Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Welcome to the study of culture, society, and politics. As you move forward in
the discussions, you will begin to understand that your daily experiences are
connected with the realities and phenomena that define our society.
The events that have defined your lives up to the present are a product of the
processes and interactions within our society. Social, cultural, and political
issues go beyond the news and classroom discussions. As you learn the
concepts, theories, and views that shaped and defined how we view and
examine the various aspects of Philippine culture, society, and politics, you
will realize that these topics have been closely intertwined with our
experiences. To study them is to take a closer and more meaningful look into
our own lives and the larger forces that shape our community and nation.
At the end of the chapter, the students will be able to;
1. define the concept of identity and relate it to society and culture;
2. define the social sciences and describe its various fields of study,
3. discuss how each social science contributes to understanding society,
culture, and politics;
4. describe how social backgrounds shape views about society and the
world;
5. analyze social, political, and cultural change, and give examples of
each;
6. relate their observations on social differences, social change, and
identities, and discuss their interrelatedness; and,
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
Understanding Culture and Society takes a closer look at society and gives an
overview of its development. Culture, its characteristics, and various aspects
are discussed together with related concepts.
The three disciplines of Anthropology, Sociology, and Political Science are
discussed, focusing on their views regarding the study of society and culture.
The Wave Migration Theory is arguably the most widely known of the
prehistoric theories of population development in the Philippines.
Jocano contends that what fossil evidence of ancient men shows is that they
not only migrated to the Philippines, but also to New Guinea, Borneo, and
Australia. He says that there is no way of determining if they were Negritos at
all. However, what is sure is that there is evidence the Philippines was
inhabited tens of thousands of years ago. In 1962, a skull cap and a portion of a
jaw, presumed to be those of a human being, were found in Tabon Cave in
Palawan.
The nearby charcoal from cooking fires has been dated to c. 22,000 years ago.
While Palawan was connected directly to Sundaland during the last ice age
(and separated from the rest of the Philippines by the Mindoro Strait), Callao
Man's still-older remains (c. 67,000 B.P.) were discovered in northern Luzon.
Some have argued that this may show settlement of the Philippines earlier than
that of the Malay Peninsula.
Jocano further believes that the present Filipinos are products of the long
process of cultural evolution and movement of people. This not only holds true
for Filipinos but for the Indonesians and the Malays of Malaysia, as well. No
group among the three is culturally or genetically dominant. Hence, Jocano
says that it is not correct to attribute the Filipino culture as being Malayan in
orientation.
Modern theories
Out of Sundaland
The various "Out of Sundaland" hypotheses, posited by a minority of modern
authors and differing slightly in the details, are similar to F. Landa Jocano's
"Core Population" hypothesis. However, instead of the Philippines, they
assume the origin of the Austronesian peoples as being the now sunken
Sundaland landmass (modern Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Malay
Peninsula). These models have been criticized as relying only on mtDNA
genetic data without accounting for admixture events, thus having results that
mistakenly combine the much older Paleolithic Negrito populations with the
newer Neolithic Austronesian peoples.
Out of Taiwan
The most widely accepted hypothesis today is the "Out of Taiwan" model, first
proposed by Peter Bellwood. Although originally largely based on linguistic
evidence, it has corresponded to archaeological, cultural, and genetic findings
later on; including whole-genome sequencing data, rather than the mtDNA
sequencing relied upon by "Out of Sundaland" proponents.
In this hypothesis, the first Austronesians reached the Philippines at around
2200 BC from Taiwan, settling the Batanes Islands and northern Luzon. From
there, they rapidly spread downwards to the rest of the islands of the
Philippines and Southeast Asia, as well as voyaging further east to reach the
Northern Mariana Islands by around 1500 BC. They assimilated the earlier
Negrito groups which arrived during the Paleolithic, resulting in the modern
Filipino ethnic groups which all display various ratios of genetic admixture
between Austronesian and Negrito groups.
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A 2021 genetic study, which examined representatives of 115 indigenous
communities, found evidence of at least five independent waves of early
human migration. Negrito groups, divided between those in Luzon and those in
Mindanao, may come from a single wave and diverge subsequently, or through
two separate waves.
This likely occurred sometime after 46,000 years ago. Another Negrito
migration entered Mindanao sometime after 25,000 years ago. Two early East
Asian waves (Austroasiatic and possible Austric) were detected, one most
strongly evidenced among the Manobo people who live in inland Mindanao,
and the other in the Sama-Bajau and related people of the Sulu archipelago,
Zamboanga Peninsula, and Palawan. The admixture found in the Sama people
indicates a relationship with the Lua and Mlabri people of mainland Southeast
Asia and reflects a similar genetic signal found in western Indonesia. These
happened sometime after 15,000 years ago and 12,000 years ago respectively,
around the time the last glacial period was coming to an end.
Austronesians, either from Southern China or Taiwan, were found to have
come in at least two distinct waves. The first, occurring perhaps between
10,000 and 7,000 years ago, brought the ancestors of indigenous groups that
today live around the Cordillera Central mountain range. Later migrations
brought other Austronesian groups, along with agriculture, and the languages
of these recent Austronesian migrants effectively replaced those existing
populations. In all cases, new immigrants appear to have mixed to some degree
with existing populations. The integration of Southeast Asia into Indian Ocean
trading networks around 2,000 years ago also shows some impact, with South
Asian genetic signals present within some Sama-Bajau communities.
American
After the independence from the Spaniards, the Philippines was also under the
Americans after the Treaty of Paris (1899) ended the Spanish American War,
until 1941 when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur returned and led to liberate the Philippines and it was finally given
independence as a republic in 1946.
Those close to fifty years definitely majorly influenced the Philippines -- let's
talk about fast food: hamburgers, hotdogs, and french fries; then clothing,
education system, and of course the English language. Even the jeepney, which
is a symbol of Philippine transportation was originally made from US Military
jeeps from World War II.
There are lots of English terms that do not have direct Filipino translation like
cake (keyk), ballpen (bolpen), computer (kompyuter), among others.
What About the Indigenous Filipinos?
The Igorot tribe also includes the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanaey
and Tinguian groups. Other tribes living in the north are Isnag from Apayao,
Gaddang (found between Kalinga and Isabela provinces), and the Ilongots
living within the east mountains of Luzon called the Sierra Madre and the
Caraballo Mountains. The Ilongots are known for their intense aggressiveness
and cultural conservatism.
Ati and TumandokOne of the few clans in Visayas, the Ati and Tumandok
tribes of Panay Island are the first to call the island their home. Genetically
related to other indigenous groups in the country, they mostly resemble the
Aetas or Negritos who are characterised by their dark skin. While some
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adopted Western religions, they still carry some animistic beliefs and rituals
passed down by their ancestors.
Palawan Tribes
Palawan is also home to various tribes such as the Batak, Palaweño, Palawano,
and the Tagbanwa. Mostly living in mountains or lowland dwellings, some of
these groups have also been included in the large Manobo tribe of the South.
They have not totally embraced urban living, with the majority living in more
rural settings.
Mangyan
Their relatives and neighbors expect them to bring home pasalubong. They are
also regarded as "modern-day heroes" by both the government and their
families for sacrificing to leave their families and country to earn a better
living abroad. Meanwhile, there is also an increasing number of transnational
families, with members living in different parts of the world. As a result,
members of the family, most especially children, no longer identify with a
household whose members live in the same house. Members of transnational
families primarily interact with each other through the Internet and other social
media platforms.
This is not to say that Filipinos abroad do not have an impact on their countries
of destination. In the United States, particularly in California, Filipino
restaurants and groceries abound. Filipino nurses are also known abroad
because their kindness and care for their patients, particularly, the elderly-
which is a revered Filipino trait. These examples manifest that international
migration is creating social, cultural, and political changes both here and
abroad.
RELIGION
‘religare’ a Latin word – ‘to bind together
It is a system of beliefs and practices, as well as systems of actions directed
toward entities that are above men
It is an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere or the
supernatural
CULTURAL VARIATION
Religion
Gender vs Sex
LGBTQi (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning,
Intersex)
GENDER
One's sense of self as masculine or feminine regardless of external
genitalia.
Socially constructed characteristics
Personality characteristics
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SEX
It is biological
It refers to a person based on their anatomy
Bodies
LGBTQi
Lesbian - A woman who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to
other women.
Gay - Men who are attracted emotionally, romantically, and/or sexually to
men.
Bisexual - A person who is attracted to two sexes or two genders, but not
necessarily simultaneously or equally.
Transgender
Transgender (sometimes shortened to trans or TG) people are those whose
psychological self ("gender identity") differs from the social expectations for
the physical sex they were born with.
Queer/Questioning - a person who is attracted to multiple genders
Intersex - Intersexuality is a set of medical conditions that feature congenital
anomalies of the reproductive and sexual system.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
It refers to the category of persons who have more or less the same socio-
economic privileges.
Upper class
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Middle class
Lower class
EXCEPTIONALITY
It refers to the state of being intellectually gifted and/or having physically or
mentally challenged conditions
Personality/ behavior
Communication (learning disability, speech impairment, and hearing
problems)
Intellect (mild intellectual & mental development disabilities)
Physical appearance (blind-low vision)
Or a combination of more than one specific exceptionality/disability.
Historical Beginnings
American anthropology gradually generated social and cultural interests in the
fields of folklore and native sexual practices. One anthropologist was Ruth
Benedict who was a student of Franz Boas, the founder of American
Anthropology Ruth Benedict became a specialist in anthropology and folklore
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and authored one of the three famous books utilized in the academic scene for
reference purposes known as Patterns of Culture. She was a colleague of
Margaret Mead who was very much described in the academic circle as
"controversial" for intensively studying the sexual practices among native
populations. Such views gave rise to a relatively new liberal view on sex and
sexual practices in the United States at a time when most Americans were still
labeled as conventional and conservative.
In any case, the field of anthropology offers several topics for relevant research
and discussion in various academic fields since its distinct way of data
gathering from their respondents applies participant observation which is
central to ethnography or the ethnographic approach. The founding father of
this strategy was Bronislaw Malinowski. Since common data gathering
techniques, from people as respondents, simply involved unstructured
interviews and surveys for their units of analysis.
THE STUDY OF THE SOCIAL WORLD: SOCIOLOGY
LAUNCH!
What Is Sociology?
People make many decisions, both mundane and serious, in the course of their
daily living. We decide what dish to cook, where to buy shirts, what name to
give our child, when to get married, how to best discipline children and others.
We take it for granted that when asked who decides in these matters, we
readily say, "Of course, I did! We like to think of ourselves as independent-
minded and that we behave according to choices we make out of our own free
will.
Sociology makes us aware that when we make decisions, such as those
mentioned above, it is within the context of our family, peers, school, nation,
and other groups that form our social world. Just as the seasons affect the
clothes we wear and the kind of activities we engage in our social world guide
our life choices.
Does this make sense? Think about it. Even when you think you are making
your own choices, is it not that you are only picking from a fairly limited range
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of options? For example, during lunchtime in school, you probably would
choose rice and adobo and you would say, "My personal favorite." Try to think
beyond the idea that your food preference is your own personal favorite. Is it
not that your being a Filipino is a large part of the reason why adobo is your
favorite, and in the Philippines, adobo is available in most restaurants? Thus,
your race has played a part in your choice of food.
Let us move on to a more serious matter. Consider dating. The decisions of
whether to date, whom to date, and when to date are very personal. However, a
closer look reveals that they are not. Dating decisions follow certain rules.
For example, in the Philippines, you can only date at a certain age, and your
parents have to know and permit it. Your family places more restrictions you
should date someone who comes from good family background, preferably of
the same religion. There are no laws that dictate that family rules must pervade
but try violating them, and you will experience serious consequences. Now,
you wonder why everyone cares so much about whom you date.
Congratulations, in doing so, you are already using sociology!
Sociology's point of view is distinct from other sciences. Peter Berger explains
that the perspective of sociology enables us to see "general patterns in
particular events (Macionis, 2010). This means finding general patterns in
particular events. The first systematic study on suicide provides a good
example. Emile Durkheim's pioneering study on suicide in the 1800s revealed
that there are categories of people who are more likely to commit suicide.
In France and Central Europe, the suicide rate was higher for the males,
Protestants, wealthy, and the unmarried compared to the females, Catholics,
Jews, the poor, and they married. In general, the more socially integrated
POWER
ORDER
IS ATTAINED THROUGH
OBEDIENCE ON THE RULES SET BY
LEADERS
ORDER
Politics as a Science
Science is commonly defined as the knowledge derived from experiments and
observations systematically done. Policy-making and government decisions are
done through research, investigation, analysis, validation, planning, execution,
and evaluation. Thus, politics is a science
Furthermore, in studying politics, we systematically study the state and the
government known as political science, Political science works with other
fields of social sciences, including sociology and anthropology, in
understanding how government performs and how politics and governance
work.
Humans seek explanations about why things happen Each person has ideas
about the nature of existence, motion, and relationships. Our ideas come from
everywhere—from experiences, conversations, materials we read mass media
we access, advertisements we are exposed to, our teachers, family, friends, and
foes—all these are sources of our ideas
For example, you have observed that your classmate who is an avid K- pop
fanatic can sing K-pop songs really well but when you asked what the lyrics
mean, she tells you, "I don't actually know. Does it matter? I just like K-pop."
This intrigues you and you try to find out how someone could like something
he or she cannot understand. Could it be that the lyrics are secondary to the
beat or melody? Trying to go beyond what common sense tells you is a good
thing! When you're seeking explanations, you are starting to theorize.
A. What Is a Theory?
Our own personal theories about our existence, our society, our world, etc.
stem from our beliefs and assumptions, which may or may not have some
factual basis.
B. Theoretical Paradigms
Studying the Social World
LAUNCH!
In the example above, how would you explain Ethan's situation? Is it pure
luck or is there something else operating that enables him to be prompt?
Trying to formulate explanations means you are beginning to theorize In
sociology, a theory is a set of general assumptions about the nature of
society. It is a set of fundamental assumptions about society that guides
sociological thinking and research which allows us to analyze effectively
any dimension of society.
Macro versus Micro View
Sociologists may study human society by focusing on the large social
phenomena or the big picture," such as social institutions and inequality
to see how it operates. This is the macro view. They can also zero in on the
immediate social situations where people interact with one another by
looking at the situational patterns of social interaction. This is the micro
view,
ACTIVITY 1
Directions:
ACTIVITY 2
Directions: The teacher will group the students into 4. Each group will choose
a leader and a secretary to consolidate their answers on a table similar to what
is shown below.