts that you have about any of the topics discussed in this
module. You may list down your questions, reactions, unclear thoughts. Also, answer the
questions below:
1. Which part of the lesson did you enjoy the most? How about the least?
2. Which part of the lesson you find difficult to understand or still unclear to you?

References
Rovero, P. A. (2020). Understanding Culture Society and Politics. La Union : La Union Schools Division - Region I.

Santarita, J. B., & Madrid, R. M. (2016). Understanding Culture Society and Politics. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS s. 2021 12 of 12