Traditions and Culture of the Philippines

The rich culture and traditions of the Philippines have been known existing for centuries, greatly influenced by Europeans that colonized the land and other Asian countries. Our culture is a big reflection of our great and complex history. A blend of the Malayo-Polynesian and Hispanic culture with the influence from Chinese, Indians Arabs, and other Asian cultures really contribute to the customs and traditions of the Filipinos.

Common traditions of the Filipinos are Mano Po (the younger member of a family will take the elders hand and place the back of it to their forehead). The used of Ate or Kuya to show respect to the elders. Holding a gathering or family reunion just to catch up the update of every family member.

Philippines have been divided by 3 major islands- Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with more than 70 indigenous ethnic groups and more than 150 dialects. Spanish numbers and some Spanish words are included in the dialects. English is widely spoken and “Taglish”- A mix of Tagalog and English has been a trend and is now becoming a standard language.

Family relationships and close family ties are the basic building block of Philippine culture and society. It keeps the Filipino families closer to help each other in needs, promotes loyalty to the family and to pass family traditions to the new coming generations.

The majority of Filipino people are Catholics, Spain brought and highly influenced the people making Philippines dominantly Catholic nation in the South East Asia. 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, 11% are islam and other religious beliefs comprise of only 9% of the population.

Filipinos are very fond of music and festivals. Some music and dances are highly influenced by the Spanish including the use musical instruments like guitar, violin etc. They celebrate fiesta to honor their saints. Street dancing and colorful costumes are common scenes of the celebrations. Some widely known festivals are the Sinulog of Cebu, the Ati-Atihan of Panay and Aklan, Pahiyas of Lucban Quezon and Maskara festival of Bacolod City.

The Philippines is a country that has varied cultural influences. Most of these influences are results of previous colonization, deriving mainly from the culture of Spain and the United States. Despite all of these influences, the old tradition has remained and can be seen in their way of life, beliefs and customs. Where ever you go, the Filipino culture is so alive and is widely applauded in many parts of the world.