Philippine Society and

Culture: An Overview
Neil Martial R. Santillan
Department of History
University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City

Key Presentation Objective

to examine discourses and
representations related to
Philippine society and culture

defining S O C I E T Y
etymology:

Latin socius (companion)

the aggregate of people living

together in a more or less
ordered community
Source: Oxford Dictionary (2013)

defining C U L T U R E
etymology:

Latin cultura (cultivation)

the ideas, customs and social

behaviour of a particular
people or society
Source: Oxford Dictionary (2013)

mapping the P H I LI P P I N E S
in 3 contexts

political,
geographical,
cultural

political mapping PHILIPPINES

1. administrative subdivisions

17 regions
80 provinces
143 cities
1,491 towns
42,028 barangays

political mapping PHILIPPINES

2. characteristics of governance
democratic (authority emanates from the people)
unitary (national government has absolute
control over local, national, and external affairs)
civil (emphasis on civilian supremacy)
constitutional (rule of law pursuant to a ratified
constitution)
presidential (form of government with 3 equal
and interdependent branches)

political mapping PHILIPPINES

3. societys ills
elite democracy
weak state (patronage politics, political dynasties,
personality politics, role of the armed forces)
huge disparity between the rich and the poor
national economy dependent on volatile sources
of income such as OFW remittances
antagonism by the Roman Catholic hierarchy to
government reforms

geographical mapping PHILIPPINES

part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and typhoon
belt: vulnerability, dynamism
archipelago: maritime orientation, multiple forms
of diversity

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

1. lingustic diversity
The number of individual languages listed for
Philippines is 185. Of these, 181 are living and 4
are extinct.
Source: Ethnologue

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

2. languages with numerous speakers
1. Tagalog (28.16%)
2. Cebuano (23.12%)
3. Ilocano (9.07%)
4. Hiligaynon (7.57%)

5. Bikol (6.01%)
6. Waray (3.36%)
7. Kapampangan (3.03%)
8. Pangasinan (1.78%)
Source: 2000 Census of Population and Housing

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

3. religious multiplicity
1. 83%

Catholic

2. 9%

non-Catholic Christians

3. 5%

Muslim

4. 3%

other faiths
Source: 2000 Census of Population and Housing

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

4. cultural categories
lowland Christianized Filipinos
Moros: Islamic communities rooted in MinSuPala
(Maguidanaoans & Maranaos in Mindanao, Tausugs &
Samas in Sulu Archipelago, and Molbogs in Palawan)
IPs: indigenous peoples (Cordillerans/Igorots &
Gaddangs in Northern Luzon, Mangyans in Mindoro,
Lumads such as Manobos in Mindanao, and
Aytas/Negritos spread throughout the archipelago)
Banyaga: cultures that emanated outside the archipelago
(assimilated/continue to view themselves as foreigners)

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

5. limits of existing national histories

primacy of political developments

prevalence on elite-centric narratives
stress on histories of colonialism
ascendancy of patriarchal orientation
emphasis on lowland Christianized Filipinos

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

6. Filipino diaspora
1. United States
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Canada
4. United Arab Emirates
5. Australia
6. Malaysia
7. Japan
8. United Kingdom
9. Hong Kong
10. Kuwait

3,166,529
1,512,539
667,674
636,154
345,592
316,273
290,358
196,740
169,749
169,106
Source: Commission on Overseas Filipinos (2010)

cultural mapping PHILIPPINES

7. national symbols
any conventional sign which reveals mans
achievement and heroism, identification, authority
and a sign of dignity. National symbols embody
national ideals, beliefs and traditions of the
country. These represent the country, and at the
same time convey its principles and sovereignty.
Source: RA No. 8491 (Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines)

1-2. National Flower and National Tree

Proclamation No. 652 (1 February1934)

3. National Language
1987 Philippine Constitution

4. National Bird
Proclamation No. 615 (4 July1995)

5. National Gem
Proclamation No. 905 (15 October 1996)

6. National Flag
RA No. 8491 (12 February 1998):
Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines

7. National Anthem
RA No. 8491 (12 February 1998):
Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines

Section 40. The National Motto shall be

MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO,
MAKAKALIKASAN AT MAKABANSA.
8. National Motto
RA No. 8491 (12 February 1998):
Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines

9. National Coat-of-Arms
RA No. 8491 (12 February 1998):
Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines

10. National Martial Art and Sport

RA No. 9850 (11 December 2009)

Legal Bases on Declaring Rizal as National Hero?

Act No. 137 (11 June 1901)

Creation of the Province of Rizal
Act No. 243 (28 September 1901)
Building of Rizal Monument in Luneta
Act No. 345 (1 February 1902)
Rizal Day as Official Holiday

Early 1900s: American Interventions

Republic Act No. 229 (9 June 1948)

Solemnity of Rizal Day Commemoration
Republic Act No. 1425 (12 June 1956)
Mandatory Teaching of Rizals Life and Works
Executive Order No. 75 (28 March 1993)
Creation of the NHC-National Heroes
Committee

Post-1946 Interventions

Criteria for National Heroes

1.

Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire
and struggle for the nations freedom.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of
freedom and order for a nation.

3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a
nation.

4. A hero is part of the peoples expression.

5. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.

9 Historical Figures
Recommended
as National Heroes
by the NHC

1. Jose Rizal

2. Andres Bonifacio

3. Emilio Aguinaldo

4. Apolinario Mabini

5. Marcelo del Pilar

6. Sultan Kudarat

7. Juan Luna

8. Tandang Sora

9. Gabriela Silang

Beyond Government:
Academe
Reading
Rizal

Beyond Government:
Media

Beyond Government:
Business Sector

Business

THOUGHTS ON
PHILIPPINE SOCIETY AND CULTURE

1. large-scale political, economic

and social reforms
2. rootedness to the countrys
culture and history

3. defining role of the Philippines

in the global arena