‭Cultural Diversity and Identity in the Philippines: An in-depth Analysis of Public‬

‭Perceptions and Attitudes‬

‭Group 3:‬

‭Bon Mañaol‬

‭Gabriel Mancilla‬

‭LordJustin Brucal‬

‭Mark Yuri Prieto‬

‭Onalos Yeliar‬
‭Introduction‬

‭With‬ ‭over‬ ‭7,000‬ ‭islands,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines‬ ‭is‬‭a‬‭vibrant‬‭intricate‬‭of‬‭varied‬‭nationalities,‬

‭languages,‬ ‭and‬ ‭faiths.‬ ‭Scholars‬ ‭and‬ ‭academics‬ ‭are‬ ‭fascinated‬ ‭by‬ ‭this‬ ‭rich‬‭cultural‬‭diversity.‬

‭Because‬‭of‬‭the‬‭country's‬‭unique‬‭history‬‭of‬‭colonization,‬‭trade,‬‭and‬‭migration,‬‭it‬‭has‬‭created‬‭a‬

‭varied‬ ‭civilization‬ ‭with‬ ‭a‬ ‭diverse‬ ‭set‬ ‭of‬ ‭beliefs,‬ ‭practices,‬ ‭and‬ ‭values.‬ ‭The‬ ‭purpose‬ ‭of‬ ‭this‬

‭study‬‭is‬‭to‬‭investigate‬‭the‬‭complicated‬‭perceptions‬‭of‬‭cultural‬‭diversity‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Philippines‬‭and‬

‭to raise public knowledge and comprehension of the country's rich heritage.‬

‭Despite‬ ‭its‬ ‭status‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭multicultural‬ ‭society,‬ ‭the‬ ‭intricacies‬ ‭of‬ ‭this‬ ‭diversity‬ ‭are‬

‭frequently‬ ‭veiled‬ ‭behind‬ ‭more‬ ‭visible‬ ‭features‬ ‭of‬ ‭national‬ ‭identity.‬ ‭While‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭festivals‬

‭and‬ ‭historical‬ ‭landmarks‬ ‭highlight‬ ‭the‬ ‭country's‬ ‭rich‬ ‭legacy,‬ ‭the‬ ‭general‬ ‭public's‬ ‭level‬ ‭of‬

‭comprehension‬ ‭is‬ ‭something‬ ‭that‬ ‭needs‬ ‭to‬ ‭be‬ ‭researched‬ ‭more.‬ ‭There‬ ‭has‬ ‭recently‬ ‭been‬ ‭a‬

‭greater‬ ‭emphasis‬ ‭on‬ ‭multiculturalism‬ ‭and‬ ‭inclusivity,‬ ‭highlighting‬ ‭the‬ ‭necessity‬ ‭of‬

‭recognizing, appreciating, and protecting cultural diversity.‬

‭The‬‭purpose‬‭of‬‭this‬‭study‬‭is‬‭to‬‭assess‬‭how‬‭well‬‭Filipinos‬‭understand‬‭the‬‭diversity‬‭that‬

‭exists‬ ‭among‬ ‭them.‬ ‭Cultures‬ ‭are‬ ‭convergent‬ ‭at‬ ‭an‬ ‭unprecedented‬ ‭rate‬ ‭in‬ ‭today's‬ ‭globalized‬

‭globe.‬ ‭This‬ ‭poses‬ ‭both‬ ‭opportunities‬ ‭and‬ ‭challenges‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines.‬ ‭While‬ ‭increased‬

‭cultural‬ ‭interchange‬ ‭can‬ ‭enrich‬ ‭the‬ ‭nation's‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭fabric,‬ ‭it‬ ‭also‬ ‭risks‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭uniformity‬

‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭extinction‬ ‭of‬ ‭traditional‬ ‭behaviors.‬ ‭The‬ ‭purpose‬ ‭of‬ ‭this‬ ‭study‬ ‭is‬ ‭to‬ ‭look‬ ‭at‬ ‭how‬

‭globalization‬‭affects‬‭perceptions‬‭of‬‭cultural‬‭diversity‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Philippines,‬‭and‬‭whether‬‭it‬‭fosters‬

‭cultural awareness or contributes to cultural loss.‬

 ‭This‬ ‭study‬ ‭will‬ ‭also‬ ‭look‬ ‭into‬ ‭the‬ ‭relationship‬ ‭between‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭diversity‬ ‭and‬ ‭social‬

‭cohesiveness.‬‭The‬‭Philippines‬‭is‬‭a‬‭nation‬‭united‬‭in‬‭solidarity,‬‭not‬‭just‬‭a‬‭collection‬‭of‬‭cultures.‬

‭Individuals'‬ ‭perceptions‬ ‭of‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭variety‬‭can‬‭have‬‭a‬‭big‬‭impact‬‭on‬‭societal‬‭peace.‬‭We‬‭can‬

‭set‬‭the‬‭path‬‭for‬‭efforts‬‭that‬‭foster‬‭cultural‬‭appreciation,‬‭intercultural‬‭conversation,‬‭and‬‭social‬

‭integration by understanding public knowledge and comprehension of other cultures.‬

‭The‬ ‭importance‬ ‭of‬ ‭this‬ ‭study‬ ‭goes‬ ‭beyond‬ ‭academic‬ ‭curiosity‬ ‭because‬ ‭it‬ ‭addresses‬

‭current‬ ‭challenges‬ ‭in‬ ‭Philippine‬ ‭society.‬ ‭Cultural‬ ‭variety‬ ‭is‬ ‭important‬ ‭for‬ ‭defining‬ ‭national‬

‭identity,‬‭influencing‬‭legislation,‬‭and‬‭encouraging‬‭social‬‭inclusion.‬‭This‬‭study‬‭seeks‬‭to‬‭provide‬

‭significant‬ ‭insights‬ ‭for‬ ‭policymakers,‬ ‭educators,‬ ‭and‬ ‭other‬ ‭stakeholders‬ ‭in‬ ‭developing‬

‭inclusive‬ ‭efforts‬ ‭that‬ ‭celebrate‬ ‭the‬ ‭country's‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭mosaic‬ ‭by‬‭investigating‬‭perceptions‬‭of‬

‭cultural‬ ‭variety.‬ ‭As‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines‬ ‭navigates‬ ‭the‬ ‭complexity‬ ‭of‬ ‭today's‬ ‭globe,‬ ‭a‬ ‭thorough‬

‭grasp of its cultural variety is critical to building a more harmonious and inclusive society.‬

‭Methodology‬

‭The‬ ‭title‬ ‭of‬ ‭this‬ ‭study‬ ‭is‬ ‭Cultural‬ ‭Diversity‬ ‭and‬ ‭Identity‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines:‬ ‭An‬

‭In-Depth‬ ‭Analysis‬ ‭of‬ ‭Public‬ ‭Perceptions‬ ‭and‬ ‭Attitudes.‬ ‭A‬ ‭total‬ ‭of‬ ‭twenty‬ ‭Filipinos‬ ‭were‬

‭chosen‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭sample‬ ‭for‬ ‭this‬ ‭study.‬ ‭The‬ ‭study's‬ ‭cornerstone‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭awareness‬ ‭and‬

‭comprehension‬ ‭of‬ ‭Filipinos'‬ ‭perceptions‬ ‭of‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭variety.‬ ‭To‬ ‭comprehend‬‭the‬‭themes‬‭and‬

‭provide‬ ‭responses‬‭that‬‭reflect‬‭Filipino‬‭different‬‭points‬‭of‬‭view,‬‭the‬‭research‬‭must‬‭contain‬‭all‬

‭respondents who are Filipino.‬

 ‭Considering‬ ‭Google‬ ‭Forms‬ ‭is‬ ‭so‬ ‭user-friendly‬ ‭for‬ ‭both‬‭researchers‬‭and‬‭respondents,‬

‭the‬ ‭questionnaire‬ ‭will‬ ‭be‬ ‭presented‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭format.‬ ‭The‬ ‭results‬ ‭can‬ ‭be‬ ‭obtained‬ ‭using‬ ‭the‬

‭form's data, which will be stored on the Google Forms platform.‬

‭A‬ ‭questionnaire‬ ‭was‬ ‭carried‬ ‭out‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭method‬ ‭of‬ ‭analysis.‬ ‭The‬ ‭survey's‬ ‭questions‬

‭focus‬ ‭on‬ ‭how‬ ‭Filipinos‬ ‭perceive‬ ‭the‬ ‭variety‬ ‭of‬ ‭their‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭traditions.‬ ‭The‬ ‭survey‬ ‭will‬

‭feature‬‭six‬‭categories,‬‭each‬‭with‬‭five‬‭questions,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭respondents‬‭can‬‭select‬‭their‬‭responses‬

‭on a scale from fully agree to disagree totally. The six classifications are as follows:‬

‭1.‬ ‭The‬ ‭extent‬ ‭to‬ ‭which‬ ‭Filipinos‬ ‭are‬ ‭informed‬ ‭about‬ ‭the‬ ‭diverse‬ ‭array‬ ‭of‬ ‭cultures‬

‭coexisting in different parts of the country.‬

‭2.‬ ‭The‬ ‭capacity‬ ‭to‬ ‭educate‬ ‭persons‬ ‭in‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭the‬ ‭historical,‬ ‭religious,‬

‭linguistic, and aesthetic components that contribute to each culture’s specific character.‬

‭3.‬‭The‬‭extent‬‭to‬‭which‬‭prejudices‬‭and‬‭misconceptions‬‭exist‬‭influences‬‭how‬‭the‬‭public‬

‭perceives certain cultural groups in the Philippines.‬

‭4.‬ ‭Preexisting‬ ‭ideas‬ ‭have‬ ‭an‬ ‭impact‬ ‭on‬ ‭social‬ ‭peace,‬ ‭relationships‬ ‭between‬ ‭various‬

‭cultures, and community inclusivity.‬

‭5.‬ ‭In‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines,‬ ‭there‬ ‭are‬ ‭differences‬ ‭in‬‭how‬‭cultural‬‭diversity‬‭is‬‭seen‬‭in‬‭urban‬

‭and rural areas.‬

 ‭6.‬ ‭The‬ ‭perception‬ ‭of‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭variety‬ ‭has‬ ‭an‬ ‭influence‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines'‬ ‭overall‬

‭feeling of national unity and identity.‬

‭Findings‬

‭Our‬ ‭research‬ ‭uncovered‬ ‭that‬ ‭many‬ ‭Filipinos‬ ‭are‬ ‭not‬ ‭fully‬ ‭aware‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭diverse‬ ‭cultures‬

‭present‬ ‭in‬ ‭their‬ ‭country.‬ ‭This‬ ‭lack‬ ‭of‬ ‭awareness‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭significant‬ ‭challenge‬ ‭that‬ ‭needs‬

‭addressing.‬ ‭Most‬ ‭respondents‬ ‭didn't‬ ‭have‬ ‭a‬ ‭deep‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭history,‬ ‭religion,‬

‭language,‬ ‭and‬ ‭arts‬ ‭that‬ ‭make‬ ‭each‬ ‭culture‬ ‭unique.‬ ‭This‬ ‭often‬ ‭led‬ ‭to‬ ‭simplistic‬ ‭or‬ ‭incorrect‬

‭views of these cultures.‬

‭Stereotypes‬‭and‬‭preconceived‬‭notions‬‭had‬‭a‬‭significant‬‭impact‬‭on‬‭how‬‭people‬‭see‬‭different‬

‭cultural‬ ‭groups.‬ ‭These‬ ‭ideas‬ ‭often‬ ‭resulted‬ ‭in‬ ‭biased‬ ‭attitudes,‬ ‭making‬ ‭it‬ ‭hard‬ ‭to‬ ‭truly‬

‭appreciate‬ ‭and‬ ‭understand‬ ‭other‬ ‭cultures.‬ ‭These‬ ‭stereotypes‬ ‭and‬‭preconceived‬‭ideas‬‭created‬

‭divisions‬ ‭and‬ ‭made‬ ‭it‬ ‭challenging‬ ‭for‬ ‭people‬ ‭from‬ ‭different‬ ‭backgrounds‬ ‭to‬ ‭get‬ ‭along‬ ‭and‬

‭communicate effectively.‬

‭The‬‭study‬‭found‬‭that‬‭people‬‭in‬‭cities‬‭tend‬‭to‬‭be‬‭more‬‭aware‬‭of‬‭and‬‭appreciative‬‭of‬‭different‬

‭cultures‬‭compared‬‭to‬‭rural‬‭areas‬‭.‬‭This‬‭might‬‭be‬‭because‬‭cities‬‭have‬‭more‬‭access‬‭to‬‭education‬

‭and‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭activities.‬ ‭The‬ ‭study‬ ‭suggested‬ ‭that‬ ‭not‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭and‬ ‭respecting‬ ‭the‬

‭country's‬‭cultural‬‭history‬‭hinders‬‭the‬‭development‬‭of‬‭a‬‭strong‬‭and‬‭united‬‭national‬‭identity‬‭that‬

‭embraces its cultural diversity.‬

‭Conclusion‬
 ‭In‬ ‭conclusion,‬ ‭our‬‭study‬‭reveals‬‭that‬‭many‬‭Filipinos‬‭may‬‭not‬‭fully‬‭grasp‬‭the‬‭rich‬‭mix‬‭of‬

‭cultures‬ ‭that‬ ‭coexist‬ ‭within‬ ‭their‬ ‭country.‬ ‭This‬ ‭lack‬ ‭of‬ ‭awareness‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭significant‬ ‭challenge‬

‭that‬‭needs‬‭addressing.‬‭We‬‭found‬‭that‬‭many‬‭people‬‭aren't‬‭very‬‭aware‬‭of‬‭the‬‭various‬‭cultures‬‭in‬

‭the‬ ‭Philippines,‬ ‭and‬ ‭often,‬ ‭they‬ ‭don't‬ ‭have‬ ‭a‬ ‭good‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭history,‬ ‭religion,‬

‭language,‬‭and‬‭art‬‭that‬‭define‬‭each‬‭culture.‬‭Stereotypes‬‭and‬‭preconceived‬‭ideas‬‭also‬‭affect‬‭how‬

‭people‬ ‭view‬ ‭different‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭groups‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines.‬ ‭This‬ ‭can‬ ‭lead‬ ‭to‬ ‭biases‬ ‭and‬

‭difficulties‬‭in‬‭getting‬‭along‬‭with‬‭others‬‭from‬‭different‬‭backgrounds.‬‭Our‬‭research‬‭also‬‭shows‬

‭that‬‭people‬‭in‬‭cities‬‭tend‬‭to‬‭be‬‭more‬‭aware‬‭of‬‭and‬‭appreciative‬‭of‬‭different‬‭cultures‬‭compared‬

‭to‬ ‭rural‬ ‭areas.‬ ‭So,‬ ‭it's‬ ‭important‬ ‭to‬ ‭provide‬ ‭equal‬ ‭opportunities‬ ‭for‬ ‭education‬ ‭and‬ ‭cultural‬

‭activities‬‭in‬‭both‬‭places.‬‭The‬‭study‬‭highlights‬‭the‬‭link‬‭between‬‭how‬‭people‬‭perceive‬‭cultural‬

‭diversity‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭sense‬ ‭of‬ ‭unity‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines.‬ ‭A‬ ‭better‬ ‭understanding‬ ‭and‬ ‭respect‬ ‭for‬

‭each culture's history can help build a more united and inclusive national identity.‬

‭Recommendation‬

‭To‬ ‭address‬ ‭the‬ ‭identified‬ ‭issues‬ ‭and‬ ‭enhance‬ ‭awareness‬ ‭and‬ ‭appreciation‬ ‭of‬ ‭cultural‬

‭diversity‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Philippines,‬ ‭we‬ ‭propose‬ ‭a‬ ‭multi-faceted‬ ‭approach.‬ ‭Firstly,‬ ‭comprehensive‬

‭education‬‭and‬‭awareness‬‭campaigns‬‭should‬‭be‬‭launched,‬‭targeting‬‭Filipinos‬‭across‬‭urban‬‭and‬

‭rural‬‭areas.‬‭These‬‭efforts‬‭should‬‭strive‬‭to‬‭inform‬‭the‬‭public‬‭about‬‭the‬‭rich‬‭tapestry‬‭of‬‭cultures‬

‭within‬ ‭the‬‭country,‬‭fostering‬‭a‬‭sense‬‭of‬‭pride‬‭and‬‭appreciation‬‭for‬‭this‬‭diversity.‬‭In‬‭addition,‬

‭we‬ ‭recommend‬‭strengthening‬‭cultural‬‭education‬‭by‬‭enhancing‬‭the‬‭educational‬‭curriculum‬‭to‬

‭incorporate‬‭more‬‭comprehensive‬‭information‬‭about‬‭the‬‭history,‬‭religion,‬‭language,‬‭and‬‭art‬‭of‬

‭diverse‬‭cultures‬‭within‬‭the‬‭Philippines.‬‭By‬‭providing‬‭students‬‭with‬‭a‬‭deeper‬‭understanding‬‭of‬

‭their‬ ‭own‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭heritage,‬ ‭we‬ ‭can‬ ‭nurture‬ ‭a‬ ‭more‬ ‭inclusive‬ ‭society.‬ ‭Moreover,‬ ‭promoting‬

‭accurate‬‭media‬‭representation‬‭is‬‭crucial.‬‭Encouraging‬‭media‬‭outlets‬‭to‬‭depict‬‭various‬‭cultures‬
‭without‬ ‭resorting‬ ‭to‬ ‭stereotypes‬ ‭can‬ ‭play‬ ‭a‬ ‭pivotal‬ ‭role‬ ‭in‬ ‭shaping‬ ‭perceptions.‬ ‭A‬ ‭fair‬ ‭and‬

‭accurate‬ ‭portrayal‬ ‭of‬ ‭cultural‬ ‭diversity‬ ‭in‬ ‭media‬ ‭will‬ ‭contribute‬ ‭to‬ ‭more‬ ‭informed‬ ‭and‬

‭respectful views.‬