Philippine Heritage: Change and Continuity

Heritage refers to the legacy or traditions passed down from one generation to another

that are valued and preserved by a society or group. It includes tangible and intangible aspects

such as artifacts, customs, beliefs, language, music, the arts, literature, and practices. Heritage is

essential in shaping an individual's identity as it reflects the collective history of a community.

Therefore, continuity and change play a significant role in heritage preservation because they

reflect both the stability and dynamism of cultural development.

This essay will explore the definitions of "heritage," "continuity," and "change" before

delving into examples of traditions that have remained unchanged, changes that have occurred

over time, factors contributing to change and continuity, and finally, examining the impact these

changes have had on the Philippines' heritage.

The Philippines is an archipelagic country located in Southeast Asia with more than

7,000 islands inhabited by diverse indigenous groups. The country has undergone cultural

influences from various countries, including China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, before being

colonized by Spain for more than three centuries. The Spanish colonization of the Philippines

brought about various impacts on society and culture, particularly religion. The introduction of

Christianity, facilitated by Spanish colonizers, led to a spiritual transformation among Filipinos

that persists today. The revolution against Spain marked another important shift in Philippine

history. The people's uprising resulted from their desire for independence from colonial rule

(Anderson 72). This struggle for freedom became an integral part of Philippine identity and

nationalism, which were further strengthened with subsequent events such as the Proclamation of
Independence on June 12, 1898. Followed by American colonization until its independence in

1946.

The Philippines is known for its rich cultural heritage, which has been shaped by

centuries of colonization and influences from various countries. The continuity and change in the

Philippines' heritage have become increasingly important to study as they reveal how the country

has evolved over time. This essay will explore the definitions of "heritage," "continuity," and

"change" before delving into examples of traditions that have remained unchanged, changes that

have occurred over time, factors contributing to change and continuity, and finally, examining

the impact these changes have had on the Philippines' heritage.

Colonization has had a significant impact on Philippine culture, leading to changes such as

adopting Christianity while abandoning indigenous religions practiced before colonial times.

Catholicism was introduced during Spanish colonization. Language also served as a formative

aspect through which Filipinos could express themselves since it embodies their unique cultural

heritage. Moreover, values such as respect for elders have maintained considerable importance

across generations. Spanish introduced new words into Tagalog, which then evolved into the

modern-day Filipino language spoken today. American influence brought fast food chains like

McDonald's, which introduced hamburgers. The Japanese occupation led to martial law under

President Marcos, who banned freedom of speech, taking away press rights and causing negative

effects on democracy.

Despite modernization brought about by globalization and technological advancement

that have altered some aspects of Filipino culture, there are still many elements that remain
unchanged throughout time, such as traditional dances like Tinikling and Balitaw performed

during festivities and folktales such as Lam-Ang that depict heroism values taught among

Filipinos. Philippine culture can be understood through its traditions, which include religious

practices such as Christmas celebrations and fiestas depicting patron saints’ feast days; family

values, especially respect for elders; cuisine characterized by rice dishes like adobo; martial arts

like eskrima, the traditional Filipino fighting style, among others.

These traditions have persisted despite foreign invasions throughout history because

Filipinos value their unique identity and take pride in preserving their cultural roots. For

instance, religious festivals in honor of patron saints take place annually across each region, with

parades held featuring colorful costumes—often handmade by locals—while music bands play

indigenous tunes.

One factor contributing to this continuity is religion since it plays a significant role in

defining Filipino identity. Over 80% identify themselves as Catholics, which played an integral

part during the Spanish colonization period when priests also acted as educators, introducing

religious festivities alongside Christian teachings

Continuity plays a crucial role in preserving the essence of Filipino culture, which

encompasses values like respect, loyalty, hospitality, and resilience. These unchanging aspects

provide Filipinos with a sense of identity that is uniquely their own, despite cultural differences

within regions in the Philippines.

While it's crucial to preserve inherited traditions, it's also essential to adapt to changes

brought about by modernization. A society that is resistant to change may become stagnant and

fail to grow or develop; on the other hand, a culture that abandons its heritage faces losing its
identity altogether (Smith). Balancing continuity and change involves strategies such as

continuously educating people about their history while at the same time encouraging

innovations (Kong et al.). Change has shaped Filipino identity by inducing new ideas from

different cultures, as seen through adaptation to technology and integration into global

economies.

The Philippines has undergone significant changes to its heritage due to the influx of

foreigners who brought with them their customs and practices, along with technological

advancements and modernization. For example, Spanish colonization in the 1500s introduced

Western music styles like classical music; later American colonization in the early 1900s

introduced pop music genres.

This was also seen in architecture, where Spanish influence is visible through traditional

bahay kubo (nipa hut) dwelling units while American influence can be seen via skyscraper

buildings erected during urban development phases.

The Philippine government has initiated cultural preservation programs such as declaring

historical landmarks as National Cultural Treasures (NCT) or Important Cultural Properties

(ICP) to protect temples like Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church built during Spanish times;

museums have been set up holding artifacts, including sculptures made from indigenous

materials; local schools have incorporated language courses teaching indigenous dialects; and

national holidays are dedicated to celebrating cultural events, allowing for continued education

on traditions.

Natural disasters cause damage, destroying historical sites, while human activities

contribute to destruction when they fail to recognize its importance, leading funds toward
infrastructure instead. Political instability surrounding political leaders may cause them to

neglect conservation efforts if resources are being allocated elsewhere.

To further safeguard our cultural inheritance, requires continued public awareness about

conservation efforts through media access and spreading the news about heritage site risks; social

media can showcase various aspects, including customs and festivals that people identify with

and keep alive through sharing online; and a greater emphasis should be placed on protecting

natural habitats where plants used locally in herbal medicine can grow since knowledge

continues to grow, therefore promoting more use by future generations.

Factors that contributed to continuity include religious faith, ethnic identity, family

values, and dialectal diversity. Meanwhile, factors contributing to change include globalization,

which brings foreign cultures closer than ever before; high rates of immigration resulting from

this process lead to multicultural societies with different traditions being adopted among local

communities.

It's important for Filipinos or any cultural group members around the world to not only

preserve their heritage but also be open-minded towards other cultures, thus enriching mutual

understanding between people across different backgrounds, whether it is a new cuisine or a

newly discovered musical genre.

Continuity has positively impacted Philippine heritage by enabling future generations to

learn about their ancestors’ history, allowing cultural preservation from generation to generation

while change has positively impacted Philippine heritage through the mixing of diverse cultures,

leading towards multiculturalism and promoting greater tolerance, which is essential when

dealing with global challenges today.

 Alternatively, some changes had negative effects, such as the loss of indigenous

languages, which have led younger generations to struggle within an English-speaking

environment, lacking recognition for their mother tongue and connecting individuals beyond

family ties.

In conclusion, heritage remains an essential part of human life in societies around the

globe. Continuity and change are integral components of the preservation of Philippine heritage,

which reflects collective history as well as diverse regional identities across the archipelagos.

Efforts towards conservation entail active participation from both government institutions and

individual citizens working together towards safeguarding these legacies while facing challenges

due to natural calamities but also influenced by human activities denying heritage demands. As

we continue into the 21st century, it is imperative to preserve our cultural inheritance through

education, awareness, and efforts toward social responsibility.

Continuity preserves traditions and monuments through generations without significant

changes or destruction. Striking a balance between the preservation of cultural identity on one

side and adaptation on the other will ensure people's histories survive for future generations.

Studying continuity and change in a country's heritage provides valuable insights into how

societies evolve. The Filipino people's strong sense of national identity enabled numerous

traditions that have persisted throughout the centuries despite colonial rule. However,

globalization brings new opportunities along with threats to cultural preservation. Therefore, it is

important to find a balance between preserving heritage and embracing change, as it enables

individuals to foster mutual understanding across different cultures while connecting people

beyond family ties. Understanding change and continuity is necessary to better understand

Philippine history. Changes such as colonization or revolution had significant impacts on society
but also preserved some traditions like language or religion due to continuities present

throughout the timespan of its recorded past. By exploring both facets through historical

analysis, we can gain insights into how they have affected modern-day Filipino culture, thereby

giving us insight into this country’s rich cultural heritage.