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PHILIPPINE CULTURE

Language and Culture


Language is the primary carrier of culture. 

The essence of culture is the sharing of meanings among members of a society. 

Language is the ability to communicate in symbols-orally or in writing.

1. Language embodies culture


-it embodies the values and meanings of a society as well as its rituals, ceremonies, stories and
prayers.

2. Language as a framework
-gives us capabilities and also shapes and confines us.

3. Language as a symbol.
-Common language, is often the most obvious outward sign that people share in common
culture.

Filipinos are known for having very colorful and lively festivities.
Philippine cuisine. Adobos, Kare-kare and so much more dishes that we Filipinos have as our
specialties.
Tumbang preso, one of the filipino games that children have been playing since way back.
What is culture?
Elements of Culture
3 of the elements that exist in every culture:

1. Values and Beliefs- 


The first, and perhaps most crucial. Values are deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and
teaching a culture’s beliefs. 

Values often suggest how people should behave, but they don’t accurately reflect how people do
behave. Values portray an ideal culture, the standards society would like to embrace and live up
to. But ideal culture differs from real culture, the way society actually is, based on what occurs
and exists.

For example, cultures differ in their values about what kinds of physical closeness are
appropriate in public.

2. Norm
- define how to behave in accordance with what a society has defined as good, right, and
important, and most members of the society adhere to them. 
Formal norms
are established, written rules.
Informal norms
are casual behaviors that are generally and widely conformed to.
a. Importance to the individual:
(1) Culture distinguishes man from animal. It is the culture that makes the human animal a man.
It regulates his conduct and prepares him for a group life. 

(2) Culture provides solution for complicated situations. Culture provides man a set of behavior
for difficult situations. Culture not only defines but also determines what we eat and drink, when
to sleep, when to laugh etc.

(3) Culture provides traditional interpretation to certain situations. Through culture man gets
traditional interpretations for many situations. For example, if a cat crosses his way he postpones
the journey.

(4) Culture shapes personality. No child can develop human qualities in the absence of cultural
environment. Culture prepares man for group life. It is culture that provides opportunities for the
development of personality and sets limits on its growth.
b. Importance for the group:

(1) Culture keeps social relationship intact. Culture prepares man for group life. Group life
would have been poor, nasty, and short if there had been no cultural regulations. 

(2) Culture has given a new vision to the individual. Secondly, culture has given a new vision to
the co-operation of the individuals. Culture teaches him to think of himself as a part of the larger
whole. It provides him with the concepts of family, state, nation etc. and makes possible the
coordination and division of labour.

(3)Culture creates new needs. Finally, culture also creates new needs and drives, for example,
thirst for knowledge and arranges for their satisfaction. It satisfies the moral and religious
interests of the members of the group.

Culture has been fulfilling a number of functions which may be divided into two - (a) for the
individual and (b) for the group.
Material Culture- 
products of human activity which are concrete, tangible and observable. These objects are man
made and called ‘artifacts’. It refers to books, chairs, tables, furniture, tools, telephone. Material
culture is invented for human convenience. 

They contribute to the progress of society. It changes faster.

Non-material Culture- 
are intangible and abstract things like customs, values, good will habits, beliefs, language etc.
Non-material culture is something internal and they do not have physical existence. It changes
very slowly. 

It is created taking the psychological basis of man and reflects the inward nature of man. Non-
material culture has two aspects such as cognitive and normative. Cognitive aspect deals with
knowledge whereas normative aspects consist of norms, rules and values. We can’t see it and
touch it.
Culture divided into two:
Symbolism
The Philippine eagle, the second largest eagle in the world, is the national bird. Doctor Jose Rizal
is the national hero. Rizal streets and statues of Rizal are found in most towns and cities. Several
municipalities are named for Rizal. The most prominent symbol is the flag, which has a blue
horizontal band, a red horizontal band, and a white field. The flag is flown with the blue band at
the top in times of peace and the red band at the top in times of war. Flag ceremonies take place
once a week at all governmental offices. Schools have a flag ceremony each morning. All traffic
stops while the flag is being honored. The national anthem is sung, a national pledge is recited in
Filipino, and the provincial hymn is sung.
Ethnic Relations
characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from
language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.

The word "culture" derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin "colere,"
which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture.
Importance of culture
Culture is everything made, learned, or shared by the members of a society, including values,
beliefs, behaviors, and material objects. Culture is learned, and it varies tremendously from
society to society. 
Culture is one of the most important and basic concepts of sociology. 

Culture is the center of a society and without culture, no society can even exist. It is the main
difference between human beings and animals. It is a heritage transmitted from one generation to
another. 

It enables them to live and work together without too much confusion and mutual interference. 

PHILIPPINE CULTURE:
The culture of the Philippines has been heavily influenced by both Asian and Western cultures. 

One of the culture that mostly influence the Filipino today from both Malay, Spaniards and
Americans, that affects predominantly the Philippine literature and Philippine art.

Philippine Language, its culture.


Functions of Culture
- Culture shapes behavior
- Culture provides a standard by which we evaluate others’ behavior
- Culture gives meaning to events or acts
- Culture allows for communication of events or acts
- Culture provides boundary maintenance

No one can develop human qualities without culture. Culture distinguishes, leads, changes the
personality of the individual and structure of the group.
Fil·i·pi·no
the national language of the Philippines, a standardized form of Tagalog.
Functions of Culture

1. Culture 
provides us with design for living. It is learned and acquired.
2. Culture 
provides a series of pattern by which biological and socio-cultural demands of group members
are met e.g. food, shelter, and reproduction and relationship with group and individuals.
3. Culture 
provides a set of rules to ensure co-operation of the individuals of a group in adjusting
environmental situation.
4. Culture 
helps in understanding and predicting the human behavior and also it provides channels of
interaction for individuals within the group.
6. Culture 
provides us a guidepost or kind of map for all our life activities. It defines the pattern of behavior
for individuals so that he acts according to the behavior pattern prescribed and defined by
culture.
7. Culture 
acts as a means of social control through norms, folkway, and moves laws.

Thus culture functions to deeply influence control and direct behavior and life of the individual
and of group. All these functions are controlled through norms or rules made in society. 
From the discussion we know that culture is the unique possession of man. No one can develop
human qualities without culture. Culture distinguishes, leads, changes the personality of the
individual and structure of the group.
Features and Characteristics of Culture
1. Culture is learned
2. Culture is social
3. Culture is shared
4. Culture is transmissive
5. Culture is continuous
6. Culture is accumulative
7. Culture is integrated
8. Culture is changing
9. Culture varies from 
society to society
10. Culture is responsive
11. Culture is gratifying
12. Linked with society
Seventy to eighty language groups separate people along tribal lines. Approximately two million
residents are designated as cultural minority groups protected by the government. The majority
of those sixty ethnic groups live in the mountains of northern Luzon. People whose skin is darker
are considered less capable, intelligent, and beautiful. Descendants of the Negritos tribe are
regarded as inferior.
Ninety-five percent of the population is of Malay ancestry. The other identifiable group is of
Chinese ancestry.
CUSTOMS
:
About Dating-A girl was not seen alone with a man; he did not touch them, not even her hands
when talking to each other they were always an arm's length apart.

About Marriage-'pamanhikan'

About the Games-Some games were imitations of what the elders did. The bahay-bahayan, lutu-
lutuan were imitations of mother's household activities which the girls enjoyed playing. Other
games were replicas of daily happening in the rural areas.

Art, food, religion, celebrations, burial, the manner of dressing, houses, etc...
fea·ture
noun
1. a distinctive attribute or aspect of something.
Features of the Philippine Culture
:
Filipino superstitions and taboos
- superstitions reveal a sense of fatalism and fear of the unknown. Childbirth, magbabarang,
bolo-bolo, etc...

Jeepneys
- which merge the words jeep with jitney, began as the sensible recycling of surplus US army
jeeps left behind after World War II. 

Handicrafts
- wood carvings, weavings and pottery. A range of handicrafts, from tiny baskets to massive
pieces of furniture. Today, travelers will find brilliant weaves, intricate beadwork, silver tribal
jewelry, rustic wood figurines and dishes, ceramic pots, jewel-colored capiz shell chandeliers...

Scuba diving
- Clownfish and coral, Underwater wrecks. ore popular coastal magnets, such as Alona Beach,
Puerto Galera, and Boracay, have grown a reputation among travelers largely, if not only,
because of diving.
Features of Culture:
1. Styles of dress
2. Ways of greeting people
3. Beliefs about hospitality
4. Importance of time
5. Paintings
6. Values
7. Literature
8. Beliefs about childraising
9. Attitudes about personal space/privacy
10. Beliefs about the responsibilities of children and teens
11. Gestures to show you understand what has been told to you
12. Holiday customs
13. Music
14. Dancing
15. Celebrations
Filipino (formerly Pilipino) is based on Tagalog and is the official language of the Philippines. 
In spite of being the national language, only about 55 percent of Filipinos speak the language. In
addition to Filipino are about 111 distinct indigenous languages and dialects, of which only
about 10 are important regionally.

English is generally used for educational, governmental and commercial purposes and is widely
understood since it is the medium of instruction in schools. 

Since English is widely spoken in the Philippines, it is common to hear Filipinos use a mixture
English and Filipino words or phrases, known as "Taglish" (a mixture of English and Tagalog),
in their everyday conversations. A steadily dwindling minority still speak Spanish, which had at
one time been an official language. 
3. Symbols and Language
Symbols—such as gestures, signs, objects, signals, and words—help people understand the
world. Symbols provide clues to understanding experiences. 

They convey recognizable meanings that are shared by societies. 

The world is filled with symbols. Sports uniforms, company logos, and traffic signs are symbols.
Some symbols are highly functional; stop signs, for instance, provide useful instruction.

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