Module2

PHILIPPINES CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY

Time Allotment: 9hrs.

Introduction: Filipino culture is known to be a combination of cultures. This unit encompasses about
Filipino culture and how important to learn where those culture came from. This unit
also provides a geographic information about the Philippines.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the unit, students should be able to:

1. Identify countries that has a great influence on Filipino culture;

2. Elucidate the predominant Filipino values;
3. Discuss the geography of the Philippines.
Module Contents:

Filipino Culture
Filipino culture refers to the summation of indigenous forces and foreign influences
that had come to bear upon the people in varying degrees during the last centuries. Below
are the contributory factors to Philippine Culture.

MALAYS

INDIAN HINDU

Contributory
Factors to
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Philippine
Culture
 CHINESE SPANISH

AMERICAN

The traditional concept holds that Filipino culture was developed due to the
conglomeration of the physical, intellectual, moraland spiritual aspects. Nationalistic view
regards culture as the summation of the needs of people, the description of their past and
present condition, an expression of their values, thoughts and emotions, and the depiction of
their historic struggles to liberate themselves. Cultural Dualism on the other hand views that
the Philippines is a transitional society dominated on one side by the traditional culture and
on the other side by the modern culture. Listed below are the common Filipino Culture.

A. Belief System
Filipinos are believers of religion. They believe so much on supernatural
powers and viewed themselves as only a speck in this wideuniverse.Success is
considered a blessing from above, as aresult of good luck and faithGood is
considered relative.Happiness and success differ from one person
toanother.Hospitality is practice.

B. Value System
Cultural values are shared assumptions of what is right, good or important.
Guide man's behavior and action as he relates himself in most situations in life,
can best be seen from the aspects of personal and social relationships. Majority of
Filipinos value more their honor (karangalan) rather than wealth.
In decision- making, the Filipinos usually consult and take into consideration
the consensus of the family members as the feelings of those who are to be
affected.

Filipinos love to mingle with other people particularly with friends and relatives.
They engaged themselves in mutual cooperation (Bayanihan). Filipinos are friendly. They
smile at people, even with strangers. They are warm and simple and Filipino women are
regard and respected.

The Filipino Values (Predominant)

Utang-na–loob : it is a technique of reciprocity of debt of gratitude to

others within the family circle or primary group,
sometimes unlimited in nature, emotional rather than
financial or rational. It is sign of marginal economy
where no place is available in bargaining, formal
agreements, written contracts, specific rights and
responsibilities.

Pakikisaman : Closely to utang-na-lobotid is the value of

belongingness
and loyalty to the small in-group with sensitivity to the
feelings of others on the principle of “give and take. “Is
a folk concept of good public relations andavoidance
of conflict with the leader or majority ofthe groups.

Hiya : Controls a large extent the behavior of theindividual.

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 Dependent on others will think, say and do.Because of
hiya, a Filipino cannot say “NO”even it is against his
will to do what is beingrequested.

Bahalana : Common expression among Filipinos and this reston

the
fatalistic outlook and strong dependence on the
“spirits” who will take care of everything if they are
really meant for a person.

Authoritarianism : It is the dependence of the Filipinos in a paternalistic

rather than in a stern way upon the elders of the
family, upon their boss, if employed, and upon people
in authority as their father figure.
Commonly practice in the Filipino family to which
basically patriarchal in nature.
The father is seen as the head that makes major
decisions affecting the family.

Individualism: Pattern of behavior which characterizes the Filipino as

self-centered the desire to make the name for himself
becomes the primary motivation for success.

Amor-propio : Individual's highly emotional reaction to

protect his
honor and dignity when they are threatening or
questioned and to retaliate. Common forms of this are
“hele helebagoquiere”or pakipot which shows at a
person initially refusing an offer even if he wants very
much to accept it.

The Philippines Geography

The following are the famous names of the Philippines:

Gems of the east : it was the name given by a well-known English

writer and traveler – Henry Savage Lander.

Filipinas : the official name given by the Spanish

navigator
Ruy Lopez De Villalobos to our country in
1543. This name was given in honor of the
prince of Spain, Prince Philip (Felipe) who
later became King Philip II of Spain. The Name
Filipinas (Philippines) was first used in a map
that was printed in Venice in 1554 by an
Italian Geographer named Giovanni Bautista
Ramusioi. The Word “Filipinas” was actually
derived from “Felipenas” and was translated
in Anglican language as Philippine Islands
during the American era, but it became
“Republic of The Philippines” later.

Ma’i (mayi) / : the name given by the Chinese merchants to

the
Land of The Barbarians Philippines. This was mentioned by The
Chinese
historian Chao-Ju-Kna in his book. “Chua-Fan
Cho in 1225.

Mintolang : the name given by HUANG-TAI YUAN

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 (WANG-TAI-YUAN) to our country in 1349. He
also gave the name MALILU for Manila and
PISHOYE for Visayas. The Name “MA-I” was
accepted as a name for the island of Mindoro
because of its gold mineral. It was often visited
also by Chinese merchants in the early times.

Rizaline republic : this name was suggested by Gen. Artemio

Ricarte of the Katipunan for The Philippines in
honor of the national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Maharlika : the name that was suggested by the late Pres.

Ferdinand E. Marcos to our country. This was
in relation to his ambition for the country to
make great and well-known in the whole
world.

Pearl of the orient seas : the name which was given by Fr. Juan J.
Delgado in 1751 to Manila after this reach
Kingdom of Raja Soliman or Sulayman became
or established as a city by the Spanish
colonizers. After 100 years (1892). Dr. Jose p.
Rizal called our country “Pearl of The Orient
Seas” as stated in his novel “Noli Me Tangere”.
The same title was given by Rizal to our
country in his poem “MI ULTIMO ADIOS(MY
LAST FAREWELL)”.

Some other names giver for the Philippines were: Emerald Islands,
Treasure Islands of the Pacific, Isles of Fears, Isles of Hope, Orphans of the
Pacific, and Land of The Morning.

Locations of the Philippines

Specific Location : The Philippines is located just

above the Equator
in the far east of Southern Asia
established between 4’23 to 21’25
north latitude and between 116 to
127 east longitudes. The Philippines
serves as a bridge for the East and
Western Cultures.

Insular Location : Our Country is surrounded by large

bodies of
water in the east is the Philippine
Sea, and The Pacific Ocean. In the
South is the Celebes Sea. In the west
is The South China Sea while in the
North is the Bashi Channel.
Vicinal Location : There is a lot of countries and territories that
are
found around the country. In the east are the
small island territories of Palau, Saipan, Guam
and the Marianas. In the South are The

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 Countries of Australia, New Zealand, Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, and East Timor. In the
West are the countries of Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia, Union of
Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
and India. While in the north are the countries
of Chine, South Korea, North Korea, Japan,
Mongolia and Taiwan.
Area of the Philippines
The Philippines is composed originally of 1, 107 islands, 2,773 have names, having a total
land area of 115,101 sq. m. (299,681 sq. km). It is as big as Italy, quite bigger than New Zealand,
twice bigger than Greece and bigger than Great Britain, but a little bit smaller than Japan.

Philippines 3 Main Groups of Islands are:

a) LUZON : the largest group of islands with a total land area of
40,814 sq. miles or 104,688 sq. km.
b) MINDANAO : second largest group having a total land area of 36,906
sq. m
c) VISAYAS : the smallest group of islands.

Territorial Boundaries of the Philippines

a) Y’ami or Amianan : the northernmost island, a part of Batanes

province in Luzon.
b) Saluag : The Southernmost island, a part of Sibuto, a
town island of Tawi-tawi.
c) Kalayaan or Spratlys : found at the western most part of the country.
d) Pusan Point : the easternmost part of the country, a part of
Surigao del Sur.

References:

Books:

Ae,J.K. (2016).Introduction to Speaking-Tagalog-Chinese-English. Philippines: ICSM

Printer Co.
Ren, Y., & Yuan Liang, X. (2012). Chinese for Beginners. 364 Innovation Drive, North
Clarendon: Tuttle Publishing.
Abraham, W. (2005). Chinese Phrases for Dummies. Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley
Publishing, Inc.
Whetley, J.K. (2011). Learning Chinese, a Foundation Course in Mandarin. London:
Yale University.
David, K. (2011). Mastering Mandarin in Month.Nangang District, Harbin, 150006,
China: Will-Excel TESOL Institute.

Online References:

https://translate.google.com.

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 SELF-CHECK 2.1
FILIPINO CULTURE
Name: _____________________________ Date: ________________
Year & Block: ______________________ Score: _______________

I. Simple Recall
Directions: Identify what is asked below. Answer the following questions on the
space provided before the number.
_____________1. It refers to value of belongingness and loyalty to the small in-group with
sensitivity to the feelings of others on the principle of “give and take.”

_____________2. It refers to the common practice in the Filipino family to whichbasically

patriarchal innature.

_____________3. It refers to the summation of indigenous forces and foreign influences that
had come to bear upon the people in varying degrees during the last
centuries.

_____________4. Its Common forms of this are “hele helebagoquiere”orpakipot which

shows at a person initiallyrefusing an offer even if he wants very much
toaccept it.

_____________5. It refers to the name suggested by Gen. Artemio Ricarte.

_____________6. This name was given by Fr. Juan J. Delgado in 1751.

_____________7. This name was given in honor to the prince of Spain, Prince Philip.

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 _____________8. This refers to the earternmost of the country.

_____________9. The second largest group of island having a land total land area of 36,90
sq.m

____________10. This name was suggested by the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos.

II. Essay
Directions: Provide your rationale or justification to each of the question asked
below. Refer to rubric below for scoring.

Question Rationale
1. Why do you think knowing the
roots of Filipino culture is
important?

2. Do you think Filipino values is

important? Why or why not?

3. Provide and explain at least three a.

countries that has a great influence
in Filipino culture.

b.

c.

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 ESSAY RUBRIC
13-15 9-12 5-8 1-4
The student was able The student was able The student was able The student was able
to discuss his/her to discuss his/her to discuss his/her to discuss his/her
insights insights VERY WELL. insights WELL. insights FAIRLY.
EXCELLENTLY.

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