Philippines Local Customs

  Elaborate headdresses
by berenices
 
  • Elaborate headdresses
      Elaborate headdresses
    by berenices
  • Ati-Atihan festival.
      Ati-Atihan festival.
    by cachaseiro
  • Ati-Atihan festival.
      Ati-Atihan festival.
    by cachaseiro
  • Ati-Atihan festival.
      Ati-Atihan festival.
    by cachaseiro
  • Rice by the side of the road in the Philippines.
      Rice by the side of the road in the...
    by cachaseiro
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

the CuLture..?

by missmarianne

Filipino culture blends the indigenous traditions of the Philippines with the Hispanic and American cultures, and also have distinct cultural traits of the Chinese, the Indonesians and the Indians.The Hispanic influences come largely from the cultural influence of Spain and Mexico. The Hispanic influence stands visible in the religious festivals of the Roman Catholic Church. Filipinos hold major festivities known as barrio fiestas to commemorate their patron saints. However, what strikes one right away is the prevalence of Spanish surnames among the Filipinos. However, this was a result of a colonial decree for the systematic distribution of family names and implementation of the Spanish naming system amongst the Filipinos. So, a Spanish surname does not necessarily imply a Hispanic heritage.

Linguistically speaking..

by missmarianne

the nation is amazingly diverse with more than 170 languages. Nearly all of these languages belong to the Western Malayo-Polynesian language group of the Austronesian language family. The 1987 Constitution confers the status of official language to both Filipino and English. Additionally, there are twelve major regional languages with over one million speakers of each. These are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Bikol, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Kinaray-a, Maranao, Maguindanao, and Tausug. Also, Spanish and Arabic are used as auxiliary languages.

Filipinos..

by missmarianne

the term by which people of the Philippines are generally known, descended from the various Austronesian-speaking migrants who came in droves over a thousand years ago from South East Asia. There are various ethno-linguistic groups these Filipinos are divided into. The three major groups are the Visayans, the Tagalogs, and the Ilocanos. They are genetically close to the Taiwanese aborigines, Malays of Indonesia and Malaysia, and the Polynesians.Then there are Filipino mestizos, a term employed to refer to those who are of mixed indigenous heritage and Spanish or other foreign ancestry form. They are in minority but form an economically and politically important minority.

Bantayan-Sinulog a great fiesta..

by elsadran

During my stay on this magnificent peaceful island they were celebrating Sinulog as the whole Cebu was. So I had the chance to participate in this colourful feast sharing a lot of their gaiety. Mouth wetting smell of barbecued meat was floating over the whole place. It was impossible not to taste the tempting meat ribs and fish juicing on the fire. Locals in their best clothes were strolling on the main street lingering for long bites at the street barbecues. The parade was the schoolchildren affair who were marching happily along the town roads while chocolate bars were thrown over the clapping crowd .

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New Year Celebration - Filipino Style

by freddie18

'Bagong Taon' which is the Filipino term or Tagalog word for New Year is celebrated very religiously by the Filipino people. Most of the time, they are out on the street as the night fall until midnight or early next morning to be with friends, families and relatives. This is a lavish celebration in the Philippines having a lot of food on the table which traditionally will include Lechon (suckling roasted pig). Lechon most of the time becomes the centrepiece of the food presentation.I remember my Filipino family collect 12 round shaped fruits and display them on the dining table as it is 'luck' for the coming year, so they say. New Year celebration is not complete without the young and the young once light firecrackers on the streets. Experience the New Year - Philippine Style by viewing photos I posted here on last years' celebration.

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Sinulog in Cebu -Part 1

by elsadran

Sinulog means "the movement of the current water" so the dancing consists of two steps in front and one back step symbolizing the movement of the river. The dancing and singing parade is snaking around the main streets in an endless movement of celebrating joy dedicated to the Holy Child (Santo Niño). Little figures of Jesus are held by the first dancer of each group, usually a beautiful girl dressed as a queen. The rhythmic sound of drums and trumpets give the pace and although a bit monotonous it finally proves the heartbeat of the festivity. The street dancers in their colourful costumes carry symbolic or decorative items of everyday life, religious figures or flags and ribbons. Thousands of people are lined on both sides of the streets enjoying their greatest annual festival and expressing their religious sentiments. A lot of other social events and festivities are held on this...

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Sinulog - part 2

by elsadran

The story goes back to old times even before the Spaniards came, when this dance was a part of a traditional ritual in honour of the wooden idols that natives adored as gods. When Magallanes came to Cebu island he gave a figure of the Holy Child to the local ruler as a gift. It is said that in the ruling years of Rajah Humabon his adviser got sick but miraculously recuperated immediately after he was carried in the chapel of Santo Niño . He got up and started singing and dancing at a most lively rhythm. From then on the celebration is held annually following the "holy" steps of his dance !Many years later the Spaniards came back and found the figure of the Holy Child in the native village. When Catholicism became the official religion they gave Sinulog a new identity by honouring Santo Niño in place of their idols.The festival takes place in the third week of January. It goes on for a...

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Kings and Queens of Hearts - Boracay

by elsadran

The celebration is a local custom in Boracay. In mid February school children dressed up in royal costumes parade in the streets of the town ending up in the large yard of the central school complex. Some of them have been in the competition to be elected as kings and queens for one year. Those parents who want their children to participate put a sum of money in an envelope together with the competition form. These children are dressed as Kings and Queens of Hearts and, putting on the appropriate style, are carried in "royal" carriages! The "coronation" takes place in an accordingly decorated stage among children performing dancing formations and people watching.The family whose children are elected gains prestige and social power among the locals. To my question as to what is the criterion of the voters the answer was that the winner is the one that has put the more money in the...

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Ati- Atihan in Kalibo

by elsadran

The history of this grandiose annual celebration is quite interesting..It initiates in the 13th century when the local people in Panay were the Ati who were blackish and short. They lived up on the highlands. One day immigrants from Indonesia arrived on this land and agreed with the Ati people to buy some land from them and settle in the lowlands. But Atis were out of food one year so they came down to their new neighbors and asked for some food. The Maraynon, the immigrants, gave them food very generously so Ati danced a traditional dance to express their gratitude. The immigrants painted their faces black to look like their new neighbours. Since then a great parade symbolizing the journey down to the lowlands and a great celebration has been taking place in honour of their ancestors' friendship...When Catholicism was the predominating religion the Ati-Atihan celebration was dedicated...

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Good Friday Procession

by asianbelle

On Good Friday evening, most roads are closed to give way to the candle-lit procession. Images depicting the sorrowful mystery are "paraded" around town with throngs of people following each image. In remote provinces, the followers still practice the custom of removing their footwear (barefoot) during the procession while praying the rosary. Unfortunately, in most urban centers, this practice is no longer observed.

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi There I'm going backpacking with 3 other friends for 5 days in the Philippines and was wondering if anyone has any... 

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A: Some suggestion of mine: Shooting the rapid at pagsanjan falls then spend the night at tagaytay. 2nd day, taal trek, a bit of city tour and then a 45 drive to Lago de... 

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