GLOBAL CURRENTS AND WORLD LITERATURE
MIDTERM REVIEWER
DIFFERENCE OF GLOBAL AND WORLD LITERATURE?
• “Global literature” gestures towards its general
readership, whereas the delineation of
• “World literature” is a matter or critical response and
canon formation.
HOW DOES GLOBALIZATION AFFECT THE WORLD
LITERATURE?
• The resulting 'global literature' involves extensive
convergence in narrative practices.
• The result is a diminishing of cultural diversity in storytelling.
... In consequence, the globalization of literature may have
deleterious effects on the aesthetics - and indeed the ethics
and politics - of narrative.
WHAT DOES GLOBALIZATION MEAN IN LITERATURE?
• Globalization which encompasses variant aspects of
the modern world, bringing nations of the world closer into
a single society through culture, economic transactions,
politics, technology and social interactions; is making an
ever-changing world.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF GLOBALIZATION?
• Globalization is the word used to describe the growing
interdependence of the world's economies, cultures,
and populations, brought about by cross-border trade in
goods and services, technology, and flows of investment,
people, and information.
EXAMPLES OF GLOBALIZATION
• Cultural Globalization
• Diplomatic Globalization
• Economic Globalization
• Automotive Industry Globalization
• Food Industry Globalization
• Technological Globalization
• Banking Industry Globalization
FIVE REASONS TO STUDY LITERATURE
• Literature improves communication skills. The easiest way
to improve vocabulary, writing, and speaking skills is to
study literature.
• Literature teaches you about yourself.
• Literature teaches about the past.
• Literature cultivates wisdom and a worldview.
• Literature entertains.
HOW LITERATURE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
• Stories are what make us human. Ever since we had proper
language, we've been telling stories to each other to
overcome our fears, to understand the world better, to
become better humans. Reading is not only the best thing
you can do for your brain, but also for your soul.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM LITERATURE?
• When students study Literature, they learn to appreciate
words and their power. They travel to other realms and
times through the texts they read. They understand about
their own culture and others'. They learn to empathize with
characters, to feel their joys and pain.
WHAT IS AN ADVANTAGE OF CULTURAL
GLOBALIZATION?
Pros of cultural globalization:
• Access to new cultural products (art, entertainment,
education) Better understanding of foreign values and
attitudes. Less stereotyping and fewer misconceptions
about other people and cultures. Instant access to
information from anywhere in the world.
WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF
GLOBALIZATION?
• Some argue that globalization is a positive development as
it will give rise to new industries and more jobs in developing
countries. Others say globalization is negative in that it will
force poorer countries of the world to do whatever the big,
developed countries tell them to do.
DOES GLOBALIZATION DESTROY CULTURE?
• Some argue that globalization-induced increases in
material well-being are superficial and trifling, sometimes
quoting William Wordsworth's statement that “in getting and
spending we lay waste our powers.” The trade-offs
include reduced cultural distinctiveness, increased social
instability, and unsavory cultural by-
WHY IS GLOCALIZATION IMPORTANT?
• Glocalization is a big investment, but it will pay great
dividends. It gives local businesses wider access to a bigger
target market in different cultures. ... A local event can
impact the global market in the same manner that a global
event can have a big relevance to the economy of the local
market.
IS GLOCALIZATION DIFFERENT FROM GLOBALIZATION?
• Globalization refers to the processes by which a company
brings its business to the rest of the world.
Internationalization is the practice of designing products,
services and internal operations to facilitate expansion into
international markets.
WHAT IS RELIGIOUS GLOBALIZATION?
• Globalization refers to the historical process by which all
the world's people increasingly come to live in a single
social unit. It implicates religion and religions in several
ways. From religious or theological perspectives,
globalization calls forth religious response and
interpretation.
WHAT ARE THREE BENEFITS OF STUDYING LITERATURE?
• The easiest way to improve vocabulary, writing, and
speaking skills is to study literature. Literature teaches you
about yourself. Literature teaches about the past. Literature
cultivates wisdom and a worldview.
HOW DOES ENGLISH LITERATURE HELP US IN LIFE?
• Studying English literature opens up a world of inspiration
and creativity, while also developing skills that are essential
for today's global environment. It is a chance to discover
how literature makes sense of the world through stories,
poems, novels and plays.
CAN LITERATURE CHANGE PEOPLE?
• Crucially, literature holds the power to change the self; to
reconfigure outlooks and imaginations, and to lead to
increased understanding of our identities as well as
question what we believe to be true about ourselves.
HOW DOES LITERATURE INFLUENCE THE WORLD?
• Literature acts as a form of expression for each
individual author. Some books mirror society and allow us
to better understand the world we live in. ... We are easily
connected to the psyche of authors through their stories.
However, literature also reiterates the need to understand
modern day issues like human conflict.
HOW THE GLOBALIZATION AFFECT THE WORLD
CULTURE?
• The major consequences of globalization have been: the
transmogrification of traditional religions and belief
systems; the beginning of the disintegration of the
traditional social fabrics and shared norms by
consumerism, cyber-culture, newfangled religions and
changing work ethics and work rhythms; the fast spreading
WHAT IS GLOCALIZATION IN LITERATURE?
• Glocalization is a concept used in diverse fields of study,
and the frequency of its use has increased significantly
since 1995.
• Glocal and glocalization are neologisms that emerged in
1990–1991, resulting from merging the words local and
global into a single word to indicate the fusion between the
two.
7 MAJOR TYPES OF GLOBALIZATION
MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!
-JOSH
• Financial Globalization.
• Economic Globalization.
• Technological Globalization.
• Political Globalization.
• Cultural Globalization.
• Sociological Globalization.
• Ecological Globalization.
• Geographical Globalization.
HOW DOES GLOBALIZATION AFFECT YOUR LIFE?
• In many instances, quality of life has improved for those
who live in developing nations. For many developing
nations, globalization has led to an improvement in
standard of living through improved roads and
transportation, improved health care, and improved
education due to the global expansion of corporations.
WHY IS LITERATURE LIFE?
• Without literature, life ceases to exist. It is an
embodiment of words based on human tragedies, desires,
and feelings. It cultivates wonders, inspires a generation,
and feeds information. Even though it is dynamic, endless,
and multi-dimensional, literature contributes significant
purposes to the world we live in.
WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES OF LITERATURE?
• The literary purpose is used to entertain and to give
aesthetic pleasure. The focus of the literary purpose is on
the words themselves and on a conscious and deliberate
arrangement of the words to produce a pleasing or
enriching effect. A writer often expresses a worldview when
using the literary purpose.
HOW DOES LITERATURE AFFECT US?
• Literature influences us and makes us understand every
walk of life. Narratives, in particular, inspire empathy and
give people a new perspective on their lives and the lives of
others.
WHAT IS THE FIRST LITERATURE OF THE WORLD?
• The Epic of Gilgamesh started out as
a series of Sumerian poems and tales
dating back to 2100 B.C., but the most
complete version was written around
the 12th century B.C. by the
Babylonians.
COMPILATION OF FIGURES OF SPEECH IN LITERATURE
• SIMILE. A simile is phrase that use a comparison to
describe.
Example: "life" can be described as similar to a box of
chocolates”.
• IMPLIED METAPHOR. Metaphor takes a few different
forms. Sometimes the object of comparison is purely
implied rather than directly referenced, such as in the
phrase,
Example: “He barked commands at the team,” which
implies comparison to a dog.
• EPIGRAM. It is a brief pointed saying. It couples words
which apparently contradict each other. The language of the
epigram is remarkable for its brevity.
Examples: The child is the father of the man.
(Wordsworth). Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
The art lies in concealing art.
• CULTURAL ALLUSION. is a brief and indirect reference to
person, place, thing, idea of historical, cultural literary,
political significance.
Example: Chocolate is his "kryptonite" alludes to or
hints at the hero Superman
• LOGOSGLYPH. is a word that looks like what it represents.
Logosglyph
Examples: She had eyes like pools. (The word eye
looks like a pair of eyes with a ‘y’ for a nose and the
double ‘oo’ in pools actually looks round like eyes and
pools)
• ASSONANCE. is a figure of speech in which the same
vowel sound repeats within a group of words. ... Assonance
does not require that words with the same vowel sounds be
directly next to each other. Assonance occurs so long as
identical vowel-sounds are relatively close together.
Example:The light of the fire is a sight.
• EUPHEMISM. A euphemism is a polite word or expression
that is used to refer to things which people may find
upsetting or embarrassing to talk about, for example sex,
the human body, or death. The term 'early retirement' is
nearly always a euphemism for redundancy nowadays.
Examples: passed away instead of died. passed over
to the other side instead of died. late instead of
deceased. dearly departed instead of deceased.
resting in peace for deceased. no longer with us
instead of deceased. departed instead of died. passed
instead of died.
• CHIASMUS. a rhetorical or literary figure in which words,
grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in
reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. ‘Poetry
is the record of the best and happiest moments of the
happiest and best minds.’.
Example. She has all my love; my heart belongs to
her," is an example of chiasmus.
• INTERROGATION. This is a rhetorical mode of affirming or
denying something more strongly than could be done in
ordinary language.
Examples Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? Who is here so rude that would not be a
Roman? Who is here so vile that will not love his
country? (Shakespeare)
When the consonant or vowel sound is repeated more
than once in words in the same sentence, it is known
as Alliteration. For example: She sells seashells on the
seashore.
• PARADOX. a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory
statement or proposition that when investigated or
explained may prove to be well founded or true.
Example: Waking is a Dream.
• CIRCUMLOCUTION. This consists of expressing some fact
or idea in a roundabout way, instead of stating it at once.
For example, The viewless couriers of the air. = (the
wind) That statement of his was purely an effort of
imagination. = (a fiction)
• Climax. sentence is arranged in ascending order of
rhetorical forcefulness.
Examples: At the novel's climax, the main character
finds herself face 2 face with the thief.
• PARABLE. simple story used to illustrate a moral or
spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
Examples: perhaps the most famous parable is the of
the BOY WHO CRIED WOLF
• TRANSFERRED EPITHETS. In transferred epithets, the
qualifying objective is transferred from a person to a thing
as in phrases.
For example, “sleepless night”, “sunburn mirth”,
• ANTICLIMAX. When a story has an anticlimax, the plot has
built up, but then something disappointing or "boring"
happens.
Examples: Tension builds in a horror movie as a young
girl approaches a closed door.
• CHIASMUS. Chiasmus when two sentences are balanced
against one another but with the words reversed.
Example. Work to live and do not live to work.
MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!
-JOSH
• METONYMY. gives writers the ability to make single words
or phrases more powerful. You can add meaning and
complexity to even the most ordinary word by having it
stand in to mean something else.
For example, take the phrase “the pen is mightier than
the sword,” which contains two examples of metonymy.
• ANAPHORA. The repetition of words or phrase on group of
sentences, clauses for poetic lines
Examples: I have dreams. I have options. I have ways
to attain them.
• TAUTOLOGY OR PLEONASM. is meant for repeating the
same fact or idea in different words.
For example, “It is the privilege and birthright of every
man to express his ideas without any fear.”
• IRONY. Occurs when there's a marked contrast between
what is said and what is meant, or between appearance or
reality.
Example: The titanic was said to be unsinkable but
sank on its first voyage. (Situational Irony)
• EUPHEMISM. is a figure of speech, which means "an
expression in which the words are not used in their literal
sense."
Example: someone might say they're “taking an early
retirement” instead of admitting they got fired.
• APOSTROPHE. a punctuation mark ( ' ) used to indicate
either possession or the omission of letters or numbers.
Ex. You're going to have a lot of fun with your new
puppy".
• LITOTES. A figure of speech consisting of an
understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by
negating its opposite.
Example: A million dollars is no small chunk of change.
• Pun. a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a
word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but
have different meanings.
Example: Ice cream (I scream)
• PUN. A pun is a play on words. It exploits the different
meanings of a word or its homonyms, usually to humorous
effect.
A well-worn example of a pun is: “Time flies like an
arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”
• PLEONASM. a rhetorical device that can be defined as the
use of two or more words or phrases to express an idea.
Example: i like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief.
• UNDERSTATEMENT. A figure of speech in which a writer
or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less
important or serious than it is.
Example: "You could say Babe Ruth was a decent
ballplayer," the reporter said with a wink.
• ANTITHESIS. is an irreconcilable opposites or strongly
contrasting ideas are placed in sharp juxtaposition and
sustained tension, as in the saying “Art is long, and Time is
fleeting.”
Example: "Man proposes, God disposes."
• SYNECDOCHE. a figure of speech in which a part is made
to represent the whole or vice versa.
Example: New wheels refers to a new car.
• EUPHEMISM. The substitution of an inoffensive term for
one considered offensively explicit.
Example: "We're teaching our toddler how to go potty,"
Bob said.
• ADDENDUM:
• Dialect. is the way people talk in a particular region. In
literature, this involves representing speech in the way it
actually sounds with phonetic spelling, missing words, and
unusual grammar. Dialect
Examples: I told ‘er she wer wrong, innit? (I told her she
was wrong, didn’t I?) Howdy Y’all! (Hello everybody!)
Am gonna nae do that. (I’m not going to do that)
• IDIOM. An idiom is a figure of speech that means something
different than a literal translation of the words would lead
one to believe.
For example, it's raining cats and dogs is a common
idiom in English, but it's not meant to be taken literally
Household pets are not falling from the sky.
• PROVERB. is a short saying that gives advice or expresses
truth. Proverbs aren't usually literal sayings; proverbs use
figurative language to make a statement about life. Usually,
a proverb is very well known because of its popular use in
colloquial language.
Example: It's better to be safe than sorry. Don't judge a
book by its cover.
• ALLITERATION. In literature, alliteration is the conspicuous
repetition of identical initial consonant sounds in successive
or closely associated syllables within a group of words,
even those spelled differently.
Examples: A good cook could cook as many cookies
as a good cook who could cook cookies.
LITERARY FORMS IN THE PHILIPPINES
• Literature indeed reflects the society, its good values and
its ills. In its corrective function, literature mirrors the ills of
the society with a view to making the society realize its
mistakes and make amends.
• A literary man is as much a product of his society as his
art is product of his own reaction to life.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF LITERATURE IN A SOCIETY?
• Literature has many roles in society today. From a
modernist perspective, it can be transgressive and
penetrate the public consciousness.
• Literature can also cultivate empathy and Theory of Mind,
or the capacity to read the minds of others, by encouraging
readers to assume the perspective of fictional characters.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE IN THE MODERN
SOCIETY
• It forms an important part of our education, but Sophie
Austin wants to know how does it fit in to our everyday life?
• Ever since I was small, stories have been a part of my life.
Reading books like ‘The Tales of Peter Rabbit’ and ‘The
Very Hungry Caterpillar’ before bed became a part of my
natural order where I could escape into another world. To
say the least, not much has changed and on most nights, I
love to read - to find that escape away from reality.
• But literature is more than that. It has transcended time and
is still with us, forming critical parts of today’s curriculums.
So, what relevance does literature have in modern society?
ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
COMPONENT PARTS OF A WORK OF LITERATURE
• ALLEGORY. The characters are representative of some
larger humanistic trait and attempt to convey some larger
lesson or meaning in life.
• ALLUSION. A reference to something in history, culture or
literature (especially historical).
• ANTAGONIST. The force that works against the
protagonist.
• CHARACTERIZATION. The creation and development of
the people in a story.
• CLIMAX. The point in the story where the conflict is at its
peak.
• CONFLICT. The struggle a character must overcome.
MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!
-JOSH
• CONNOTATION. Implied meaning of the word is the
associated meaning that comes from its use in various
social contexts; will change over time and vary from location
to location.
• CRISIS. A significant turning point in the story that
determines how it must end.
• DICTION. The author's choice of words to imply some
social or connotative meaning.
• EXPOSITION. The background information of a story.
• FLASHBACK. A strategy of plot sequencing where the
author takes the reader back to events that occurred before
the present time in the story.
• FORESHADOWING. Use of clues to suggest something
that is going to happen.
• IMAGERY. The author's attempt to create a mental picture
in the mind of the reader.
• IRONY
• A twist of fate in which the results of action are not the
expected results.
• METAPHOR. A comparison of two generally unlike things
meant to illuminate truth.
• MOTIF. A recurring image or idea.
• MOOD. The feeling a reader gets from a story.
• PLOT. The events that occur in a story.
• POINT OF VIEW. Refers to whether that story is told by a
character or an outside observer.
• PROTAGONIST. The character the story revolves around.
• RESOLUTION. The conclusion of the story.
• SETTING. Where and when the action takes place.
• STRUCTURE. The way that the writer arranges the plot of
a story.
• SUBPLOT. A secondary plot strand that is a supporting
side story for the main plot.
• SUSPENSE. The tension that the author uses to create a
feeling of discomfort about the unknown.
• SYMBOLISM. A person, place, event or object that has a
deeper meaning that its literal meaning.
• THEME. The central idea or lesson about life that an author
conveys.
• TONE. The author's voice or attitude about what he or she
writes.
THE LITERARY FORMS IN PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
• The proverbs or aphorisms express norms or codes of
behavior, community beliefs or they instill values by offering
nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
• The extended form, tanaga, a mono-riming heptasyllabic
quatrain expressing insights and lessons on life is “more
emotionally charged than the terse proverb and thus has
affinities with the folk lyric.” Some examples are
the basahanon or extended didactic sayings from Bukidnon
and the daraida and daragilon from Panay.
• The folk song, a form of folk lyric which expresses the hopes
and aspirations, the people’s lifestyles as well as their loves.
These are often repetitive and sonorous, didactic and naive
as in the children’s songs or Ida-ida (Maguindanao), tulang
pambata (Tagalog) or cansiones para abbing (Ibanag).
• A few examples are the lullabyes or Ili-ili (Ilongo); love
songs like the panawagon and balitao (Ilongo);harana or
serenade (Cebuano); the bayok (Maranao); the seven-
syllable per line poem, ambahan of the Mangyans that are
about human relationships, social entertainment and also
serve as a tool for teaching the young; work songs that
depict the livelihood of the people often sung to go with the
movement of workers such as
the kalusan (Ivatan), soliranin (Tagalog rowing song) or
the mambayu, a Kalinga rice-pounding song; the verbal
jousts/games like the duplo popular during wakes.
• Other folk songs are the drinking songs sung during
carousals like the tagay (Cebuano and Waray); dirges and
lamentations extolling the deeds of the dead like
the kanogon (Cebuano) or the Annako (Bontoc).
• A type of narrative song or kissa among the Tausug of
Mindanao, the parang sabil, uses for its subject matter the
exploits of historical and legendary heroes. It tells of a
Muslim hero who seeks death at the hands of non-Muslims.
• The folk narratives, i.e. epics and folk tales are varied,
exotic and magical. They explain how the world was
created, how certain animals possess certain
characteristics, why some places have waterfalls,
volcanoes, mountains, flora or fauna and, in the case of
legends, an explanation of the origins of things. Fables are
about animals and these teach moral lessons.
• Our country’s epics are considered ethno-epics because
unlike, say, Germany’s Niebelunginlied, our epics are not
national for they are “histories” of varied groups that
consider themselves “nations.”
• The epics come in various
names: Guman (Subanon); Darangen (Maranao); Hudhud
(Ifugao); andUlahingan (Manobo). These epics revolve
around supernatural events or heroic deeds and they
embody or validate the beliefs and customs and ideals of a
community. These are sung or chanted to the
accompaniment of indigenous musical instruments and
dancing performed during harvests, weddings or funerals
by chanters. The chanters who were taught by their
ancestors are considered “treasures” and/or repositories of
wisdom in their communities.
• Examples of these epics are the:
Lam-ang (Ilocano);
Hinilawod (Sulod);
Kudaman (Palawan);
Darangen (Maranao);
Ulahingan (Livunganen-Arumanen Manobo);
Mangovayt Buhong na Langit (The Maiden of the Buhong Sky
from Tuwaang–Manobo);
Ag Tobig neg Keboklagan (Subanon); and Tudbulol (T’boli).
FILIPINO FAMILY, CULTURE AND TRADITION
Geography and History Influence Identity
• The Philippines is located in an archipelago constituting
over 7,000 islands. The history of the country is that of
immigration and occupation, also gives clues to the
people's identity:
• Before the Spanish invasion in 1521, the inhabitants
were descended from Negritos, Malays, Indonesians,
Chinese and Muslims.
• The first Spanish arrived in 1521.
• Miguel Lopez de Legazpi amalgamated Spanish power
in 1564.
• Spanish occupation and Catholicism unified the
country.
• During the 1890s, José Rizal inspired Filipinos to seek
independence.
• Americans occupied the Philippines from 1902.
• The islands were given commonwealth status in 1933.
MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!
-JOSH
 • The Philippines gained independence on July 4, 1946.
LANGUAGE
• 'Taglish' is something you hear a lot in the Philippines,
especially in Manila, Luzon, Mindoro and Marinduque. As
the word suggests, it combines Tagalog, the most widely
spoken language, and English. In 1987, a variant of
Tagalog became the base for the official language of the
Philippines. Tagalog and English are used profusely for
education and business, and Tagalog has the most
literature of all the Filipino languages. However, you would
be wrong to suppose that these were the only languages.
In fact, according to the SEAsite project at Northern Illinois
University, scholars estimate there are 75 to 150 different
languages and dialects in the Philippines.
FAMILY
• Family bonds are important to Filipinos. The elderly are
honored and respected and children are taught to say 'po'
and 'apo,' showing respect to their grandparents, from an
early age. There is a special greeting to show veneration,
'mano,' whereby you take the hand of an elderly person and
place it on your forehead as if receiving his blessing.
EXTENDED FAMILY
• Extended families live together and even distant members
are given the title of cousin. Children have several sets of
godparents so that the support system is strong. There may
be a few houses grouped on the same piece of land, or in
the same neighborhood so that children from different
parents are part of one household and single aunts and
uncles, or grandparents look after them while parents work.
The major festivals are celebrated together. If a family
originates outside the city, they journey back to the rural
area where they have their roots to celebrate.
COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE
• Close-knit relationships between relatives and friends mean
that young people often marry others already known to their
families. Whether this is the case or not it is traditional that
'pamanhikan' occurs, and the suitor's parents visit the
bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage. From this
point on the prospective groom expects to make himself as
useful as possible to his fiance's family.
LONG ENGAGEMENTS
• Marriage is a serious affair and engagements often last for
several years while the couple work, save for a home, and
if necessary pay for siblings' education. Friends and
relatives may help sponsor the marriage which cuts
expenses.
MARRIAGE
There are various kinds of weddings according to family wishes,
religion, whether the geographical location is rural or urban.
Over the last century, it has become fashionable for brides to
wear white, imitating the Western style of dress, however, if a
couple has a tribal wedding, they will wear traditional attire.
FESTIVALS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
• Filipinos know how to party. No matter when you travel,
there is bound to be a holiday or festival. If you're visiting
the Philippines, Filipino Travel Center has a useful calendar
of festivals. Every municipality has a patron saint whose day
is celebrated extravagantly in the homes and streets.
Residents anticipate the event for months in advance. A
feast is prepared, and they go from one house to another
tasting dishes. The church and plaza are decorated with
lights and bunting, and a procession is held with dancing
and music. According to the festival, Filipinos dress up in
vivid costumes, sporting masks and headdresses.
Fireworks and firecrackers complete the excitement.
• Other holidays include Christmas, Rizal Day, which takes
place on 30 December making it part of the New Year's Day
celebration, Easter, All Saints Eve, and secular holidays like
Bataan Death March, Labor Day, and Independence Day
on 12 June. Sino-Filipinos celebrate the Chinese New Year
in Chinatown, Manila, and Muslims enjoy the Islamic Feasts
for the end of Ramadan and the Haj.
ETIQUETTE
• Much of the etiquette of the Philippines stems from the
desire to prevent loss of face. A person might agree to an
action even though they have no intention of doing it; when
it is not carried through it is understood that the act would
have been embarrassing. All perfectly comprehensible to
Filipinos although confusing to Westerners. By
understanding certain points of social and business
etiquette you avert frustration or
embarrassment. Commisceo Global offers tips to prevent
social blunders.
• Wait to be asked more than once before accepting
food.
• Take sweets or flowers as gifts; not chrysanthemums
or white lilies.
• Introduce people from oldest to youngest.
• Refer to them by their full title.
• Women should not drink alcohol or cross their legs in
public.
• Dress formally and compliment the hostess on the
house.
CONDUCTING BUSINESS
• You are certain to be greeted with a smile as you travel
around the Philippines. Personal relations are important,
and Filipinos are sensitive to the feelings of others. If you
are conducting business in the Philippines, you should be
aware of how professional relationships work. According to
the translation company, Kwintessential, there are
important factors to take into account:
• The business relationship is with you, rather than your
business, so if you leave, the relationship breaks and
needs to be rebuilt by your replacement.
• Try to build extended networks.
• Arrange interviews face-to-face and don't rely on fax,
email or telephone.
• Accept food or drink, so you don't offend.
• Socialize after the meeting.
• Be aware that the people you meet might not be those
making the final decision.
FOOD
• Geographical location and ethnicity mean that food varies
from area to area. It is spicy but not eye-watering hot. There
is one staple true to all; when in the Philippines you will
always see plain steamed rice on the menu.
DAILY FOOD
• Fish is eaten daily and may be salted or fried. Chicken is
popular, as is pork, although it is not eaten by the Muslim
population. Much of the food is served cold. Vegetables are
prepared in soups or stews and there is plenty of fruit. If you
enjoy desserts you will relish the coconut milk with fruit
salad.
ETIQUETTE WHEN EATING
Just a hint of what is felt to be good manners at the Filipino
dining table.
• Don't be the first to enter.
• Wait to be seated.
• Hold the fork in your left hand and use it to place food
on your spoon.
• Knives are not used.
ARTS
• According to the Britannica, Historical evidence shows a
wealth of traditional Filipino arts in the past, from carved
images to musical instruments such as nose flutes, Jew's
harps, gongs and drums. According to The indigenous arts'
movement was on the wane until recent years. Now it has
revived, both at street festivals and theater productions.
Ballet Philippines, the Philippine National Folk Dance
Company, Bayanihan, and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric
Group are all important performing arts' companies
promoting local culture.
• Since Independence, writers have been publishing in
Tagalog and there have been a number of internationally
acclaimed films:
MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!
-JOSH
 • Himala (1982)
• Oro, Plata, Mata (1982)
• Small Voices (2002)
AN INTERESTING CULTURE
• The Philippines is a tropical country which boasts volcanic
islands, forests, and sandy beaches. Filipino people are
rightfully proud of their surroundings. It is a place worth
visiting, whether for business or leisure and by
understanding a little about the Filipino culture you are sure
to get the most out of your stay.
FACTS AND STATISTICS
• Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between
the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of
Vietnam
• Capital: Manila
• Population: 107+ million (2019 est.)
• Ethnic Make-up: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim
Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
• Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%,
Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
LANGUAGES IN THE PHILIPPINES
• 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. The Philippines are
the third largest group of English speaking people in the
world, after the United States and the United Kingdom.
• 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.
FILIPINO SOCIETY & 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.
• Concern for the extended family is seen in the
patronage provided to family members when they seek
employment.
• It is common for members of the same family to work
for the same company.
• In fact, many collective bargaining agreements state
that preferential hiring will be given to family members.
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.
GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE
• If you are invited to a Filipino home for dinner bring
sweets or flowers to the hosts.
• If you give flowers, avoid chrysanthemums and white
lilies.
• You may send a fruit basket after the event as a thank
you but not before or at the event, as it could be
interpreted as meaning you do not think that the host
will provide sufficient hospitality.
• Wrap gifts elegantly as presentation is important. There
are no colour restrictions as to wrapping paper.
• Gifts are not opened when received.
DINING ETIQUETTE
If you are invited to a Filipino's house:
• It is best to arrive 15 to 30 minutes later than invited for
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.
• Send a handwritten thank you note to the hosts in the
week following the dinner or party. It shows you have
class.
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.
• Hold the fork in the left hand and use it to guide food to
the spoon in your right hand.
• Whether you should leave some food on your plate or
finish everything is a matter of personal preference
rather than culture-driven.
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL
RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNICATION
• Filipinos thrive on interpersonal relationships, so it is
advisable to be introduced by a third party.
• It is crucial to network and build up a cadre of business
associates you can call upon for assistance in the
future.
• Business relationships are personal relationships,
which mean you may be asked to do favours for
colleagues, and they will fully expect you to ask them
for favours in return.
• Once a relationship has been developed it is with you
personally, not necessarily with the company you
represent.
• Therefore, if you leave the company, your replacement
will need to build their own relationship.
• Presenting the proper image will facilitate building
business relationships. Dress conservatively and well
at all times.
BUSINESS MEETING ETIQUETTE
MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!
-JOSH
 • Appointments are required and should be made 3 to 4 • “THE GENTLEMEN OF THE JUNGLE” is a fable written
weeks in advance. by Jomo Kenyatta who was an African political leader and
• It is a good idea to reconfirm a few days prior to the the first president of Kenya. This story reflects the attitude
meeting, as situations may change. of Kikuyu people of Kenya toward European laws and
• Avoid scheduling meetings the week before Easter. commissions.
• Punctuality is expected. For the most part your Filipino
• In ‘MUNICIPAL GUM’ Oodgeroo Noonuccal, an
colleagues will be punctual as well.
Australian aboriginal activist explores themes of
• Face-to-face meetings are preferred to other, more subjugation, displacement, and injustice. The
impersonal methods such as the telephone, fax, letter poem’s mood is mournful as the speaker delves into the
or email. struggles and pains of the tree, as the connection to the
• Send an agenda and informational materials in poet’s life and the lives of aboriginal Australians becomes
advance of the meeting so your colleagues may clear.
prepare for the discussion.
• The actual decision maker may not be at the meeting. • “THE THINGS WE DARE NOT TELL” A poem by Henry
• Avoid making exaggerated claims. Lawson (1867 – 1922)
• Always accept any offer of food or drink. If you turn
down offers of hospitality, your colleagues lose face. • “HOMEROOM DIARIES” is a realistic fiction novel
• It is important to remain for the period of social by James Patterson aimed at teenagers. Published in the
conversation at the end of the meeting. United States by Little, Brown and Company on July 22,
2014, the book follows high-schooler Margaret Clarke, who
BUSINESS NEGOTIATION goes by the nickname Cuckoo. When the book begins,
Cuckoo is living with a foster mother after her own mother
• You may never actually meet with the decision maker
abandoned her, an incident that caused Cuckoo to have a
or it may take several visits to do so.
brief stay at a mental institution.
• Decisions are made at the top of the company.
• Filipinos avoid confrontation if at all possible. It is • “THE WOMB STORY” by Louie Cruz
difficult for them to say 'no'. Likewise, their 'yes' may
merely mean 'perhaps'. • Salam Pax, real name Salam Abdul Munim, was an Iraqi
• At each stage of the negotiation, try to get agreements blogger from “BAGHDAD” that came to prominence in the
in writing to avoid confusion or misinterpretation. west before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. His blog “Where is
• If you raise your voice or lose your temper, you lose Raed?”
face.
• Filipinos do business with people more than • “THE INDEPENDENT ORGAN” by Haruki Murakami
companies. If you change representatives during
negotiations, you may have to start over.
• Negotiations may be relatively slow.
• Most processes take a long time because group
consensus is necessary.
• Decisions are often reached on the basis of feelings
rather than facts, which is why it is imperative to
develop a broad network of personal relationships.
• Do not remove your suit jacket unless the most
important Filipino does.

DRESS ETIQUETTE
• Business attire is conservative.
• Men should wear a dark coloured, conservative
business suit, at least for the initial meeting.
• Women should wear a conservative suit, a skirt and
blouse, or a dress.
• Women's clothing may be brightly coloured as long as
it is of good quality and well-tailored.
• Appearances matter and visitors should dress well.

BUSINESS CARDS
• You should offer your business card first.
• Make sure your business card includes your title.
• Present and receive business cards with two hands so
that it is readable to the recipient.
• Examine the card briefly before putting it in your
business card case.
• Some senior level executives only give business cards
to those of similar rank.

MANAGEMENT
• For in-depth information on Filipino management
culture or being a manager in the Philippines.

• “THE METAMORPHOSIS” BY FRANZ KAFKA

Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor
Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably
transformed into a huge insect (ungeheures Ungeziefer, lit.
"monstrous vermin") and subsequently struggles to adjust
to this new condition.

MAGREVIEW KA HA! WAG MUNA LALAKIII!

-JOSH