WHAT IS CULTURE?

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people,

encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.

It encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage,
music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we
behave with loved ones, and a million other things.

The word "culture" was derived 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.

The Philippines is a country that has varied cultural influences. Most of these influences
are results of previous colonization, deriving mainly from the culture of Spain and the United
States. Despite all of these influences, the old Asian culture of Filipinos has been retained and are
clearly seen in their way of life, beliefs and customs.

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE

Culture combines many elements to create a unique way of living for different people.

SYMBOLS. A symbol is anything that is used to stand for something else. People who share a
culture often attach a specific meaning to an object, gesture, sound, or image. For example, a
cross is a significant symbol to Christians. It is not simply two pieces of wood attached to each
other, nor is it just an old object of torture and execution. To Christians, it represents the basis
of their entire religion, and they have great reverence for the symbol. Another example is Mano
or Pagmamano.

LANGUAGE. It is a system of words and symbols used to communicate with other people. This
includes full languages as we usually think of them, such as English, Tagalog, etc. But it also
includes body language, slang, and common phrases that are unique to certain groups of people.
Another example of how cultural languages differ beyond vocabulary is the fact that eye contact
represents different meanings in different cultures. Examples are Lip Pointing, Nodding and
raising eyebrows with a smile, Silent looks.

There are 175 estimated languages spoken in the Philippines. Almost all are classified as
Malayo-Polynesian languages. Among those languages, there are 13 indigenous languages with
nearly 1 million speakers. In 1935 the Constitution of the Philippines named English and Spanish
the official languages. In 1939 the Tagalog language was named the national language. The
language was renamed “Pilipino” in 1959 and finally “Filipino” in 1973. The present Constitution
names Filipino and English as joint official languages.

VALUES. It is the culture’s standard for discerning what is good and just in society. Values are
deeply embedded and critical for transmitting and teaching a culture’s beliefs. It helps shape a
society by suggesting what is good and bad, beautiful and ugly, sought or avoided. 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.

The term bahala na, which can be translated to whatever happens, happens, is one of the
more familiar phrases used in the country and is perhaps the most representative of how Filipinos
value adaptability and quick thinking. It exemplifies one’s belief in a higher power and submitting
one’s fate to elements that cannot be controlled.

NORMS. Cultures differ widely in their norms, or standards and expectations for behaving. Norms
are often divided into two types, formal norms, and informal norms. Formal norms, also called
mores and laws, refer to the standards of behavior considered the most important in any society.
Informal norms, also called folkways and customs, refer to standards of behavior that are
considered less important but still influence how we behave.

LAYERS OF CULTURE

• The national level: associated with the nation as a whole

• The regional level: associated with ethnic, linguistic, or religious differences that exist
within a nation
• The gender level- associated with gender differences (female vs. Male)
• The generation level- associated with the differences between grandparents and parents,
parents and children
• The social class level: associated with educational opportunities and differences in
occupation
• The corporate level- associated with the particular culture of an organization. Applicable
to those who are employed.

ETHNOCENTRISM vs. CULTURAL RELATIVISM

Despite how much humans have in common, cultural differences are far more prevalent than
cultural universals.

CULTURAL RELATIVISM. It is the idea that a person’s beliefs, values and practices should
be understood based on the person’s own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of
another.

ETHNOCENTRISM. It is the belief or attitude that one’s own culture is better than all
others, and should therefore serve as the standard frame for reference.

WHAT IS POPULAR CULTURE?

It is also called mass culture and pop culture) is generally recognized by members of a
society as a set of the practices, beliefs and objects that are dominant or ubiquitous in a society
at a given point in time. Heavily influenced in modern times by mass media, this collection of
ideas permeates the everyday lives of people in a given society. Therefore, popular culture has a
way of influencing an individual’s attitudes towards certain topics.

The culture of the Philippines comprises a blend of traditional Filipino and Spanish Catholic
traditions, with influences from America and other parts of Asia. The Filipinos are family
oriented and often religious with an appreciation for art, fashion, music and food.

 Filipinos are very resilient. In times of calamities and catastrophes, Filipinos always
manage to rise above the challenge. Instead of wallowing, they manage to pick
themselves up and smile.
 Filipinos take pride in their families. In the Philippines, it is family first. So whether you
are part of the immediate family or you belong to the fourth generation, you are treated
as a family member. Sometimes, even the closest of friends are considered family, too.
 Filipinos are very religious. In all corners of a Filipino house, you can find brazen images
of crosses and other religious paraphernalia. They go to church every Sunday, or
sometimes even twice or three times a week.
 Filipinos are very respectful. From the moment they are born into this world, they are
already taught how to be respectful by using these simple catchphrases—po and opo,
words that end sentences when addressing elders. They have a culture of pagmamano,
which is where they raise the backs of the hands of their elders to their foreheads as a
sign of respect.
  Filipinos help one another. More popularly known as bayanihan, Filipinos help one
another—without expecting anything in return—so that undertaking their tasks and
responsibilities become much easier. Sometimes this is called “community spirit.”
 Filipinos value traditions and culture. For Filipinos, traditions in their home and in their
family are important. They usually set aside a specific day for a certain celebration like
festivals, birthday parties, reunions, etc. And of course, every gathering is dedicated to
keeping up with each other over sumptuous food.
 Filipinos love to party. Filipinos love to hold celebrations and fiestas.
 Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebrations. Even as early as August, you can
hear Christmas songs and jingles being played in the malls or in the restaurants in the
Philippines. The mood becomes festive, with many people shopping and in good spirits.
Christmas celebrations last until around the first or second week of January.
 Filipinos love to eat. Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos manage to squeeze
in a little meal in between, too. Whether they eat every hour or every three hours, they
savour every bite.
 Filipinos love to sing. This is the reason why karaoke has become so prevalent. As part of
their recreation, Filipinos spend some quality time with their families or friends singing or
belting out new and old songs.
 Filipinos love art and architecture. Filipinos have a penchant for bringing art and
architecture to a whole new level. They love to design creatively, to think intuitively, and
have a passion for anything different and unique.

Other Filipino Culture

Filipino Family Values

 The family is the centre of the social structure and includes the nuclear family, aunts,
uncles, grandparents, cousins and honorary relations such as godparents, sponsors, and
close family friends.
 People get strength and stability from their family. As such, many children have several
godparents.
 It is common for members of the same family to work for the same company.

Filipino Concept of Shame

 Hiya is shame and is a motivating factor behind behaviour.

 It is a sense of social propriety and conforming to societal norms of behaviour.
 Filipinos believe they must live up to the accepted standards of behaviour and if they fail to
do so they bring shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family.
 One indication of this might be a willingness to spend more than they can afford on a party
rather than be shamed by their economic circumstances.
 If someone is publicly embarrassed, criticized, or does not live up to expectations, they feel
shame and lose self-esteem.

Etiquette & Customs

Meeting Etiquette

 Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the eldest or most
important person first.
 A handshake, with a welcoming smile, is the standard greeting.
 Close female friends may hug and kiss when they meet.
 Use academic, professional, or honorific titles and the person's surname until you are
invited to use their first name, or even more frequently, their nickname.
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Filipino's house:

 The best time to arrive is 15 to 30 minutes later if they are invited on a large party.
 Never refer to your host's wife as the hostess. This has a different meaning in the
Philippines.
 Dress well. Appearances matter and you will be judged on how you dress.
 Compliment the hostess on the house.

Table manners

 Wait to be asked several times before moving into the dining room or helping yourself to
food.
 Wait to be told where to sit. There may be a seating plan.
 Do not start eating until the host invites you to do so.
 Meals are often served family- style or are buffets where you serve yourself.
 A fork and spoon are the typical eating utensils.