HUM 11: PHILIPPINE POPULAR CULTURE

Prepared by: Arvin Jay Costales

(Exam Coverage)

Defining “POPULAR” Raymond Williams (1983) suggest four meanings:

 Well – liked by many people.

 Inferior kinds of work.
 Work deliberately setting out to win favor with the people.
 Culture actually made by the people for themselves.

Defining “CULTURE”

1. Culture can be used to refer to a general process of intellectual, spiritual, and

aesthetic development Popular Culture as High Culture.
2. A second used of the work ―culture‖ might be to suggest a particular way of life,
whether of a people, a period, or a group.
3. The works and practices of intellectual and especially artistic activity.

What is “Popular Culture”?

 Popular culture or pop culture refers in general to the traditions and material
culture of a particular society. In the modern world, pop culture refers to cultural
products such as music, art, literature, fashion, dance, film, cyberculture,
television, and radio that are consumed by the majority of a society‘s population.
Popular culture is those types of media that have mass accessibility and appeal.
 The term popular culture was coined in the 19th century or earlier.
 The most common popular culture categories are entertainment, sports, news,
politics, fashion and technology.
 Terms such as ―going viral‖ are new pop culture that only the term but the viral
product itself.
 In today‘s new era popular culture reveals the characteristic of modern society
and popular culture produced in east and southeast asia often reaches a global
audience and impacts the popular cultures of many parts of the world.
 Popular Culture comes and goes along with shifting beliefs and activities. This
gave essential that they give color ordinary and add flavor to the humdrum bustle
of life.

Why is it important to study Philippine popular culture?

 Each generation of people has its craze which makes everything else to revolve
around it. The existence of Pop Culture is significant. It reflects desires,
aspirations and the mindset of people in present. Studying Philippine Pop
Culture makes us students make ideas more relatable and easy to understand.
Why is it hard to define Philippine Pop Culture?

 Because Filipinos adopt what they like from all over the world some like the
things in korea, other like in japan and yet others are all about America and
Hollywood.
 Culture may also influences by the media such as youtube, tiktok, IG and other
media platforms.

Why do we study Philippine Popular Culture?

 Popular culture deserves academic recognition. People often forget that popular
culture is a collection of ideas

The Rise of Popular Culture

 Scholars trace the origins of the rise of popular culture to the creation of the
middle class generated by the Industrial Revolution. People who were configured
into working classes and moved into urban environments far from their traditional
farming life began creating their own culture to share with their co-workers, as a
part of separating from their parents and bosses.

In-depth meaning of the pop culture

 Popular culture is simply a culture that is widely favored or well-liked by many

people.

Popular culture as high culture

 High culture encompasses the cultural objects of aesthetic value, which a society
collectively esteem as exemplary art. It may also include intellectual works
considered to be of supreme philosophical, historical, or literary value, as well as
the education which cultivates such aesthetic and intellectual pursuits.
 In popular usage, the term high culture identifies the culture of an upper class (an
aristocracy) or of a status class (the intelligentsia).

Popular Culture as Low Culture

 Another way of defining popular culture is to suggest that it is a culture that is left
over after we have decided what is high culture. Popular culture, in this definition,
is a residual category, there to accommodate texts and practices that fail to meet
the required standards to qualify as high culture.

Popular Culture and Mass Culture

 Cultural products that are both mass-produced and for mass audiences.
 Examples include mass-media entertainments – films, television programs,
popular books, newspapers, magazines, popular music, leisure goods,
household items, clothing, and mechanically – reproduced art.
  Mass culture is then, a culture that is mass – produced, distributed, and
marketed. Popular culture is that which emerges from mass culture, according to
the majority opinion.
 Music produced on an industrial scale and made available through a plrthora of
apps and sites such as Apple music, Spotify, and sound cloud are indicative of
mass culture but the specific artists and songs that rise to the top are indicative
of the popular culture.

Popular Culture and Folk Culture

 Folk Culture – the culture traditionally practiced primarily by small, homogenous

groups living in isolated rural areas.
 A social custom originates at a heart, a center of innovation.

Popular Culture, Subcultures & Counterculture

Popular (Pop) Culture

This is a definition of pop culture from the LumenLearning website:

The term popular culture refers to the pattern of cultural experiences and attitudes that
exist in mainstream society. Popular culture events might include a concert, parade, a
baseball game, or the season finale of a television show. Rock and pop music – ―pop‖ is
short for ―popular‖–are part of popular culture.

Popular culture is usually spread and expressed in commercial media like TV, movies,
music, books or corporate websites. Pop culture tends to be known or at least familiar to
most people (if they have media access) and tends to represent mainstream cultural
ideas. Most often, representation of marginalized groups is lacking in popular culture.

Subcultures Are a Minority Culture Within a Broader Culture

Like-minded people who often feel left out of the dominant culture sometimes come
together and create subcultures. A subculture will have symbols that differentiate
themselves from the dominant culture. These symbols support the subculture‘s identity.
These symbols show up in style, image, tastes, and perceptions.

A subculture can function quite well within the dominant culture.

Counterculture Is Both Similar and Different to a Subculture

Counterculture groups are also smaller groups of like-minded people who gather within
a more dominant culture. However, different from a subculture, a countercultural group
goes against the mainstream culture. In fact, the key difference between a
counterculture movement and subculture is the strong desire to change the dominant
culture. These groups are created to fight against the pervasive values of a larger
culture. They are formed around interests, dislikes, and disdain.

Sometimes these small groups can grow and gather momentum, and eventually
become a larger movement.

Philippine Popular Culture – Music

What is Philippine popular music?

Pinoy pop or P-pop (also known as Philippine pop or Pilipino pop) refers to a
contemporary pop music in the Philippines originating from the OPM genre.

What is the culture of music in the Philippines?

Philippine music is composed in various genres and styles that are beyond comparison.
Its music is a perfect blend of the east and the west. It is influenced by almost all the
cultures in the country and its composition is a mixture of different Asian, Spanish,
American and indigenous influences.

What is popular music in popular culture?

Popular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences
through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by
people with little or no musical training. It stands in contrast to both art music and
traditional or "folk" music.

What is the most popular form of music in the Philippines?

Most Filipinos listen to Western pop or Western-influenced Filipino pop. There is little
recorded folk music. Indigenous gong and bamboo music, similar to musics found
elsewhere in Southeast Asia, has all but disappeared in Manila but can still be found in
the countryside, particularly around festival time.

When did popular music start in the Philippines?

Starting in the 1970s OPM (original Philippine music), became a term to describe the
nation's pop scene centered in Manila.

Where did popular music originated?

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-
1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. During the 1950s and 1960s, pop
music encompassed rock and roll and the youth-oriented styles it influenced.
 Philippine Popular Culture – Dance

What is popular culture dance?

Pop Culture dance is structured for students to learn popular choreography to their
favorite songs in order to dance in clubs or at school dances. Every dance will be a mix
of hip-hop and contemporary styles, depending on the music.

What is the Role of Dance in Popular Culture?

 Form of entertainment
 Form of socialization
 Form of personal expression
 Form of story telling
 Form of cultural identity
 Form of celebration
 Form of stress relief

Social Dance is a mean of community dance rather than competitive. It is a form of

socializing between individuals. Forms of this dance include

 Ballroom Dancing
 Salsa Dancing
 The Waltz
 Square Dancing
 Line Dancing
 Swing Dancing
 Grind Dancing and
 Polka Dancing

Contemporary Dance

 contemporary is a more technical and artistic form of dance, while commercial

dance is more about entertainment and showmanship.

Commercial dance

 Commercial dance is often created with the intention of promoting popular music,
a brand, or a product with the intentions of boosting awareness or creating profit
for that music, brand, or product.

Street dance

 an informal style of dancing with energetic movements, that was developed

outside in the street or in nightclubs.
TikTok dance

 any TikTok dances are set to popular songs or sounds, and users create their
own unique dance moves to match the rhythm and lyrics of the music. These
dances often go viral and are replicated by other users on the platform.

What are the 3 main purposes of dance?

 Throughout history, people have danced for social, cultural, and theatrical
reasons.

Philippine Popular Culture the Rise of Social Media in the Philippines

 It is somewhat amusing that children in their formative years use technology as

though it is a basic necessity for their development. With this statement alone, it
is undeniable that commercial advancements in technology and the facility of the
world-wide web creates a sort of transcendence in a faster and inclusive way that
is not possible in the physical world. Nevertheless, if this very modern concept, if
not an advent of a futuristic one, would be collapsed in the confines of a
perspective of a still developing nation.
 Popular culture was first introduced and given flesh and bone through the study
of Lumbera. It will be the foundation of the media we see today, and it fleshed out
reasons why media commands economic, political, and social power in the
Philippines.
 Through several media theories, media's main goal via the proliferation of pop
culture creates a commercialised world as it generated income through
advertisements, and whoever command economic power commands the
political, as well.
 Media companies can also facilitate pop culture to make their audience behave
the way they would be favourable to them, also because they monopolise the
information stream.
 This can also be countered with the democratisation of media through the
facilitation of social networking sites and by projecting ideas as a netizen on the
internet. This may cause leverage but may not completely achieve its full
potential for full democratisation can be done if all people in the society can gain
full access with the said technology.
 It may also have down effects for media companies can use Netizens as primary
sources of information, as though "empowering" them. This can also be
countered with education if the public on how to use social media that would
benefit them.
 "Popular culture is power, and whoever wields it to manipulate minds is likely to
find its literary and technological machinery turned against him when the minds it
has manipulated discover its potency as a political weapon."
  (Lumbera, 1984) The future of social media's political, economic, and social
facility as a tool, or a weapon, against media conglomerates and the advertising
machinery, or the government o any institutional agenda may still be achieved if
the general public, especially those in the margins who were always victimised
by the false images shown through media, should discover and use its full
potential.

Philippine Popular Culture – Dubbed

Why Filipino Dubbed?

Dubbing is a post-production process in which the original voices of actors are replaced
by different performers speaking another language. Dubbing is common in foreign
markets, where the local audience may not understand the original language of the
content. However, dubbing is not always preferred by viewers, who may find it unnatural
or distracting. Some viewers may also prefer to hear the original voices of the actors and
appreciate their performance and emotions.

In the Philippines, dubbing is widely used for foreign contents, especially for anime and
Hollywood movies. The main reason for dubbing is to make the content more accessible
and appealing to the Filipino audience, who may not be fluent in English or Japanese.
Dubbing also helps to avoid censorship issues, as some contents may contain sensitive
or inappropriate language or scenes that may not be suitable for the Philippine culture or
laws.

However, dubbing is not a simple or cheap process. It requires skilled voice actors,
translators, directors, and technicians who can match the lip movements and
expressions of the original actors. It also requires legal agreements and licenses from
the content providers, who may have different terms and conditions for dubbing and
distribution. For example, some content providers may require that the dubbed version
should not be re-aired or sold to another country without their permission. Some content
providers may also have exclusive deals with certain channels or platforms that may limit
the availability of the dubbed version.

According to Lexology, there is no general law that applies to the media sector as a
whole in the Philippines. However, there are various government agencies that handle
content regulation, such as the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
(MTRCB), which is responsible for classifying and rating movies and television programs
according to their suitability for different audiences. The MTRCB may also impose
sanctions or penalties for violations of its rules and regulations, such as airing
unclassified or prohibited materials.

The MTRCB does not have a specific policy on dubbing, but it does have guidelines on
subtitling, which are also applicable to dubbing. According to these guidelines, subtitling
or dubbing should be faithful to the original dialogue and should not alter or omit any
significant information or meaning. Subtitling or dubbing should also respect the cultural
and linguistic diversity of the Filipino people and should not contain any offensive or
derogatory terms.

Therefore, dubbing foreign contents in Filipino language before airing them on TV in the
Philippines is a common practice that has both advantages and disadvantages. It can
help to reach a wider audience and avoid censorship issues, but it can also entail
additional costs and legal complications. Dubbing can also affect the artistic quality and
integrity of the original content, depending on the skill and accuracy of the voice actors
and translators.

Philippine Popular Culture – The Allure of Hugot Culture

When it comes to love and romantic telenovelas you can expect that it will be an instant
hit among Filipinos audience. There is something about the matters of the heart that
instantly lures Filipinos to react and patronize romantic stories and telenovelas.

Love is a universal language that anyone can relate to. From unrequited love, crushes,
breakup, moving on, unfaithful or any love issues you can think of. I think Filipino
netizens got that covered. There are countless of memes available online, you don‘t
even need to be a poet to generate thousand of likes and reactions. You just simply
need a killer and relatable line with a simple photo/background (you can even associate
it with a popular movie, telenovela or cartoon series), style it a bit and post it online. In
fact, the shorter the better.

Hugot culture in general is not idiocy but the content is so rich that people
playfully reproduce it into many forms. It really caters to one‘s entertainment.

Background: Hugot Culture

―Hugot‖ is literally translated usually as a personal deep sentimental or emotional

undertones that is drawn from oneself or ―deep within‖. As Doctor Lakangiting Garcia
from DLSU‘s Filipino department puts it ―Ang hugot ay mula sa loob tungo sa labas na
malalim ang madalas na pinagmumulan o pinag-uugatan”. Hugot posts draws a lot of
attention because it‘s funny and appeals to young adults. It can also be attributed to
Filipinos‘ tendency to follow fads considering hugot content is so rich in various social
media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and instagram.

Another factor could be the appeal it has on people going through a tough time
especially when it comes to love. As William Shakespeare puts it “These violent delights
have violent ends”. And truth to be told love and relationships involves a lot of
complications that adds a perfect flare to the ups and downs of life.

WHY DO WE FEEL SO MUCH? Filipinos in particular?

Perhaps the cultivation theory comes into play. In a way big media industry has a hand
in conditioning Filipinos to be absorbed with telenovelas and Filipino movies. They lure
viewers in, and in effect people becomes fascinated with hugot lines because it invokes
relatable emotions.

New Media Idiocy

The new era paved a way for ordinary people to share content without the need to
be featured in traditional media. In fact you can find instant fame by mixing up the right
amount of humor and simplicity. A simple hugot quote or line can instantly gain likes
and shares because the intent is to be funny without the use of any intricacies. Hugot is
so popular in social media and people just instantly gravitates to click,check and react to
it.

“New media idiocy has a formal relationship with simplicity that acquires its own
formality… Such simplicity is rooted in a certain naivety that allows a non-professional
to speak” (Goriunova, 6).

Similar to how Angelica Yap also known as Pastillas Girl claim to fame. Her viral video
making pastillas was an instant hit. She talked about her recent breakup, not the usual
rant you would expect. In fact, she utilized the power of hugot to her advantage. It
earned 2 million views and shared to various social media platforms.

For instance, a twitter page with a large following may capitalize on social influence. For
example, an unassuming follower of a hugot page may not notice that they absorbed
the content produced by the page by including subtle ads for profit. The user or admin
of the page can find ways to earn through ads just through subtle nudges that seem all
too familiar for one follower to make a big deal out of it as shown in the picture below.
Having millions and close to a million followers may convinced admin and page owners
to monetize it by allowing ads on their page. A notable indication that there is a shift or
transition of power between new and traditional media.

Idiocy is a kind of individuation that produces, at different levels, those objects amd
behaviors, subjectivities, as well as collective performances, the taking part… In fact,
the individuation general idiocy offers has only recently gained power and became a
very successful way to concretize a collective movement: To be heard politically, to
concretize a collective movement; to be heard politically; to concretize and object of
achieving media attention; To individuate the human and to experience
her individuation and through expression and so on.

To sum it all up, the desire to be noticed are inherent qualities attached to humans
mysteries. The digital age provided new ways for people to create content and interact
at the same time. You can easily gain information and produce content, you would
know what clicks or not. In this case, ―hugot‖ are used as one of the formula to gain
traction and viewers because it is proven that it appeals to a lot of people. I guess it will
not go anytime soon and evolve into something new. Others may perceive it as a fad
but it might remain and stay for a long time. I guess personal attachments or videos that
can trigger you to react will attract attention or gain the virtual stamp of approval since
the concept of love will always be classic. Posts related about love and relationships is
the most effective bait to capture the mass audience.

Philippine Popular Culture – Spoken Poetry

We see more Asian poets in pop culture than ever before. Not too long ago the art of
spoken word in relation to slam poetry skyrocketed in online popularity and ever since it
has been an active outlet for writers, especially writers from minority groups.

The literary world, like other creative landscapes, used to lack diversity. Fortunately, the
ground now seems to be shifting.

Spoken poetry and hugot lines are in common goal in expressing individual feelings or
thoughts for example would be the spoken poetry video ―Ang Huling Tula na Isusulat Ko
para Sa‘yo‖ by Juan Miguel Severo. It may not necessarily fit what new media idiocy
illustrates but it does fit that ―craftmanship modes of living stemming from the capacity
to create may yield various forms of expression from process-based performances to
individual or collectively produced objects, requiring and developing different kinds and
levels of skills‖ .

Juan Miguel Severo‘s hugot expression are obviously more acceptable as a recognition
of true talent and his rise to fame may in fact be accidental since he didn‘t even post the
video. Yet the content can still be considered as a part of the wave because it reflects
the collective movement of the popular ―hugot culture‖. Yet his performance is
obviously marked in a different level compared to the usual DIY videos. This is not to
demean the movement but to cite a contrast example that a popular feature that can be
utilized for one‘s marketing. Although, the intention is quite more serious it still does
capitalize on the popular hugot culture and eventually used it as his official brand to
market himself as an artist and also for the big media companies to onboard him as a
result of his viral video.

Philippine Popular Culture – Memes

Are memes part of pop culture?

Amusing memes stumbled upon were sent to others for their enjoyment, but with the
rise of the millenials and Gen Zs, memes became a part of popular culture. It became
such a part of social media that memes found their way into conversations outside of
the internet.

What are memes in culture?

A meme is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation from person to
person within a culture and often carries symbolic meaning representing a particular
phenomenon or theme.

How do memes affect pop culture?

Memes frequently reflect current events, trends, or popular culture and can be remixed
and spread. Memes have a big influence on language and culture. People now
frequently use memes to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. These
expressions are frequently amusing or sarcastic.

Why use memes in social media?

To reach a younger audience: Memes are popular among younger generations and can
help companies connect with this demographic. To create emotional connections:
Memes often evoke humor, joy, or surprise and can help companies create emotional
relationships with their audience.

Philippine Popular Culture – Commercials

 TV Ads and Commercials makes us talk and think

TV ads and commercials play a vital role in Philippine pop culture. They range from
thought-provoking to downright nonsensical. Some of these commercials have rocked
the nation, opening many crucial discussions to develop our social views. But isn‘t that
why some commercials are effective and successful? When an ad drives people to talk
about the brand and, at the same time, talk about societal issues, it becomes etched in
the history of commercials that are worth remembering.
In Philippine television, there is a seemingly unspoken template of how stories must be
told. Ads follow the same implicit template for years. If a brand targets families, you
would often see a mother talking to her ―konsensya,‖ specifically the ―Safeguard
konsensya,‖ which was used by other brands, likely for its popularity and effectiveness
in sending the message across.

There is also an unspoken rule about refreshments—fruit juices for kids, soda for
teenagers and young pros, and alcoholic beverages for the grown ones. Whether or not
it is a subtle way of keeping kids away from unhealthy drinking options, these ads do
well in targeting specific age demographics. Kids drinks often highlight, well, kids. Soda
ads would usually bring in a barkada. In the ‘90s, almost all soda ads would carry an
accompanying jingle or a choreography.

Decade of TV ads excellence

Things start to take a turn in the ‘00s. A surge of intriguing and heartwarming
commercial storylines surfaced. This time, ads targeted our innate emotions—knocking
in our hearts and minds every time we see them. From McDonald‘s
unforgettable Lolo and paboritong apo, Karen (not Gina), PLDT‘s famous 2001 line,
―Kung saan ka masaya, suportahan ta ka.―, up to the Nestle‘s All-Purpose Cream
commercial about a Fruit salad sent back straight from the grave saying, ―Dapat Nestle
All-Purpose Cream ginamit mo,‖ the ‘00s was when ads start to veer away from the
standard templates of commercials.

How can we forget about The Coke Beat in 2003? Were you one of those who
committed to master the clapping game? How about the commercial that catapulted
Marian Rivera from stardom to Drama Queendom? When SkyFlakes released the
‗Drama Queen‘ ad in 2005, where the famous line, ―Gutom lang ako,‖ came from,
Marian Rivera only took two years to hit the Philippine TV by storm. Lastly, one of the
most iconic commercials in the ‘00s, the Kahilingan ad by Fita Biscuits in 2008,
reminded hopefuls and dreamers that you only get what you give.

But over the last decade, another shift in the landscape of TV commercials occurred.
This time, we see not-so-subtle diversity in terms of representation. Commercials start
to become more inclusive. They have found the perfect concoction in making their
content more relatable and accessible to more people. Some braved to break the glass
ceiling in terms of social norms. They managed to talk about issues and topics that
were once taboo on free TV.

Reality of TV ads and commercials

Despite the different representations of beauty, gender, race, and culture, there were
still some commercials that adversely rocked the country. With the help of social media,
we also found a way to bridge the gap somehow when it comes to airing out our
concerns. But in a dog-eat-dog world of advertising, when people talk about an ad, the
brand still ends up winning regardless of how damaging or infuriating the ad may be.

Wherever you are looking, TV ads and commercials impact our lives and how we see
things. They remain to be an influential carrier of messages that could define a
generation‘s perception of things. What you do with your takeaway is well within your
discretion. Borrowing from an old quote about Lamborghini, ―You have not seen any
Lamborghini commercials ever before because the people who can afford them aren‘t
sitting around watching TV.‖

Philippine Popular Culture – Fashion and Style

Due to the development of social media, many Filipino men and women are exposed to
different styles.

According to the editorial policy of Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body &
Culture, fashion is defined as "the cultural construction of the embodied identity." As
such, it encompasses all forms of self-fashioning, including street styles, as well as so-
called high fashion created by designers and couturiers. Fashion also alludes to the way
in which things are made; to fashion something is to make it in a particular form. Most
commonly, fashion is defined as the prevailing style of dress or behavior at any given
time, with the strong implication that fashion is characterized by change. As
Shakespeare wrote, "The fashion wears out more apparel than the man." There are
fashions in furniture, automobiles and other objects, as well as in clothing, although
greater attention is paid to sartorial fashion, probably because clothing has such an
intimate relationship with the physical body and, by extension, the personal identity of
the individual. It is undeniable that Filipinos are quite very passionate about their fashion
and style. We love to look for the latest trend of clothing and style that they can use for
various. But most of all, Filipinos have a sense of fashion. We can always determine if a
particular style of clothing or outfit is fashionable or not. In just a single glance, we can
quickly tell if it‘s bagay‖ (fit for the one wearing) or ―baduy‖ (poor style of clothing).

One of the things that we can appreciate in the Filipino‘s sense of fashion is our
adherence to appropriateness. Is the clothing or fashion style appropriate for a
particular event or venue? Is it appropriate for the person wearing it? Whatever the style
and trend of fashion, Filipinos would always adhere to what is appropriate to wear.
Most of us wanted to look presentable and honorable in our attire. We don‘t want to look
―nakakahiya‖ (shameful) and lowly. It‘s not a good idea to wear something humiliating
on a particular occasion, or we will notice other people staring at us like an alien from
outer space.

Fashion and Tradition We cannot separate Filipino fashion and tradition. However, as
time goes by, the essence and elements of tradition seem to fade away. This was due
to western influences, but we can still see various elements in the traditional Filipino
fashion. You may be wondering why Filipino‘s love to wear many ―borloloys‖ or fashion
accessories such as pieces of jewelry, gold, and decorations in the body. This was one
of the pre-colonial period marks where you can see men and women wearing pearls
and golden necklaces and bracelets, earrings, and many more. In the Philippines
today, one can clearly see the evident change of the original pre-colonial fashion. From
the fashion during the Spanish Period to today‘s westernized period, the way the
Filipinos dress is as diverse as their language and culture.

The Philippine‘s Ukay Ukay Culture ―Ukay-ukay‖ refers to the local industry that caters
to the sale of imported secondhand garments (Abueg, 2005,). Derived from the Filipino
word ―hukay,‖ meaning to dig up (Locsin, 2007,) ukay- ukay is known to have originated
from Baguio City, where it was also called a ―wagwagan,‖ meaning the act of ―dusting
off a piece of clothing by taking hold of one end and snapping it in the air. The industry
earned this name because of how the items on sale are either simply displayed in large
piles or very tightly cramped clothing racks, requiring consumers to really dig through
the clothes to find an item they like. Moreover, the term ―ukay-ukay‖ can refer to the
article on sale, the shop or venue in which it is bought, or even the event of buying itself
(Abueg, 2005,). Ukay- ukay is a term used both for the act of shopping by digging up
piles of used or pre-loved clothes until one makes a good find. It also refers to retailers
of secondhand clothes, shoes and accessories in the Philippines.

However, ukay-ukay was not always socially acceptable, much less empowering. In its
first few decades, buying ukay-ukay was considered embarrassing and even shameful;
no one would comfortably divulge that their clothes that came from this. In the present,
the ukay-ukay industry has grown and developed, from ―generic street piles in the
market area‖ to ―more upscale ‗selections‘‖ in business districts, and even to online
stores on the internet. Huge piles of secondhand clothes are on the streets, and
shoppers gladly dig through or do the halukay in search of the perfect ukay. The ukay-
ukay, however, when contrasted against the luxury and fast fashion business models, is
quite non- traditional. Profit is made from other people‘s discarded clothing, and
turnover is not based on seasons nor catwalk trends. Despite the potential health
risks—which, as pointed out, has not been conclusively proven—ukay-ukay continues
to be widely utilized as it addresses a fundamental need: access to affordable clothing.
The younger generation has ―repackaged everything‖: from calling it second-hand to
pre-loved. Some Filipinos buy from the ukay-ukay because it is a way for them to be
able to be stylish and up-todate with fashion, and ―own‖ signature items without
breaking the bank. Incidentally, one can even ―pretend to have bought these items from
designer houses.
 Philippine Popular Culture – Social Media (Tiktok)

How TikTok is making an impact on pop culture and the world

Trending challenges. Reimagined pop culture. Bite-sized content. Lip-syncing musicals.

Dance covers.

These are just some of the ways this social media app is described. It is where endless
entertaining content is created and where people have found their community by
making or watching videos.

TikTok is a video-sharing social networking service that rose to popularity around 2018.
From duets, comedy skits, to video tutorials and challenges - the platform is filled with
creative content, any of which has the potential to be a worldwide hit.

Content creators are given tools like special effects, filters, and music to help them
create original videos. While viewers are provided a personalized stream of content.

It has become part of daily culture due to the engagements that have pushed videos to
viral status, and eventually, a mainstay in pop culture. It is being talked about and
shared across the internet, so much that even people without the app are enticed to join
thefun.

At its core, the platform aims to inspire creativity and bring joy to its users. However, it
has become more than just for entertainment, for many people, the app has made a
deeper imprint and changed their lives.

Here are some of the ways the platform is making an impact on pop culture and the
world.

Education

 Students will find videos about informative topics such as language, science,
history, and math on the app. Even life skills such as cooking and gardening are
making waves. There are content creators on TikTok who make it their mission to
help students learn new things or explain certain facts in interactive ways like
bite-sized visuals and explainers. Some are finding it a good supplement to what
they learn in school and many are indulging in this type of content because they
get information in a fun and quick way.
 Learning is reimagined on the platform as content creators continuously find new
ways to present educational materials for people who want to broaden their
knowledge.
Self-Expression

 With a platform like this, users are free to express themselves as creative as one
wants to be. There are no limits and a variety of tools are provided to help them.
Anyone can make a trending video, as long as one is imaginative and authentic.
It has been encouraging its users to show their true selves, flaws and all, to a
community who feels the same, thereby empowering people to express
themselves.
 Even everyday hobbies are finding an audience as people who relate found a
community; like the #clayart, #cupboardcooking, or #PlantsOfTikTok.

Talent Discovery

 No matter what form, talent is recognized on the platform. People who are just
starting in their careers can trend just as quickly as established stars. It all boils
down to creative, shareable, and interactive content.
 Songs that were not popular on its release can suddenly hit the charts once more
because of newfound popularity on a dance challenge. Creators have found
themselves sharing a seemingly normal video can wake up the next day viral and
with multiple career opportunities. Career blossoms and some content creators'
lives are changed for good.

Cultural Diversity and Inclusivity

 It does not matter what race or country one comes from, as long as the content is
interesting and shareable it will trend on the platform. It has been promoting
cultural diversity and making it cool, bringing culture to a contemporary place that
young audiences can relate to. Locally, Filipinos' inherent humorous and
optimistic sides are showcased and celebrated.

Career Revivals

 Anyone whether young or old, famous or unknown, has a chance to start trends
on TikTok. Even those who have thought their career has run its course. This is
seen in the inspiring story of award-winning Filipino actress Gina Pareno.

 Influenced by her granddaughter, the 70-year-old veteran actress debuted on

TikTok in May 2020. She was happily surprised to realize that she could still
attract so many audiences in her twilight years. Known as @yourlolagets, Pareno
has amassed 850,000 followers and counting.

When the current health situation started, many people have found a sanctuary on
TikTok as it has given them a respite from what is going on in the world and creators did
not disappoint, offering quirky, funny, and informative videos.
While the app may have started as something purely for entertainment, it has grown
over the years to be much more – both for content creators and viewers. It has changed
lives, especially those catapulted to fame, and brought quick smiles to people simply
scrolling. People are pushing creative and inspiring content so much that it becomes
part of pop culture, and it is clear that trends are started on TikTok – from a personal
experience to one a whole community can relate to and take part in.

Note:

Understand the Concept of Marxism Theory and The Social Dilemma Documentary.