|
Culture
cul-ture
[KUHL-cher]
noun
origin: 1400-50
1. the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent
in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
2. that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.
3. a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.
|
|
|
|
Culture
Costume
Creatures - superstitions
Dance
Language
Mestiza - dresses
Panagdubla - Tobacco Rolling Festival
Penitensya - during Lent
Traditions
|
Philippines
Although the Philippines is Asia's only predominantly Christian country (90% of its 89 million people
are Christians, most of them Roman Catholic), Islam arrived before Chirstianity - in the 14th century, along with Arab
traders and missionaries. When Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521, sultans
already ruled the southern islands. For the next 377 years, the Moro people fended off domination by the Catholic
conquistadores by fighting under the banner of Islam.
Filipino attitudes about America vary. The Filipino middle and upper classes regard America as an oppressive colonialist
power that they successfully cast off, much as we see the British. But many working-class Filipinos believe in the
American dream, and hope to move to the United States to work. (There are about 2.5 million Filipinos in the United
States.)
Once prosperous, the Philippines today is among the poorest nation in Asia, with 15 percent of the
population living on less than $1 a day. "Those who don't own land have no voice," says a human rights activist.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|