Understanding Culture,

Society and Politics

CULTURE
• It is the characteristics and knowledge of a
particular group of people, encompassing language,
religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
Culture is the sum of total of the learned behaviour
of a group of people that are generally considered to
be the tradition of those people and are transmitted
from generation to generation. It can also
demonstrate the way a group thinks, their practices,
or behavioural patterns, or their views of the world.
 Languages

• The Philippines has 8 major

dialects. Bikol, Cebuano,
Hiligaynon (Ilonggo), Ilocano,
Kapampangan, Pangasinan,
Tagalog, and Waray. The
language being taught all over
the Philippines is Tagalog and
English.
 Religion

• Religion is belief in a God or

Gods and the activities that
are connected with this belief,
such as praying or worshipping in
a building such as a church or
temple. A religion is a particular
system of belief in a God or
Gods and the activities that are
connected with this system.
 Filipino Cuisine
• Filipino cuisine has recently been
tagged as the ‘next big thing’ to
look out for in the culinary world.
With the country’s variety of
influences throughout its rich
history, its traditional cooking
techniques, and the Filipinos’ knack
for combining flavours and making
the most of any and all ingredients
at their disposal, what results is
unpretentious, no-frills food that’s
simply delicious.
 Social Habits
• Using Lips to Point at Something
• Always Inviting Guests to Eat
• Being Respectful to the Elderly
• Eating Rice Thrice A Day
• Buying and Bringing Pasalubong
• Using Tabo (Dipper) In Restrooms
• Buying Items in Small Units
• Being Late
• Postponing or Delaying Things
• Attending Gatherings All-Year-Round
• Posing for or Taking Photos Anytime,
Anywhere
 Society
• A society is a group of individuals
involved in persistent social
interaction, or a large social group
sharing the same geographical or
social territory, typically subject
to the same political authority and
dominant cultural expectations.
 Politics
• Refers to the activities
associated with the governance of
a country or other area, especially
the debate or conflict among
individuals or parties having or
hoping to achieve power and it is
also a set of activities associated
with the governance of a country,
or an area. It involves making
decisions that apply to members
of a group.
 Cultural Diversity

• Culture plays a major role in our day-to-

day living. It refers to “that complex
whole which encompasses beliefs,
practices, values, attitudes, laws,
norms, artifacts, symbols, knowledge,
and everything that a person learns
and shares as a member of society.”
 Social Differences
• The society has various
manifestations of social differences
based on unique social characteristics
or qualities like social class, gender,
age, educational attainment,
occupation, and the like. In sociology,
social differences is usually equated
with social stratification, this
describes the relative social position
of persons in a given social group,
category, geographical region, or
other social unit.
The Major Types of Social
Stratification are:
Caste
Hereditary endogamous social
group on which a person’s rank
and his/her rights and
obligations are ascribed or on
the basis of his/her birth into
a particular group.
 Class
• A person’s position is
based upon
achievement.
 Estate
• Gives emphasis to birth
as well as wealth and
possessions.
 Slavery
• Had economic basis wherein
the master shows power over
slave.
Significance Of Studying Culture, Society And
Politics

According to Mark Banaag, culture functions in the following ways

and from which we can realize the significance of culture as;
• culture makes it possible for man to adapt and integrate himself
to his environment by being creative and resourceful in coming
up with ways and means of survival,
• culture establishes patterns of acceptable behavior such as
etiquette, good manners and right conduct, roles and duties etc.,
• culture produces man-made things such as clothing, tools and
Society
As individuals continued to interact, societies were
formed. Every society is organized in such a way that
there are rules of conduct and traditions that ensure
appropriate behaviour among members.

• Representation of our identity

• Characterize the totality of a territory.
• Symbol of political dependence.
Politics
Politics talks about collective decision of individuals based on
defined rules of society. These rules bind people together in order
to preserve culture and improve life.

• Politics is a collective activity, involving people who accept a

common membership or at least acknowledge a shared fate;
• Politics involves reconciling differences through discussion and
persuasion; and
• Political decisions become authoritative policy for a group, binding
members to decisions that are implemented by force if necessary.