KNOWING THE

COUNTRY
 KNOWING OUR COUNTRY
 BELIEF
 CULTURE
 TRADITIONS
 SOCIETY
WHAT ARE THE BELIEF FILIPINOS?
• Most early Filipinos believed in worshiping
different gods, creatures, and spirits. They
appease them through various practices,
sacrifices, and rituals. However, due to the
Philippines having a long history of
colonization, religious beliefs and traditions
have changed from animism to Christianity
 An example of this is when the Spanish came to the country
during the 16th century. The Majority of the natives worshiped a
number of nature spirits who were believed to bring good fortune or
harm. These spirits have to be contacted by religious leaders referred
to as Shamans to shun danger and to bring about wealth. The locals
believed that bad fortune and sickness originated from malicious
spirit and that good weather, numerous kids, and fine yields
originated from kind spirits, mostly in the appearance of ancestors. As
the locals switched to Christianity, they merely shifted these beliefs to
the Catholic Church and the spirits turned into saints, Mass, and its
customs were used rather than traditional customs, and the priests
were the new intercessors between the locals, the Saints and God.
This is similar to Islam as it has absorbed different aspects and the
faithful offer gifts to the spirits who they believe can aid them with
crops, health, and family, and integrate customary aspects into
customs like birth, marriage, and death.
• The present-day Filipino culture still embraces
superstitions that cling to ancient beliefs and
practices. Some may be quite amusing, such
as serving noodle dishes like pancit during
birthday celebrations as it is believed to
represent long life, while some sound more
serious, like thinking that faith- healers can
heal certain ailments.
• What are the most common Filipino beliefs?

- ​Get rid of a hiccup by placing a short thread wet with saliva on the forehead.
- By showing fondness or affection when meeting a baby for the first time, you
may cause the baby to feel uneasy or make the baby cry non-stop which is
commonly referred to as "na-usog.“
- Stepping over a child will stunt his or her growth.
- Knocking on wood - An action Filipinos do to counter a negative remark. If a
friend were to say “I might get hit by a car while crossing the road”, you have to
knock on wood to avoid it from happening.
- Tabi-tabi po - A common phrase said out loud when passing through
forested and grassy areas. It is also expected to be said in areas where spirits
are believed to dwell (e.g. cemetery). It is a way to show respect and avoid
disturbing spirits and other mythical creatures who live in these areas.
- Pagpag - When coming from a wake, a Filipino practice would be not to go
home straight away as it is believed that the soul of the dead would follow
one back to his/her house. You may stop anywhere you please just as long
as you do not go straight home.
 WHAT ARE FILIPINO CULTURE
• The Philippines is a culture in which East
meets West. The Filipino people have a
distinct Asian background, with a strong
Western tradition. The modern Filipino culture
developed through influence from Chinese
traders, Spanish conquistadors, and American
rulers
• The following are illustrative examples of
traditional culture.
• Norms. Norms are informal, unwritten rules
that govern social behaviors.
• Languages.
• Festivals.
• Rituals & Ceremony.
• Food.
 NORMS
• Crab mentality.
• Procrastination or “Mañana Habit “
• Hypocrisy (being a double-faced person)
• Ningas cogon.
• Filipino time (tardiness)
• Gossiping.
• Blaming others (irresponsibility)
• Inconsideration (being thoughtless of others)
 LANGUAGE
Most Filipinos speak three languages in Philippines: their mother tongue, Tagalog,
and English. With 180 languages spoken by locals in different provinces, it’s not
surprising or uncommon for a Filipino to be multilingual. 
Major Languages in Philippines
If you want to learn more about the Filipino Tagalog, Zamboanga language, or
indigenous languages in the Philippines, we’ve rounded up a list of languages that
Filipinos speak:
• Tagalog
• Ilocano
• Pangasinense
• Pampango
• Bicol
• Cebuano
• Hiligaynon
• Waray-Samarnon
 FESTIVALS
Festivals in the Philippines offer people a chance to
exhibit their rich culture and pay homage to the history
and patron saints. They are vibrant, big, and celebrated
with a lot of pomp and show. No wonder, each province
has its own Filipino Fiesta that they are very proud of.
Tourists from all over the world visit the Philippines not
just to see its beautiful beaches and breathtaking sights,
but also to experience the country’s grand festivals that,
without a doubt, make it more fun in the Philippines.
 15 Philippine Festivals You Must Experience
• Sinulog Festival – A religious festival in the Philippines celebrated in
Cebu every January.
• Ati-Atihan Festival – One-of-a-kind festival in the Philippines held in
Aklan.
• Dinagyang Festival – The religious festival in the Philippines that
celebrates the feast of the Santo Niño and the pact between the Datus
and locals in Iloilo City.
• Pahiyas Festival – Lucban, Quezon – One of the most colorful Philippines
festivals held in Lucban, Quezon where tourists can enjoy FREE food!
• Panagbenga Festival– The popular Flower Festival in the Philippines.
• Lechon Festival – One of the most unique festivals in the Philippines
where you’ll see crispy pork lechons dressed in cool outfits.
• Kadayawan Festival – The fiesta in the Philippines celebrated in Davao
City.
• MassKara Festival – The Philippine festival of many faces held in
Bacolod.
• Tuna Festival – One of the fun fish festivals in the Philippines.
• Higantes Festival – Where you can see giant paper mache do the
festival dance.
• Mango Festival – A festivity held in Zambales to celebrate the
bountiful harvest of mangoes.
• Bangus Festival – The festival that promotes bangus.
• Moriones Festival – A religious festival in the Philippines re-
enacting Longinus’ life.
• Ibalong Festival –  It is a celebration in recognition of the socio-
historic-cultural heritage of Bicolanos as based on the Ibalong Epic.
• T’Nalak Festival – A way to promote and preserve South Cotabato’s
cultural heritage
 RITUAL AND CEREMONY
PENITENSYA
As a Catholic nation, the Philippines does not take
penitence lightly. Once, when we were travelling home
from Caramoan to Leyte during our Holy Week adventure,
we came across a group of men parading the streets and
striking their already bleeding backs with whips. In
Pampanga, a bloody crucifixion re-enactment is held
every Good Friday. While this ritual is not supported by
the Catholic Church, many devotees still do this to imitate
Jesus Christ’s sufferings and show gratitude to God.
 FOODS
• Filipinos consume five small-plate meals. It begins
with an early breakfast and is followed by a 10
a.m. snack called merienda. Following lunch is
another merienda at around 4 p.m. which gives
diners enough energy to last until dinnertime.
Finger-food appetizers are served during happy
hour, and it's not uncommon to finish off a late
evening with sweets or fruit, coconut and caramel
being the primary ingredients.
• Filipinos take pride in dishes that reflect their
indigenous resources and cooking methods as
well as foreign fare. Among the most popular
are marinated meats in adobo sauce; Dininding,
a traditional dish combining vegetables and
seafood; Kari-Kari, or boiled oxtail; and Estofado,
a deep-fried meat dish served with potatoes. For
dessert, save room for flan, sweetened rice
cakes, ambrosia salads and caramel custards.
 SOCIETY IN THE PHILLIPINES
• Philippine society is a unique blend of
diversity and homogeneity. ... Forces of
assimilation have constantly worked to
overcome cultural differences between the
various ethnic groups that are scattered—
sometimes in relative isolation—throughout
the archipelago.