Home
Cebu
Philippines
Culture
Visa
Maps
Flights
Top Hotels
Beach Resorts
Bars/Restaurants
Jobs
Business
Personals
Scuba Diving
Real Estate
Health/Wellness
News and Links
Cebu-Blog
Contact Us
Share This Site
About Us
Q & A

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

 

Philippine Culture, Customs and Traditions

philippine culture

The Philippine culture is rich in customs and traditions. Philippines culture reflects the complexity of the history of the Philippines through the combination of cultures of foreign influences.

Spanish colonization of the Philippines lasted for more than three centuries. There is a significant amount of Spanish-Mexican influence within the culture, customs and traditions. Hispanic influences are visible in traditional Philippine folk music, folk dance, language, food, art, and religion.

Pre-Hispanic and non-Christian Philippine cultures are derived from the Indigenous tradition of the Austronesian primitive tribes called Malayo-Polynesian.

The United States colonized the Philippines from 1898 until 1946. American influences are evident in Philippine culture by the use of the English language, and in contemporary pop culture, such as fast-food, music, film, and sports.

Other Asian ethnic groups such as the Chinese, and Japanese have been settling in the Philippines since the colonial period, and their influences are evident in the popularity of mahjong, jueteng, Filipino martial arts, and other Asian cuisine.

Family relationships are the basic building block of Philippine culture and society. Each Filipino is at the center of a large circle of relatives, usually extending to third cousins. Marriage is rarely permitted for members of the same kinship circle. The kinship circle is customarily enlarged through ritual co-parenthood, the Catholic custom of selecting godparents to sponsor one’s child at baptism. In the close-knit Filipino family, members are provided assistance when needed and expected to give their first loyalty to their kin. In rural areas the villages contain clusters of households supporting an extended family system within the Philippines culture.

The social support provided by these close-knit communities is reflected in the absence of retirement homes.

Philippine Culture and Tourism

The hospitality of the Filipino people is one of the reasons why tourism in the Philippines is steadily growing.

Foreigners and tourists who have experienced the Philippine culture and being with Filipinos find them very hospitable. This is a common trait that Filipinos are known for to most foreigners who have traveled around the country.

The attitude of Filipino people towards foreigners and other people is said to be exceptional. Even the humblest home along the road can serve as a shelter for a stranger who has lost his way. For Filipinos, serving other people the best of what they have gives them an honor and a promise of true friendship. A typical Filipino house is not completely called a home without any facility ready for guests. It is filled with new and nice-looking items reserved only for them while ordinary ones are for everyday use.

philippine cultureArriving at your host’s house during mealtime may be awkward but if it’s in a Filipino house, you will be asked to sit down and share what they have on the table. Because eating alone without asking others according to Filipino customs is considered rude. These manners picture how Filipinos accept and properly respect the presence of their visitors. A form of hospitality that comes truly from the heart, just like how the country made its image as the land of true smiling people considering the struggling economy, political confusion and rising poverty in the country.

You may be surprised to see how such situations are handled in Philippines culture. It is like taking everything from them but not their love of joking. Joking and laughing at everything perhaps give them relief and makes them see things more positively.

Traveling in this country means more of building rapport with its people and understanding the Philippine culture, customs and traditions. Filipinos love entertaining foreign visitors; as to help, or for whatever reasons, interacting with them is unavoidable. Hence, aside from the country’s stunning natural assets, meeting the Filipinos gives a promise of a true friendship and memories to keep.

Discount Philippines Hotels »


Philippine History & Government

Philippine History »
People of Malay descent are believed to have settled in the Philippines in several waves of migration after the 3rd century B.C...

Philippine Government »
The Philippines is a democratic republic governed under a 1987 constitution...

Philippine Presidents »
Philippine Presidents are locally known as "Ang Pangulo" and are the head of government of the Republic of the Philippines...

Philippines Flag
The Philippines flag is full of symbolism representing truth, justice, peace, valor and patriotism and the first eight provinces...

Philippine Heroes Then and Now »
The Philippine heroes are the people that have fought for freedom and independence and against oppression...

Population of the Philippines
The population of the Philippines as indicated by the final results of the latest census...

Philippine Holidays

Philippine Holidays »
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is encouraging everyone to start planning their Philippine holiday vacations early...

Commemorating the Fall of Bataan - Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) »
Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) is a Philippine national holiday which falls annually on April 9...

Holy Week Celebration in the Philippines »
Holy Week in the Philippines is a unique and fascinating religious event...

November 30 is Andres Bonifacio Day in the Philippines »
Bravery is an act of courage to fight for something you believe is right. Many people have given their lives as a way of fighting...

Philippines Christmas is the Most Anticipated Fiesta of the Year »
Christmas in the Philippines is a time for families. It is a time of gift giving and a time for warm friendships...

Jose Rizal Day is December 30 in the Philippines »
Jose Rizal, a Filipino physician, novelist, and the national hero of the Philippines...

Philippine Literature & Culture

Philippine Literature Throughout the Years »
Philippine literature paves its way to popularity and is written in Spanish, Filipino, English, and other native Philippine languages...

Philippine Epics, Folklore and Poetry »
Centuries prior to the occupation by Spain, Filipinos had their own Philippine epics, folklore, and poetry...

Philippine Language Throughout the Archipelago »
The national language of the Philippines is Filipino, 60 percent of the Filipinos are using the language along with English...

Philippine Legends »
Philippine legends are derived from Philippine traditional oral literature...

Philippine Myths and Philippine Mythology »
Philippine myths and superstitions are very diverse...

Philippines Mindanao Culture Showcased at Museum »
What used to be only imagined of Mindanao culture from the descriptions can be seen right at the heart of Cagayan de Oro City...

Southeast Asian Culture Showcased as Philippines Named Cultural Capital »
Benefits in Philippine culture, arts and Southeast Asian culture seen...

Philippine Entertainment

Philippine Entertainment »
Within Philippines culture, it is said that the need for entertainment is in human nature...

Philippine Music Contains a Mixture of Western and Eastern Influence »
The Philippine music scene includes a number of alternative groups, and tribal bands promoting cultural awareness of the Philippine Islands...

Philippine Movies and Philippines Cinema »
Among Philippine arts, cinema is the youngest and still one of the most popular...

Sexy Stars, Formerly called Philippine Bold Star, in Philippine Cinema »
Throughout the history of the film industry in the Philippines, several films tackled political, sexual, social and religious matters which are sensitive and controversial...

To receive all future Cebu and Philippine travel information please SUBSCRIBE to our site using one of the buttons rss on the left side of every page. Thank you!




Philippines Hotel Discounts »







Add Our Philippines Travel Widget to Your Website or Blog »



pat and red photo - cebu philippinesWe publish Philippine travel information regularly to keep you informed and up-to-date concerning travel to the Philippines. Subscribe to our site to receive our regular updates which are available via RSS feed. Use the buttons UNDER the orange RSS button rss on the left side of every page and use this to subscribe to our site. If you're not sure what RSS is, just click the "?". Our goal is to provide you with the most current and relevant Philippines travel information.







Google
 



Common Misspellings

phillipines philipines phils phillipine philipine phillippines phillippine philppines phlippines philipinnes


AddThis Social Bookmark Button


Return from Philippine Culture to Cebu-Philippines Home page »



Privacy Policy |Share This Site |Archive |About Us


footer for philippine culture page