Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

The National Engineering University
Alangilan Campus
Golden Country Homes, Alangilan Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 425-0139 local 2121 / 2221
E-mail Address: ceafa@g.batstate-u.edu.ph | Website Address: http://www.batstate-u.edu.ph

College of Engineering – Department of Civil Engineering

MAULION, ELOISA JANE B.

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ASSIGNMENT #1 : BELIEFS AND CULTURES

1. PHILIPPINES
A. Cultural Practices
● Pagmamano - one of the notable Filipino cultures where it is done as a
sign of respect and reverence for the elders.
● Bayanihan Filipino Culture - bayanihan is considered as a Filipino culture
that has gained a strong sense of community and is often demonstrated by
providing assistance to a neighbor in moving the house or the nipa hut
somewhere.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● Philippines, one of the countries in Asia that is largely Christian. More
than 86% of the Filipino people are Roman Catholics, whereas Christians
believe that there will be a second coming in which Jesus Christ will come
back to Earth to take them back to heaven.

2. MYANMAR
A. Cultural Practices
● Sensitive Interaction - Burmese are always wondering if their actions can
hurt, embarrass or annoy other people. This is related to the concept of
‘ah-nar-de’ (or anade), the feeling of heartlessness to talk or act
something that might affect the feeling of another person. Ah-nar-de
refers to the unwillingness of many Burmese to include themselves or
interfere in otherpeople’s work.
● Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions - sharing of food with one
another and feasting is a significant feature of religious rituals and
traditional agriculture in Myanmar.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● Most Burmese citizens are recognized as Buddhist with 87.9% population.
Buddhists believe in reincarnation and consider that current actions will
affect the future after death. Also, most of the Buddhists in Myanmar still
have the animistic belief,that inanimate objects also have spirits

3. THAILAND
A. Cultural Practices
● Superstitions are rife in Thailand - Thailand is a land of superstitions
which are often associated with belief in ghosts and spirits. Also, it is
customary for people in Thailand to consult a fortune teller or monk to
find out the auspicious date before buying a house, arranging a wedding,
trying to drive a car, and other opportunities.

Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation

 Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
Alangilan Campus
Golden Country Homes, Alangilan Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 425-0139 local 2121 / 2221
E-mail Address: ceafa@g.batstate-u.edu.ph | Website Address: http://www.batstate-u.edu.ph

College of Engineering – Department of Civil Engineering

● Family matters - in Thailand, family always comes first where there is a

greater focus on the extended family. In fact, there is no word in Thai for
cousin because people refer to their cousin as their siblings.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● Water Festival (Songkran) - a huge celebration for the Thai New Year in
the form of a massive, nationwide water battle and was considered as the
largest and longest festival in Thailand. Phi Ta Khon-Ghost Festival - the
Phi Ta Khon or Ghost Festival is considered to be one of the most unusual
and scary festivals in Thailand. The celebration takes place on weekends,
particularly every Friday, a parade takes place, while on Saturdays there
are music performances and pageants and on Sunday, a Buddhist
ceremony is held.

4. CAMBODIA
A. Cultural Practices
● Cambodians are superstitious - superstition is very similar to religion in
Cambodia, with strong beliefs in spirits and superpowers pervading-
perhaps one reason why Cambodians are obsessed with horror movies.
● Lose the shoes - piles of shoes in outside doors are a common sight
throughout Cambodia, because the custom of removing shoes is
considered as a courtesy when entering someone’s home.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● The citizens of Cambodia are mainly Buddhist with 80% of the population
being Theravada Buddhist, but their belief in Buddhism includes forms of
ancestor worship, shamanism, and animism that preceded Buddhism.
● Cambodians as Buddhists continue to believe in reincarnation and the idea
that a person’s position in life comes from past actions.

5. LAOS
A. Cultural Practices
● Gender bending Kathoeys - Laos welcomes the gay community which also
includes crossdressing transgender individuals.
● Buddhist commandments - The Buddha preached not to kill, take other
people's belongings, commit adultery, drink intoxicants and lie. Because of
the mandates mentioned, Laoswas considered to have a low rate of theft
and recognized the Lao as the most honest and trustworthy when it comes
to the money and property of others.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● In Laos, Buddhism is the leading religion. In particular, 64.7% of the
country’s population believes in Theravada Buddhism and most of the
Buddhists in the country are ethnic Lao. Buddhism in Laos is often closely
associated with animist beliefs and belief in ancestral spirits, especially in
rural areas.

Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation

 Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
Alangilan Campus
Golden Country Homes, Alangilan Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines 4200
Tel Nos.: (+63 43) 425-0139 local 2121 / 2221
E-mail Address: ceafa@g.batstate-u.edu.ph | Website Address: http://www.batstate-u.edu.ph

College of Engineering – Department of Civil Engineering

6. INDONESIA
A. Cultural Practices
● Tao-Tao - in the burial ritual of the Toraja, the remains of the deceased are
placed in a coffin and buried in a cave with holes in high cliffs.
● Tedak Siten, Java - this custom is a local cultural heritage of Javanese
wisdom for infants aged 7-8 months. The ceremony is usually conducted
as an event that aims to raise babies as a good child.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● The main religious belief in Indonesia is Islam, although the government
declares the official six significant faiths of Indonesia such as Islam,
Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism.

7. SINGAPORE
A. Cultural Practices
● While Eating In Singapore - while eating with chopsticks, always
remember not to place them vertically in the bowl because it is
reminiscent of funeral ceremonies and is recognized as bad luck.
● Meeting Etiquette - meeting formally or informally with a Singaporean, be
sure to shake hands firmly with everyone even when leaving. Note that
slightly bowing while shaking hands is considered polite in Singapore

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● Religion in Singapore consists of Buddhism with 33.2% population. All
three major traditions of Buddhism, Vajrayana, Theravada Buddhism, and
Mahayana exist in the country.
● The Singaporean Chinese worship Buddhist and Taoist Gods as well as
their ancestral spirits in the hope of appeasing everyone and thus having
good fortune.

8. MALAYSIA
A. Cultural Practices
● Respect to the Parents - the children of a Malay family are strictly
committed to the custom of looking at their parents with respect and
reverence.
● Giving Birth - in Malaysia, for forty days, women were not allowed to
leave the house after giving birth. After forty days, the shaving of the
child's head is performed, which is called the Berchukor ceremony.

B. Beliefs (In terms of Religion)

● In Malaysia, Muslim is the predominant religion. Malaya people are
included in Islam who believe in Allah and Muhammad as the last prophet
of Allah.
● The Malaysian Chinese, now the largest Buddhist ethnic group in
Malaysia believe in various religions including Mahāyāna and other
branches of Buddhism

Leading Innovations, Transforming Lives, Building the Nation