Essay on "Filipino Culture"

Essay 8 pages (2344 words) Sources: 8

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Filipino Culture

PEARL of the ORIENT SEAS

This country is a collection of more than 7,000 islands where the East and West cultures amalgamate. This thus makes Filipino psyche the receptacle of a number and even contradictory influences and cultures, which make the Filipino a unique race in a single category. Having been a colony of Spain for four centuries, the Philippines has imbibed Spanish religiosity and personal restraint. Having been an American colony for half a century, the Philippines has likewise retained American preferences and taste. Despite alien influences, the native attributes of hospitality, humility and honorableness persist and make Pinoys memorable. in-between, they developed their distinct ways of eating, cooking, courtship and dating and gender roles.

The name "Philippines" was derived from the original "Filipinas," coined in honor of King Philip II of Spain in 1543 (Baringer, 2011). The present Republic of the Philippines was first referred to as the Philippine Islands when it was discovered by Spanish colonizers under Ferdinand Magellan in March, 1521. The country's 7,100 islands are located in the Pacific Rim of Southeast Asia with a total land area of 111,830 miles. At its western border is the South China Sea, the Philippine Sea in the east, the Celebes Sea in the south and the Luzon Strait in the north. It consists of three archipelagos, namely Luzon as the largest; Mindanao, the second largest; and the Visayas. Its nearest neighbors are Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia and China (Baringer). As of July 2010, the Philippine population was 100 million, according to the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA.

Filipino Culture

From their original Malay culture, Filipinos went through centuries of change because of the different races, which colonized them. They were ceded to Spain as its colony for 400 years, then the British briefly in the early 20th century and the Americans after World War II. They have hence become a mix of cultures, races and ideas (Lloyd, 2007; Living in the Philippines, 2011; Shvoong, 2008)). Centuries of Spanish colonialism fostered the commonly observed guilt attitude, fear of God and stringent concern for an acceptable appearance. Americans have left a deep impress in Filipinos too. American military presence has installed the characteristic consumerism on Filipinos. Almost all Filipinos dream of the U.S.A. As the Promised Land. They too now play or enjoy basketball like the Americans, eat or prefer American foods and own more cellular telephones than bank accounts. Even poor farmers pay a few but precious pennies to send a text message to a friend across the field (Lloyd, Living in the Philippines, Shvoong).

Main Filipino Traits

Hospitality

Filipinos have traditionally been known for their hospitality. They remain among the most warm-hearted, kindest and hospitable people in the world (Lloyd, 2007). Travelers will always be invited into the house as an honored guest and given the best inside it. Travelers become instant celebrities who are introduced to everyone in the house and in the neighborhood. Family members will always be on hand for assistance and entertainment (Loyd). The typical Pinoy, a term referring to the Filipino, is always eager to share their meal, whether at a party, in the office or at the neighborhood (Borlongan, 2007). He is not only quick to offer what he has, he also does not enjoy his food or drink unless he shares it with a guest or companion. His hospitality can even go out of bounds. He can and does throw parties and serve lots of foods and even insist that visitors should eat some more. After the party, he insists that his guests should bring home what is left of the sumptuous meal. In other instances, the Pinoy is always eager to help those in need and offer things he himself needs, considering that a big percentage of Filipinos live in poverty. Visitors are always welcomed in their homes and hearts. Tourists and visitors so remember Filipinos' trait of hospitality that they say they visit the Philippines because of the friendliness and hospitality of its people (Borlongan). Their hospitality can also be a strange to foreign visitors who want their own time. Filipinos are simply too much around them. Another trait, which foreign visitors find difficult to comprehend, is the tendency or habit of drifters who just hang around with nothing in particular to do (Lloyd).

Humility

Filipinos are also modest and humble and often in an odd way (Borlongan, 2007). When they are praised for an accomplishment, they decline the complement or say that someone else deserves it more. Even when they are clearly accomplished, they either do not openly show off or they again say that someone else has more than they. Showing off or simply acknowledging what they actually possess is something they at times feel too guilty to do. The inculcated value of gratitude is so strong that those who migrate to other countries perpetually send back their earnings and goods to relatives back in the Philippines. They also save a lot from their hard-earned income in another country so they can visit their families and friends in the Philippines despite having settled in a foreign country (Borlongan).

The virtue of humility, Filipino style, also keeps them aware of their origins and what they are (Borlongan, 2007). They remain persistent with their life's goals and the vision of a future and better life while keeping in mind what it took them to get it. This can explain why many Filipinos in foreign countries work hard day and night even at menial jobs just to earn and save money to send back home. All the sacrifice is for the fulfillment of the common dream of a good life for their families. Only the humble can manage to do this (Borlongan).

Honorable

A typical Filipino honors his word (Borlongan, 2007). When he makes a promise or commitment, he is determined to fulfill it. This is what makes him honorable. He fulfills his word if he has to make extreme sacrifices. An equivalent of his honorableness and humility is his pride over what he does and what he is. He values his race and his attainment. This kind of pride illustrates his commitment and struggle to attain his goals. That goal includes working out of the country and making a living elsewhere. It is not easy for him to succeed abroad. A large part of the goal is a Filipino's compulsive dream to see his children obtain an education. He can go as far as selling all his belongings in order to send his children to school. Education is a priority to most every Filipino (Borlongan).

Food Culture

Rice is a staple and the main fixture in the Filipino meal (Baringer, 2011). A meal is not a meal without it. It is plain steamed rice. Rice farmers harvest three crops a year to insure sufficient rice for the population. The government, for its part, stores surpluses for use in times of drought. The typical Filipino family eats saltwater or freshwater fish and shellfish daily. Chicken and pork are alternative viands. These are usually fried. But now that people are getting more health-conscious and fear diet-related health disorders, they opt for alternative methods of cooking. Garlic is now added to food for its healthful benefits. Most Filipinos cook their food on gas burner, wood or charcoal fires. Rice is the first item to cook then the viands, drinks and desserts follows. Most Filipino foods are not spicy. Forks and spoons are used. Filipinos eat from a spoon and table knives are not often used. Filipinos are famous for their tradition of placing rice and food on a banana leaf and also for eating with their hands instead of spoons and forks. These are now done in restaurants and homes (Baringer).

Breakfast is usually eaten at 6:00 AM and often consists of foods leftover the last meal the night before (Baringer, 2011; Bruce, 2011). Small buns, called pan de sal, is a basic component of the Filipino breakfast and which can be bought from vendors early in the morning. Snacks are eaten at mid-morning and in the afternoon and these snacks are called merienda. These snacks are usually sweet foods, such as instant coffee with evaporated milk and refined sugar. Filipinos love to drink pop drinks. Lunch is a light meal with rice and additional dishes, such as fish or stew. Dinner is usually fish, pork or chicken with vegetable or lentil soup. Fruits commonly eaten with meals include fruits, bananas, mangoes and others in season. Vegetables eaten include green beans and potatoes, camote leaves and other green and leafy vegetables. In recent decades, fast foods have become ingrained in the Filipino meal (Bruce, Baringer).

Food Customs during Occasions

Lechon is served in important and very special occasions (Baringer, 2011). It is a roasted suckling pig with hard brown crust. The best-tasting parts are the strips of skin with fats. The number of lechons served indicates the importance of the visitor. The drained blood of the suckling pig is re-used… READ MORE

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