PHILIPPINES SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

Social Environment like physical environment influences people and progress

of any country. The term means the people and their character and culture.
 Philippine Population – is the 14th most populated in the world.

- 40% of the populace made up of those below15

years of age.
o Social Class is based on income and share of national wealth and is of 3 types:

1. Upper class (rich class) – represent the 10% of the population. Members own or
earn about 90% of the wealth of the country.
2. Middle Class - is about 20% of the population and these are the professionals,
skilled or semi-skilled workers in offices, factories or farms. They are the back
bone of the nation.
3. The lower class (poor class)-comprise about 70% of the population, but they
only earn or share 10% of the income to provide for their basic needs.
 The only Christian nation in Asia

About 93% of the people are Christians. 83% are Catholics and the rest
belong to the different religious sectors. Dominant religion is Catholicism and
Islam is the country’s second largest religion.
 A nation of many languages

Philippines is a nation of many languages and dialects. Survey of an

American linguist showed that there are 55 native languages and 142 dialects in
the country apart from English and Spanish. Of the 8 principal native languages,
Cebuano ranks first. It is the mother tongue of ¼ of the people. Tagalog which
used to be first, ranks second followed by Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo then
Bicolano, Waray –waray, Kapampangan and Pangasinan. English, however, is the
most widely used language in the country especially for education, commerce and
professions.
 Education and High Literacy
The Filipino people are fond of education. A college diploma is a status
symbol in the country. There are more than 50 universities in the Philippines but
the oldest existing university is UST in Manila which was founded in 1611. It is
25 years older than Harvard University , the oldest university in the US.
o Filipino Character

Filipinos like all people in the world have bad and good character traits. Their
bad character traits however, are offset by the good ones.
 prone to gambling and betting

 fatalism

 very sensitive about their honor or reputation

 prefer smooth relations with others (pakikisama)

 lack of discipline
 lack of perseverance
 manana habit
 warm hospitality
 passionately romantic
 liberty-loving
 gratitude
 Cooperative
 noted for their durability and resiliency
o Regional Traits
Filipinos possess different regional traits due to different regional
environments, the lack of contact and communication in previous centuries, the
Spanish imperialist policy of “divide and rule”
 The Arts
Filipinos are creative people and they have produced outstanding artists,
writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, etc.
Some National Artists of the country:
 Literature : Amado V. Hernandez
Jose Garcia Villa
Nick Joaquin
Carlos P. Romulo

 Painting : Fernando Amorsolo

Carlos V. Francisco
Victorio Edades
 Sculpture:
Guillermo Tolentino
Napoleon Abueva
 Architecture:
Juan F. Nakpil
Pablo S. Antonio
 Dance :
Francisca Reyes Aquino
Leonor Orosa Goquingco
Lucresia Urtula

 Music : Antonio Molina

Gerardo de Leon
Atang de la Rama
 Film :
Lamberto V. Avellana
Gerardo de Leon
Atang de la Rama

o Science and Technology:

Science and technology are the twin keys which unlock the door of industrial
progress in modern times. Science policy in the Philippines is aimed at finding
ways of meeting the social needs of the people in agriculture, manufacturing and
other industries.
Some National Scientists in the Philippines:
Medicine :
Juan S. Salcedo, Jr.
Fe del Mundo
Geminiano T. de Ocampo
 Engineering:
Gregorio Y. Zara

 Physics:
Casimiro del Rosario
 Chemistry:
Alfredo C. Santos
Julian A. Banzon
 Botany:
Eduardo Quisumbing
Gregorio T. Velaszuez
Dioscoro Umali
and the different economic and social factors which affect them in
modern times.
 The Ilocanos of Ilocandia are the most adventurous, hardworking
and frugal of all filipinos.
 The Tagalogs, who inhabit Manila , the provinces around it
feel superior to other filipinos.
 The Bicolanos o Bicolandia are religious , mild-tempered and
musical people. They possess a stoical outlook in life.
 The Bisayans, particularly those from Iloilo and Negros Occidental
are extravagant, care free and jolly.
 The Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao and Sulu are fierce. They are
valiant warriors on both land and sea.