UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

Core Subject

Class No.: _____ Date: _________________________

Name: ____________________________________ st Module 4 – 1 Quarter – SY20212022
Grade and Section: __________________________ Teacher: ______________________

I. Title: Cultural Relativism and Understanding

II. Objectives:
After accomplishing this module, you must be able to:
1. differentiate the concept of ethnocentrism from xenocentrism;
2. understand the importance of cultural relativism to understanding; and
3. appreciate reading supplementary materials as a good tool in learning.
Material/s:
III.
1. Supplementary learning materials can be accessed through the orange applications.
2. For further readings you may visit the links below.
https://humangeography.pressbooks.com/chapter/understanding-culture/

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/12/badjao-nomads-sea-

151207105708904.html

http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-philippines/badjao/
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/individuals-and-society/perception-

prejudice-and-bias/v/ethnocentrism-and-cultural-relativism-in-group-and-out-group

All definitions contained in this module were lifted from the Open Education Sociology
Dictionary.
https://sociologydictionary.org

IV. Time Frame:

Week 3 – Day 7 and 8
200 minutes

V. Concept:
Often, a comparison of one culture to another will reveal obvious differences.
However, all cultures also share common elements. Despite how much humans have
in
common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than cultural universals.
Perhaps the greatest challenge for social scientists studying different cultures is
the matter of keeping a perspective. It is impossible for anyone to keep all cultural biases
at bay; the best we can do is to strive towards awareness of them. Pride in one’s own
culture does not have to lead to imposing its values on others. Moreover, an appreciation
for another culture should not preclude individuals from studying it with a critical eye.

VI. Activity: Social Science and the Everyday

Activity 1 :The Sanip Tribe Worksheet
Time Frame: 20 minutes
This activity is an opportunity to see how much you already know of your own heritage
andculture as a Filipino. The activity is also a chance tohave a deeper look at the
indigenous peoples’ (IPs) way of living in the Philippines alongside others. Read the
article entitled “The Sanip Tribe” and carefully answer the questions that follow.
(attachment
A
See
for the copy of the Sanip Tribe article.)
“...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.” Page 1 of 8

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4

 Guide Questions:
1. What is the name of the tribe being described in the article?
sanip tribe
___________________
2. In which part/ s of the Philippines do they reside?
______________________________________
They can be found sporadically throughout the coastlines of Zamboanga del
Sur, Sulu, tawi tawi, basilan, and other nearby coastal municipalities.

3. Describe the tribe’s livelihood and way of living.

__________________________________________________________________
The tribe lives close to the ocean, they are skilled deep-sea divers and fishers. There are many advantages
to living by the ocean, they use it to build their homes there and to provide for their family's daily needs.
_______________________________________________________________
4. Cite at least 2 rituals mentioned in the article and briefly describe each.
A.As_______________________________________________________________
part of their cultural tradition, tribe members throw the newborn baby into the water and let
the tribe members dive the baby.
_____________________________________________________________
B. _______________________________________________________________
Due to their culture and beliefs, they arrange marriages for their
sons and daughters.
______________________________________________________________

Activity no. 2: Comparative Matrix

Time Frame: 20 minutes

This activity is designed for you to relate your culture to that of the Sanip tribe. Based
on the results of your reading, complete the information needed on the second column
then share your own practices on the third column.
Culture Sanip Tribe My Culture
Birth A newborn child is thrown in the ocean. Baptism form of ritual purification

Marriage
marriages are prearranged by the We choose the individuals we want to
parents spend the rest of our lives with.

Livelihood livelihood solely on the sea

We are the beneficiaries of their labor,
receiving things like fish and wheat

Topic no. 1: Ethnocentrism A (views toward different cultures within the same
society)
Time Frame: 20 minutes

For starters, it has to be clear that the word ‘sanip’ is just a set of jumbled letters
which when read in reverse is – Pinas (short term for Pilipinas). There is no tribe in the
Philippines that go by the name ‘sanip.’ This word play is just placed here as an attempt
to make you realize that indigenous peoples / tribes in our country, no matter how
different there may appear to us, are also Filipinos.
The idea here is to mask the identity of one of the indigenous peoples in the
country (the Badjaos) to be able to extract your authentic reaction from reading their
unique beliefs and practices.
For the sake of informal discussion, please answer the following questions about your
activity.
A. When you were completing the matrix from activity no. 2 (showing the tribe’s
practices as compared to your own), what exactly is your impression of their beliefs?
______________________________________________________________________
I have trouble understanding some things because I always consider what might happen if a
_____________________________________________________________________
newborn infant perished as a result of their beliefs.
B. Did you appreciate the uniqueness of the Badjao’ s uniqueness of culture and way of
living? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________________
Yes, they must be brave parents for overcoming challenges and still being capable of meeting the
_____________________________________________________________________
needs of their family despite the difficulties of life.

“...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4 Page 2 of 8

 Not to put words in your mouth, but typically, when we are introduced to beliefs
and practices which are different from how we conduct our lives or understand the world,

the tendency is to automatically feel negative (of not low) of other people’ s culture. Such

attitude is a manifestation of ethnocentrism, or evaluating and judging another culture

based on how it compares to one’s own cultural norms.
Ethnocentric views, when tolerated, can have negative effects which can easily
blow out of proportion if not managed properly.

Activity no. 3: The White Man’s Burden

Time Frame: 20 minutes

This activity is an opportunity to see how much you already know of your ownheritage
and culture as a Filipino. The activity is also a chance toshed light on the perspective
of the colonizers as to why they needed to do what was done during the age of
colonization.
Read the poem entitled “The White Man’ s Burden” and carefully answer the questions
that follow. See attachment B for the copy of The White Man’s Burden poem.

Guide Questions:
1. In the poem, what country is being referred to as the “White Man”?
___________________
The united states
2. Which country is being described as the “White Man’s Burden”?
Philippines
______________________________________
3. What important part of the human history is being described in the poem?
__________________________________________________________________
the purported historical task of white societies to control and civilize non-white societies
through colonial subjugation
__________________________________________________________________
Topic no. 2: Ethnocentrism B (views toward different cultures from different
societies)
Time Frame: 10 minutes

The White Man’ s Burden is an ode to the imperialistic efforts of the United
States of America. On the surface, it seems poetic and harmless however, when you
pay attention to the symbolisms used by Kipling, you will understand how the Western
countries looked down on the people and races from the places they have colonized
in the course of imperialism. As the former American president Theodore Roosevelt
said, this poem is “rather poor poetry, but good sense from the expansion (of territory)
point of view.”
This poem right here is one of the poster scenes of Ethnocentrism back in those
times. How the colonizers considered the “non- whites” as savages/ uncivilized
people who needed their saving grace to learn and organize their own societies.
Topic no. 3: Xenocentrism
Time Frame: 10 minutes
The adverse effects of having to live with Ethnocentrism may result into a counter
concept called Xenocentrism. In essence, the word is defined as the belief that another
culture is superior to one’ s own. For example, a “probinsyana” who transfers to the
country’ s capital city and study college may pick up new fragments of values and
practices which are different from her means of living back in her hometown. Once she
gets used to these new practices, she may find it difficult to associate them with what
she got used to, back in her province. Xenocentric view states that there is always a
tendency to feel inferior towards the means and ways of the city, thus nurturing and
developing xenocentrism in the culture.
Xenocentric tendencies are possible to exist in both the scenarios posted from
your activities on the Sanip Tribe and White Man’s Burden. For indigenous peoples who
get displaced from their natural territory to the urban areas (cities), exposure to the new
means and ways of living (Culture Shock) can later develop into feelings of inferiority

“...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4 Page 3 of 8

 over the natives of the city. Thus, xenocentric views towards one’s own upbringing may

be developed overtime. Furthermore, due to the long history of colonization in the

Philippines, it is not impossible that we, as a people, have already cultivated feelings of
inferiority towards our colonizers which are still very much noticeable up to the present.
Xenocentrism posts the idea that there is always a harm to swing too far on the
other end of the “Ethocentric – Xenocentric” spectrum.
Activity no. 4 :La Indolenciade los Filipinos: Defend the Filipinos!
Time Frame: 20 minutes
This activity is designed for you to fill in the shoes of our national hero – Dr. Jose
P. Rizal. In one of his published essays in La Solidaridad, our national hero boldly
expressed his thoughts about the negative impressions that the Spaniards had
towards the native Filipinos during their colonization.
From the perspective of a Filipino (Dr. Rizal), answer the allegations/ claims of
the Spaniards below.(See attachment C for the copy of The Indolence of the Filipino
People.)

Spaniard’ s View Filipino’ s View (Dr. Jose Rizal’ s perspective)

“… the Filipinos are not hard Filipinos are diligent workers who are willing
workers.” to make sacrifices to support their families and
to risk everything for their own country.

“… the Filipinos settle as workers and

did not try to build their own Taxes were exceedingly high. Incredibly high
businesses/ tend their lands.”
that a massive a percentage of their income
attended a government meeting or those friars

… Filipinos do not like to educate education not just as learning facts or

practical skills, but also as an enlightenment
themselves in school.”
of human strength and spirit, a realization of
our potential

Topic no. 4: Cultural Relativism and

Understanding

Time Frame: 20 minutes

Cultural Relativism is the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards

rather than viewing it through the lenses of one’ s (spectator/ outsider) own culture. In
the context of your activity, you were able to examine one of the essays written by Dr.
Jose P. Rizal – The Indolence of the Filipino People. This essay is an attempt to provide
another perspective in the harsh accusations toward Filipinos thrown by the Spaniards
during their colonization in the country. Dr. Rizal attempted to provide a narrative of the
Spanish colonization, not from the perspective of the colonizers, but from the views
of the oppressed.
Practicing cultural relativism requires an open mind and a willingness to consider,
and even adapt to new values, beliefs and norms. For example, A culturally- relativist
person will try to appreciate the Sanip tribe’ s love of the sea and their rich skills in diving
instead of looking down on them or forcing them to change their way of living through a
strong imposition of other people’ s practices (cultural imperialism).
“… the greatest challenge for us (who study cultures) is the matter of keeping a
perspective. It is impossible for anyone to keep all cultural biases at bay, the best we
can do is strive to be aware of them. Pride in one’s culture doesn’t have to lead in
imposing its values in others. And an appreciation for another culture shouldn’t preclude
individuals from studying it with a critical eye.”

“... _the last paragraph was lifted from Lumen Sociology

the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4 Page 4 of 8

VII. Evaluation (First Quarter – Quiz no. 3)
Time Frame: 40 minutes
A. Read each statement and find the concepts being described in the crossword puzzle.
Mark out the words on the puzzle then copy them to the spaces provided for each
item.
Xenocentrism
______________1. It refers to the belief that another culture is superior to one’s own.
_______________2.
ethnocentrism It is the deliberate imposition of one’s own cultural values on
another culture.
_______________3.
values These are patterns of traits/ practices that are globally common
to all societies.
_______________4.
shock It is described as a feeling/ experience of disorientation when
confronted with a different culture.
_______________5.
relativism This is the evaluation and judgment towards another culture
based on how it compares to one’s cultural norms.

B. Watch the video in the link provided below that talk further about the native Philippine
culture particularly of a tribe in Bontoc. Answer the questions that follow.
DISCLAIMER: The video clip to be accessed may contain use of profane and
blunt language which may be sensitive for some students. If deemed necessary,
parental supervision may be done in order to maintain an academic mindset
while watching.
PLEASE USE EARPHONES if you will be watching the video in a public space.
Website Time Frame Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGzo1jiIjHY&t=40s
Youtube 21: 23 What if there was no concept of rape? I Carla Ocampo I TEDxADMU

GuideQuestions:
1. What is the name of the tribe being described in the video? (1 point)
bondoc romblom tribe
________________
2. What is the main issue being discussed throughout the video? (1 point)
____________________________________________________
concept of rape
3. According to the speaker, what is there in the Bontoc culture that does not make
rape culture possible? Briefly describe that concept/ culture. (3 points)
__________________________________________________________________
According to the speaker, rape culture cannot exist in Bontoc culture because men and women are equal and there is no hierarchy
__________________________________________________________________
between them. The person speaking also mentions that the Bontoc people have a strong sense of community and belonging.
VIII. Reflection: 1 Word – Fits All
Time Frame: 20 minutes
You are asked to reflect on your insights about our discussion. Come up with
ONLY ONE (1) WORD that would embody your most important realization from this
module.
You can be creative in writing your word inside the box below.

acknowledgment
“...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4

Page 5 of 8
 “...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4 Page 6 of 8

Attachment A. Attachment B.
“The White Man’s Burden”: Kipling’ s
“The Sanip Tribe” Hymn to U.S. Imperialism
(lifted from Glimpses: Peoples of the

Philippines by Jesus T. Peralta, 2002) (lifted from Rudyard Kipling, “The White Man’s

Burden: The United States & The Philippine

Widely known as the “Sea Gypsies” of the Islands, 1899.” Rudyard Kipling’s Verse: Definitive

Sulu and Celebes Seas, the Badjao are scattered Edition (Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1929)
along the coastal areas of TawiTawi, Sulu, Basilan,
and some coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Take up the White Man’s burden—

Sur in the ARMM. Amongst themselves, they're Send forth the best ye breed—
known as Sama Laus (Sea Sama) and are found Go send your sons to exile
living on houseboats where they make their To serve your captives' need
livelihood solely on the sea as expert fishermen, To wait in heavy harness
deep sea divers, and navigators. They come to On fluttered folk and wild—
shore to barter their harvests for farmed produce Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
such as fruits and cassava, as well as, replenish Half devil and half child
their supplies and/or make repairs to their Take up the White Man’s burden
houseboats. Unique to their cultural rituals is the In patience to abide
concept of life and their relationship to the sea: For To veil the threat of terror
example, as a childbirth ritual, a newly born infant is And check the show of pride;
thrown into the sea and members of the clan dive By open speech and simple
to save the newborn. Other traditions such as An hundred times made plain
marriages are prearranged by the parents for their To seek another’s profit
sons and daughters; the process similar to other And work another’s gain
ethnic groups, in that, a dowry is often presented to Take up the White Man’s burden—
the parents of the woman a man wishes to marry. And reap his old reward:
And, only the Badjao leader can consecrate a The blame of those ye better
marriage. Therefore a leader is chosen based on The hate of those ye guard—
individual inherent virtues, wisdom, and The cry of hosts ye humour
“charisma”...an inate ability to attract followers. (Ah slowly) to the light:
Sadly, due to the ongoing conflict in the "Why brought ye us from bondage,
“Our loved Egyptian night?”
region between revolutionary Muslim groups and Take up the White Man’s burden-
the government, many Badjao have migrated to Have done with childish days-
Sabah in Malaysia and Sulawesi and Kalimantan in The lightly proffered laurel,
Indonesia. As a result, they now comprise the The easy, ungrudged praise.
second-largest ethnic group in Sabah, despite the Comes now, to search your manhood
fact that many of them are illegal immigrants. Through all the thankless years,
There, the Badjao speak nearly (10) languages of Cold-edged with dear-bought wisdom,
the Sama-Bajau subgroup of the Western Malayo- The judgment of your peers!
polynesian language family.

In February 1899, British novelist and poet

Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem entitled “The White

Man’s Burden: The United States and The

Philippine Islands.” In this poem, Kipling urged the

U.S. to take up the “burden” of empire, as had

Britain and other European nations. Published in

the February, 1899 issue of McClure’s Magazine,

the poem coincided with the beginning of the

Philippine-American War and U.S. Senate

ratification of the treaty that placed Puerto Rico,

Guam, Cuba, and the Philippines under American

control. Theodore Roosevelt, soon to become vice-

president and then president, copied the poem and

sent it to his friend, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge,

commenting that it was “rather poor poetry, but

good sense from the expansion point of view.” Not

everyone was as favorably impressed as

Roosevelt. The racialized notion of the “White

Man’s burden” became a euphemism for

imperialism, and many anti-imperialists couched

their opposition in reaction to the phrase.

“...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4 Page 7 of 8

 Attachment C. there were cockfights, and during feast days,
“The Indolence of the Filipino People” thegovernment officials and friars were the first to
engange in all sorts of bets and gambles.
(lifted from The Life and Works of Rizal blogspot,
2011) Seventh, there was a crooked system of
religion. The friars taught the naïve Filipinos that it
La Indolencia de los Filipinos, more popularly known was easier for a poor man to enter heaven, and so
in its English version, "The Indolence of the they preferred not to work and remain poor so that
Filipinos," is a exploratory essay written by Philippine they could easily enter heaven after they died.
national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, to explain the alleged
Lastly, the taxes were extremely high, so
idleness of his people during the Spanish
much so that a huge portion of what they
colonization.
earned went to the government or to the friars.
SUMMARY When the object of their labor was removed and
they were exploited, they were reduced to inaction.
The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of
the causes why the people did not, as was said, work Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not work
hard during the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out so hard because they were wise enough to adjust
that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the themselves to the warm, tropical climate. “An
Filipinos were industrious and hardworking. The hour’s work under that burning sun, in the midst of
Spanish reign brought about a decline in economic pernicious influences springing from nature in
activities because of certain causes: activity, is equal to a day’s labor in a temperate
climate.”
First, the establishment of the Galleon
Trade cut off all previous associations of
the Philippines with other countries in Asia and the
Middle East. As a result, business was only
conducted with Spain through Mexico. Because of
this, the small businesses and handicraft industries
that flourished during the pre-Spanish period
gradually disappeared.
Second, Spain also extinguished the
natives’ love of work because of the implementation
of forced labor. Because of the wars between
Spain and other countries in Europe as well as the
Muslims in Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled
to work in shipyards, roads, and other public works,
abandoning agriculture, industry, and commerce.
Third, Spain did not protect the people
against foreign invaders and pirates. With no arms
to defend themselves, the natives were killed, their
houses burned, and their lands destroyed. As a
result of this, the Filipinos were forced to become
nomads, lost interest in cultivating their lands or in
rebuilding the industries that were shut down, and
simply became submissive to the mercy of God.
Fourth, there was a crooked system
of education, if it was to be considered
an education. What was being taught in the
schools were repetitive prayers and other things
that could not be used by the students to lead the
country to progress. There were no courses in
Agriculture, Industry, etc., which were badly needed
by the Philippines during those times.
Fifth, the Spanish rulers were a bad
example to despise manual labor. The officials
reported to work at noon and left early, all the while
doing nothing in line with their duties. The women
were seen constantly followed by servants who
dressed them and fanned them – personal things
which they ought to have done for themselves.
Sixth, gambling was established and widely
propagated during those times. Almost everyday

“...the best we can do is to strive to be aware of all cultural biases.”

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics – Module 4 Page 8 of 8