Philippines

The Philippines is known for having an

abundance of beautiful beaches and
delicious fruit. The collection of islands
is located in Southeast Asia and was
named after King Philip II of Spain.
The country can be divided into three
main areas: Luzon (the largest,
northernmost island, which includes
Manila); a group of islands called the
Visayas (including the major islands
Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte,
Samar, and Masbate); and Mindanao, the
second-largest island in the Philippines,
found at the southern end of the
archipelago.
 Beginnings of the Archipelago
Some 50 million years ago, the archipelago was formed by volcanic eruptions. The
Philippine archipelago was settled at least 30,000 years ago, when migrations from the
Indonesian archipelago and elsewhere are believed to have occurred. Additional migrations
took place over the next millennia. Over time, social and political organization developed
and evolved in the widely scattered islands. The basic unit of settlement was the barangay.
Kinship groups were led by a datu (chief), and within the barangay there were broad social
divisions consisting of nobles, freemen, and dependent and landless agricultural workers and
slaves. Over the centuries, Indo-Malay migrants were joined by Chinese traders. A major
development in the early period was the introduction of Islam to the Philippines by traders
and proselytizers from the Indonesian islands. By A.D. 1500, Islam had been established in
the Sulu Archipelago and spread from there to Mindanao; it reached the Manila area by
1565. In the midst of the introduction of Islam came the introduction of Christianity, with the
arrival of the Spanish.
 First Human And First Civilization
Homo luzonensis, a species of archaic humans, was present on the island of Luzon at least 67,000
years ago. The earliest known modern human was from the Tabon Caves in Palawan dating about
47,000 years. Negrito groups were the first inhabitants to settle in the prehistoric Philippines.
Discovery of the Philippines by the West
The Philippines were claimed in the name of Spain in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese
explorer sailing for Spain, who named the islands after King Philip II of Spain. They were then
called Las Felipinas. By the 1830’s Spanish culture and thought had penetrated into Filipino culture.
Spanish Control
The conquest of the Filipinos by Spain did not begin in earnest until 1564, when another expedition from New
Spain, commanded by Miguel López de Legaspi, arrived. Spanish leadership was soon established over many
small independent communities that previously had known no central rule. By 1571, when López de Legaspi
established the Spanish city of Manila on the site of a Moro town he had conquered the year before, the Spanish
foothold in the Philippines was secure, despite the opposition of the Portuguese, who were eager to maintain
their monopoly on the trade of East Asia.
 Chinese Pirate invaded Manila
Manila repulsed the attack of the Chinese pirate Limahong in 1574. For centuries before the Spanish arrived the
Chinese had traded with the Filipinos, but evidently none had settled permanently in the islands until after the
conquest. Chinese trade and labor were of great importance in the early development of the Spanish colony, but
the Chinese came to be feared and hated because of their increasing numbers, and in 1603 the Spanish murdered
thousands of them (later, there were lesser massacres of the Chinese).
 Philippine Revolution
Philippine Revolution, (1896–98), Filipino independence struggle that, after more than 300 years of Spanish
colonial rule, exposed the weakness of Spanish administration but failed to evict Spaniards from the islands.
Reform-minded Filipinos took refuge in Europe, where they carried on a literary campaign known as the
Propaganda Movement. Dr. José Rizal quickly emerged as the leading Propagandist. His novel Noli me tángere
(1886; The Social Cancer, 1912) exposed the corruption of Manila Spanish society and stimulated the movement
for independence.
By 1892 Andres Bonifacio, a self-educated warehouse clerk, organized a secret revolutionary society, the
Katipunan, in Manila. Membership grew to an estimated 100,000 by August 1896, when the Spaniards
discovered its existence. Bonifacio immediately issued a call for armed rebellion.
 Philippine Independence
During the Spanish-American War, Filipino rebels led by Emilio Aguinaldo proclaim the independence of the
Philippines after 300 years of Spanish rule. ... Revolts broke out across Luzon, and in March 1897, 28-year-old
Emilio Aguinaldo became leader of the rebellion.
July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained Independence from the United States.
 Philippine Culture
The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish Catholic traditions, with
influences from America and other parts of Asia. The Filipinos are family oriented and often religious with an
appreciation for art, fashion, music and food.
 Language
In the Philippines, there are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects.
For more than 300 years, Spanish was the official language in the country under Spanish rule. 60% of the
population spoke Spanish as either a first, second or third language in the early 20th century. But after the
American occupation in the early 1900’s, the use of Spanish began to decline. In 1935, the Constitution of the
Philippines named English and Spanish the official languages. In 1939, the Tagalog language was named the
national language. It was renamed “Pilipino” in 1959 and finally “Filipino” in 1973. The present Constitution
names Filipino and English as joint official languages.
 Food
The food culture in the Philippines is very different from that of the Western’s culture. Filipinos are big eaters
and love to eat rice. Filipinos also have a regular eating schedule: morning (breakfast), mid-morning (snacks),
noon (lunch), afternoon (snacks), and evening (dinner).
Adobo- The word adobo is derived from the Spanish word adobar, which means “marinade” or “pickling sauce.”
The existence of the tangy dish was first recorded in 1613 by the Spaniard Pedro de San Buenaventura. ... The
Chinese traders who later visited our islands introduced soy sauce to early Filipinos.
Siningang na baboy- Sinigang, a sour tasting soup originating from the Philippines, is usually served as a main
dish with rice. Many people make this dish for special occasions such as a birthday or a baptism, but its not for
any special purpose, just a common dish of the Filipino culture.
Lechon- Lechón is a Spanish word referring to a roasted baby pig (piglet) which was still fed by suckling its
mother's milk (a suckling pig). Lechón is a popular food in Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic,
and other Spanish-speaking nations in Latin America.
Balut- Balut originated in the Philippines in the early 1900’s. The Philippine people were influenced by the
Chinese presence back in 1885. Since then they have been preparing and eating Balut as an exotic dish.
Sisig- Sisig in Kapampangan language means ‘sour’. Sisig is an original kapampangan dish more than 2
centuries before the sizzling sisig version was accidentally invented by Lucia
 Filipino Values
The Filipino culture and values are just among the good things that are appreciated by many people from across
the world. In the Philippines, family is valued so much. Children live with their parents until they are married.
The Filipino family culture is something that many people applaud because the locals value family time so much.
 Bayanihan Filipino culture
 Before, the Filipino men used to serenade (harana) a woman he was courting.
 Filipinos call their older siblings “ate” for older sisters and “kuya” for older brothers to show respect.
 Hospitable
 So much respect for the elderlies
 Pagmamano or kissing the elder’s head on the forehead
 Religious
 Palabra de Honor
 Pamamanhikan
 Pakikisama
 Music, Arts and Literature
 Music, Arts and Literature
Music, arts, and literature play a big role in the Philippine culture and arts because Filipinos are very creative.
When it comes to music, they use materials, usually raw, to create sound. This is just one of the many examples
of indigenous practices in the Philippines.
Filipinos are also fond of folklore, which was influenced by the early church and Spanish literature. Myths are
very famous in the Philippines culture, especially in the provinces. And when it comes to literature, the Filipino
culture never disappoints. Even Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines national hero, is famous for his literature and
novels about Philippine independence.
 Philippine folk art
Architecture (Bahay Kubo (Nipa Hut), Bale (Ifugao House), Ivatan House, Torogan (Marano House), Badjao’s Stilt
Houses and Houseboats, Vinta (A traditional colorful boat in Mindanao)
Weaving and Clothing (Piña Fabric, T’Nalak Woven Cloth, Tapis, Yakan, Barong Tagalog, Baro at Saya)
Philippine and Luzon folk dance (Carinosa, Tinikling, Itik-Itik, Sayaw sa Bangko, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Maglalatik)
 Religion
We can’t deny the fact that religion plays a big role in shaping not just the Philippine culture but also other cultures.
Some 80% of the population is Catholic, Spain’s lasting legacy. About 15% are Muslim and these people can be found
in Mindanao. Christianity was introduced as early as the 16th century with the coming of Ferdinand Magellan in
1521.
Christianity was introduced as early as the 16th century with the coming of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
Protestantism was introduced by the first Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries who arrived with the American
soldiers in 1899. The rest of the population is made up mostly of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhists.
 Clothing
Before, the cultural practices in the Philippines when it comes to clothing is wearing baro’t saya for women and
barong tagalog for men. Baro’t saya is composed of a blouse and a long skirt with a “panuelo”. Barong Tagalog was
an almost see-through polo but throughout the centuries, the Barong Tagalog has evolved. Buttons and collars were
added, as well as intricate designs on its pina fabric and laces. Underneath the transparent Barong Tagalog is the
Camisa de Chino, a type of shirt, usually in white that is said to have originated from the Chinese.
 Philippines: Celebrations
Philippines, the country is known to have the longest Christmas in the world because as early as September, the
Thank
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