Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No.

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 5

CULTURE
MODULE OVERVIEW

Culture consists of the historically accumulated knowledge, tools and attitudes that pervade the child's
proximal ecology, including the cultural “practices” of nuclear family members and other kin. These
enculturated members of society are themselves subject to a variety of forces in both the natural ecology and
society as they carry out their roles, such as care giving and earning a living.

Culture plays an essential role in how children make sense of the world. A decisive difference between
children’s learning and any intelligent technical system is that technical systems can recognize and organize
information, but cannot grasp its meaning. Development of signification and adoption of the appropriate
cultural tools (symbols, meanings, scripts, goals etc.) of human activity are basic challenges of early learning.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should have:

1. described their own culture and culture of others;
2. discussed the similarities and differences of different cultures in the Philippines;
3. discussed about dealing with stereotypical ideas and positive attitudes toward diversity; and
4. demonstrated approved behaviors related to social and ethnic customs (e.g., manners and other
respectful behaviors).

ART

The arts of the Philippines reflect a society with diverse cultural influences and traditions. The Malayan
people had early contact with traders who introduced Chinese and Indian influences. Islamic traditions were
first introduced to the Malays of the southern Philippine Islands in the 14th century. Most modern aspects of
Philippine cultural life evolved under the foreign rule of Spain and, later, the United States. In the 16th century
the Spanish imposed a foreign culture based in Catholicism.

While the lowland peoples were acculturated through religious conversion, the Muslims and some upland
tribal groups maintained cultural independence. Among those who were assimilated arose an educated elite
who began to establish a modern Filipino literary tradition. During the first half of the 20th century, American
influence made the Philippines one of the most Westernized nations in Southeast Asia. The cultural
movements of Europe and the United States profoundly influenced Filipino artists, even after independence in
1946. While drawing on Western forms, however, the works of Filipino painters, writers, and musicians are
imbued with distinctly Philippine themes.

By expressing the cultural richness of the archipelago in all its diversity, Filipino artists have helped to
shape a sense of national identity. Many Malay cultural traditions have survived despite centuries of foreign
rule. Muslims and upland tribal groups maintain distinct traditions in music, dance, and sculpture. In addition,
many Filipino artists incorporate indigenous folk motifs into modern forms.

A. LITERATURE

The indigenous literature of the Philippines developed primarily in the oral tradition in poetic and narrative
forms. Epic poems, legends, proverbs, songs, and riddles were passed from generation to generation through
oral recitation and incantation in the various languages and dialects of the islands.

The epics were the most complex of these early literary forms. Most of the major tribal groups developed
an original epic that was chanted in episodic segments during a variety of social rituals. One common theme
of the epics is a hero who is aided by benevolent spirits. The epics that have survived are important records of
the ancient customs of tribal society before the arrival of Islam and Christianity. After the arrival of the
Spanish, Catholic missionaries employed indigenous peoples as translators, creating a bilingual class known
as ladinos. These individuals, notably poet-translator Gaspar Aquino de Belen, produced devotional poetry

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written in the Roman script, primarily in the Tagalog language. Later, the Spanish ballad of chivalry, the
corridor, provided a model for secular (nonreligious) literature. Verse narratives, or komedya, were performed
in the regional languages for the illiterate majority. They were also written in the Roman alphabet in the
principal languages and widely circulated. Francisco Balagtas Baltazar, generally considered the first major
Filipino poet, wrote poems in Tagalog. His best-known work, Florante at Laura (Florante and Laura),
probably written between 1835 and 1842, is an epic poem that subversively criticizes Spanish tyranny. This
poem inspired a generation of young Filipino writers of the new educated class, or ilustrados, who used their
literary talents to call for political and social reform under the colonial system. These writers, most notably
Jose Rizal, produced a small but high-quality body of Philippine literature in Spanish. Rizal's novel Noli Me
Tangere (Touch Me Not), published in 1886, and its sequel, El Filibusterismo (The Subversive), published
in 1891, helped to shape a new, nationalist identity during the last years of the 19th century.

The transfer of the Philippines to United States control in 1898 resulted in a dramatic increase in literacy
and, consequently, literary production. A variety of new literary journals began to be published. English-
language Filipino novels, short stories, and poems were first published in book form in the 1920s. Many
Filipino authors have had distinguished writing careers. Their works typically explore the Filipino cultural
identity in the context of social and political issues. Filipino authors often write in more than one literary form
and in more than one language. Major English-language works include Winds of April (1940) and The
Bamboo Dancers (1959) by N. V. M. Gonzalez; Many Voices (1939) and Have Come, Am Here (1942) by
Jose Garcia Villa; You Lovely People (1955) and Scent of Apples and Other Stories (1980) by Bienvenido
N. Santos; The Laughter of My Father (1944) and America Is in the Heart (1946) by Carlos Bulosan; Bitter
Country and Other Stories (1970) by Rosca Ninotchka; The Woman Who Had Two Navels (1972) and A
Question of Heroes (1977) by Nick Joaquin; The God Stealer and Other Stories (1968) and Tree (1978) by
Francisco Sionil Jose; A Question of Identity (1973) by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil; and His Native Coast
(1979) by Edith L. Tiempo.

B. ART AND ARCHITECTURE

During most of the Spanish colonial period, the art and architecture of the Philippines were strongly
influenced by the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church. Most art emphasized religious iconography. The
church commissioned local craftspeople, often skilled Chinese artisans, to construct provincial stone churches
with bas-relief sculpture and to carve santos, or statues of saints, and other devotional icons in wood and
ivory. The edifices, statues, and paintings of the period show Chinese and Malay modifications of Spanish
baroque, an elaborate and detailed style. Philippine painters began to explore secular themes in the mid-
1800s. The painters Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo produced works in the romantic and early
impressionist styles, achieving recognition in Europe. Painters of the early 1900s-notably Fernando
Amorsolo, Fabian de la Rosa, and Jorge Pineda – produced romanticized landscapes, genre scenes, and
portraits. In the late 1920s Victorio Edades, an American-trained painter, infused modernism into the
Philippine art world. Many Philippine painters who were influenced by American and European modernism
also experimented with it to reflect Philippine realities, such as Carlos Francisco, Arturo Luz, Anita
Magsaysay-Ho, Vicente Manansala, and Hernando Ocampo. Lee Aguinaldo and Fernando Zobel de
Ayala achieved international recognition in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sculpture took on secular themes in the early 1900s. The major Filipino sculptor of the American colonial
period was Guillermo Tolentino, who trained in classical sculpture in Rome. In the 1950s Napoleon Abueva
pioneered modernism in Philippine sculpture. Many talented sculptors were active in the following decades,
notably Eduardo Castrillo, whose large welded-metal sculptures are displayed in Manila's Memorial Park;
Solomon Saprid, noted for his expressionist series of mythical figures titled Tikbalang; and Abdulmari Imao,
who produced contemporary interpretations of traditional Muslim designs. More recently, sculptors have
tended to utilize ethnic artifacts and natural materials to produce assemblages with social themes. In remote
areas, tribal groups have preserved traditional art forms such as woodcarving, textile weaving, bamboo and
rattan weaving, and metalsmithing. Artistic body adornments such as bead jewelry, body tattoos, and
headdresses are important indications of social status. In the northern Philippines, the Ifugao people are
known for their sculptural wood carvings of bulul figures, which represent guardian deities. The figures are
ritually placed in rice granaries to bring a plentiful harvest. The terraced rice fields of the Ifugao are
considered a major architectural feat. The Ifugao built them over a period of centuries by carving terraces into
the mountainsides and reinforcing each level with stone walls.The Muslim peoples in the south practice okir,
a design tradition that shows evidence of Indian and Islamic influences. Rendered in hardwood and brass, the
okir designs are mostly figurative, depicting animals, plants, and mythical figures. The style is highly
decorative, with long curvilinear lines and secondary arabesques. The designs are based in the ancient epics

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Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 5

and serve as significant cultural symbols. An important motif of the Maranaos is the sarimanok design,
depicting a bird holding a fish in its beak or talons. Many okir designs are used as decorative elements in
architecture. The Muslim peoples of the Philippines are noted for their metalworking skills, producing
weaponry such as swords and decorative containers in brass and silver.

C. MUSIC AND DANCE

Filipino classical musical compositions in many ways epitomize the blending of multicultural influences.
The compositions often embody indigenous themes and rhythms in Western forms, such as symphonies,
sonatas, and concertos. Several composers and conductors in classical music have achieved international
recognition, including Antonio Molina, Felipe Padilla de Leon, and Eliseo Pajaro. Jose Maceda is
considered the first Filipino avant-garde composer, liberating Philippine classical music from the traditional
constructs of Western forms. Traditional types of music are played on wind, string, and percussion
instruments made from local materials. These include the kulibit, a zither with bamboo strings and tubular
bamboo resonators; wooden lutes and guitars; and the git-git, a wooden three-string bowed instrument. The
Muslim peoples use these and other instruments to play complex musical compositions that have been
passed by memory from generation to generation. Most Filipino communities remember the tunes and lyrics
of traditional folk songs. Tagalogs, for example, have more than a dozen folk songs for various occasions,
including the uyayi or hele, a lullaby; the talindaw, a seafaring song; the kumintang, a warrior song; the
kundiman, a love song; and the panambitan, a courtship song. Some songs are accompanied by a specific
folk dance.Formal training in classical dance has been available in the Philippines since the 1930s. The first
noted Filipino choreographers in classical ballet were Leonor Orosa-Goquingco, Remedios Totoy de
Oteyza, and Rosalia Merino-Santos. Orosa-Goquingco is most noted for her staging of Filipinescas:
Philippine Life, Legend and Lore in Dance, which toured the world in the 1960s. Merino-Santos later turned
to modern dance and founded the Far Eastern University Modern Experimental Dance Troupe. Other dance
companies include Ballet Philippines (formerly the Modern Dance Company), Hariraya Ballet Company,
Dance Theater Philippines, and Pamana Ballet (formerly the Anita Kane Ballet Company). Several Filipino
ballet dancers have achieved international fame, including Maribel Aboitiz, Eddie Elejar, Lisa Macuja, and
Anna Villadolid. Choreographer Francisca Reyes-Aquino is recognized for pioneering research in the
documentation of Philippine folk dances and founding the Philippine Folk Dance Society. She codified the folk
dances into steps, directions, and musical arrangements that are taught in physical education classes in most
schools. Among other folk dance troupes, the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company (formerly the
Bayanihan Folk Arts Center) and the Far Eastern University Folk Dance Group perform stylized
adaptations of folk dances in local and international tours. Informal folk dancing is performed for a variety of
occasions, such as harvests, weddings, and religious celebrations. The Manila Symphony Orchestra
accompanies many dance performances. The Philippine Cultural Center in Manila provides an important
venue for the performing and applied arts.

D. LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS

In addition to the university libraries, the major libraries of the country are the Manila City Library, the
National Library, and the library of the Science and Technology Information Institute, all in Manila. The
Lopez Memorial Museum and Library, in Pasay, has collections of paintings by major Filipino artists, as well
as the letters and manuscripts of Jose Rizal. The Santo Tomas Museum, in Manila, has major
archaeological and natural-history collections, illustrating the history of the islands. The National Museum, in
Manila, has divisions of anthropology, botany, geology, and zoology, along with art collections and a
planetarium.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Make an Instructional Material (ex. Flashcards, etc.) for Arts in the Philippines (ex. Popular Dances).

LANGUAGE

What Language Is Spoken In The Philippines?

With 183 living languages to speak of, the Philippines is one of the most linguistically diverse countries on
the planet.

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There’s no easy way to say what language is spoken in the Philippines, unless you’re willing to name and
enumerate nearly 200 of them. There are 183 living languages currently spoken in the Philippines, the vast
majority of which are indigenous tongues.

Official Languages

The two official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English. Filipino is the national language,
and the official status of English is a holdover from its time as a U.S. territory between the years of 1898 and
1946.

Filipino is the primary language used in school and media, and it’s also the lingua franca that unites the
nation’s disparate linguistic communities. You’ll mostly encounter English in government, newspapers and
magazines.

Filipino Vs. Tagalog

Are Filipino and Tagalog more or less the same language? Almost, but not quite. Filipino is an updated
version of Tagalog that includes elements of other native Philippine languages, as well as English, Spanish,
Malay and Chinese.

Due to its status at the time as the main language spoken in Manila, Tagalog became the national
language of the Philippines in 1937 when Congress voted to include a native language among the officially
recognized languages. Eventually, Tagalog was renamed Pilipino, and when the Constitution was amended
in 1973 under dictator President Ferdinand Marcos, Congress took steps to create a new iteration of the
language, which was to be known as Filipino. Filipino then gained official status in 1987.

The evolution of Pilipino into Filipino was part of Marcos’ efforts to create a “new society”. Part of this
meant incorporating elements of other languages, often by replacing Tagalog words deemed “aesthetically
unpleasing” with alternative words that sounded nicer. The letters f, j, c, x and z were added to the alphabet,
and the spellings of some words changed to better reflect how they’re pronounced.

Other Major Languages

The Philippines were under Spanish colonial rule for 300 years beginning in 1565, and during this time,
Spanish was the official language (and remained the lingua franca even after it lost its official status).
Spanish actually became an official language again, together with English, according to the Constitution of
1935, but it was demoted to an “optional and voluntary language” in 1987.

There are also major regional languages spoken in the Philippines that include Aklanon, Basian, Bikol,
Cebuano, Chavacano (a Spanish-based creole), Hiligaynon, Ibanag, Ilocano, Ilonggo, Ivatan, Maranao,
Tagalog, Kapampangan, Kinaray-a, Waray, Maguindanao, Pangasinan, Sambal, Surigaonon, Tausug
and Yakan. These are all mostly indigenous languages belonging to the Austronesian language family.

Out of these, 10 languages account for the language over 90 percent of Filipino people speak at home.
These languages are Tagalog, Bisaya, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray,
Maguindanao, Kapampangan and Pangasinan.

Immigrant populations have also affected the linguistic landscape of the Philippines. Major immigrant
languages include Sindhi (20,000 speakers, according to Ethnologue), Japanese (2,900), Indonesian
(2,580), Hindi (2,420) and German (960), as well as Korean, Arabic, Vietnamese, Malay, Tamil and various
types of Chinese.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Make an Instructional Material (ex. Flashcards, etc.) for Mother Tongue – Filipino – English Vocabulary
Translation (ex. nagpintas – maganda – beautiful).

*Note: Choose 1 Mother Tongue (either Pangasinan or Ilokano/Iloko). A minimum of twenty-five (25) words.
Include images appropriate for early childhood learners.

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HISTORY

The Early Philippines

The Philippines is named after King Philip II of Spain (1556-1598) and it was a Spanish colony for over
300 years.

Today the Philippines is an archipelago of 7, 641 islands. However it is believed that during the last ice
age they were joined to mainland Asia by a land bridge, enabling human beings to walk from there.

The first people in the Philippines were hunter-gatherers. However between 3,000 BC and 2,000 BC
people learned to farm. They grew rice and domesticated animals. From the 10th AD century Filipinos traded
with China and by the 12th Century AD Arab merchants reached the Philippines and they introduced Islam.

Then in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan sailed across the Pacific. He landed in the Philippines and claimed
them for Spain. Magellan baptized a chief called Humabon and hoped to make him a puppet ruler on behalf
of the Spanish crown. Magellan demanded that other chiefs submit to Humabon but one chief named Lapu
Lapu refused. Magellan led a force to crush him. However the Spanish soldiers were scattered and Magellan
was killed.

The Spaniards did not gain a foothold in the Philippines until 1565 when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi led an
expedition, which built a fort in Cebu. Later, in 1571 the Spaniards landed in Luzon. Here they built the city of
Intramuros (later called Manila), which became the capital of the Philippines. Spanish conquistadors
marched inland and conquered Luzon. They created a feudal system. Spaniards owned vast estates worked
by Filipinos.

Along with conquistadors went friars who converted the Filipinos to Catholicism. The friars also built
schools and universities.

The Spanish colony in the Philippines brought prosperity - for the upper class anyway. Each year the
Chinese exported goods such as silk, porcelain and lacquer to the Philippines. From there they were re-
exported to Mexico.

The years passed uneventfully in the Philippines until in 1762 the British captured Manila. They held it for
two years but they handed it back in 1764 under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1763.

The Philippines in the 19th Century

In 1872 there was a rebellion in Cavite but it was quickly crushed. However nationalist feeling continued to
grow helped by a writer named Jose Rizal (1861-1896). He wrote two novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo which stoked the fires of nationalism.

In 1892 Jose Rizal founded a movement called Liga Filipina, which called for reform rather than
revolution. As a result Rizal was arrested and exiled to Dapitan on Mindanao.

Meanwhile Andres Bonifacio formed a more extreme organization called the Katipunan. In August 1896
they began a revolution. Jose Rizal was accused of supporting the revolution, although he did not and he was
executed on 30 December 1896. Yet his execution merely inflamed Filipino opinion and the revolution grew.

Then in 1898 came war between the USA and Spain. On 30 April 1898 the Americans defeated the
Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. Meanwhile Filipino revolutionaries had surrounded Manila. Their leader, Emilio
Aguinaldo declared the Philippines independent on 12 June. However as part of the peace treaty Spain
ceded the Philippines to the USA. The Americans planned to take over.

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War between American forces in Manila and the Filipinos began on 4 February 1899. The Filipino-
American War lasted until 1902 when Aguinaldo was captured.

The Philippines in the 20th Century

American rule in the Philippines was paternalistic. They called their policy 'Benevolent Assimilation'.
They wanted to 'Americanize' the Filipinos but they never quite succeeded. However they did do some good.
Many American teachers were sent to the Philippines in a ship called the Thomas and they did increase
literacy.

In 1935 the Philippines were made a commonwealth and were semi-independent. Manuel Quezon
became president. The USA promised that the Philippines would become completely independent in 1945.

However in December 1941 Japan attacked the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. On 10 December 1941
Japanese troops invaded the Philippines. They captured Manila on 2 January 1941. By 6 May 1942 all of the
Philippines were in Japanese hands.

However American troops returned to the Philippines in October 1944. They recaptured Manila in
February 1945.

The Philippines became independent on 4 July 1946. Manuel Roxas was the first president of the newly
independent nation.

Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989) was elected president in 1965. He was re-elected in 1969. However the
Philippines was dogged by poverty and inequality. In the 1960s a land reform program began. However many
peasants were frustrated by its slow progress and a Communist insurgency began in the countryside.

On 21 September 1972 Marcos declared martial law. He imposed a curfew, suspended Congress and
arrested opposition leaders.

The Marcos dictatorship was exceedingly corrupt and Marcos and his cronies enriched themselves.

Then, in 1980 opposition leader Benigno Aquino went into exile in the USA. When he returned on 21
August 1983 he was shot. Aquino became a martyr and Filipinos were enraged by his murder.

In February 1986 Marcos called an election. The opposition united behind Cory Aquino the widow of
Benigno. Marcos claimed victory (a clear case of electoral fraud). Cory Aquino also claimed victory and
ordinary people took to the streets to show their support for her. The followers of Marcos deserted him and he
bowed to the inevitable and went into exile.

Things did not go smoothly for Corazon Aquino. (She survived 7 coup attempts). Furthermore, the
American bases in the Philippines (Subic Bay Naval Base and Clark Air Base) were unpopular with many
Filipinos who felt they should go. In 1992 Mount Pinatubo erupted and covered Clark in volcanic ash forcing
the Americans to leave. They left Subic Bay in 1993.

In 1992 Fidel Ramos became president. He improved the infrastructure in the Philippines including the
electricity supply. Industry was privatized and the economy began to grow more rapidly.

However at the end of the 1990s the Philippine economy entered a crisis. Meanwhile, in 1998 Joseph
Estrada, known as Erap became president. Estrada was accused of corruption and he was impeached in
November 2000. Estrada was not convicted. Nevertheless, people demonstrated against him and the military
withdrew its support. Estrada was forced to leave office and Vice-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
replaced him. She was re-elected in 2004.

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Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 5

The Philippines in the 21st Century

Today the Philippines is still poor but things are changing. Since 2010 the Philippine economy has grown
at about 6% a year. Today there is reason to be optimistic for the future. Meanwhile, In 2016 the Philippines
launched its first satellite. It was called Diwata-1. In 2020 the population of the Philippines was 106 million.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

Make a customize television using recycled materials to present the brief history of the Philippines.

CUSTOMS

Filipino Customs and Traditions

Mano Po

Our culture is a big reflection of our great and complex history. It is influenced by most of the people we
have interacted with. A blend of the Malayo-Polynesian and Hispanic culture with the influence from Chinese,
Indians Arabs, and other Asian cultures really contribute to the customs and traditions of the Filipinos.

Filipino culture is unique compared to other Asian countries, and beliefs apply every day in the life of the
Filipinos and reveal how rich and blessed the culture the people have.

Let’s review some of the popular Filipino traditions and find the similarities that bind Filipinos to each
other.

First on the list is Mano Po. When children or young people greet or say goodbye to their elders they
typically do so by taking the right hand of the elder with their right hand and touch the back the elder's hand
lightly on their forehead. It is a way of giving respect to the elders and I believe that is also a way of receiving
blessing to the elders.

Mano is a Spanish word for “hand” while Po is used in the end of the sentence when addressing elders or
superiors.

Next is that Filipinos are one of the most hospitable people you may find anywhere. Foreign visitors in
the country are treated with the utmost respect. This trait is usually seen during fiestas and holidays where
many Filipinos are giving their best to entertain their visitors well.

It is amazing to see that even the simplest home along the road opens their home to a stranger. For
Filipinos, to be able to serve others gives them honor of showing true friendship. Filipino Hospitality is a trait
you can't take away from them.

Having Close Family Ties is also one of their unique traits. It is one of the outstanding cultural values
that Filipinos have. The family takes care of each other and are taught to be loyal to family and elders by
simply obeying their authorities. This is one of the unique characteristics of Filipinos. Having fondness for
family reunions during secular and religious holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s eve, All Saints’ Day,
Holy Week, Fiestas, homecomings, birthdays, weddings, graduations, baptisms, funerals etc. is evidence that
Filipino people valued not only our cultural tradition but the spirit of our family. As Filipinos, we are blessed to
have been brought up with strong family ties.

Bayanihan

Have you ever experienced the bayanihan in our country? It is the spirit of communal unity or effort to
achieve a particular objective. A famous example of this is the neighbors carrying a hut or house to a new
location. People nowadays use it to describe an outpouring of community spirit-as people give their all to the
common good, without expecting recognition or personal gain.

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Courtship

We Filipinos are very romantic when it comes to heart affairs. Serenading or Harana in Tagalog is one of
the most popular forms of courtship to show that a man is very serious with his intentions to a woman. A
serenade would require the young man to sing a love song in front of the young lady's house. Normally, he is
accompanied by his male friends who act as back-up singers. The man himself or his friend played the
instrument, usually a guitar, which provides the background music to his song.

They would have to wait until the young lady opened a window to listen. It would be up to her if she
wanted to invite them in for some refreshment and to chat after the song. Even if they had been asked to
come in, the suitor would not expect that he could have the chance of a private moment with his object of
affection. It was highly likely that the parents would also be there to entertain the man and his friends.

Religion

The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia-Pacific. Their habit of going
to church and often praying reflects that Filipinos have a deep faith and belief when it comes to religion. They
are very devoted to religions that sometimes many take the risk of their lives just to touch the Black Nazarine
(in Quiapo Manila). For many, it is just a choice between their faith and fears.

Filipinos believe that having a strong devotion may lead to a better life and their guidance to face
everyday life.
Superstition

In the Philippines, superstitious beliefs have grown throughout the country. These beliefs have come from
the different sayings and beliefs of our ancestors that aim to prevent danger from happening or to make a
person refrain from doing something in particular.

These beliefs are part of our culture, for one derives their beliefs from the influences of what their
customs, traditions and culture have dictated to explain certain phenomena or to scare people. Some are
practiced primarily because Filipinos believe that there is nothing to lose if they will comply with these beliefs.

Cuisine

The Philippines is considered the melting pot of Asia. The rich medley of Chinese, Malay, Spanish,
Mexican, American, and Indian cooking are noticed in Philippine cuisine. Eating out is one of the favorite
Filipino pasttimes. A typical Pinoy diet consists at most of six meals a day; breakfast, snacks, lunch, snacks,
dinner, and again a midnight snack before going to sleep. Rice is a staple in the Filipino diet, and is usually
eaten together with other dishes. Filipinos regularly use spoons together with forks and knives. Some also eat
with their hands, especially in informal settings, and when eating seafood.

Other popular dishes brought from Spanish and Southeast Asian influences include afritada, asado,
chorizo, empanadas, mani (roasted peanuts), paksiw (fishor pork, cooked in vinegar and water with some
spices like garlic and pepper), pan de sal (bread rolls), pescado frito (fried or grilled fish), sisig,
torta(omelette), kare-kare (ox-tail stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and sinigang
(tamarind soup with a variety of pork, fish, or prawns). Some delicacies eaten by some Filipinos may seem
unappetizing to the Western palate include balut (boiled egg with a fertilized duckling inside), longanisa
(sweet sausage), and dinuguan (soup made from pork blood).

Popular snacks and desserts such as chicharon (deep fried pork or chicken skin), halo-halo (crushed ice
with evaporated milk, flan, and sliced tropical fruit),puto (white rice cakes), bibingka (rice cake with butter or
margarine and salted eggs), ensaymada (sweet roll with grated cheese on top), polvoron (powder candy),
and tsokolate (chocolate) are usually eaten outside the three main meals. Popular Philippine beverages
include San Miguel Beer, Tanduay Rhum,coconut arrack, and tuba.

Every province has its own specialty and tastes vary in each region. In Bicol, for example, foods are
generally spicier than elsewhere in the Philippines. Patis, suka, toyo, bagoong, and banana catsup are the
most common condiments found in Filipino homes and restaurants. Western fast food chains such as
McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a common sight in the country.
A roasted pig known as the Lechón, is one of the Philippines most popular dishes.

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Marriage and Wedding Customs

A sacred marriage

In the country, marriage is a sacred union of man and women after a period of courtship and engagement.
It is a sacrament between two people who love each other. For many Filipinos, the eternal quality of
dedication to God pervades a truly sacred marriage.

A sacred marriage is a covenant between two who love each other in God and with God, whose joining
becomes an expression of the desire of each to love and serve God together.
Death

Death in the Philippines is one of the most important occasions in family life. For many Filipinos, a death
of relatives is an opportunity to strengthen ties in the Family. To pay respect and honor the relationship to the
deceased, long lost relatives, friends, and even relatives working abroad are reunited.

The Philippines is the home of some unique death rituals that are partly religious and mostly
superstitious. The mourning and the weeping are still present, but a happy and welcoming atmosphere would
usually envelop the place to help the deceased on his journey to the afterlife.

After the death of a person, a nine-day period of having a novena of prayers and Masses offered up to the
deceased is held, although the beginning of the "Siyam na araw" varies, but usually ends the week after the
death. Another period follows after death, the 40-day mourning period. Family members indicate their state of
bereavement by wearing a small, black rectangular plastic pin on their left breast or breast pocket area. A
ceremonial mass is held at the end of this 40-day period. Common belief states that the soul goes to Heaven
after these 40 days, following the belief that Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven after the said period of days.
Society

The primary ancestors of Filipinos are Malays who came from the southeastern Asian country which is
now called Indonesia. The Philippines is a combined society, both singular and plural in form. It is singular as
one nation, but plural in that it is fragmented geographically and culturally. The nation is divided between
Christians, Muslims, and other religious-ethno-linguistic groups; between urban and rural people; between
upland and lowland people; and between the rich and the poor. Although different in numerous ways, the
Filipinos are very hospitable and give appropriate respect to everybody regardless of race, culture and belief.

Christmas in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines is considered as one of the biggest holidays in the archipelago. We earned
the distinction of celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season with Christmas carols heard as early as
September and lasting until Epiphany, the feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 or the Feast of the Santo
Niño de Cebú on the third Sunday of January.

In one’s article, Archbishop Cruz told in his Christmas message that "the essence of Christmas is God
made flesh, God who has come among us" in an act of love "that joins humankind to the Living God through
our Lord Jesus Christ".

For many Filipinos, the true essence of Christmas for is not gift giving but sharing this special holy day
with family.

Fiestas

Every town and city in the Philippines has a fiesta of its own; whatever time of the year it is, there's sure
to be a fiesta going on somewhere.

Fiestas in the Philippines are held to celebrate a patron saint. It is part and parcel of Filipino culture
through good times and bad times, it must go on. The biggest and most elaborate festival of all is Christmas,
a season celebrated with all the pomp and pageantry where the whole country breaks out in celebrations that
can begin long before December.

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For individual Filipinos, fiestas can be a way of supplicating the heavens or to make amends for past
wrongs. It is a way to celebrate their blessings, commemorate their past and observe solemn religious rituals.
Celebrations may take the form of music, dancing, feasting, beauty contests, balls, processions, sports
challenges or a host of other events.

Spanish influence is evident in the elaborate masks, makeup, headdresses and costumes worn by the
revelers; outfits which often take months of preparation.
Living with Parents

Filipinos highly value the presence of family more than anything. Adult children living with their parents are
another Filipino traditional that make them exceptional. Unlike in the United States where children leave the
home after finishing high school or college, many Filipinos continue living with parents until they get married.

Eating with a Fork and Spoon

One Filipinos identity is that they eat using a fork and a spoon. The fork is place in the left hand while the
spoon is in the right hand. Fork is used to place or push the food into the spoon which is held by the right
hand.

Since rice is the main staple of the Filipinos at almost every meal, the fork and spoon method is ideal. It is
believe that the use of a spoon and a fork is perfect for the way Southeast Asians prepare and cook their
food. Unlike the Americans who like their meats and other food items in big slabs and humongous chunks,
Southeast Asians generally prepare their dishes in bite-sized pieces -- chopped, minced or ground -- thus
leaving no real need for a knife.
Eating with Hands (Kamayan)

In addition to the use of the fork and spoon, eating with your hands or kamayan is another common
Filipino tradition. For many Filipinos, kamayan gives full taste to the food instead of using utensils. Gather a
small portion of meat or fish and a bite-sized portion of rice on your plate. Then use all your fingers to gather
the food into a small mountain or mound. Pick up the little mound and put it in your mouth using your thumb
to gently push the food in.

Filipinos usually eat rice that has a slightly sticky consistency so making the little mounds is easier than if
you were to use a jasmine or basmati rice. Of course, this method of eating doesn't work with soup/stew or
noodles and other kinds of food but for your basic plate of rice, meat/fish and vegetables it works quite well.
Next time you make dinner try eating kamayan.

Balikbayan Boxes

Some Filipinos leave the Philippines to live and work abroad. A balikbayan box is a box of items sent by
the balikbayan to their family in the Philippines. The box can be sent or it can be brought by the sender when
they themselves return to the Philippines. Balikbayan boxes come in all different sizes and dimensions from
bulilit (small) to extra large. It can be filled with almost anything but it is usually filled with items that cannot be
found in the Philippines or items that may be too expensive for the average person to buy in the Philippines.
Common items found in balikbayan boxes include: clothes, shoes, chocolate, nuts, vitamins, basketballs,
coffee and tea, magazines, shampoo/conditioner, soap, body lotion, etc.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 4

Make an Instructional Material (ex. Flashcards, etc.) for the Customs of the Philippines (ex. Popular Dishes).

BELIEFS

Faith and Religious Belief in the Philippines

Catholicism, mostly Roman Catholicism, is the most predominant religion in the Philippines, making
up around 85% of the population.

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Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 5

Filipino people are deeply religious and their strong faith in God is reflected in their daily lives. People
attend church regularly and may be seen praying at any time of day.
Many church holidays and traditional Filipino festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Tourists in the
Philippines during Holy Week, around Easter, should be prepared for an intense period of religious ceremony
and processions.
Islam is the second-largest religion in the Philippines, approximately 10% of Filipino people are Muslim.

9 Superstitions Many Filipinos Still Believe

The Philippines is a country with a long history of colonization, strongly influencing its culture
and traditions. This impact extends well beyond language and food and into the many superstitions that locals
take to heart. With an Animist, pre-colonial past (with likely Hindu-Buddhist influences), followed by a major
conversion into Christianity, The Philippines claims ownership of a very interesting, diverse mix of beliefs.
The number of steps of staircases at home should not be divisible by three

Enter a Filipino household with a staircase and begin chanting “Oro (gold), plata (silver), mata (death)”,
taking one step up with each word. Most likely, upon reaching the top step, the chant will end with
either oro or plata. This is because many Filipinos will go to great lengths to avoid ending in mata which
denotes bad luck. The two preceding words on the other hand, obviously denote good fortune.
Turn your plate when someone leaves in the middle of a meal

When sitting at the dining table for a meal and someone gets up to leave before the rest of the group
finishes, everybody left at the table should turn their plates to ensure safe travels for the person leaving.
Another meal superstition (though more loosely believed) is that the table should not start being cleared while
people are still eating. If this is done, it is believed that the last person left dining will live a lonely life.
Don’t go straight home after attending a wake

This superstition is called “pagpag” (the shaking off of dirt). In the context of a wake, it means going
elsewhere after attending the wake before heading home to shake off the spirit of the deceased lest it follows
you home. Superstitions surrounding wakes are among the most widely practiced by Filipinos still today.
Another is that the family of the deceased should not drop off visitors at the door upon saying goodbye as it
symbolizes dropping them off at their own deaths. And, as for serving food at wakes (be it heavy meals or
light snacks) at Filipino wakes is customary, visitors should not make the mistake of taking any home with
them (be it a small piece of candy), as it signifies inviting misfortune into your home.
Reassure your host that you’re human

A very common line used by Filipinos when knocking on someone’s door is “Tao (person) po!“. Many
assume it refers to the knocker calling out to ask if there are any people inside, when actually, it is said to
stem from the knocker reassuring the people inside that s/he is a person and not a possibly harmful
supernatural creature.
Siblings should not marry within the same year

This superstition is called “sukob” and advises against siblings marrying within the same year as it is said
to divide the luck between the two marriages. Another type of sukob advises against marriages within the
same year as the death of an immediate family member. Pushing to do so is considered bad luck.

Another wedding-related superstition is that the bride should never try on her dress before the big day.
This is said to bring bad luck and cause the cancellation of the union.

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Study Guide in ECED 111 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 5

Serve pancit (noodles) at celebrations, especially birthdays

This ever-present dish at Filipino gatherings is believed to represent long life. And while Filipinos today
may joke and laugh about actually believing that this noodle dish is served for long life, it remains a staple at
nearly every birthday feast.
Respect the elementals

Filipino folklore is rich with a variety of elementals, from giants smoking tobacco, to small, grumpy, old
men living in anthills. Stories of these creatures fill the childhoods of many Filipino children, inciting both
intrigue and fear. Many superstitions still surround the beliefs in such creatures today. Among the most
practiced is the saying of “tabi tabi po” (excuse me) when passing through places where elementals are likely
to dwell. These places are usually outdoors, such as anthills and Balete trees. Failure to do so and disturbing
such creatures may lead to unexplained sickness that can only be cured by an albularyo (folk healer).
Be careful when showing fondness over babies

It’s difficult to restrain from playing with cute babies or complimenting their parents on their adorable
features, but doing so in the Philippines is believed by some, to be a potential cause of illness. Referred to as
either “usog” or “bati”, this superstition says that when a person with strong energy greets a child, the child
may soon after suffer from unexplainable discomfort. This is why, especially in the countryside, older people
know to say “pwera usog” when showing fondness over children. This is meant to counter any usog that may
have happened otherwise. If this isn’t said, and parents attribute certain maladies of their children to usog,
they may ask the greeter to smear their saliva on the suffering child’s forehead as a cure.
Blame your missing things on elves

In the Philippines, there is an assumption that when items around the house go missing and reappear,
this is caused by dwendes or playful elves. While mischievous, these little creatures are believed to be mostly
harmless – aside from the type that take small children.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 5

Make an Instructional Material (ex. Flashcards, etc.) for the Beliefs in the Philippines (ex. Kinds of Religions)

GEOGRAPHY

The Philippines, officially called the Republic of the Philippines, is an island nation located in
the western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea. The
country is an archipelago made up of 7, 641 islands and is near the countries of Vietnam, Malaysia,
and Indonesia. As of 2018, the Philippines had a population of roughly 108 million people and was the 13th
most populous country in the world.

Fast Facts: The Philippines

 Official Name: Republic of the Philippines

 Capital: Manila
 Population: roughly 108,000,000 (2019)
 Official Languages: Filipino and English
 Currency: Philippine pesos (PHP)
 Form of Government: Presidential republic
 Climate: Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to
October)
 Total Area: 115,831 square miles (300,000 square kilometers)
 Highest Point: Mount Apo 9,692 feet (2,954 meters)
 Lowest Point: Philippine Sea 0 feet (0 meters)

The Philippine archipelago lies in Southeast Asia in a position that has led to its becoming a cultural
crossroads, a place where Malays, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, and others have interacted to forge that

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Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 5

unique cultural and racial blend known to the world as Filipino. The archipelago numbers some 7, 641 islands
and the nation claims an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles from its shores. The Philippines
occupies an area that stretches for 1,850 kilometers from about the fifth to the twentieth parallels north
latitude. The total land area is almost 300,000 square kilometers. Only approximately 1,000 of its islands are
populated, and fewer than one-half of these are larger than 2.5 square kilometers. Eleven islands make up 94
percent of the Philippine landmass, and two of these--Luzon and Mindanao--measure 105,000 and 95,000
square kilometers, respectively. They, together with the cluster of the Visayan Islands that separate them,
represent the three principal regions of the archipelago that are identified by the three stars on the Philippine
flag. Topographically, the Philippines is broken up by the sea, which gives it one of the longest coastlines of
any nation in the world. Most Filipinos live on or near the coast, where they can easily supplement their diet
from approximately 2,000 species of fish.

Off the coast of eastern Mindanao is the Philippine Trough, which descends to a depth of 10,430 meters.
The Philippines is part of a western Pacific arc system that is characterized by active volcanoes. Among the
most notable peaks are Mount Mayon near Legaspi, Taal Volcano south of Manila, and Mount Apo on
Mindanao. All of the Philippines islands are prone to earthquakes. The northern Luzon highlands, or Cordillera
Central, rise to between 2,500 and 2,750 meters, and, together with the Sierra Madre in the northeastern
portion of Luzon and the mountains of Mindanao, boast rain forests that provide refuge for numerous upland
tribal groups. The rain forests also offer prime habitat for more than 500 species of birds, including the
Philippine eagle (or monkey-eating eagle), some 800 species of orchids, and some 8,500 species of flowering
plants.

The country's most extensive river systems are the Pulangi (Rio Grande), which flows into the Mindanao
River; the Agusan, in Mindanao which flows north into the Mindanao Sea; the Cagayan in northern Luzon;
and the Pampanga, which flows south from east Central Luzon into Manila Bay. Laguna de Bay, southeast of
Manila Bay, is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines. Several rivers have been harnessed for
hydroelectric power.

The Climate

The Philippines has a tropical marine climate dominated by a rainy season and a dry season. The
summer monsoon brings heavy rains to most of the archipelago from May to October, whereas the winter
monsoon brings cooler and drier air from December to February. Manila and most of the lowland areas are
hot and dusty from March to May. Even at this time, however, temperatures rarely rise above 37 C. Mean
annual sea- level temperatures rarely fall below 27 C. Annual rainfall measures as much as 5,000 millimeters
in the mountainous east coast section of the country, but less than 1,000 millimeters in some of the sheltered
valleys.

Monsoon rains, although hard and drenching, are not normally associated with high winds and waves. But
the Philippines does sit astride the typhoon belt, and it suffers an annual onslaught of dangerous storms from
July through October. These are especially hazardous for northern and eastern Luzon and the Bicol and
Eastern Visayas regions, but Manila gets devastated periodically as well.

In the last decade, the Philippines has suffered severely from natural disasters. In 1990 alone, Central
Luzon was hit by both a drought, which sharply curtailed hydroelectric power, and by a typhoon that flooded
practically all of Manila's streets. Still more damaging was an earthquake that devastated a wide area in
Luzon, including Baguio and other northern areas. The city of Cebu and nearby areas were struck by a
typhoon that killed more than a hundred people, sank vessels, destroyed part of the sugar crop, and cut off
water and electricity for several days.

Building construction is undertaken with natural disasters in mind. Most rural housing has consisted of
nipa huts that are easily damaged but are inexpensive and easy to replace. Most urban buildings are steel
and concrete structures designed (not always successfully) to resist both typhoons and earthquakes. Damage
is still significant, however, and many people are displaced each year by typhoons, earthquakes, and other
natural disasters. In 1987 alone the Department of Social Welfare and Development helped 2.4 million victims
of natural disasters.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 6

MS. LEI XANDRA MEI B. BALMACEDA TEACHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 13

Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 5

In a 1/8 Illustration board, make a mosaic of the map of the Philippines (label the Regions, Provinces, etc.)

SUMMARY
Culture is the lifeblood of a vibrant society, expressed in the many ways we tell our stories, celebrate,
remember the past, entertain ourselves, and imagine the future. Our creative expression helps define who we
are, and helps us see the world through the eyes of others. Ontarians participate in culture in many ways—as
audiences, professionals, amateurs, volunteers, and donors or investors.

In addition to its intrinsic value, culture provides important social and economic benefits. With improved
learning and health, increased tolerance, and opportunities to come together with others, culture enhances
our quality of life and increases overall well-being for both individuals and communities.

REFERENCES

https://www.livinginthephilippines.com/culture-and-people/philippine-culture/969-culture-arts
https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/what-language-is-spoken-in-the-philippines
http://www.localhistories.org/philippines.html#:~:text=The%20Philippines%20is%20named%20after,an
%20archipelago%20of%207%2C000%20islands.&text=From%20the%2010th%20AD%20century,Philippines
%20and%20they%20introduced%20Islam.
https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Filipino-Customs-and-Traditions
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/superstitions-and-taboos-many-filipinos-still-believe-in/
http://worldfacts.us/Philippines-geography.htm

MS. LEI XANDRA MEI B. BALMACEDA TEACHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 14