The Culture of the Philippines

1. Sports
In the Philippines, one of the most important parts of their culture is sports. Filipino young
and old are love sports for them it is good for the body and for the soul as well. Being active in the sport in
any kind of it is one that helps the body of the people to be healthier and fresher. Sports is one of the most
popular aspects of the countries. One of the most popular sports in the Philippines is basketball. This kind
of sport is played by anyone who likes it doesn’t have an age limit as long as you can play it.
For Filipino people sports is one of the best physical activities that can be done or
participate in by an individual or group of people. Sports can help our body to be physically fit and healthy.
It also improves the skills and talent of every person with the different fields they excel in. Sports is the
movement of the body that brings sweat and physical exhaustion. Sports is a game that can be performed
by competition or just simple physical activities only. Sports in the Philippines such as basketball,
volleyball, and football are some of the most popular sports at present. Many people like these sports and
they really know this kind of sports even for Filipino kids they really love this kind of sports.
In the Philippines, there are traditional sports that most Filipino love like, archery, arnis,
horse-riding, wrestling sports, dart sports, and martial arts. This kind of sport was popular before colonial
time. However, at present, the most popular now is the boxing sports that the Philippines became most
popular around the world with the one and only Manny Pacquiao. He is one of the most popular people in
the world because of this kind of sports that he really excels and becomes the champion. The most played
sport in the Philippines is basketball, it captures the hearts of all Filipinos with this kind of game of sport.
Everyone, even a kid can play basketball.
The Philippines received many awards when it comes to the sports that all Filipinos get
from different competitions. The Philippines participated in the Olympic sports games and received a
different kind of award from different kinds of sport.

The Philippines sports committee has many parts that handle in the different field of sports.
 Philippine Olympic Committee. It is a non-government organization.
 Philippine Sports Commission
 Department of Sports
 Philippines Southeast Asian Games
 Palarong Pambansa
 Philippine National Game

Most Popular Sports that Filipino Love to do:

1. Basketball. One of the most popular and Filipino favorite sports is basketball. This sport is can
complete by Filipino around the world. Many Filipino play these sports and practice a lot to compete with
other countries. There are many Filipino who love these sports and these sports are a fast game and easy to
understand the rule. Even young people can play these games anywhere even in the backyard of the house.
Basketball can help many Filipino to have a better life if they can play well and become the best player in
this kind of sport. Basketball can play anywhere regardless of the ages. It also not expensive games
compare to other sports in the Philippines. This sport does not need a large space to play, no maintenance,
no required numbers of players for social games.
2. Volleyball. Volleyball is one of the list most popular sports in the Philippines. It is one that most
women played not only in the sports center but it is also played on the beach and in the backyard of the
house. Volleyball also helps individuals to improve and develop their physical and skills with the right
training and experience they can be a good player in this kind of sports.
3. Boxing. Boxing can play by professionals. It is one of the riskiest kinds of sports in the Philippines that
once you got a mistake your life will be a change in a second. You must be trained well before you fight in
the boxing ring. It is also one of the famous sports in the Philippines and brings honors and dignity to the
Filipino when our Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao become one of the most popular and stand out in this
kind of sports. There are also a lot of Filipino who give pride in the Philippines like Pancho Villa, Flash
Elorde, Ceferino Garcia, and a lot more. For Filipino, their kind of boxing without a ring is called
“suntukan” which means fighting.
4. Billards. Billiard is also one of the favorite games of Filipino people and it can be played at any age as
long as you can. Before billard is just an ordinary game or sports that can be played by anyone. But since it
becomes popular the government decides to join an international billiard tournament in 2001. At that time
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the Philippines won some prestigious sports awards in the International Billiard Tournament and proves to
other countries that Filipino Efren Bata Reyes is one of the best in billiard. He was called ” the Magician”
in this kind of sport. He also awarded as a Hall of Fame from the Billiard Congress of America being the
first Asian who win and still become simple and humble despite the victories he has.
5. Tennis. Tennis is a sport that can be played by two or more players defend on the kind of games.
However, it is most likely played by two-person in a competition. In the school and colleges tennis sports
become one of the major individual competition that
6. Soccer. Soccer in the Philippines is not as popular as other sports like basketball and volleyball.
However, it can also play by children at the school to practice more and to learn more technique in this
kind of sports so that they can play in the Philippines national soccer team but some of this player is played
by Filipino-British, Filipino-European, and Filipino-American
7. Football. Football is one of the most loved watches sport in the world. There are many people who
love football all over the world and they love these sports. In the Philippines football sports is not really
recognize before but at this present this game is one of the popular games in the Philippines.
8. Baseball. Baseball games are also played by young Filipino and children at a young age. It is also
played in the school and complete internationally. Baseball sports are from America and brought in the
Philipines. This sport is the national pastime of the American people. Filipinos are good baseball players
but somehow it changes because of the lack of support from the government. Like lack of funding,
insufficient training facilities, and lack of popularity.
9. Table Tennis. Table tennis is one of the sports that give so much pride in the Philippines because it
gives many gold medals in various international competitions. Table tennis is like “ping pong” for Filipino
people.
10. Ice skating. Ice skating is the recreation and sport of gliding around an ice surface on blades attached
to the bottom of a shoe-life skate product. Ice skating rinks are often found to be both indoors and
outdoors. It’s a fun way to spend a day with friends and family. Ice skating is also the key component of
sports such as ice hockey, speed skating, and figure skating as well.
11. Bowling. The game of bowling consists of bowlers rolling a heavy ball down a lane, often made of
wood, in order to knock down a set of white pins. Bowling dates back many centuries, and the sport has
gone through countless iterations during its existence. Many people enjoy the sport on a casual level, yet
bowling maintains a strong competitive and professional presence as well.
12. Swimming. Swimming is a popular sport both for recreation and competition. There are four strokes
(backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle) which are raced at various lengths. There are also three
4-person relays and an event called the individual medley, which combines all four strokes that are raced.
The objective is to be the first person to touch the wall in a race, as well as achieve personal best times in
each event.
13. Badminton. Badminton in the Philippines is now losing their attention in this kind of sports
internationally. It is not also popular like other sports here in the Philippines, however, this kind of sports is
played by Filipino even if it is not that popular like others it’s not cost too much when you like playing it
with their family because for them playing badminton is one way of their family bonding. Anybody knew
how badminton played and it can be played indoors or outdoors.
14.

Local Sports of Filipino

1. Sungka- Sungka is a game for two, played using a wooden block with 16 holes that can hold pieces of
either pebbles, marbles, or seeds. Two of the holes (called ‘heads’) remain empty, each player protects their
own ‘head’. The goal is to gather as many pebbles etc in their ‘head’ as the player can in order to win the
game. The game is also played in other Asian countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
2. Arnis- Known as the nation’s national sport, arnis is a weapon-based combat that has been practiced
since 1610. Due to the diversity of local languages in the area, it is also known as Eskrima. Arnis is a
martial art that is extremely popular in the Philippines. There are lots of traditional martial arts, but Arnis is
among the most popular ones, and it is also taught in schools.
3. Sikaran or Martial arts- This martial arts sport, which has been around since the 16th century in
Rizal, Philippines, uses feet rather than the hands. One distinct technique in sikaran is the “Biakid kick”
move which aims to hit the back of the opponent’s head.
4. Sipa- Sipa, or “to kick” is a native sport which is closely related to Sepak Takraw of Indonesia. The
game is undertaken with two teams opposing each other, with a net in the middle of a court. The goal is to
kick a rattan ball back and forth until it land on the floor of the opponent’s side.
5. Silat- Silat is an indigenous martial art which involves players striking their opponents through fixed
hand positions. It is also practiced in Brunei, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. This sport has been
included in the Southeast Asian Games.
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6. Palo-Sebo- During festivities especially in the provinces, palo-sebo is a common sport played by
locals. It features greasy poles, usually made up of bamboo, with a bag of prizes pinned on top of it. The
aim is to climb the greasy pole and whoever gets the prize in the quickest time is the winner of the game.
7. Pantintero- Pantintero is a native game in the Philippines that requires two teams with at least five
players on each side. The object of the game is to block (harang) the players from the opposing team from
passing. It is the best practice for hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking. Find out everything that
makes this game worth the while.
8. Chinese Garter- Chinese Garter, a game requiring flexibility, balance and coordination, is a popular
game for Filipino children, most specifically among girls during their elementary years. The game revolves
around an ordinary garter, around two to three yards long, which be brought from sewing store at around
twenty pesos or less.
9. Dumog- Traditional wrestling in the Philippines is called dumog. Combining Filipino martial arts
techniques, the aim in dumog is to pin an opponent to the ground. Strategies include pulling, grabbing,
pushing and pinning the opponent down through targeting their the body parts they use for control.

2. Clothing

 Tapis
It is strikingly similar to most basic female garments in the Southeast Asian world, and
seems somehow related to the Indian sari. The Filipino wrap-around skirt called tapis or patadyong my
have emerged from environmental conditions and technical repertoires similar to those that produced the
sarong and the sari.
The tapis was wrapped around the lower half of the woman’s body and tied at the waist or
below the breasts. It was secured in place by the knotted ends or by a length of braided material. In some
societies, belt-like pieces were used.
Maria Clara
The Maria Clara dress is an elegant formal outfit for women. It is considered a mestiza
dress because it is an ensemble combining indigenous and Spanish influences. The Maria Clara dress
became very popular during the Spanish era since its emergence in 1890.
The name was taken from the legendary Maria Clara, the heroine of Noli Me Tangere, the then recently
published novel of Dr. Jose Rizal. Maria Clara remains a symbol of the virtues and nobility of the Filipina
woman
The camisa was a collarless waist-length blouse, with wrist-length, richly embroidered
flowing bell sleeves, often made of pineapple fiber. The sleeves were made wider and bell-shaped to suit
the hot climate of the country.
The panuelo derived its name from the Spanish “paño” which means scarf. The panuelo is
the only Spanish-originating part of the Maria Clara ensemble. It is a wide, stiff, triangular scarf covering
the back and fastened securely in the front by gold brooches or pins. The addition of the panuelo was the
period’s concession to modesty with the camisa being low necked, and made of the flimsiest fabrics,
like piña and jusi.

At present, Maria Clara is typically worn during folk dance and theater arts performances that
feature the rich cultural heritage of the Filipinos. It has become one of the types of traditional formal wear
used during some political and social gatherings. It is also sometimes worn by brides at their weddings.

 Baro’t Saya
The Spanish era brought about Spanish ethics, which influenced Christianized women to
wear a skirt called the saya and a blouse called the baro, which was worn throughout the 400 years of
colonization.
The baro was of butterfly sleeves made consistently of fine fabrics and was said to have
been influenced by the costume of the statues of the Blessed Virgin.
The saya was generally fashioned out of opaque plaid or striped cotton
and sinamay varieties, it was to remain unelaborated until the period of intensified global trade.
Since the baro was made of fine material, a square kerchief called alampay, usually made of
the same fabric as the saya was worn over the baro to cover the breasts which also doubled as a veil, later
called the panuelo.
An overkirt made of darker, thicker material known as the tapis was wrapped around the
lower half of the woman’s body and tied at the waist or below the breasts. It was secured in place by the
knotted ends or by a length of braided material. In some societies, belt-like pieces were used. The tapis was

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an assertion of native pride. To this day, the tapis is worn by older women in barrios all over the
Philippines.
When the Spaniards ruled over the country, one of their three missions were to spread
Christianity. With the advent of religiousity and veneration of the Blessed-Virgin, the Filipino women’s
clothing transformed to that of conservatism. Showing off certain parts of the body like one’s foot or leg,
was a great taboo.

 Balintawak
The Balintawak is a traditional Filipino costume that has a shortened skirt, with puffy
butterfly short sleeves, plaid textile, and low-cut bodice and at times plenty of ornate embroidery. It was
worn during picnics and other jaunts into the countryside.
The balintawak was deeply associated with Antipolo, a favorite summer destination for
Manila dwellers. This costume was to epitomize Filipina gaiety, light-heartedness and her costuming sense
of rural roots. Even when it was absorbed into the domain of haute couture, the balintawak continued to
signal song, dance, and festivity.

 Traje de Mestiza
At the turn of the century with the Spanish and Spanish American war, the Filipinos asserted
themselves through crystallizing their identity with costume. For four hundred years, Filipinas wore plain
wrap-around skirts (saya) fashioned out of opaque plaid or striped cotton and sinamay varieties, and
the baro (blouse) fashioned out of sheer lace fabrics.
In the early 1900’s, the Philippines was acquired by the Americans from the Spaniards.
From the Spanish colony, we moved into the American colonial era (1902-1946). This gave way to the
“Americana” in the Philippines where Hollywood movies, musicals, magazines were introduced. Having a
Hollywood inspiration, a stunning Filipino costume was created called the “Traje de Mestiza”. Traje is the
Spanish word for dress. Mestizo came from the Latin word mixticius, meaning mixed. Roughly
translated, traje de mestiza means mestiza dress.
The traje de mestiza was in fact the “Maria Clara “, trimmed into a shapely modernity, with
detailed embroidered skirts. The camisa became a clinging bodice, with delicate oversized lace bell-shaped
sleeves. The saya became slimmer that burst out at the hem into a flare and acquired a train (saya de cola –
skirt with a tail) leading to the new look.
The gown became the star of the zarsuelas with all the glittering glamour of a beauty queen.

 Terno
In the historical account of the Filipino women’s dress, the most prominent among them is
the “Terno”. The terno comes from the Spanish word “to match” which was composed literally of two
parts, the lower and the upper part.
The Filipino terno alludes to the matching of the blouse and skirt, joined at the waist to form
a one-piece creation, with both bodice and skirt made of the same material. The terno as we know it today
evolved from an ensemble called baro’t saya (blouse and skirt), transformed into the Maria Clara, which, in
turn, was metamorphosed into the traje de mestiza.
The seamlessness is only one of its inventive features. The sleeves are upright, flat against
the shoulders like clipped butterfly wings, the low neckline contours the bosom and the whole dress is
nipped at the waist to let fall a shapely skirt that is rounded, flared or trailed at the hem.”
When the sleeves were clipped like butterfly wings the panuelo became cumbersome and
was then removed. So, too, went the tapis, to allow the skirt to flirt with the whims of fashion. Skirt
draping, shirring, folding, pleating, and layering were just some of the fashionable touches. The tail of
the terno was in use until the early years of 1930s when its popularity started to wane.
At the start of the 19th century, the terno had acquired the features that were to distinguish it
until the end of the colonial era. The terno, graced flores de mayo processions, rigodon de
honor, coronation nights and the Malacañang Palace. It has been called a masterpiece, a classic, a national
treasure.

 Barong Tagalog
In 1975, President Ferdinand E. Marcos designated the Barong Tagalog as “the national
attire” and issued a decree proclaiming Barong Tagalog Week (June 5 – 11). The presidential act was
meant to” focus nation-wide attention on the Filipino national dress to wider use and enhance its export
potential”. Its fine needlework or hand-painted designs in cool cotton or handwoven piña or jusi have given
it a flair that has won international recognition and acceptance.

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 Barong is actually short for Barong Tagalog, which describes the formal men’s wear of the
Philippines. It is properly referred to as the ‘Baro ng Tagalog’ (dress of the Tagalog). Contracting the first
two words produces ‘Barong,’ which literally means ‘dress of.’ The Barong Tagalog was considered a
dress, a garment, a coat in itself. It is not merely a ‘shirt’. If it were, then it would need a coat or a jacket
over it to qualify as formal wear and would have to be worn tucked inside the trousers.
The earliest known fact about the Baro ng Tagalog was that before the Spaniards re-
discovered the archipelago, the Tagalogs who lived in the island of Luzon wore baro which has evolved
from pre-Hispanic native wear over the course of more than four centuries. Throughout its evolution,
various factors have influenced the look of the Barong Tagalog, primarily the loose, long lines of the
Chinese, airy tropical appearance of Indo-Malay costume, elongated effect of the Hindu dressing, and the
ornamental restraint of European men’s clothing. For the most part, it has retained its essential look since it
was first worn: round neck, straight long sleeves, mid thigh hemline and then modified with collar, cuffs
and side slits.
In the 1700s, when the Spanish brought in their dressy shirt with standing collar, the use of
the baro was confined to the Ilustrado (male members of family who owned landed estates and invested with
some authority in the community). They were not allowed to tuck in the baro under waistband or have any
pockets reminding the Indios that despite their wealth and power, they remained natives. They were also
easily identifiable to the Spanish rulers. Another source that the baro was tucked out was for health reasons,
the use of locally grown cloth made from pineapple or abaca fibers caused rashes and skin irritation. The
country’s tropical climate also favored clothes that are tucked out just as in other nations in the Orient.
Filipino household helps were also given “hand-me downs” by their foreign masters and since Filipinos
were shorter and smaller in built, the baro simply looked better tucked out.
Today, the Filipinos (as well as non-Filipinos) continue to wear the Barong Tagalog with
distinguishing acceptance world-wide. It is worn during weddings and formal occasions.
Alongside this trend, the baro turned informal with the introduction of the short-sleeved
variety (made of cotton, Philippine ramie and later, in the seventies, of chiffonille called “polo Barong“,
the baro turned informal. The polo Barong was so well received that it soon became the unofficial uniform
of Filipinos who work, study and play. In other words, this shorter version became the all-around wear of
Filipinos. It has been said that the polo Barong may as well be the present generation’s answer to
yesteryear’s camisa de chino.
Patadyong Dress
Like the malong, the patadyong has a variety of uses. Primarily, women used it as a tucked-
in skirt, topped by a kimona (thin cotton blouse). Women in the countryside or rural areas wear the
patadyong as a sort of kerchief, shawl, or even to shade or cover themselves from prying eyes.

TRIBAL FOLK GARMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

 T’boli clothing
They are, basically, a hill tribe, preferring the mountainous area of Allah Valley. Their
culture is rich in literature, art, and music. Their brass works and tinalak/t’nalak (cloth woven from dyed
abacca fiber, with geometric patterns said to be from the dreams of the weavers) are a constant source of
pride for people of Mindanao.
Igorot clothing
One of the native Filipino tribes (from the northern Philippines) wear this costume for their
daily activities. More accessories are used for special occasions.

 Dress of women of Ifugao

The females of this tribe wear a wrap-around skirt called the “ampuyou” or “tolge”. The
ordinary tapis consists of a blue cloth with narrow white horizontal stripes and two broken lines of red
triangles and is worn just above the knee. This skirt is for working in the rice paddies but is not in fashion
at present.

OTHER FILIPINO FOLK GARMENTS

 Muslim attire
This attire is worn by the Muslims who live in the southern part of the Philippines. As you
can see from the costume, it shows the mix of Arab, Malaysian, and Chinese. The batik design is common
and silk cloth is also used with golden threads. Elaborate umbrella makes a nice fashion statement, usually
used by a Muslim princess.
Malong of Muslim

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 The Sablay (official academic costume of the University of the Philippines Diliman) is
inspired by the malong of Muslim Mindanao. It has the colors of the University: maroon and green, as well
as yellow-gold which stands for the high standards of values and excellence.

3. Cuisine
The food culture in the Philippines is very different from that of the Western’s culture.
Filipinos are big eaters and love to eat rice. Rice is a food staple in every Filipino’s meal every day. It’s
quite impossible to see a Filipino who doesn’t eat rice, unless that person is on a strict diet. In fact, there
are many restaurants who even offer “unlimited rice”. That’s how huge Filipinos’ love for rice is.
Filipinos also have a regular eating schedule: morning (breakfast), mid-morning (snacks),
noon (lunch), afternoon (snacks), and evening (dinner). So, if you’re a certified foodie, you will be
delighted by the food culture in the Philippines as there are so many foods, both original and adapted from
other countries, that you can enjoy. The best way to make the most of food Filipino culture is to be
adventurous (with caution) when it comes to dishes.
The foreign influences also played a huge role in the food culture in the Philippines. Some
popular Filipino foods influenced by other nations are paella, morcon, burges, pies, noodles, samgyupsal,
and more. While the proudly-Pinoy food you can try are adobo, sinigang na baboy, lechon, and halo-halo.

TOP 10 FILIPINO FOOD IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Adobo
No list of Filipino food would be complete without adobo. This ever-present dish in the
Philippines is what balikbayans always miss and is a safe choice to introduce Philippines food to
foreigners. The meat (chicken, pork, or lamb) is marinated in vinegar, salt, garlic, pepper, soy sauce and
other spices which is a practical way to preserve the food without refrigeration.
2. Sinigang
If we were to describe the taste of Filipino cuisine, it would have to be mostly sour rather
than spicy. And sinigang serves you that. This Pinoy classic consists of a delicious broth soured by
tamarind, tomatoes, and sometimes, kamias. Aside from the meat, sinigang has different vegetables.
Popular variants are pork sinigang, beef sinigang, prawns sinigang.
3. Sisig
The sisig meat is primarily chopped up parts of the pigs’ face— Filipinos don’t waste
anything when it comes to food that’s why no cut of the animal goes to waste. Some sisig recipes have
mayonnaise and raw egg to be mixed in while hot and give it a creamier texture. While other sisig recipes
don’t have raw egg and are crispier than the usual recipe. This is served sizzling on a hot stone plate and is
a favorite pulutan (food that perfectly matches with beer) among Filipinos.
4. Kare-Kare
Kare-kare is one of the most favorite Filipino dishes of Pinoys. The stew is made with
peanut butter and grounded rice. It has oxtail and mixed vegetables. Kare-kare is best eaten with rice
and bagoong (shrimp paste).
5. Lechon
This is a famous Filipino food not just to Pinoys but also to foreigners. Lechon is a whole
roasted pig usually served on special occasions. It’s kind of expensive that’s why when you see lechon on
an occasion, it must be grand. What people love about lechon is its crispy skin and juicy meat which is
best paired with liver sauce. The famous Filipino restaurant that serves one of the best lechons is Rico’s
Lechon.
6. Crispy Pata
Just like lechon, crispy pata is a delicious and must-try Philippines food. Crispy Pata is the
pig’s whole leg deep-fried into perfection to achieve the right crispiness. It is served with a soy-vinegar
dipping sauce on the side with some chopped up garlic and chilli.

7. Bulalo
When the weather becomes cooler, Filipinos usually crave a hot stewed meal— bulalo.
Bulalo is made by slow-cooking beef shanks and bone marrow. Like sinigang, it also has a mix of
vegetables along with the beef. The most famous place to eat bulalo in the Philippines is Batangas and
Tagaytay. Some Filipinos who live in the metro will drive up north just to have that bulalo fix.
8. Kansi
If you love sinigang and bulalo, you’ll definitely love Kansi, too! Kansi is an Ilonggo dish
which is a combination of sinigang and bulalo. But the sour taste overpowers the soup. The meat is the
same as bulalo using beef shank and bone marrow. Kansi is one of the must-try Filipino dishes in the
Philippines!
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9. Chicken Inasal
This dish is basically a grilled chicken but this is not the ordinary grilled chicken you’ll see
everywhere. If you want to taste the authentic chicken inasal, you should go to Bacolod. It’s where the dish
originated. They marinate the chicken soy sauce, vinegar, and different spices that make Bacolod chicken
inasal unique. They also use chicken oil to pair with rice.
10. Kwek-Kwek
The Filipino street food is something you shouldn’t miss. The best street food Philippines
is kwek-kwek. It is a quail egg covered in orange batter. Most of its goodness relies on its sauce and street
food vendors have their own recipe. The best choice would be vinegar with chilis and garlic.
If you want to be more adventurous, you should try isaw. It is made of chicken or pork intestine on a stick
and grilled.

BONUS foods
Halo-Halo
This dessert is becoming famous worldwide and we can’t see any reason why it should not.
Halo-halo is like heaven in a glass filled with oh-so-good Filipino sweet treats like nata, kaong, gulaman,
macapuno, banana, shaved ice with milk, and so much more! Filipinos usually love to eat this during the
hot season but now, whether it’s hot or not, they always crave it because that’s just how good it is!
Suman
Rice cake is one of the most distinct foods in Asia because of our rice-growing agriculture.
And when in the Philippines, you’ll see different kinds of rice cakes everywhere and one famous kakanin is
the suman. It is usually cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with a little sugar and salt for flavor, and are
typically steamed in banana or palm leaves. It’s a common dessert or snack that can be found in different
parts of the Philippines, with different versions using various ingredients.

4. Literature and Arts

Literature
The first book printed in the Philippines is the "Doctrina Christiana", see also the written
language. It had been published 1593 in Manila. Tomas Pinpin wrote and printed in 1610 "Librong
Pagaaralan nang mga Tagalog nang Wikang Kastila", 119 pages designed to help fellow Filipinos to learn
the Spanish language in a simple way. He is also credited with the first news publication made in the
Philippines: "Successos Felices". On December 1, 1846, La Esperanza, the first daily newspaper, was
available in the country. Other early newspapers were La Estrella (1847), Diario de Manila (1848) and
Boletin Oficial de Filipinas (1852).
In 1863, the Spanish government introduced a system of free public education that had an
important effect on the ability of the population to read in Spanish and further in the rise of an educated
class called the Ilustrado (meaning, well-informed). Spanish became the social language of urban places
and the true lingua franca of the archipelago. A good number of Spanish newspapers were published until
the end of the 1940s, the most influential of them being EI Renacimiento, printed in Manila by members of
the Guerrero de Ermita family.
The indigenous literature of the Philippines developed primarily in the oral tradition in
poetic and narrative forms. Epic poems, legends, proverbs, songs, and riddles were passed from generation
to generation through oral recitation and incantation in the various languages and dialects of the islands.
The epics were the most complex of these early literary forms. Most of the major tribal groups developed
an original epic that was chanted in episodic segments during a variety of social rituals. One common
theme of the epics is a hero who is aided by benevolent spirits.
The epics that have survived are important records of the ancient customs of tribal society
before the arrival of Islam and Christianity. After the arrival of the Spanish, Catholic missionaries
employed indigenous peoples as translators, creating a bilingual class known as ladinos. These individuals,
notably poet-translator Gaspar Aquino de Belen, produced devotional poetry written in the Roman script,
primarily in the Tagalog language. Later, the Spanish ballad of chivalry, the corridor, provided a model for
secular (nonreligious) literature.
Verse narratives, or komedya, were performed in the regional languages for the illiterate
majority. They were also written in the Roman alphabet in the principal languages and widely circulated.
Francisco Balagtas Baltazar, generally considered the first major Filipino poet, wrote poems in Tagalog.
His best-known work, Florante at Laura (Florante and Laura), probably written between 1835 and 1842, is
an epic poem that subversively criticizes Spanish tyranny. This poem inspired a generation of young
Filipino writers of the new educated class, or ilustrados, who used their literary talents to call for political
and social reform under the colonial system. These writers, most notably Jose Rizal, produced a small but
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high-quality body of Philippine literature in Spanish. Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not),
published in 1886, and its sequel, El Filibusterismo (The Subversive), published in 1891, helped to shape a
new, nationalist identity during the last years of the 19th century.
The transfer of the Philippines to United States control in 1898 resulted in a dramatic
increase in literacy and, consequently, literary production. A variety of new literary journals began to be
published. English-language Filipino novels, short stories, and poems were first published in book form in
the 1920s. Many Filipino authors have had distinguished writing careers. Their works typically explore the
Filipino cultural identity in the context of social and political issues. Filipino authors often write in more
than one literary form and in more than one language. Major English-language works include Winds of
April (1940) and The Bamboo Dancers (1959) by N. V. M. Gonzalez; Many Voices (1939) and Have
Come, Am Here (1942) by Jose Garcia Villa; You Lovely People (1955) and Scent of Apples and Other
Stories (1980) by Bienvenido N. Santos; The Laughter of My Father (1944) and America Is in the Heart
(1946) by Carlos Bulosan; Bitter Country and Other Stories (1970) by Rosca Ninotchka; The Woman Who
Had Two Navels (1972) and A Question of Heroes (1977) by Nick Joaquin; The God Stealer and Other
Stories (1968) and Tree (1978) by Francisco Sionil Jose A Question of Identity (1973) by Carmen Guerrero
Nakpil; and His Native Coast (1979) by Edith L. Tiempo.

Paintings
The first paintings were commissionned works during the Spanish colonial era. Since most
art produced during the first two centuries of Spanish occupation were for the church, the friars enforced
strict supervision over their production. Until the 19th century, art was only for the church and religious
use. There is also some Chinese influence which can be found in the brush handling. Tagalog painters Jose
Loden, Tomas Nazario and Miguel de los Reyes, did the first still life paintings in the country. They were
commissioned in 1786 by a Spanish botanist to paint the flora and fauna found in the country.
Secular subject matter in painting only increased during the 19th century. With more
tourists, ilustrados and foreigners demanding souvenirs and decorations from the country, tipos del pais
developed in painting. These watercolor paintings show the different types of inhabitants in the Philippines
in their different native costumes that show their social status and occupation. It also became an album of
different native costumes. Damian Domingo y Gabor (ca. 1790-1832) was the most popular artist who
worked in this style. Several Filipino painters had the chance to study and work abroad. Among them were
Juan Novicio Luna and Felix Resureccion Hidalgo who became the first international Filipino artists when
they won the gold and silver medals in the 1884 Madrid Exposition.
During the American period (1900-45) on-demand portraitists included Fabian de la Rosa,
Miguel Zaragoza, Teodoro Buenaventura, Jorge Pineda and above all, Fernando Amorsolo, whose style
would dominate the period. Amorsolo designed the logo for Ginebra San Miguel (Markang Demonyo)
depicting St. Michael vanquishing the devil. The logo is still in use in its original form today. The owner of
the beverage company, Don Enrique Zobel, who is an ardent patron of the arts, was so impressed by his
work that he offered to send Amorsolo to the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid for further studies with
a generous stipend for himself and his family. Despite his exposure to Western influences, Fernando
Amorsolo retained his Filipino consciousness. He was drawn more towards the gentle rolling hills and rice
fields of the Philippines rather than the cosmopolitan world of Europe's proud cities. Even his illustrations
of Spanish women were drawn with slender physiques narrower hips, and smaller breasts more typical of
Filipinas rather than full bodied Caucasian women. One of his most copied paintings is the “Palay
Maiden”.
Fernando Amorsolo's work still influences many contemporary painters. One of them is
Monico Benjamin Botor. Botor was born in Naga City, Camarines Sur and now lives in Bagasbas near
Daet. He is a hobby painter who recently started taking it seriously as an avenue of expressing his innate
talent to explore in the aesthetic realm one's quest to capture the appeal of nature and human response to its
illusive beauty and profound mystery. Deeply rooted in culture, he pays homage to the Filipino tradition
and way of life. He uses his artistic insight and experience to capture the color and essence of a Philippine
setting.
Another contemporary artist is Valentino Goyenechea Jr. He lives with his family in Dumaguete
(Negros). Goyenechea is a visual artist in different domains such as painting and photography.

Sculpture
Early carved human figurines are known from the cordilleras. Still today, the bulols, or
"Ifugao rice Gods," are kept in the house or granary, and are usually made in pairs. They are carved of
narra wood, which represents wealth, happiness, and well-being. Every step in their production requires a
ceremony, from tree selection to arrival at the owner's house. A consecrated bulol has been bathed in pig's
blood, had myths recited to it, and received offerings of wine, ritual boxes, and rice cakes.
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 The carvings brought to the Philippines by early Arab and Russian missionaries were of
beveled type as the slanting type called Okkil. Although the word literally means XXX it is not confined to
carving alone but also refers to design. A familiar example of sculpture with the integration of architecture
is the Art Deco Style of the Metropolitan Theater at Liwasang Bonifacio completed by Juan Arellano in
1931.
Woodcarving comes in ornamental form in the houses of the Maranao like that of the
"torogan" which features the "panolong". extended beam carved with the "panolong", an extended beam
carved with the Sarimanok or the Naga design. Napoleon V. Abueva is known as the "Father of Modern
Philippine Sculpture". He was born in Tagbilaran, Bohol in 1930. In 1951, he won the Pura Villanueva-
Kalaw scholarship and finished Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture in University of the Philippines in 1953.
Abueva utilized almost all kinds of materials from hard wood (molave, acacia, langka wood, ipil,
kamagong, palm wood and bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron,
alabaster, coral and brass. Among the major works of Abueva are: Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas
(1955), The Transfiguration at the Eternal Garden Memorial Park (1979), Fredesvinda in Fort Canning,
Nine Muses at the UP Faculty Center (1994), Sunburst at the Peninsula Manila Hotel (1994) and the bronze
figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of National Library.

Handicraft
Inspired by the Japanese One Village One Product Movement of 1979, the Philippines'
OTOP program was proposed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as early as 2002 and launched
in 2004. Current Filipino President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino has authorized the continuation of the
OTOP program. OTOP products vary, and can include fruits, specialty dishes, or handmade products.
Examples of OTOP products include Arabica coffee in the Cordillera region, cacao products in San Isidro
in Davao del Norte, and brooms in Santa Fe in Nueva Vizcaya. Other OTOP products are the Lanzones
fruits and the famous Pastel buns in Camiguin. The Bicol Express in Naga-City isn't a train but a spicy
food. Another good example is the potter's village of Lezo in Aklan, Panay. Handicraft you can see
anytime and anywhere in the Philippines. On nearly any island you find a black-smith who makes the
traditional bolos. Fishermen wear the typical conic hat made of sliced bamboo or palm leaves. Hand made
items are usually not expensive, are decorative and make the perfect gift (pasalubong) for your family and
your friends.

5. Music and Dance

Music
Although, geographically, the Philippines belongs to the East, its music has been heavily
influenced by the West owing to 333 years of Spanish rule and 45 years of American domination. Music in
the highland and lowland villages where indigenous culture continues to thrive has strong Asian elements.
Spanish and American influences are highly evident in the music of the urban areas. Three main roots are
apparent:
1. an old Asian influenced music referred to as the indigenous.
2. a religious and secular music influenced by Spanish and European forms, and
3. an American/European inspired classical, semi-classical, and popular music
A system to classify Philippines' music is a geographic or ethno-linguistic approach: for
example, traditional Tagalog music, which is somewhat more Hispanic in flavour, differs from Ifugao
music and Islam influenced Maranao kulintang music. In indigenous music, various kinds of instruments
are made of bronze, bamboo or wood. These include gongs of various kinds of size and shapes, drums,
flutes, zithers, lutes, clappers and buzzers.
Vocal genres include epics relating genealogies and exploits of heroes and gods; work songs
related to planting, harvesting, fishing, ritual songs to drive away evil spirits or to invoke blessings from
the good spirits; songs to celebrate festive occasions particularly marriage, birth, victory at war, or the
settling of tribal disputes; mourning songs for the dead; courting songs; and children's game songs. It is this
type of music that is still practiced today by the indigenous groups.
Filipino classical musical compositions in many ways epitomize the blending of
multicultural influences. The compositions often embody indigenous themes and rhythms in Western
forms, such as symphonies, sonatas, and concertos. Several composers and conductors in classical music
have achieved international recognition, including Antonio Molina, Felipe Padilla de Leon, and Eliseo
Pajaro. Jose Maceda is considered the first Filipino avant-garde composer, liberating Philippine classical
music from the traditional constructs of Western forms. Traditional types of music are played on wind,
string, and percussion instruments made from local materials. These include the kulibit, a zither with
bamboo strings and tubular bamboo resonators; wooden lutes and guitars; and the git-git, a wooden three-
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string bowed instrument. The Muslim peoples use these and other instruments to play complex musical
compositions that have been passed by memory from generation to generation. Most Filipino communities
remember the tunes and lyrics of traditional folk songs. Tagalogs, for example, have more than a dozen
folk songs for various occasions, including the uyayi or hele, a lullaby; the talindaw, a seafaring song; the
kumintang, a warrior song; the kundiman, a love song; and the panambitan, a courtship song.

Dance
As varied are the people of the Philippines, so too are the dances. There are many dances
performed in the Philippine Islands such as the popular "Tinikling", to the exoticized "Pangalay", to the
skill-based interpretation of the "Banga" and Spanish-tinged "Jota". Dances are performed anytime and
anywhere. This starts in the morning in schools, where dance is an integrated part of education. It lasts till
late in the night especially when there is a fiesta. Dancing is deep inside Filipinos. "Dancing keeps us away
from negative things, when you move, everything is positive, there's no right or wrong, you release all your
emotions and it will end up with a beautiful smile."
The Philippines have many popular folk dances which have evolved and changed as they
have been passed down from generation to generation. Although a particular dance might be performed
slightly differently from one region to the next, it remains true to its roots. Dancing plays an important role
in Filipino culture, telling their history and preserving traditions through folk dances and music. These
dances are entertaining to observe, and even more fun to learn and perform yourself.
Formal training in classical dance has been available in the Philippines since the 1930s. The
first noted Filipino choreographers in classical ballet were Leonor Orosa-Goquingco, Remedios Totoy de
Oteyza, and Rosalia Merino-Santos. Orosa-Goquingco is most noted for her staging of Filipinescas:
Philippine Life, Legend and Lore in Dance, which toured the world in the 1960s. Merino-Santos later
turned to modern dance and founded the Far Eastern University Modern Experimental Dance Troupe.
Other dance companies include Ballet Philippines (formerly the Modern Dance Company), Hariraya Ballet
Company, Dance Theater Philippines, and Pamana Ballet (formerly the Anita Kane Ballet Company).
Several Filipino ballet dancers have achieved international fame, including Maribel Aboitiz, Eddie Elejar,
Lisa Macuja, and Anna Villadolid. Choreographer Francisca Reyes-Aquino is recognized for pioneering
research in the documentation of Philippine folk dances and founding the Philippine Folk Dance Society.
She codified the folk dances into steps, directions, and musical arrangements that are taught in physical
education classes in most schools. Among other folk-dance troupes, the Bayanihan Philippine Dance
Company (formerly the Bayanihan Folk Arts Center) and the Far Eastern University Folk Dance Group
perform stylized adaptations of folk dances in local and international tours. Informal folk dancing is
performed for a variety of occasions, such as harvests, weddings, and religious celebrations. The Manila
Symphony Orchestra accompanies many dance performances. The Philippine Cultural Center in Manila
provides an important venue for the performing and applied arts.

6. Religion, Festivals, and Holidays

Religion
The major religion in the Philippines is Roman Catholic Christianity, all religions are
protected by the law, and no one religious belief is given priority over any other. Below is an overview of
the largest religions in the country, with data from the CIA World Factbook.
Roman Catholic Christianity - 80.6%
Roman Catholicism is the largest religion in the Philippines. This religion was first
introduced through the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the early 1500s. Magellan, whose
original destination was Spice Island, arrived on Cebu Island in the Philippines due to a missed route. He
then proceeded to make Roman Catholicism a state religion by first converting the Chief of Cebu, and
several hundreds of his followers. Today, a large majority of the population of the Philippines - around
80% - identifies as Roman Catholic.
Protestant Christianity - 8.2%
Protestant Christianity is the second-largest religious group in the Philippines. Evangelical
Protestantism was introduced into the Philippines by American missionaries after the Spanish-American
War between the late 18th and early 19th Centuries. Some Protestant groups which are affiliated with the
Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), however, were established locally, without any
foreign influence.
Islam - 5.6%
Islam is the third-largest religion in the Philippines after Catholicism and Christianity. The
religion existed in the region for around a century before the spread of Christianity. Islam first spread to
Simunul Island in the Philippines through foreign trade with countries such as India. Specifically, it was the
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Islamic cleric-Karim ul' Makhdum who first introduced the religion to the area. Subsequently, he
established the first mosque on the same Island, which is today, the oldest mosque in the country.
Other - 1.9%
Other minor religions in the country include Hinduism, Judaism, the Baha'i Faith,
Indigenous Beliefs, Other Christians, and Atheists.
Other Christian groups in the country include Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-Day Saints,
Assemblies of God, Seventh-day Adventists, and numerous others.

Festivals and Holiday

Filipinos are among the happiest people in the world. It’s hard not to be when you live in
place where there are countless fiestas, festivals and holidays all year-round. No occasion is ever ordinary
because Filipinos will find a way to make it special. As the third largest Catholic country in the world and
the only predominantly Christian country in Asia, some of the most important religious days are marked as
nationwide holidays in the Philippines. Commemoration of significant historic events as well as
remembrance of national heroes are also important to Filipinos, along with showing gratitude for bountiful
harvests in land and sea through colourful festivals.

List of some of the special days and celebrations in the Philippines:

JANUARY – Fireworks and Baby Jesus
New Year’s Day
Like most people around the world, Filipinos celebrate the New Year with a bang! Dazzling
fireworks light up the midnight sky. But aside from the cacophony of sounds, Filipinos also observe what
some might call strange customs such as wearing clothes with polka dots and shaking coins in the pocket or
wallet as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight. They believe they will attract good fortune for the rest of
the year. Children are encouraged to jump so that they will grow taller in the coming year.
Feast of the Black Nazarene
Every January 9, millions of Filipinos join a procession featuring a life-sized image of Jesus
Christ kneeling and carrying a cross. Unlike most statues depicting Jesus Christ, the Black Nazarene is
carved from a dark wood. Many Filipinos believe that it is miraculous and can heal all kinds of illnesses.
That’s why despite the hours it takes to finish the procession, millions of devotees continue to attend this
event in Quiapo, Manila.
Ati-Atihan, Sinulog and Dinagyang
Three of the major festivals in the Philippines happen in January and they are held in honor
of the Santo Nino or the Holy Child Jesus.
The Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan and the Sinulog Festival in Cebu both culminate
every third Sunday of January while the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo happens every fourth weekend of
January. Both Sinulog and Dinagyang are adapted from the Ati-Atihan Festival, which is considered as the
“Mother of All Philippine Festivals”.
The highlights of these festivals are the colorful and flamboyant parade of street dancing
contingents from different parts of the country. The dancers attend not just to compete for a prize but to
show their devotion to the Santo Nino. Costumes and dancing styles may vary but the underlying theme of
the presentations all tell the same story — how they are grateful to the Santo Nino for protecting them from
harm.
With the exciting energy of the crowd and the irresistible beat of the drums, don’t be
surprised to find your hips shaking and your feet shuffling without your knowledge. Oh, and don’t take
offense when complete strangers suddenly come up to you and smear your face with some paint. It’s all in
good fun.

FEBRUARY – Flowers and Balloons

Panagbenga Festival
In the northern part of Luzon, the mountain city of Baguio celebrates a month-long festival
paying tribute to flowers in February to boost tourism in their area. The Panagbenga Festival is marked by
a parade of floats decorated with flowers from the Cordillera mountains. Panagbenga is a term that
originates from the Kankanaey language, which means “a season of blooming.” There’s also street dancing
that’s participated by the indigenous people of the mountain region.
Hot Air Balloon Fiesta
A different kind of “blooming” occurs annually between January and February as hot air
balloons color the skies over in Angeles City, Pampanga. From the ashes of the Mount Pinatubo eruption,
the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta has risen to become the longest-running sports aviation
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event in Asia. Locals and tourists around the world gather to watch aerobatic exhibitions, paragliding,
skydiving, and many other activities that have helped the province recover from the volcanic eruption.

MARCH – Holy Week and Moriones

Holy Week
The Holy Week is one of the most important religious events in the Philippines. Occurring
between March and April, every parish in the country has a number of activities to guide the faithful in the
observance of the final period in the life of Jesus Christ. Solemn processions are held, churches conduct
masses nearly every hour during these times. Many Catholics would also observe the Seven Churches
Visitation on Maundy Thursday. But perhaps what’s most shocking to foreigners is how some devotees
would actually have themselves nailed to a cross on Good Friday to emulate the suffering of Jesus Christ.
Re-enactments of Jesus being flogged while carrying the cross are common but only a few, such as
devotees in the village of San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga, would take it to the next level.
Moriones Festival
In the island of Marinduque, the Moriones Festival is marked by men and women wearing
costumes and masks depicting the biblical Roman soldiers who escorted and flogged Jesus on the way to
his crucifixion. The Moriones roam the streets from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday to search for Saint
Longinus, a Roman centurion who was blind in one eye. It is said that Longinus was the one who pierced
the side of Jesus a spear. But when the blood and sweat of Christ splattered on his eye, it miraculously
healed turning Longinus into a believer.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is a joyous day of celebration in the Philippines. Beginning at dawn of Easter
Sunday, some parishes in the provinces would re-enact the imagined first meeting of Jesus and Mary after
the resurrection. In Minglanilla, Cebu, the event includes activities for the whole day like the search of a
festival queen and street dancing. It is now known as the “Kabanhawan Festival”. Most people would hit
the beaches after Easter Sunday mass. For the much younger population, however, they are more excited
with the Easter Egg Hunt, a practice that has been adapted from the Western culture. Shopping malls,
hotels and resorts usually host these Easter Egg Hunts.

APRIL – Commemorating Battles

Day of Valor
Every April 9, the Philippines commemorates the fall of Bataan during World War II. Araw
ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor is a national Memorial Day for the brave Filipino and American soldiers
who fought against Japanese invaders. Thousands of soldiers and civilians died on the tragic Death March
which started from Bataan and ended in Tarlac. The province of Bataan, in particular, has a line-up of
activities during this day involving students, youth groups, military, and the citizenry.
Battle of Mactan
Every April 27th, the island of Mactan in Cebu celebrates the victory of Lapu-Lapu over
Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. A re-enactment of the fight would take place at the Mactan
Shrine and the lead roles would usually go to famous people and local celebrities to draw the crowd. At one
time, the role of the fierce warrior-chieftain Lapu-Lapu was brought to life by world boxing champion
Manny Pacquiao.

MAY – Mangoes and More

Labor Day
Like many countries worldwide, the Philippines also celebrates Labor Day, which is
observed every May 1st. It is a nationwide public holiday.
Flores de Mayo
Little girls dressed in angel costumes and wearing a flower crown on heads are a common
sight in churches every Sunday on the month of May. Flores de Mayo, a Spanish term for flowers of May,
is a month-long festival in the Philippines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It culminates with the
Santacruzan, a religious-historical beauty pageant. Towns, cities and barangays select their most beautiful
girls and women to represent various historical-religious figures. Together with their escorts, the ladies in
their most elegant gowns walk the streets under arches of flowers.
Pahiyas Festival
A different kind of beauty is celebrated in Lucban, Quezon, which celebrates the San Isidro
Pahiyas Festival. Pahiyas is derived from the local word payas which means “to decorate”. The people of
Lucban would decorate their houses in all kinds of beautiful fruits, vegetables, grains and produce. Held
every May 15, the Pahiyas Festival has become one of the country’s tourist attractions and the town of
Lucban has been declared a cultural heritage site.
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Manggahan Festival
Mangos, which is considered the national fruit in the Philippines, are grown in many places
in the country. But the island province of Guimaras stands out for producing one of the sweetest mangoes
in the world. Guimaras has been called the “Mango Capital of the Philippines” so, of course, the province
celebrates this with fun-filled Mango Festival every May that lasts for close to two weeks. Among the
many activities lined up, Guimaras offers tourists a very sumptuous “mango eat-all-you-can” experience.
For a very affordable price, you can eat all the yellow mangoes that you want in 30 minutes. You can also
try the green mangos, which are crunchy and sour, served with sauteed shrimp paste.

JUNE
Independence Day
The Philippines celebrates its Independence Day every June 12th. It commemorates the
Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. It has been observed as a nationwide
holiday since 1962. Philippine flags in all sizes are waved in the air as members of the government,
military, veterans, student groups, and the general public hold parades in the streets.
Pintados Festival
The Pintados Festival is a religious-cultural festival distinguished by dancers wearing body
colorful and luminous paint. In the pre-Spanish period, the inhabitants of the Visayas islands were called
Pintados because their bodies are full of tattoos. It is a month-long festival in Tacloban City, Leyte, in
honor of the Holy Child Jesus and the painted warriors of long-ago. The Pintados Festival has been merged
with the Kasadyaan Festival to make it a region-wide festival in the Eastern Visayas. The month-long
festivities culminate with a street dancing competition participated by dance troupes all over the country.

JULY
Sandugo Festival
No real blood is shed nowadays but the Sandugo Festival is an annual celebration in the
island of Bohol to commemorate the friendship between Datu Sikatuna, a chieftain in Bohol, and Spanish
conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. Back in 1565, both leaders had signed a peace treaty through a
blood compact or sandugo. A blood compact is done by each slicing a line in their arms to draw about two
to three drops of blood. The blood is mixed with wine and participants would drink from the cup equally.
The island of Bohol comes alive every July as various activities are held every day of the month and
highlighted by a holy mass, motorcades, a beauty pageant, and a street dancing competition.

AUGUST
Kadayawan sa Dabaw
Every third week of August, the city of Davao in Mindanao celebrates its bountiful harvests
and harmony of different cultures. The name of the Kadayawan Festival is derived from “Madayaw,” a
warm and friendly greeting in the local dialect that’s used to explain a thing that is valuable, superior,
beautiful, good, or profitable. The festival is a showcase of the region’s culture and history. It is marked by
a parade of floral floats, a lively street dancing competition, and exhibits that show the bounty of nature.
The ancestral Lumad people also play a big part in the festivities and continue to share their culture to
foster better understanding of the indigenous people in Mindanao.

SEPTEMBER
Tuna Festival
If you love sashimi, then you must go to General Santos City in September. Commonly
called GenSan, this city in the province of South Cotabato holds a Tuna Festival every first week of
September. The waters surrounding the city is abundant with yellow fin tuna fish, making it the Tuna
Capital of the Philippines. They hold a tuna float parade, a triathlon, a dragon boat race, and a grill street
where people line up their grills and cook hundreds of kilos of tuna. If you’re lucky, you can eat the grilled
tuna for free.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
When you’re visiting shopping malls in the Philippines and you hear Christmas carols
playing over the speakers, don’t worry, you’re not having auditory hallucinations. Filipinos start the
Christmas countdown on September 1, the start of the “-BER” months. Stores and shops start displaying
Christmas trees and ornaments for sale, and people start making a list of gifts to give family, friends and
their godchildren.

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OCTOBER – Masks and More
Lanzones Festival
People in the small island of Camiguin have no need for masks as they openly celebrate the
Lanzones Festival every third week of October. Home to seven volcanoes, Camiguin also boasts of
producing the sweetest lanzones in the country. Lanzones is a tropical fruit that’s smaller than a pingpong
ball. They come from a tree and grow in bunches like grapes. It has a pale brown skin which you peel to
get to the translucent, sweet wedges of goodness. In the town of Mambajao, which is the capital of
Camiguin, the weekend is full of activities like a street dancing competition, cultural shows, a parade, a
beauty pageant and trade fairs to showcase the products of the province.
MassKara Festival
Every fourth Sunday of October, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental Masskara hold an
annual MassKara Festival. It is a festival conceptualized to bring people out of their sadness. An economic
decline and a shipping tragedy in 1980 greatly dampened the people’s morale. The local government
wanted to turn their frowns upside down and live up to their name as the “City of Smiles.” The colorful
masks that bear huge smiles is a representation of how Bacolod City was able to withstand the challenges
and triumphed. The festival has become one of the major tourist attractions in the Philippines enticing
tourists to join street dancers gyrating to the rhythm of the music.
Halloween
The younger Filipinos have come to embrace the western observance of the Halloween
because it is an excuse to party in costumes. Kids especially love the candy they get from trick or treating
in shopping malls and in subdivisions.

NOVEMBER – Remembering the Dead

All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
All Saints’ Day on November 1 and All Souls’ Day on November 2 are a big deal in the
Philippines as Filipino family’s troop to the churches and cemeteries to remember the saints and their loved
ones who have passed away. Local governments prepare in advance for these religious events because of
the traffic that they usually cause. The generally gloomy cemeteries become like a huge picnic and
camping area. Aside from offering prayers, families take the opportunity to eat with the departed. Some
even stay overnight and sleep in the cemeteries. It is a reunion of the living and the dead.

DECEMBER
Misa de Gallo
The month of December is really extraordinary in the Philippines. There is an underlying
buzz in the air in anticipation of Christmas. The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ officially begins on
December 16, which is the start of the nine-day dawn masses called Misa de Gallo or Rooster’s Mass.
Many believe that going to mass, which starts as early as four in the morning, for these nine consecutive
days will mean that God will grant their wish.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Schools and companies hold Christmas parties all throughout the month. It is often a
logistical nightmare trying to fit each other’s schedules. It’s common to get invited to at least two
Christmas parties happening at the same time. Schools and churches also have re-enactments of Joseph and
Mary searching for a place to stay until they eventually get to a manger in Bethlehem where the baby Jesus
was born.
Families often gather on Christmas Eve waiting for the clock to strike midnight to exchange
Christmas gifts. Some have a simple exchange while others play the manito-manita game, where days or
weeks before each participant draws a paper containing the name of the recipient of their gift. They keep
the identity a secret until the time for the big reveal. On Christmas Day, Filipinos visit relatives to pay their
respects. The younger ones are usually on the lookout for their “Aguinaldo,” which is money placed in an
envelope by their grandparents and godparents.
Foreigners in the Philippines during the Christmas season often marvel at the close-knit
family ties and the generosity of Filipinos. People usually adopt a no-family-left-behind mindset regardless
of whether they are blood-related or not. Filipinos can’t stand anyone being lonely during Christmas and
would often invite foreigners into their homes to celebrate the joyous occasion with them.
Innocents’ Day
Innocents’ Day on December 28 is the Filipinos’ version of April Fool’s Day. Even though
the day commemorates a rather gruesome event in the Bible, people spend the day playing pranks on each
other. When a victim falls for the practical joke, pranksters would laugh and say: “You are really
innocent!”
New Year’s Eve
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 December 31 is another reason for Filipino families to get together and prepare a feast. On
every Filipino table on New Year’s Eve, you will find a collection of round fruits. They believe the round
fruits symbolize money and will attract prosperity in the coming year. Filipinos also prepare for the New
Year by making sure the containers for staple items like rice, sugar and salt are filled to the brim. They
believe that this will dictate that state of your prosperity in the coming year.

7. Social Beliefs and Customs

Filipino Customs and Traditions

Our culture is a big reflection of our great and complex history. It is influenced by most of
the people we have interacted with. A blend of the Malayo-Polynesian and Hispanic culture with the
influence from Chinese, Indians Arabs, and other Asian cultures really contribute to the customs and
traditions of the Filipinos. Filipino culture is unique compared to other Asian countries, and beliefs apply
every day in the life of the Filipinos and reveal how rich and blessed the culture the people have.
Some of the popular Filipino traditions and find the similarities that bind Filipinos to each other.
First on the list is Mano Po. When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their
elders they typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back the
elder's hand lightly on their forehead. It is a way of giving respect to the elders and I believe that is also a
way of receiving blessing to the elders. Mano is a Spanish word for “hand” while Po is used in the end of
the sentence when addressing elders or superiors.
Next is that Filipinos are one of the most hospitable people you may find anywhere. Foreign
visitors in the country are treated with the utmost respect. This trait is usually seen during fiestas and
holidays where many Filipinos are giving their best to entertain their visitors well. It is amazing to see that
even the simplest home along the road opens their home to a stranger. For Filipinos, to be able to serve
others gives them honor of showing true friendship. Filipino Hospitality is a trait you can't take away from
them.
Having Close Family Ties is also one of their unique traits. It is one of the outstanding
cultural values that Filipinos have. The family takes care of each other and are taught to be loyal to family
and elders by simply obeying their authorities. This is one of the unique characteristics of Filipinos. Having
fondness for family reunions during secular and religious holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, All
Saints’ Day, Holy Week, Fiestas, homecomings, birthdays, weddings, graduations, baptisms, funerals etc.
is evidence that Filipino people valued not only our cultural tradition but the spirit of our family. As
Filipinos, we are blessed to have been brought up with strong family ties.
Bayanihan
Have you ever experienced the bayanihan in our country? It is the spirit of communal unity
or effort to achieve a particular objective. A famous example of this is the neighbors carrying a hut or
house to a new location. People nowadays use it to describe an outpouring of community spirit-as people
give their all to the common good, without expecting recognition or personal gain.

Courtship
We Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to heart affairs. Serenading or Harana in
Tagalog is one of the most popular forms of courtship to show that a man is very serious with his intentions
to a woman. A serenade would require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young lady's
house. Normally, he is accompanied by his male friends who act as back-up singers. The man himself or
his friend played the instrument, usually a guitar, which provides the background music to his song.
They would have to wait until the young lady opened a window to listen. It would be up to
her if she wanted to invite them in for some refreshment and to chat after the song. Even if they had been
asked to come in, the suitor would not expect that he could have the chance of a private moment with his
object of affection. It was highly likely that the parents would also be there to entertain the man and his
friends.
Religion
The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia-Pacific. Their
habit of going to church and often praying reflects that Filipinos have a deep faith and belief when it comes
to religion. They are very devoted to religions that sometimes many take the risk of their lives just to touch
the Black Nazarine (in Quiapo Manila). For many, it is just a choice between their faith and fears. Filipinos
believe that having a strong devotion may lead to a better life and their guidance to face everyday life.

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Superstition
In the Philippines, superstitious beliefs have grown throughout the country. These beliefs
have come from the different sayings and beliefs of our ancestors that aim to prevent danger from
happening or to make a person refrain from doing something in particular. These beliefs are part of our
culture, for one derives their beliefs from the influences of what their customs, traditions and culture have
dictated to explain certain phenomena or to scare people. Some are practiced primarily because Filipinos
believe that there is nothing to lose if they will comply with these beliefs.

Cuisine
The Philippines is considered the melting pot of Asia. The rich medley of Chinese, Malay,
Spanish, Mexican, American, and Indian cooking are noticed in Philippine cuisine. Eating out is one of the
favorite Filipino pasttimes. A typical Pinoy diet consists at most of six meals a day; breakfast, snacks,
lunch, snacks, dinner, and again a midnight snack before going to sleep. Rice is a staple in the Filipino diet,
and is usually eaten together with other dishes. Filipinos regularly use spoons together with forks and
knives. Some also eat with their hands, especially in informal settings, and when eating seafood.
Other popular dishes brought from Spanish and Southeast Asian influences include afritada,
asado, chorizo, empanadas, mani (roasted peanuts), paksiw (fishor pork, cooked in vinegar and water with
some spices like garlic and pepper), pan de sal (bread rolls), pescado frito (fried or grilled fish), sisig,
torta(omelette), kare-kare (ox-tail stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and sinigang
(tamarind soup with a variety of pork, fish, or prawns). Some delicacies eaten by some Filipinos may seem
unappetizing to the Western palate include balut (boiled egg with a fertilized duckling inside), longanisa
(sweet sausage), and dinuguan (soup made from pork blood).
Popular snacks and desserts such as chicharon (deep fried pork or chicken skin), halo-halo
(crushed ice with evaporated milk, flan, and sliced tropical fruit), puto (white rice cakes), bibingka (rice
cake with butter or margarine and salted eggs), ensaymada (sweet roll with grated cheese on top), polvoron
(powder candy), and tsokolate (chocolate) are usually eaten outside the three main meals. Popular
Philippine beverages include San Miguel Beer, Tanduay Rhum, coconut arrack, and tuba.
Every province has its own specialty and tastes vary in each region. In Bicol, for example,
foods are generally spicier than elsewhere in the Philippines. Patis, suka, toyo, bagoong, and banana catsup
are the most common condiments found in Filipino homes and restaurants. Western fast food chains such
asMcDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a common sight in the country.
A roasted pig known as the Lechón, is one of the Philippines most popular dishes.

Marriage and Wedding Customs

 A sacred marriage
In the country, marriage is a sacred union of man and women after a period of courtship and
engagement. It is a sacrament between two people who love each other. For many Filipinos, the eternal
quality of dedication to God pervades a truly sacred marriage. A sacred marriage is a covenant between
two who love each other in God and with God, whose joining becomes an expression of the desire of each
to love and serve God together.
 Death
Death in the Philippines is one of the most important occasions in family life. For many
Filipinos, a death of relatives is an opportunity to strengthen ties in the Family. To pay respect and honor
the relationship to the deceased, long lost relatives, friends, and even relatives working abroad are reunited.
The Philippines is the home of some unique death rituals that are partly religious and mostly
superstitious. The mourning and the weeping are still present, but a happy and welcoming atmosphere
would usually envelop the place to help the deceased on his journey to the afterlife.
After the death of a person, a nine-day period of having a novena of prayers and Masses
offered up to the deceased is held, although the beginning of the "Siyam na araw" varies, but usually ends
the week after the death. Another period follows after death, the 40-day mourning period. Family members
indicate their state of bereavement by wearing a small, black rectangular plastic pin on their left breast or
breast pocket area. A ceremonial mass is held at the end of this 40-day period. Common belief states that
the soul goes to Heaven after these 40 days, following the belief that Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven after
the said period of days.
 Society
The primary ancestors of Filipinos are Malays who came from the southeastern Asian
country which is now called Indonesia. The Philippines is a combined society, both singular and plural in
form. It is singular as one nation, but plural in that it is fragmented geographically and culturally. The
nation is divided between Christians, Muslims, and other religious-ethno-linguistic groups; between urban
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and rural people; between upland and lowland people; and between the rich and the poor. Although
different in numerous ways, the Filipinos are very hospitable and give appropriate respect to everybody
regardless of race, culture and belief.
 Christmas in the Philippines
Christmas in the Philippines is considered as one of the biggest holidays in the archipelago.
We earned the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season with Christmas carols heard
as early as September and lasting until Epiphany, the feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 or the Feast
of the Santo Niño de Cebú on the third Sunday of January.
In one’s article, Archbishop Cruz told in his Christmas message that "the essence of
Christmas is God made flesh, God who has come among us" in an act of love "that joins humankind to the
Living God through our Lord Jesus Christ". For many Filipinos, the true essence of Christmas for is not
gift giving but sharing this special holy day with family.
 Fiestas
Every town and city in the Philippines have fiesta of its own; whatever time of the year it is,
there's sure to be a fiesta going on somewhere.
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, it must go on. The biggest and most elaborate festival of all is
Christmas, a season celebrated with all the pomp and pageantry where the whole country breaks out in
celebrations that can begin long before December.
For individual 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 contests, balls,
processions, sports challenges or a host of other events.
Spanish influence is evident in the elaborate masks, makeup, headdresses and costumes
worn by the revelers; outfits which often take months of preparation.
 Living with Parents
Filipinos highly value the presence of family more than anything. Adult children living with
their parents are another Filipino traditional that make them exceptional. Unlike in the United States where
children leave the home after finishing high school or college, many Filipinos continue living with parents
until they get married.

 Eating with a Fork and Spoon

One Filipinos identity is that they are eat using a fork and a spoon. The fork is place in the
left hand while the spoon is in the right hand. Fork is used to place or push the food into the spoon which is
held by the right hand. Since rice is the main staple of the Filipinos at almost every meal, the fork and
spoon method are ideal. It is believed that the use of a spoon and a fork is perfect for the way Southeast
Asians prepare and cook their food. Unlike the Americans who like their meats and other food items in big
slabs and humongous chunks, Southeast Asians generally prepare their dishes in bite-sized pieces --
chopped, minced or ground -- thus leaving no real need for a knife.
 Eating with Hands (Kamayan)
In addition to the use of the fork and spoon, eating with your hands or kamayan is another
common Filipino tradition. For many Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste to the food instead of using
utensils. Gather a small portion of meat or fish and a bite-sized portion of rice on your plate. Then use all
your fingers to gather the food into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put it in your
mouth using your thumb to gently push the food in.
Filipinos usually eat rice that has a slightly sticky consistency so making the little mounds is
easier than if you were to use a jasmine or basmati rice. Of course, this method of eating doesn't work with
soup/stew or noodles and other kinds of food but for your basic plate of rice, meat/fish and vegetables it
works quite well! Next time you make dinner try eating kamayan.
 Balikbayan Boxes
Some Filipinos leave the Philippines to live and work abroad. A balikbayan box is a box of
items sent by the balikbayan to their family in the Philippines. The box can be sent or it can be brought by
the sender when they themselves return to the Philippines. Balikbayan boxes come in all different sizes
and dimensions from bulilit (small) to extra large. It can be filled with almost anything but it is usually
filled with items that cannot be found in the Philippines or items that may be too expensive for the average
person to buy in the Philippines. Common items found in balikbayan boxes include: clothes, shoes,
chocolate, nuts, vitamins, basketballs, coffee and tea, magazines, shampoo/conditioner, soap, body lotion,
etc.

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