LESSON 1 Overview The study of Sociology is fundamentally concerned with ultimate questions of low and why people act

the way they do. To understand culture, this lesson will highlight the meaning, nature, and functions of culture. Meaning of Culture Beals, Hoyer, and Beals, 1997; p.28 Culture has been defined in various ways over the years. In its broadest term, the concept of culture has something to do with human capacity to use language and with related capacities for learning and for the transmission of ideas and ways of behaving Culture is derived from the Latin word cultura or cultus which means care or cultivation. The fact that human infant has a prolonged dependency, he has to be taken care of by the people around him. He has to learn from them so he can better adjust as he grows up in his immediate cultural environment. Edward B. Tylor an Englishman, developed one of the classic definitions of culture. Tylor said, Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, law, art, moral, custom, and other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. Leslie White defines culture as an organization of phenomena that is dependent upon symbols, phenomena, which include acts (pattern of behavior); objects (tools and things made by tools); ideas (beliefs and knowledge); and sentiments (attitudes, values, etc.). Hunt, Quisumbing, Espiritu, Costello, Lacar, 1994 further defines culture as the entire way of life followed by a people and everything learned and shared by people in society Down, 1975;p.35 Other anthropologists have developed another definition of culture based on the premise that all learned behaviors is, in the final analysis, a product of how people think about things their cognition.

Eliot, 1949; p, 168 He described culture as simply the way of life of a particular people living in one place.

Rinkerhoff and White, 1988; p. 58 Culture is the total way of life shared by members of a society, which includes language, values and symbolic meanings and also technology and material objectives Panopio, et. at.; 1994;p.36 It is a persons heritage or the customary ways in which groups organize their ways of behaving, thinking, and feeling, which are transmitted from one generation to another through language.

Landis says that culture is a complex set of learned and shared beliefs, customs, skills, habits, traditions, and knowledge common to members of a society. Broom and Selznick Shared the same view stating that culture is shared ways of thinking, believing, perceiving, and evaluation. It is the realm of ideas and ideas, values, and symbols. Based on the definitions given by known sociologists and anthropologists, it can be said that culture is the sum total of mans creation which are handed down from generation to generation.

Elements of Culture As perceived by sociologists and Anthropologists, culture is rather a complex concept. To understand culture, one must examine its major elements: 1. Material Culture It is the physical objects a society produces, things people create and use. These are the tools, furniture, clothing, automobiles, and computer systems, to name a few. Thus, the awareness of the kind of objects created and how people use them brings about greater understanding of the culture of a society. 2. Non-material Culture It is consists of elements termed norms, values, beliefs, and language shared by the members of a society. Non-material culture is considered as the carriers of culture. 2.1 Language. Perhaps, the most defining characteristics of human being is the ability to develop and use highly complex systems of symbols like language. Language influences our ways of perceiving, behaving, and feeling, and thus, tends to define and shape the world around us. It is through language that idea values beliefs, and knowledge are transmitted, expressed, and shared. Without language, there will be no culture. 2.2 Beliefs. These are ideas that people hold about the universe or any part of the total reality surrounding them. These are things how people perceive reality. The subject of human beliefs may be infinite and may include ideas concerning the individual, other people and any all aspects of the biological, physical, social, and supernatural world be it primitive or scientific.

2.3 Values. They are shared ideas about desirable goals. They are the persons ideas about worth and desirability or an abstract of what is important and worthwhile. Values make up our judgments or moral and immoral, good and bad, right or wrong, beautiful and ugly, etc. 2.4 Norms. These are shared rules of conduct that specify how people ought to think and act. A norm is ideas in the minds of the members of a group put into a statement specifying what members of the group should do, ought to do or are expected to do under certain circumstances (Homans, 1950; p.123) Norms are usually in the form of rules, standards, or prescriptions and socially shared expectations. Norms has three forms. 2.4.1 Mores. These are norms associated with strong ideas of right and wrong. Mores are standards of conduct that are highly respected and valued by the group and their fulfillment is felt to be necessary and vital to group welfare. They are considered essential to the groups existence and accordingly, the group demands that they be followed without question. They represent obligatory behavior because their infraction results to punishment, formal or informal. 2.4.2 Folkways. These are norms that are simply the customary, normal, habitual ways a group does things. These customary ways are accumulated and become repetitive patterns of expected behavior, which tends to become permanent traditions. 2.4.3 Laws. These are often referred to as the formal norms. They are rules that are enforced and sanctioned by the authority of the government.

Characteristics of Culture Culture has so many characteristics. Some of the most important features of culture are: 1. Culture is learned. Culture is basically a creation of man. That culture is created and developed by man implies that it is learned. Culture is learned through the process of interaction. 2. Culture is shared. No one person knows the entire culture. Meaning to say that it could be impossible for a person to acquire total experiences and knowledge of the entire group of society. There are those that an individual may know that other person may not know, or vice-versa. Hence, the sharing of ideas. 3. Culture is cumulative. Culture is said to be cumulative because it has a tendency to grow and expand. Stored knowledge is transmitted from one generation to another. Newly acquired knowledge is then added to the stocks of knowledge as it passes through the process of transmission. 4. Culture is dynamic. Change in culture is continuous and no culture is totally fixed or static. Cultures change from within and without. One of the principal sources of change is diffusion, which involves borrowing or transfer from one culture to another. 5. Culture is diverse. This means that culture varies and is different from one another.

The Functions of Culture The importance of culture cannot be over-emphasized. Based on the observations made by sociologists, human beings do not possess instinct. Therefore man has to rely on his culture in order to survive. Some of the functions of culture are: 1. Culture helps people to adapt to the demands of the surrounding physical environment. 2. Culture compensate for many human physical limitations.

LESSON 2 Other Cultural Concepts 1. Ethnocentrism It is a feeling that their particular way of life is superior and right and that all other cultures are inferior and often young. 2. Cultural Relativism It is the opposite to that of ethnocentrism. The concept refers to the notion that each culture should be evaluated from the standpoint of its own standard rather than from the standpoint of a different culture. 3. Xenocentrism It is the belief that what is forein is best in terms of ones lifestyle, products or ideas. 4. Temporocentrism It is the belief that ones own time is more important than that of the past or future. 5. Subculture A group or category within society who shares in the general culture but who maintains distinctive ways of thinking, acting, and feeling. 6. Counterculture A subculture that has values and norms that sharply contradict the dominant values and norms of the larger society. 7. Culture Universal This refers to common cultural elements that are found within all known societies. 8. Culture Lag It is the inability of a given society to adapt immediately to another culture as a result of the disparity in the rate of change between the material and non-material elements of culture. 9. Culture Shock It is the experience of disorientation and frustration that occurs when individuals find them among those who do not share their fundamental premises.

Cultural Diversity Cultural diversity means that variation of culture in some ways with another culture in which they guide human behavior. Conditions that Affect Cultural Variation 1. Environment Mans surroundings plays a major role in shaping his culture. In each part of the world, the physical and natural environment differs from the one another. In some

2. 3. 4.

5.

parts, the climate is cool and in other parts, it is torrid and hot, in other places, there are four seasons while others have only two seasons. Isolation With this condition, a culture continues on its own course, unaltered and uncontaminated by other culture. Technology Cultural variation also results from the technological position of a society. Cultural Themes Cultural patterns generally contain cultural themes that contribute to variations among culture. Based on cultural themes, culture tends to select and reinterpret the new ideas that are meaningful to them. Diffusion This involves borrowing or transfer of one culture to another when one culture comes into contact with another culture.

Modes of Acquiring Culture 1. Imitation It is human action by which one tends to duplicate more or less the behavior of others. 2. Indoctrination This takes place in the form of formal teaching or training which may take place anywhere. 3. Conditioning Through the social norms prevailing in ones social and cultural mileu, and through the process of conditioning, the individual acquires certain patterns of beliefs, values, behaviors and actions. 4. Acculturation A process by which societies of different culture are modified through fairly close and long continued contact. 5. Amalgamation Intermarriage of persons coming from different cultural groups resulting in some kind of biological fusion.

LESSON 3 Contributory Factors to Filipino Culture 1. The Malays The basic component of Filipino Culture is the Malay temperament which could best be described by niceness and pleasantness to others rather than by virtue of law-abiding features. 2. Chinese Filial piety between parents and children, the flexibility to go along with other people and the sageliness within and the kingliness without of the Filipino is believed to be due to Chinese influence. 3. The Indian influence Indian influence is found in the languages, mode of dressing, architectural art, folk beliefs, brass, and copperware. 4. The Hindu influence The Hindu influence is the most pervasive in the Filipino belief system. For instance is the predilection of Filipino newspaper readers for horoscope and fortune-telling sections. 5. The Spanish influence It is reflective of more developed societies at their point of contact, broadened the outlook of the Filipino. Spain introduced a community-oriented rather than a family-oriented in the form of Christianity.

6. The Americans The United States further broadened this heritage by introducing a democracy that called for individual liberty and equality as well as a national political community to which everybody was supposed to participate through national suffrage. The Filipino has hereby a foothold in many cultural spheres: the Malay, the Anglo-Saxon, the Hispanic, the Hindu-Islamic and even the Chinese.

The Filipino Cultural Perspectives 1. The Traditional Concept The traditionalists holds that Filipino culture was developed due to the conglomeration of the physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual aspects. It assumes that underneath the independent and widely divergent culture as shown in their way of life, there is an underlying basic root of unity that holds the cultural tree together and infuses one clear, distinct substance through its veins. This includes their art of living, philosophy in life, attitudes toward God, nature, and fellowmen. 2. The Nationalistic View This concept regards culture as the summation of the needs of the people, the description of their past and present condition, an expression of their values, thoughts and emotions, and the depiction of their historic struggles to liberate themselves. 3. Cultural Dualism This theory maintains that the Philippines is a transitional society dominated on one side by the traditional culture and on the other side by the modern culture.

The Filipino Culture A. Belief System Filipinos are religious. They believe so much in supernatural powers and view themselves as only a speck in this wide universe. This Filipino belief in the supernatural powers taught them to trust prayers rather than hard work in the realization of their dreams. Success is considered a blessing from above, a result of good luck and faith. It also taught him to value traits like perseverance, patience, and endurance. Good is considered relative. What is considered good to one may not be good to another. Happiness and success differ from one person to another. Elders, parents, and superiors are respected and obeyed. Hospitality is one practice Filipinos believe in because it is their way of implementing the golden rule: Do unto others what you want others do unto you. B. Value System Cultural values are shared assumptions of what is right, good, or important. Values actually guide mans behavior and action as he relates himself in most situations in life. The Filipino values can best be seen from the aspects of personal and social relationships. Personally, the Filipinos value more their honor and status than anything else. Majority of them takes care of their honor (karangalan) rather than wealth.

Socially, the Filipinos give more emphasis on social relationships. This can be seen through the hospitality they give to their visitors and friends. They love to mingle with people particularly friends and relatives. They engaged themselves in a mutual cooperation, which is best pictured through the bayanihan. In terms of emotion, the Filipinos are friendly. They smile at people, even with strangers when they are approached. They are warm and simple. Women in the Philippines are highly regarded and respected and can be relied upon when it comes to family affairs. The Filipino Values Most of the value that Filipinos hold were influenced by foreign cultures. 1. Utang-na-loob it is a technique of reciprocity of debt of gratitude to others within the family circle or primary group, sometimes unlimited in nature, emotional rather than financial or rational. 2. Inability to repay utang-na-loob will result in the individual being labed as walang utang na loob or walang hiya. 3. Pakikisama This closely related to utang-na-loob. It is the value of belongingness and loyalty to the small in-group with sensitivity to the feelings of others on the principles of give and take. 4. Hiya This controls to a large extent the behavior of the individual and most likely, is generally dependent on what others will think, say, and do. Because of hiya, a Filipino cannot say NO even if it is against his will to do what is being requested. 5. Bahala na - A common expression among Filipinos and this rest on the fatalistic outlook and strong dependence on the spirits who will take care of everything if they are really meant for a person. 6. Authoritarianism It is the dependence of Filipinos in a paternalistic rather than in a stern way upon the elders of the family, upon their boss, if employed, and upon people in authority as their father figure. 7. Individualism It is a pattern of behavior which characterized the Filipinos as selfcentered. The desire to make a name for himself becomes the primary motivation for success. 8. Amor-propio it is the individuas highly emotional reaction to protect his honor and dignity when they are threatened or questioned and to retaliate. Common forms of Amor Propio are hele hele bago quire, or pakipot which shows at the outset a person initially refusing an offer even if he really wants very much to accept it.

Chapter 10 Period of the Third Republic (1981 1985) Historical Background After ten years of military rule and some changes in the life of the Filipino which started under the New Society, Martial Rule was at last lifted on January 2, 1981. To those in government, the lifting of military rule heralded a change. To their perceptions, the Philippines became a new nation and this, former President Marcos called The New Republic of the Philippines. A historian called this the Third Republic. The First Republic he claimed was during the Philippine Republic of Emilio Aguinaldo when we first got our independence from the Spaniards on June 12, 1898. The Second was when Americans granted us our independence on July 4, 1946. This period, January 2, 1981, was the Third Republic when we were freed from Military Rule. During this period, it cannot be denied that many people seethed with rebellion and protest because of the continued oppression and suppression. This was further aggravated when former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr., the idol of the Filipino masses, whom they hoped to be the next president, was brutally murdered on August 21, 1983. This stage of the nation had its effect on our literature. After the Aquino assassination, the peoples voices could no longer be contained. Both the public and private sectors in government were chanting, and shouting; women, men and the youth became bolder and their voices were raised in dissent. We can say that Philippine literature, in spite of the many restrictions, still surreptitiously retained its luster. A. THE PALANCA AWARDS The Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for literature which was launched in 1950, continued its recognition of the best in the literary fields poetry, short story, essays and the one and three-act plays. In 1981, the winners were the following: First Prize: Jessie B. Garcias In Hog Heaven Second Prize: Luning Bonifacio Iras The Party Hopper Third Prize: Jesus Q. Cruz In These Hallowed Halls In 1982, those who won were: First Prize: Heart Island by Jose Dalisay Jr. Second Prize: Pas de Deux by Azucena Grajo Uranza Third Prize: The Sky Is Always Blue by Joe Marle A. Abueg

In 1983, the mood was restive, characteristic of the times. The nation was angry after the murder of opposition leader Benigno Aquino but the awards ceremonies continued after the delay. The winners were: First Prize: Oldtimer by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. Second Prize: Games by Jesus O. Cruz Third Prize: Perfect Sunday by Jose Y. Ayala First Prize in poetry (Pilipino: Jose F. Lacaba First Prize (English Essay): Gregorio Brillantes Second Prize (English essay): Adrian Cristobal In 1984, the winners were: First Prize: The Reprieve by Susan S. Lara Second Prize: The Tangerine Gumamela by Sylvia Mendez Ventura Third Prize co-winner: The Little Wars of Filemon Sayre by Lemuel Torrevillas Third Prize: Stranger in an Asian City by Gregorio Brillantes In 1985, those who won were: First Prize: The Hand of God by Conrado de Quiros First Prize: A Novel Prize for Jorge by Eli Ang Barroso No awards for second prize Third Prize: Mecca of the East by Charles Loong In 1984, the Palanca Awards started choosing the best in novel writing. This contest, held every three years, gives time for local writers to write more beautiful and quality works. The next contest on the best novel was held in 1987. La Tondea continues to be its sponsor. In poetry, the following were recipients: The first three winners of the Palanca Memorial Awards POETRY 1981-85 1981 82 First Prize MONOLOGUES OR OTHERWISE I and II Co-Winner By: Pablo Liwanag First Prize Co-Winner 2nd Prize Co-Winner 2nd Prize Co-Winner OUTSIDER AND OTHER POEMS By: Cesar Felipe Bacani, Jr. MASBATE By: Simeon Dumdum, Jr. TIGHTWIRE AND OTHER POEMS By: Alfredo A. Yuson

3rd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner 1982-83 1st Prize Co-Winner 1st Prize Co-Winner 2nd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner 1984 1st Prize Co-Winner 1st Prize Co-Winner 2nd Prize Co-Winner 2nd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner 3rd Prize Co-Winner

PAXPANDA AND OTHER POEMS By: Edgardo Maranan DOLPHINES, DINASAURS AND EAGLES By: Angusta de Alimedda THE OTHER CLEARING By: Dr. Gemino H. Abad SEERESS AND VOYAGER By: Rowena Torcevillas THIN POEMS OCCASIONED BY BIG AND SMALL EVENTS By: Alfredo Navarro Salanga THE CAMELON By: Cesare Syjirco AXIOMS By: Simeon Dumdum, Jr. THE TIME FACTOR By: Ophelia A. Dimalanta CONFIGURING THE GODS AND OTHER POEMS VOYAGE POEMS WAITING FOR LOBREGAT GOSSAMER PORT OF ENTRY FEBRUARY, 1899 SONGS OF THREE CONTINENTS

3rd Prize Co-Winner 1985 1st Prize 1st Prize 2nd Prize 2nd Prize 3rd Prize 3rd Prize 3rd Prize 3rd Prize

MOVING WITH THE WIND

DREAM OF KNIVES By: Alfredo Yuson MISCELLANEA 1984-1985 By: Arc Garmalinda FINDERS OF THE IMAGE By: Mariano Killantes FINDERS OF THE IMAGE By: Mariano Killantes CONFABULATIONS By: Felix Fojas IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY THE GIFT SUPREME VOYAGE I DRY SEASON

B. FILIPINO POETRY Poems during this period of the Third Republic were romantic and revolutionary. Writers wrote openly of their criticism against the government. The supplications of the people were coached in fiery, colorful, violent, profane and insulting language.

C. FILIPINO SONGS Many Filipino songs dealt with themes that were really true-to-life like those of grief, poverty, aspirations for freedom, love of God, of country and of fellowmen. Many composers, grieved over Ninoy Aquinos treacherous assassination composed songs. Among them were Coritha, Eric and Freddie Aguilar. Coritha and Eric composed a song titled LABAN NG BAYAN KO and this was first sung by Coritha during the National Unification Conference of the Opposition in March 1985. This was also sang during the Presidential Campaign Movement for Cory Aquino to inspire the movement against Marcos in February 1986. Freddie Aguilar revived the song BAYAN KO which was written by Jose Corazon de Jesus and C. de Guzman during the American Period.

D. PHILIPPINE FILMS DURING THIS PERIOD

The yearly Festival of Filipino Films continued to be held during this period. The peoples love for sex films also was unabated. Many producers took advantage of this at the expense of public morality. E. POETRY IN ENGLISH DURING THE THIRD REPUBLIC Most especially, during the wake of the tragic Benigno Aquino Jr.s incident, people reacted with shock, appalled by the suddenness and the unexpectedness of events. Alfredo Navarro Salanga, a consistent writer of Philippine Panorama Magazine in his column Post-Prandal Reflections aptly said it: A darkness in the mind and soul is how some forgotten poet puts it. Its suddenness was so profound that we couldnt but react to it in any other way. Elemental to use (poets or writers) was how to grasp to some meaning in symbol, a phrase or word in the language of heart and tongue, the poets only candles. So we tried to reach out in the next and perhaps the only way we could: by putting pen to paper and speaking out as partisans in human drama. Poets, surprisingly, by common consent, found themselves writing on a common subject. Reproductions of some of them are reprinted here. We aptly call them the Protest Poetry of the 80s. The themes of most during this time dealt with courage, shock and grief over the treachery inflicted upon Aquino. F. MEDIA OF 1983 Sheila S. Coronel, a PANORAMA staff stalwart, reporting on the state of the media during these times said: it was a year of ferment, and change, of old problems made more oppressive by the new throbbing beat of times. For journalists, it was a year loaded with libel charges, lawsuits and seditious trials which they gallantly bore as harassment suits. JAJA (Justice for Aquino, Justice for All) Movement called for boycott of government controlled newspapers in protest of media suppression. People picketed newspaper offices with coffins to symbolize the death of press freedom. In campuses, newspapers were set afire to protest lack of free expression. Journalists suffered physically and otherwise. Journalists of 3 major dailies demanded a dialogue with their publishers to restore credibility and respectability to newspapers. Opposition tabloids flourished. They sold out papers with rednews to the starved public, hence, smut magazines like the TIKTIK, PLAYBOY SCENE, and SAKDAL also played the sidewalks. Radio led by RADIO VERITAS started reporting coverage of demonstrations. Information Minister Gregorio Cendaa called the tabloids the mosquito press and called their news political pornography.

However, there was a perceptible liberalization of editorial policies in the major newspapers. G. CHILDRENS BOOKS Among the well-loved forms of writing which abounded during this period were those of childrens stories. The Childrens Communication Center (CCC) directed by poet and writer Virgilio S. Almario already has built up an impressive collection of these kinds of books. The following are some of the books of the period. 1982: PLAYS FOR CHILDREN by James B. Reuter S.J. (New Day Pub) 1983: STORY TELLING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN) 1983: JOSE AND CARDO by Peggo Corr Manuel 1983: Joaquinesquerie: MYTH A LA MOD (Cacho Hermanos) 1983: RIZALIANA FOR CHILDREN: ILLUSTRATIONS and FOLKTALES By: Jose P. Rizal, Introduced and annotated by Alfredo Navarro Salanga 1984: GATAN and TALAW by Jaime Alipit Montero

H. (PROSE) FABLES The peoples cry of protest found outlets not only in poetry but also in veiled prose fables which transparently satirized the occupants of Malacaang. Among those that saw print were: 1. 2. 3. 4. The Crown Jewels of Heezenhurst by Sylvia Mendez Ventura. The Emperors New Underwear by Meynardo A. Macaraig The Kings Cold by Babeth Lolarga The Case of the Missing Charisma (unfinished) by Sylvia L. Mayuga

In all the fables, the king, differently referred to as Totus Markus or the king or Haring Matinik was meant to poke fun at the ruler at Malacaang; similarly, Reyna Maganda or the Queen, was veiled thrust at his queen. They were both drunk with power and were punished in the end for their misdeeds.

I. THE STATE OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH AT THIS TIME Isagani Cruz, writing about Philippine literature in the Age of Ninoy, makes the following obeservations: Philippine literature is definitely changing, and he summarizes these as follows: 1. Change in the direction of greater consciousness in content and form.

2. Change in the number of readers and the number of writers and the kind of class of writers. Writers who joined the ranks came not only from the established or professional groups but from all ranks clerks, secretaries, drivers, housewives, students; in short, the masses. 3. The resurgence of Balagtasismo and the continued dominance of Modernismo. While Balagtismo turned its back on American challenge to Philippine literature its conservative conventions, Modernismo adapted Americanization for its own ends. 4. The birth of a new poetic movement still dims in outline. 5. The apparent merging of the erstwhile separate streams of oral and written literature. J. SOME WRITERS DURING THIS PERIOD 1981-85 1981: PHILIPPINE FOLK LITERATURE by Damiana Eugenio 1981: ADVENTURES OF MARIAN by Carissa Orosa Uy 1982: SOMEWHERE BETWEEN YOUR SMILE AND YOUR FROWN and OTHER POEMS by Mila R. Garcia 1983: PARES-PARES by Bienvenido M. Noriega Jr. 1983: AGON: POEMS, 1983 by Edgar B. Maranan 1984: THE FARMER by Alfredo Navarro Salanga 1984: THE ROAD TO MOWAB and OTHER STORIES by Leoncio P. Deriada