UNDERSTANDING CULTURE,

SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

Starting points for understanding culture,
society, and politics:
Social & Cultural Background
Social, Cultural, and Political Behavior &
Phenomena
Social, Cultural, and Political Change
1 2 3
A society is a group of individuals involved in
persistent social interaction, or a large social
group sharing the same geographical or social
territory, typically subject to the same
political authority and dominant cultural
expectations.
Society in its broader sense involves:
• Social (actions and interactions)
•Cultural (practices and traditions)
•Political (power relations)
FACES OF SOCIETY:
 Consensus
- is the widespread or general agreement
among all the members of the society
Conflict
- is the clash or opposition of ideas, principles,
and people.
Culture is the subject of Anthropology, society is for
sociology, while politics is for political science. These
are disciplines of the social sciences.
The goal of these disciplines is to prepare people for
active and responsible civic engagement through the
development of critical thought. Exposure to these areas
of discipline necessarily expose its learners to the
following:
social diversity and inequality,
self-reflective knowledge and practice,
appreciation of complexity, and
advocacy for social change and order.
Anthropology is the study of humans and their
society in the past and present. Dealing with
what makes us human, anthropology delves in
objects and materials we have created, our
interconnectedness and adaptability with
environment, our lifestyle, our modes of
communication, and our understanding of the
world around us.
Goals of Anthropology
describe and analyze the biological evolution
of mankind
describe and assess the cultural
development of our species
describe, explain, and analyze the present-
day human cultural similarities and
differences
describe and explain human biological
diversity today
Culture as complex
whole:  Artefacts
Belief  Symbols
 Values  Knowledge
 Practices  Personality
 Attitudes Fossils
 Norms Language
Political science is a social science discipline that
deals with systems of government, and the analysis
of political activities and political behavior.

Political science helps us understand politics,

political institutions and behavior, public policy, and
philosophical concepts, such as justice, equality,
fairness, and liberty; and on how the said subject
matters affect economy, public and private life,
law, and public services.
Goals of Political Science
be immersed in current affairs
build an understanding on the local,
national, and international politics
learn how political activities are organized
in and out of our country
provide substantially critical and scientific
contribution to government and society
Sociology is the study of human social
relationships and institutions. This
focuses on society—its functions, its
members, and its diversity.
Goals of Sociology
understand ourselves better
build a better understanding of mankind
help with decision-making, both our own and that
of larger organizations
gather systematic information from which to
make a decision, provide insights into what is going
on in a situation, and present alternatives
Types of Social Institution:
 Family
Education
Religion
Economics
Government
• Relevance to the lesson/topic 40%
• Creativity & Presentation 30%
• Originality 30%
• Total 100%
You will work in pair and create a
poster-slogan describing Philippines’
culture, society, and politics. Make use
of a ¼ size illustration board; 5 colors
excluding white and black.
CULTURAL VARIATIONS AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES
I. Gender and Gender Roles:
People play different roles in society
depending on one’s age and occupation.
There are jobs that require a specific
gender to perform tasks while other
jobs are open to both men and women.
Gender
-refers to social, cultural, and psychological
characteristics or traits related to male and female
based on certain social context
-it is different from sex, which refers to the
biological characteristics that distinguish a male
from female
-sex makes a person male or female, while gender
makes a person masculine or feminine
Gender Roles
-refer to attitudes and behaviors that
the society expects a person to exhibit
based on his/her sex

(example: traditional Philippine society)

Gender Roles in Pre-colonial society
During pre-colonial Philippines, males and females enjoy the same
rights and privileges. There are different social functions that are
assigned to different members of the society. However, there are
functions that are specifically given to males or females or both.
The babaylan (Visayan) or catalonan (Tagalog) is a shaman or
priestess who performs various religious and social functions.
Babaylan is a Visayan term identifying an indigenous
Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a
shaman, a seer and a community "miracle-worker".
The babaylan can be male, female, or male
transvestites, but most of the babaylan were female.
A Katalonan is a priest or priestess in the indigenous
religions of the Tagalog and Kapampangan people.
Spanish friars and missionaries also called them
anitero and anitera.
Gender Roles in the Philippine Society During
Colonial Period

Gender roles during the colonial period had

changed drastically. Women were restrained
from other activities outside their homes,
while men were given more social functions.
These roles also changed as the Philippines was
occupied by new colonizers.
Spanish Colonizers
-the introduction of Catholicism, the babaylan lost
their role in the religious life of the Indios. This
role was taken over by Catholic priests.
-Women were also relegated to doing household
chores and taking care of children. More often than
not, young women were not sent to school; rather,
they are trained to be good wives and mothers for
their future families. Some women were also forced
to marry someone they do not love for economic and
political gain.
American Colonizers
- women became more open. They were allowed to
study and work in whatever field they want. They also
became “liberated,” which is a term used by older
people to refer to Filipino women who have adopted
American values.
-Men and women became equal, in the sense that it is
acceptable for both genders to have jobs and to be
educated.
Japanese Colonizer
- women were usually kept inside their houses
to protect them from abusive Japanese
soldiers.
-Men also became busy defending the country,
with most of them serving as soldiers.
Gender Roles in Current Philippine Society Philippine

Society today is more open to allowing both men and

women to perform different tasks, not based solely on
gender, but on an individual’s capabilities and strengths.
For example, fields like engineering, architecture, and
medicine, which is often associated with men, have long
been open to women. Likewise, there are also a lot of male
teachers, nurses, and even chefs and hairdressers.
II. Socioeconomic Class

The Philippine society can be categorized into various

socioeconomic classes. During the prehistoric times, our
ancestors have developed a society where people were
assigned with different social functions. However, as the
society changes, differences in one’s function in the
society became wider and more diverse.
Socioeconomic Classes during the Pre-colonial Period:

Prior to the coming of the Spaniards, the community is

called barangay. It is headed by a datu or raha.

Our ancestors were divided into three different groups:

lakan, timawa, and alipin.
Lakan/Rajah(leaders and royals)

First social class

Composed of the leaders (datu) and their families

Also called the group of the maginoo, raha, or gat

They have accumulated land / private property

The chieftain of the whole barangay and is the

wealthiest person in the community
The Maharlika/Timawa

Middle social class

Composed of all freemen living in the barangay

Consists of workers, warriors, merchants, and others

who are not under debt bondage

They had enough land

Rendered services to the rules but do not work on fields

Alipin (slaves)
Slavery – is a system where men are treated as property; by
forcing them to do work for their masters no matter if this will
cost their life
Third/lower class
Tose who were unable to pay their debts, punished criminals, and
illegitimate children
Serve another person or family as payment for debt
Became an alipin when their family lose in a war with another family
Are not bound to their master for life
Can go back to being part of the timawa class once they pay off their
debt
Two types of Slaves:

1. Aliping Namamahay
-those who had their own quarters (a house or a piece
of land)
-often from the timawa class and became alipin because
of debt or as punishment for a wrongdoing
-can go back to being part of the timawa class once they
pay off their debt
2. Aliping Sagigilid

-those who have live in their master’s house

-does not have the right to own any property
-often came from a family of alipin or are captives in
war
-can also be sold or exchanged for goods or other
alipin; or can be used as payment for debt
-they could not marry without the consent of their
master
Socioeconomic Classes during the Spanish Colonial Period
(1521 to 1898)

Upon the coming of the Spaniards, they changed the

society and created a new set of socioeconomic class.
During this period, the people were divided based on
their ancestry— peninsulares, insulares,mestizo, and
indio.
Peninsulares
-Spaniards in the Philippines who were born in Spain
-came from “peninsula,” meaning "came directly from the
Spanish peninsula“
-also called as “Kastilas”
-the highest class in the economic system of the
Philippines; considered as the wealthiest and most
politically powerful among the social classes
-got the highest positions in the government
Insulares

-Spaniards who were of Spanish descent but were

born in the Philippines
-came from “insular,” meaning "from the islands“
-receives discrimination from fellow Kastilas
-enjoy various government and church positions
Mestizo
-those of mixed ancestry
-usually children of Spanish and Chinese couples or of
Spanish and Indio couples
-have both economic and political power, coming from
their mixed heritage
Indio
-consists of the natives
-the lowest class in the society
-were stripped of their rights and freedom and were
forced to bow down to the Spanish colonizers
This kind of system lasted for hundreds
of years, until such time when some
insulares and mestizos were able to gain
some form of power. In the 19th century,
the so-called “middle class” emerged—
theprincipalia and the ilustrado.
Principalia

-consists of native leaders in the government and their

families
- it was the social and educated class in the towns of
colonial Philippines composed of the Gobernadorcillo
(Town Mayor), or the Cabeza de Barangay (Chief of the
Barangay) who governed the districts and the awardees
of the medal of Civil Merit.
- Were allowed to vote, be elected to public office and be
addressed by the title: Don or Doña
Ilustrados

-also called as the “enlightened ones”

-the children of the principalia who usually studied in
Europe; they were from the middle class who were
educated in the Spanish and Spanish liberal and European
nationalist ideas
-most of the popular artists and scholars at that time,
including Jose Rizal
Economic Changes:

-introduction of new plants and animals

(beans, peanuts, achuete, sheep, horses, swans, better
breeds of chickens and roosters, and etc.)
-abolition of slavery
-opening of the Philippines to world trade industry
-improvement on transportation and communication
-banks were built
Modern Socioeconomic Classes
-It was changed when the Philippines gained
independence from Spain. The Americans introduced
democracy and did not impose any form of socioeconomic
classes.
-A person’s position in the society is based mainly on his
or her family’s economic status.
-Social stratification, or the division of society based on
occupation and income, wealth or power; is simpler at
present than in the past.
The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)
divided the population into high-income, middle-income,
and low-income classes.

1. High-income Class
-people earning an average of P200,000 a month, or
approximately P2.4 million a year
-the “rich” class and accounts for merely one percent of
the country’s total population
2. Middle-income Class
-people earning an average of P36,000 per month
-consists of professionals and small-scale entrepreneurs

3. Low-income Class
-people earning less than P10,000 a month
-Protestantism was introduced
-More or less than 300,000 Filipinos became protestant -there
was a separation of the church and state
-Americans built roads, streets, and bridges
-new infrastructure helped make the movement of products
and services more efficient
-Boulevards, zone districts, and centers of leisure were also
established
-movies became more popular and new kinds of music were
introduced
-Philippine Economy improved
-Increase in Agricultural production
-Development of new industries
III. Ethnicity and Race

Every society consists of people from different families,

ethnic groups, and races. This makes society very diverse
and unique.
 Ethnicity
-refers to a group of people, also called ethnic group, who
have a common or shared culture, language, history,
religion, and tradition

Race
-refers to a group of people who share the same physical
attributes, such as skin color, height, and facial features.
Insert ethnic groups in the phil slideshare
Issues About Race and Ethnicity
Ethnicity and race are categories that divide people
based on their social affinity or physical similarity.
However, differences in ethnicity and race made some
people believe that one ethnic group is better or
superior than others. Thus, this belief creates
discrimination and prejudice against people from minor
or perceived to be “inferior” ethnicity or race.
There are different types of discrimination against one’s
ethnicity or race:
1. Racism
-is discrimination or prejudice based on one’s race.
-In the 1970s, white Americans (Caucasians)
discriminated black Americans (Negroids), who were
descendants of immigrants from African countries.
-is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to
another, that a person’s social and moral traits are
predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics.
- It includes prejudice, discrimination or hatred directed at
someone because of their color, ethnicity or national origin
- It can be revealed through people’s actions as well as their
attitudes. It can also be reflected in systems and institutions.
But sometimes it may not be revealed at all. Not all racism is
obvious. For example, someone may look through a list of job
applicants and decide not to interview people with certain
surnames.
2. Ethnocentrism
-is the term anthropologists use to describe the opinion
that one’s own way of life is natural or correct
-they see their own culture as the correct way of living
-is discrimination or prejudice based on one’s culture
Example:
In the Philippines, Muslims experience prejudice and
discrimination in Christian-dominated regions like in Metro
Manila. Because of the ongoing conflict in Mindanao
between the government and Islamic militants, Christians
tend to think that all Muslims are terrorists
Discrimination against one’s race/ethnic group may cause
crimes against it:
1. Genocide
- the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of
people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion,
or race
- It is an extreme action against people from other
ethnicity or race
- The term, derived from the Greek genos (“race,” “tribe,”
or “nation”) and the Latin cide (“killing”)
2. Ethnic cleansing
- is harassment, rape, or forced migration of an ethnic
group to vanish them from a certain area or territory
- is the systematic forced removal of ethnic, racial and/or
religious groups from a given territory by a more powerful
ethnic group, often with the intent of making it
ethnically homogeneous
Thus, the primary goal of genocide is the destruction
of an ethnic, racial, or religious group, the main
purpose of ethnic cleansing is the establishment of
ethnically homogeneous lands, which may be achieved
by any of a number of methods including genocide.
IV. RELIGION
CLASSIFICATION OF RELIGION
THE NOBLE 8-FOLD PATH
RELIGIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Catholicism
-is the predominant religion and the largest Christian
denomination, with estimates of approximately 80% of
the population belonging to this faith in the Philippines
-known traditions Misa de Gallo, Black Nazarene
procession, Santo Niño Festivals, Aguinaldo procession
and other large crowds gathering honoring patron saint
or saints.
-celebrating feast days of the patron saints in various
barrios or barangays
2. Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)
-officially registered by Felix Y. Manalo last June 27, 1914
-is widely regarded as very influential due to their ability
to deliver votes through block voting during elections
which is unique to the church doctrine on unity and a
practice that cannot be found outside of their church
-its primary purpose is to worship the almighty God based
on his teachings as taught by Jesus Christ and as
recorded in the bible
-Accdg to PASUGO magazine, the demographics was
composed of 112 countries comprising 120 races
3. Protestantism
-it arrived in the Phil. with the coming of the Americans
The following are Protestant church organizations:
a. Association of Fund. Baptist Churches in the Phil.
b. Cathedral of Praise (Pentecostal)
c. Christ Commission Fellowship (Evangelical)
d. Christ Living Epistle Ministries Inc. (Full
Gospel/Pentecostal)
e. Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Phil
f. Church of God
g. Church of the 4 Square Gospel in the Phil (Full
Gospel/Pentecostal)
h. Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry
i. Jesus is Lord Church
j. Mindanao and Visayas Convention of Southern Baptists
k. New Life Christian Center
l. Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th watch)
m. Philippines General Council of the Assemblies of God
n. United Methodist Church
o. Tabernacle of Faith International Church
p. Redeeming Grace Christian Centre
….and etc.
Problems/Conflicts
Since a difference in religion does not only mean worshipping a
different god, conflicts sometimes arise between their believers.
Some believers of a particular religion feel like they are being
marginalized, while some feel like those following other religions
are taking advantage of their number.
 It may come easy to be swayed by religious differences and
start a conflict. A believer or follower of a particular religion may
offend a follower of another religion if he or she imposes his or
her beliefs or practices of his or her religion.
In history, bloody wars happened because of religious
differences, and unfortunately, conflicts continue until now due to
varying religions.
Solutions/Actions
To prevent conflicts, the Philippine government, for example, has
started recognizing some of the special days in different
religions.
Employees are not required to work during Holy Week; wherein
Catholics commemorate the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
The start and the end of the Ramadan are also considered
holidays, just like when the Chinese celebrate the start of their
new year.
 This way, the government allows followers of different religions
to attend to their religious obligations without their work getting
in the way.
To those conflicts brought about by differences in religion, the
key word here is respect. And respect entails a conscious effort
of acquiring cultural knowledge and understanding which this
course is mainly about.
V. EXCEPTIONALITY

People has different characteristics, needs, desires,

lifestyles, and challenges. However, there are people who,
from one reason or another, are described or categorized
by the society as exceptional.
Exceptionality
-a quality or a characteristic of a person that makes him or her
different from an established norm in a society various physical
and mental interference or problems that affect a person and which
makes it difficult for him/her to function properly in society

Exceptional people
-who differ from societal and community standard of normalcy
-with learning or behavioral problems and with physical and sensory
disabilities
-who are intellectually gifted
-the characteristics which make a person exceptional may have
been acquired from birth, through a medical condition, or through
an accident.
Challenges/Problems:

-Discrimination
-Limited access to educ’l opportunities
-Limited services from the gov’t
-Segregation or isolation from society
-Unrealistic expectations
-Non-recognition of some economic, social, and political
rights
Overcoming Challenges and Problems
In the Philippines, despite the passage of Republic Act
7277 or the Magna Carta for People with Disabilities
(PWDs) in 1991 – An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation,
Self-Dev’t, and Self-Reliance of Disabled Person and
Their Integration into the Mainstream of Society and
For Other Purposes.
Thus, the government, private sectors, media, and some
concerned groups have been working together to solve
these existing problems.
-The International Symbol of Access (ISA) is placed in
all areas that are reserved for PWDs, regardless of their
disability.
-By law, all public schools in the Philippines are mandated
to offer special education classes for all students with
physical or learning disabilities.