UNDERSTANDING THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM

VITALIANO R. GOROSPE, S.J.

Since the February 1986 Revolution(1), values development has been one major concern of the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS). Undersecretary Minda Sutaria has publicized the
second draft of the DECS Overall Values Framework, designed to assist teachers at all levels. This
latestdraft, basically similar to that proposed by Fr. Raul Bonoan, S.J. in "Paideia, Humanism, and
Magpakatao: Values for National Reconstruction,"(2) bases its framework on the provisions of the
Philippine Constitution of 1986.

If we are to discover our traditional values and make sure that they contribute to the "just and
humane society" and "total human liberation and development" of which the Philippine Constitution
speaks, we must ask some basic questions.

1) What is the philosophical basis of Filipino values?

2) What is distinctive about the Filipino value system?

VALUE PHILOSOPHY

A brief introduction to the philosophy of human values is necessary for an understanding of

Filipino values and values education. A Filipino experiences family closeness and solidarity
(pagpapahalaga sa pamilya), politeness (use of po or ho), hospitality (tuloy po kayo), gratitude (utang na
loob) from "within", that is, subjectively and emotionally, unlike a non-Filipino observer, social scientist,
or psychologist who studies Filipino values objectively from "without" or "from a distance". Such
Filipino values as social acceptance, (pakikisama, amor propio, economic security, pagmamay-ari), and
trust in God (paniniwala sa Diyos, bathala or Maykapal) find their philosophical basis in man's dynamic
openness toward nature and the world (e.g., the value of hanap-buhay ng magsasaka), one's fellowmen
(the values of paggalang, hiya, katarungan, pag-ibig), and God (the values of pananampalataya,
pananalangin, kabanalan).

This dynamic openness of man is openness to the possibilities of the future. That is why values
are something to be realized. Take the value of peace. The Philippine situation is now characterized by
insurgency; conflict between the NPA, the MNLF and the AFP; vigilante groups; hostility and division--
in short, an absence of national peace and order. The government official who demands porsiyento, the
fireman or policeman who extorts tong or lagay for a service which is his duty, all contribute to the
worsening graft and corruption. We are all responsible for one another (tayong lahat ay may pananagutan
sa isa't-isa).

Values are both subjective and objective. They involve a subject or person who values (e.g., a
young girl) and an object or value to be realized (e.g., pagkamahinhin). Justice is objective because it is
a value that should be realized by all. It also becomes subjective if justice becomes a value for me.

Values are not objective in the sense that they are found in some static heaven: they are relational
and embodied in person-value-types (ideal moral persons). For example, to a tipong-mukhang kuarta [an
avaricious look] profit is more important than service; to a tipong-politiko [political type], pera [money],
propaganda, politika [politics] are more valuable than honesty; tipong siyentipiko [scientist type] or
tipong-artista [actor type] personify agham [science] and sining [art]; tipong madasalin [pious type] may
exemplify kabanalan (piety). Cory Aquino embodied all that we wanted our President to be--credible,
honest, just, with a strong faith in God and in our people. The ideal type or Filipino model during the
"parliament of the streets" was the tipong-maka-Diyos (religions), makatao (people-oriented), makabayan
(nationalistic).

The heroes of EDSA placed the good of the Filipino people before the safety and security of their
families. They were willing to risk their lives for God and people. Value-ranking or the priority of values
is not merely arbitrary or subjective. There is an objective ranking of values based on existence or reality
and other objective criteria. Using the criteria of permanence, ability to be shared, and depth of
satisfaction, Max Scheler ranked human values from the lowest to the highest as follows:(3) sense values
like sensual pleasure are exemplified by the lakuatsero or pabling; utilitarian values like profit and
efficiency by the businessman and technocrat; life values, by the doctor and the hero, e.g., Dr. Bobby de
la Paz and Emilio Jacinto; cultural values, by the genius and the artist, e.g., Jose Rizal and Francisco
Balagtas; religious values, by the saint, e.g., Mother Teresa or Lorenzo Ruiz. Moral and religious values
are pre-eminent and claim the highest priority in the objective scale of values because they are absolutely
necessary in order to become fully human (magpakatao).

FILIPINO VALUES: NATURE, CONSTELLATION AND CONTEXT

Filipino value system arises from our culture or way of life, our distinctive way of becoming
human in this particular place and time. We speak of Filipino values in a fourfold sense.

First, although mankind shares universal human values, it is obvious that certain values take on for us a
distinctively Filipino flavor. The Greek ideal of moderation or Meden agan, the Roman in medio stat
virtus, the Confucian and Buddhist "doctrine of the Middle", find their Filipino equivalent in hindi labis,
hindi kulang, katamtaman lamang.

Secondly, when we speak of Filipino values, we do not mean that elements of these Filipino values are
absent in the value systems of other peoples and cultures. All people eat, talk and sing, but they eat
different foods, speak various languages and sing different songs. Thus, we easily recognize Filipino,
American, Chinese, Japanese or any other foreign food, language or music. The difference lies in the
way these elements are ranked, combined or emphasized so that they take on a distinctively Filipino
slant or cast. For instance, in China, honesty and hard work may rank highest; Chinese and Japanese
cultures give great value to politeness and beauty; American culture to promptness and efficiency; and
Filipino culture to trust in God and family centeredness. In this sense of value-ranking and priority of
values, we can speak of dominant Filipino values.

Thirdly, universal human values in a Filipino context (historical, cultural, socio-economic, political,
moral and religious) take on a distinctive set of Filipino meanings and motivations. This is true not only
of the aims and goals, beliefs, convictions, and social principles of the traditional value system of the
lowland rural family(4) but also of what Fr. Horacio de la Costa, S.J. calls the Filipino "nationalistic"
tradition (pagsasarili, pagkakaisa, pakikisama, pakikipagkapwa-tao, and pagkabayani.(5)

Filipino values like bahala na, utang na loob, hiya, pakikisama, pakiusap are clustered around
core values like social acceptance, economic security, social mobility, and are always found in a definite
context or set of circumstances. Both positive values and negative disvalues together form a characteristic
constellation in school (aralan at dasalan [studying and praying], kuwentuhan at laruan [story telling and
game], inggitan at tsismisan [envying and gossiping]), which differs from the configuration found in
government offices (pagkakaisa [unity] , pagkabayani [heroism], intriga [intrigue], palakasan [show of
power], sipsipan [bribery], palusot), in business firms (palabra de honor [word of honor], delicadeza
[finesse], "commission", "kickback", padulas [grease money], lagay [bribe]), or in the barrio barangays
(paggalang [honoring], pagdadamayan [comforting], bayanihan [cooperation], bahala na [come what
may], utang na loob [gratefulness], hiya[shame]/pakiusap[appear], palakasan [show of power]). To
change a framework of values, it may be necessary to change the constellation and context of those
negative values that hinder Filipino and Christian development.

Fourthly, we can speak of Filipino values in the sense that the historical consciousness of values has
evolved among our people. The Filipino concept of justice has evolved from inequality to equality, and to
human dignity; from the tribe, to the family, and to the nation. Filipino consciousness of these different
values varies at different periods of our history. It is only in the last two decades that the Filipino people
have become more conscious of overpopulation and family planning, environmental pollution (Kawasaki
sintering plant) and wildlife conservation (Calauit Island), and the violation of human rights (Martial
Law), active non-violence and People Power (1986 non-violent Revolution).

FILIPINO VALUES: AMBIVALENCE AND SPLIT-LEVEL CHRISTIANITY

Are Filipino values good or bad? The truth is that Filipino values are ambivalent in the sense that
they are a potential for good or evil, a help or hindrance to personal and national development, depending
on how they are understood, practiced or lived. They can be used in a good or evil context, e.g.,
pakikisama sa kabuktutan or sa kaunlaran. Filipino values have both positive and negative aspects
depending on the context in which they are found. In a social system or atmosphere of extreme insecurity,
the positive qualities of the Filipino take on negative and ugly appearances. For example, utang na loob
can lead to pakiusap, nepotism and "cronyism". Pagmamay-ari ng kapangyarihan (the possession of
power) and their abuse could lead to class distinction or the "malakas-mahina system". Hiya can become
pakitang tao or gaya-gaya; machismo (tunay na lalake) is partly responsible for the "querida system" and
the doble kara morality.
 To show the ambivalence of Filipino values, one example will suffice. Take the well-known but
ambivalent Filipino bahala na mentality. On the one hand, this Filipino attitude could be the root of the
positive value of risk taking, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. Prof. Jose de Mesa, in a pioneer
book on the Filipino and Christian meaning of bahala na, stresses the positive meaning of this virtue of
risk- taking, enterprise and joint trust in both human effort (bahala tayong lahat) and divine Providence
(bahala ang Maykapal). A people's will to take chances and risks, no matter what difficulties and
problems the future entails, is necessary for a nation's growth and destiny. Bahala na could be a genuine
faith and trust in Divine Providence that also presupposes a self-reliance (pagsasarili) that took the form
of People Power in the EDSA revolution. Bahala na was a positive and nationalistic virtue for Jose Rizal,
who believed that Filipinos could no longer rely on the Spaniards, but only on themselves and on God.

On the other hand, in the past the negative aspect of bahala na which dominated Filipino life
meant a false sense of resignation (ganyan lang ang buhay), a superstitious belief or blind faith
(malas/suwerte, tadhana, kapalaran), or escape from decision-making and social responsibility. As such it
may be the root cause of national apathy (walang pakialam) and collective paralysis of action (bakit pa
kikilos) to solve both local and national problems. Everything is already predetermined or fated.
Negatively, bahala na could engender a false sense of security with God as insurance or a security
blanket. Bahala na could be the cause of the absence of national initiative and of that discipline required
for national growth. When negative bahala na prevails, nothing ever gets done.

Split-level Christianity or double-standard morality, the immorality and hypocrisy of many

so-called Filipino Christians, is a scandal to both Christians and non-Christians alike. It is important to
distinguish between pseudo Christianity in all its varied forms and authentic Christianity; between bad
and good Christians. We must also take into account the ambiguity of any religious commitment, which is
not something made once and for all, but a life-long process which demands constant conversion and
renewal. We must also distinguish between Filipino actual and normative behaviour (between what is and
what ought to be). Filipino values are not static, i.e., they are not simply what they are, but dynamic, i.e.,
they become. From a historical perspective, the question to ask about Filipino values is: Ganito kami
noon: paano kayo ngayon? How are we to know towards what goal or direction Filipino values ought to
move or become?

Culture of the Philippines reflects the complexity of the history of the Philippines through the
blending of cultures of diverse indigenous civilizations, and foreign influences.

Spanish colonization of the Philippines, governed from Spain, and Mexico, lasted for more than
three centuries. There is a significant amount of Spanish-Mexican influence in Philippine custom, and
tradition. Hispanic influences are visible in traditional Philippine folk music, folk dance, language, food,
art, and religion.

Pre-Hispanic, and non-Christian Philippine culture are derived from the Indigenous tradition of
the Austronesian primitive tribes called Malayo-Polynesian. The prehistoric Philippine Mythology, and
Philippine indigenous culture has been influenced by the Malayo-Polynesian cultures of Oceania,
accompanied by a mixture of Western-Christianity, Eastern-Islamic, Hinduism, and Buddhism tradition.

The Philippines were a territory of the United States from 1898 until 1946. American influences
are evident in the use of the English language, and in contemporary pop culture, such as fast-food, music,
film, and basketball.

Other Asian ethnic groups such as the Chinese, and Japanese have been settling in the Philippines
since the colonial period, and their influence are evident in the popularity of gambling games such
mahjong, jueteng, Filipino martial arts, and other Asian cuisine. Muslim Filipinos living in the
Philippines celebrate their own custom, and tradition. These groups follow a Philippine Islamic culture,
and other Muslim recreation such as the Kali, Kulintang, and Gamelan, are used by Islamic groups in the
southern islands of Mindanao, and Sulu archipelago.

Way of life

About two-fifths of the Philippine population lives in urban areas, while three-fifths of the people
live in rural areas, although the proportion of people living in towns, and cities is steadily increasing.
Most people live in urban areas, while farmers, and agriculturalists lived in rural towns, and villages. The
majority of the people follow an old-age tradition in addition to the latest contemporary life styles, and
fashiontrends.
Religion in the Philippines
The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nation in Asia-Pacific, the other
being East Timor. About 90% of the Philippine population are Christians. About 5% are Muslims, and
about 5% practised other religions, and those with no religion.

Superstition

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, and the introduction of Roman Catholicism, and Western culture in
the 1500s, the Indigenous Malayo-Polynesian tribes of the Philippine Islands were adherents of a mixture
of Animism, Islam, Hinduism, and Vajrayana Buddhism.

Bathala was the supreme God of the Tagalog people, represented by the "Langit" (Sky), The Ninuno, or
the ancient ancestors, were the people who taught believed in the supreme God. For the Bikolanos, the
supreme God was "Gugurang". Other primitive gods, and goddesses include "Araw" (Sun), "Buwan"
(Moon), "Tala" (Star), and Nature (such as trees, shrubs, mountains, or rocks).

Monsters, and spirits such as the "Aswang" (Vampire), the "Tikbalang" (Half Horse, and Human), the
"Kapre" (Giant), the "Tiyanak" (Demon infant), the "Santelmo" (Fireball), "Duwende" (Dwarves, and
Elves), the "Manananggal" (person with no lower half of their body), "Engkanto" (Spirits), "Diwata"
(Fairies, and Nymphs), and Satanism are believed to exists in the Philippines.

Other par

anormal beliefs such as "Voodoo" (Pangkukulam), "Witchcraft", "Usog" (Stranger), and "Lihi" (Food for
the fairy) are also present. These beliefs have been practised to the present generation of Filipinos, which
has led to some foreign scholars to incorrectly describe them as Pagan-Christians.

Voodoo, psychic surgery, and the rituals of medicine men and women are commonly practiced in most
indigenous Filipino societies. These rituals are found mostly in rural areas throughout the islands. In
Luzon, people who cast spells, and lay curses are called "Mangkukulam". People who curse their enemies
by putting insects inside their bodies are called "Mambabarang". The healers of these curses are called
"Albularyo".

Psychic surgeons are people who appear to remove tumors, and diseased tissue by sticking their hands
into a patient's body, and extracting human flesh, and blood, but leaving the patient scar free. Some see
this performance as a sleight of hand false interpretation. Believers accept it as true, and accept it as an
alternative healing method, and a way to take advantage of the placebo effect.

Arts of the Philippines

Arts of the Philippines cover a variety of forms of entertainment. Folk art, Primitive art, and
Islamic art consists of a classic, and modern feature that flourished as a result of European, Indigenous,
and Islamic influence

Literature

The literature of the Philippines illustrates the Prehistory, and European colonial legacy of the
Philippines, written in both Indigenous, and Hispanic writing system. Most of the traditional literatures of
the Philippines were written during the Mexican, and Spanish period. Philippine literature is written in
Spanish, Filipino, English, and other native Philippine languages.

Performance art

Music

Early Spanish settlers, and Filipinos played a variety of musical instruments, including flutes,
guitar, ukelele, violin, trumpets, and drums. They performed songs, and dance to celebrate festive
occasions. By the 21st century, many of the folk songs, and dances have remained intact, and are
presented by dance, and song groups throughout the Philippines. These groups are the Bayanihan,
Filipinescas, Barangay-Barrio, and Hariraya groups, as well as the Karilagan Ensemble, and the groups
associated with the guilds of Manila, and Fort Santiago theatres have been performed. Many Filipino
musicians have risen prominence such as the composer, and conductor Antonio J. Molina, the composer
Felipe P. de Leon, known for his nationalistic themes, and the opera singer Jovita Fuentes.
Modern day Philippine music features several styles. Most music genres are contemporary such as
Filipino rock, Filipino hip hop, and other musical styles. Some are traditional such as Filipino folk music.

Dance

Philippine folk dances include the Cariñosa, and Tinikling. In the southern region of Mindanao, there is a
dance called Singkil using long bamboo poles. However, it is primarily a dance which showcases Islamic
culture. In this dance, there are bamboo poles arranged in a tic-tac-toe pattern in which the dancers exploit
every position of these clashing poles.[1]

Visual art

Folk art

Filipinos began creating artistic paintings in the 17th century during the Spanish period, and have
continued up to the present.[2] The earliest paintings of the Philippines were religious imagery from
Biblical sources, as well as engravings, sculptures, and lithographs featuring Christian icons, and
European nobility. Most of the paintings and sculptures between the 19th, and 20th century produced a
mixture of religious, political, and landscape art works, with qualities of sweetness, dark, and light. Early
modernist painters such as Damián Domingo was associated with religious, and secular paintings. The art
of Juan Luna, and Felix Hidalgo showed a trend for political statement. Artist such as Fernando Amorsolo
used post-modernism to produce paintings that illustrated Philippine culture, nature, and harmony. While
other artist such as Fernando Zóbel used realities, and abstract on his work.

Primitive art

Pottery, weaving, and wood carving, are popular among Filipinos. Pottery was first made in the
Philippines about 6000 B.C. The Manunggul jar is the most valued prehistoric artifact that has been
discovered in Palawan Island. The jar features a carved scroll lines, painted with iron oxide, accompanied
by a figure of a boat, a boatman, and passenger.

The sculptures of the Kankana-ey, and Ifugao tribes possess a unique sculptural tradition. The
bulol tradition features a pair of figures carved in wood. The figures have a styled primitive features.
They have religious significants, and are associated with the protection of rice harvests. The hagabi is
perhaps the best example of a wood carving in the Philippines. It was carved by a large wooden bench
with the sculpted pig-like heads at each end. The natives regard it as a sign of social status.

The Itnegs tribes are known for their intricate weaving production. The binakol is a blanket which
features an optical illusion design. Weaving of the Ga'dang tribe usually has bright red tones. Their
weaving is identified by beaded ornamentation. Other tribes such as the Ilongot made jewellery from
pearl, red hornbill beak, plants, and metals.

The tribes of Mindanao such as the B'laan, Mandaya, Mansaka, and T'boli became skilled in art
of dyeing abaca fibre. Abaca is a plant, and its leaf are used to make fibre known as Manila hemp. The
fibre is dyed by a method of tie dyeing called ikat. Ikat textiles are woven into geometric patterns with
human, animal, and plant pictorial themes.

Islamic art

Islamic art in the Philippines have two main artistic styles. One is a curved-line woodcarving, and
metalworking called okir, similar to the Middle Eastern Islamic art. This style is associated with men. The
other style is a geometric tapestries, and is associated with women. The Tausug, and Sama-Bajau exhibit
their okir on elaborate markings with boat like imagery. The Marananaos make similar carvings on
housing called torogan. Weapons made by Muslim Filipinos such as the kampilan are skillfully carved,
with lines.

Cinema and television

The advent of the Cinema of the Philippines can be traced back to the early days of filmmaking in
1897, when a Spanish theater owner screened imported moving pictures.The formative years of
Philippine cinema, starting from the 1930s, were a time of discovering film as a new medium of
expressing artworks. Scripts, and characterizations in films came from the popular theater shows, and
Philippine literature.
In the 1940s, the Philippine cinema brought the consciousness of reality in its film industry. Nationalistic
films became popular, and movie themes comprised primarily of war, and heroism had proven to be
successful with Philipine audience.

The 1950s saw the first golden age of Philippine cinema with the emergence of more artistic, and mature
films, and significant improvement in cinematic techniques among filmmakers.

and by the 1960s, the artistry established in the previous years was in decline. This era can be
characterized by rampant commercialism films.

The 1970s, and 1980s were considered as turbulent years for the Philippine film industry, bringing both
positive, and negative changes. The films in this period now dealt with more serious topics following the
Martial law era. In addition, action, western, drama, adult, and comedy films developed further
introducing picture quality, sound, and writing script. The 1980s brought the arrival of alternative or
independent cinema in the Philippines.

The 1990s saw the emerging popularity of drama, teen-oriented romantic comedy, adult, comedy, and
action films.

Architecture

Pre-Hispanic architecture is characterized by its use of Indigenous wood materials. The Nipa hut
(Bahay Kubo) is the mainstream form of housing. It is characterized by primitive materials such as
bamboo, and coconut as the main sources of wood. Cogon grass, and Nipa palm leaves are used as roof
thatching, although coconut fronds are also used..

The Spaniards introduced stones as housing, and building materials. The introduction of Christianity
brought European churches, and architecture which subsequently became the center of most towns, and
cities. Spanish architecture are found in Intramuros, Vigan, and other parts of the Philippines. While,
Islamic, and other Asian architecture are depicted on buildings such as mosque, and temples.

Contemporary architecture have Western style structures although pre-Hispanic housing is still largely
common in rural areas. American style suburban gated communities are popular in the cities, including
Manila, and the surrounding provinces.

Cuisine

Filipinos cook a variety of foods influenced by Spanish, and Asian cuisines.

A typical Philippine diet consists of at least three meals a day served with boiled or fried rice, corn, and
other dishes. Filipinos regularly use spoons together with forks, and knives. Some, also eat with their
hands, especially in informal settings, and when eating seafood. Rice, corn, and popular dishes such as
adobo (a meat stew made from either pork or chicken), lumpia (meat or vegetable rolls), pancit (noodle
dish), and lechón (roasted pig) are served on plates.

Other popular dishes include: afritada, asado, chorizo, empanadas, mani (roasted peanuts), paksiw (fish or
pork, cooked in vinegar, and water with some spices like garlic and pepper), pan de sal (bread rolls),
pescado (fried or grilled fish), Sisig and torta (omelette). Filipino cuisine includes kare-kare (ox-tail
stew), kilawen, pinakbet (vegetable stew), pinapaitan, and sinigang (tamarind soup with a variety of pork,
fish or prawns). Some delicacies eaten by the Filipino people but which may seem unappetizing to the
Western palate include balut (boiled egg with a fertilized duckling inside), longanisa (sweet sausage), and
dinuguan (soup made from animal blood).

Popular snacks, and desserts are chicharon (deep fried pork or chicken skin), halo-halo (crushed ice with
condensed milk, flan, and sliced tropical fruits), puto (white rice cakes), bibingka (rice cake with butter or
margarine, and salted eggs), ensaymada (sweet roll with grated cheese on top), polvoron (powder candy),
and tsokolate (chocolate) are eaten outside the three main meals. Popular Philippine liqour includes the
San Miguel Beer, Tanduay Rhum Masters, lambanog, and tuba.

MartialArts

filipino martial arts is a term used to describe the numerous martial art forms that originated in
the Philippines, similar to how Silat describes the martial arts practiced in Asia. Filipino martial arts
include Panantukan (empty-handed techniques), Eskrima, Kali, Arnis de Máno (blade, and stick fighting),
and Pananjakman (kicking).
Education in the Philippines

Education in the Philippines has similar features to that of the United States, and Europe.
Philippine students enter public school at about age four, starting from Nursery up to Kindergarten. At
about seven years of age, students enter grade school (6 to 7 years). This is followed by High school (4
years). Students then enter for the College Entrance Examinations (CEE), after which they enter
collegiate school (3 to 5 years). Other types of schools includes Private school, University-preparatory
school, International school, Laboratory High School, and Science High School.
The school year in the Philippines starts in June, and ends in March, with a two-month summer break
from April to May, two week of semestral break in October, Christmas, and New Year's holiday.

Sports in the Philippines

Sipa is the national sport in the Philippines.

Other popular sports include basketball, boxing, football (soccer), billiards, chess, ten-pin bowling,
volleyball, horse racing, and cockfighting. Dodge ball, and badminton are also popular for those who play
sports. Filipinos have gained international success in sports. These are boxing, football (soccer), billiards,
ten-pin bowling, and chess. Popular sport stars include Manny Pacquiao, Flash Elorde, and Francisco
Guilledo in boxing, Paulino Alcántara in football (soccer), Carlos Loyzaga, Robert Jaworski, and Ramon
Fernandez in basketball, Efren Reyes, and Francisco Bustamante in billiards, Rafael Nepomuceno in ten-
pin bowling, and Eugene Torre in chess.

The Palarong Pambansa, a national sports festival, has its origin in an annual sporting meet of public
schools that started in 1948. Private schools, and Universities eventually joined the national event, which
became known as the "Palarong Pambansa" in 1976. It serves as a national Olympic Games for students,
competiting at school, and nationwide competitions.

The year 2002 event included football (soccer), golf, archery, badminton, baseball, chess, gymnastics,
tennis, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, track and field, and volleyball.

Traditional Filipino games

Traditional Filipino games include yo-yo, piko, patintero, bahay kubo, pusoy, and sungka. Pusoy
is a popular gambling game. Individuals play the game by trying to get rid of all the cards by choosing
poker hands wisely. Sungka is played on a board game using small sea shells in which players try to take
all shells. The winner is determined by who has the most shells at the point when all small pits become
empty.[10] Filipinos have created toys using insects such as tying a beetle to string, and sweeping it
circular rotation to make an interesting sound. The "Salagubang gong" is a toy described by Charles
Brtjes, an American entomologist, who traveled to Negros, and discovered a toy using beetles to create a
periodic gong effect on a kerosene can as the beetle rotates above the contraption.

Tribal groups

The Indigenous peoples of the Philippines consist of a large number of Malayo-Polynesian ethnic
groups. They are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines, that settled in the islands
thousands of years ago, and in the process have retained their Indigenous custom, and tradition.

In 1990, more than 100 highland tribes constituted approximately 3% of the Philippine population. Over
the centuries, the isolated highland tribes have retained their Indigenous culture. The folk art of these
groups was, in a sense, the last remnant of an Indigenous tradition that flourished throughout the
Philippines before the Islamic, and Spanish contact.

The highland tribes are a primitive ethnic group like other Filipinos, although they did not, as a group,
have as much contact with the outside world. These tribes displayed a variety of native cultural
expression, and artistic skills. They showed a high degree of creativity such as the production of bowls,
baskets, clothing, weapons, and spoons. These tribes ranged from various groups of Igorot people, a
group that includes the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, and Kankana-ey, who built the Rice
Terraces thousands of years ago. They have also covered a wide spectrum in terms of their integration,
and acculturation with Christian Filipinos.
Philippine diaspora

An Overseas Filipino is a person of Philippine origin, who lives outside of the Philippines. This
term is applied to people of Filipino ancestry, who are citizens or residents of a different nation.
Often, these Filipinos are referred to as "Overseas Filipino Workers".
There are about 11 million overseas Filipinos living worldwide, equivalent to about 11% of the total
population of the Philippines. Each year, thousands of Filipinos migrate to work abroad through overseas
employment agencies, and other programs. Other individuals emigrate, and become permanent residents
of other nations. Overseas Filipinos often work as doctors, nurses, accountants, IT professionals,
engineers, architects, entertainers, technicians, teachers, military servicemen, students, caregivers,
domestic helpers, and household maids.

International employment includes an increasing number of skilled Filipino workers taking on

unskilled work overseas, resulting in what has been referred to as brain drain, particularly in the health,
and education department. Also, the employment can result in underemployment, for example, in cases
where doctors undergo retraining to become nurses, and other employment programs.

CELEBRATIONS
Public holidays in the Philippines

Regular holiday

* January 1 - New Year’s Day

* March or April - Holy Week (Semana Santa)
* April 9 - Araw ng Kagitingan (Bataan, and Corregidor Day)
* May 1 - Labor Day
* June 12 - Independence Day
* August - National Heroes Day
* November 30 - Bonifacio Day
* December 25 - Christmas Day
* December 30 - Rizal Day

Nationwide holiday

* August 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day

* November 1 to November 2 - Day of the Dead
* December 31 - New Year's Eve

Native holiday

* January 9 - The Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo, and Manila.

* Third Sunday of January - The Fiesta del Santo Niño de Cebu (Festival of the Child Jesus of
Cebu), Sinulog in Cebu, Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.
* Last Sunday of January - The Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo.
* March or April - Semana Santa (Holy Week).
* May - Flores de Mayo. A festival celebrated by farmers as they welcome the fertile season.
Celebrations around towns showcase crops, food, and delicacies. One of the most celebrated
festivity is the "Pahiyas", a colorful festival in Lucban, Quezon where houses are decorated
mainly with dried rice papers in different shapes, and colors. Crops also accentuate these houses
in artistic shapes, and styles.
* Third Saturday and Sunday of September - The Peñafrancia Festival in Naga City, Camarines
Sur, Bicol Region. During the festivities, people attend church services, followed by parades on
the streets, fireworks, and feasting. The Peñafrancia Festival is also celebrated by a fluvial
procession in the Bicol River.
* October 31 to November 2 - "Araw ng mga Patay", "Día de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead, All
Saints Day, and All Souls Day). Also known as "Undas". During All Saints, and Souls Day,
friends, and families visit the cemeteries, and pay homage to their dearly departed. The cemetery
becomes a party atmosphere, rather than a solemn celebration.
* December 24 - Noche Buena (Christmas Eve).
* December 25 - Araw ng Pasko, Navidad (Christmas).
* January 1 - Bagong Taon, Año Nuevo (New Year).

Other cultural realm

 Homosexuality in the Philippines is widely accepted, and viewed as part of normal life, though it
is viewed with some discrimination because of the nation's straight philosophy, and beliefs. However, due
to the Philippines' strong Roman Catholic religion, gay marriage, and civil unions are prohibited.
"Thoughts on the Bakla, the Filipino gays". http://laurganism.com/2005/09/22/bakla-the-filipino-gay/.

The idea of cultural pluralism in America has its roots in the transcendentalist movement and
was developed by pragmatist philosophers such as William James and John Dewey, and later thinkers
such as Horace Kallen and Randolph Bourne. One of the most famous articulations of cultural pluralistic
ideas can be found in Bourne's 1916 essay "Trans-National America" .

Hispanic influence on Filipino culture are custom, and tradition performed in the Philippines.
Spanish colonization produced a mixed culture of primitive Malayo-Polynesian and Iberian tradition. The
Philippines has also received influence from the United States, and other Cultures of Asia such as Islamic,
and Chinese. This makes the Philippines a multi-ethnic society.

Filipinos speak various languages such as Tagalog, Cebuano, English, Spanish, and other
Philippine languages. There are thousands of Spanish loan words in Philippine languages, and a Spanish
creole language called Chavacano is spoken by about one million Filipinos in the southern Philippines.
The Philippines, having been one of the most distant Spanish colonies, received less migration of people
from Spain, compare to the colonies in Latin America. Nonetheless, many of the Hispanic elements in the
culture of the Philippines have become part of the native tradition.