Modern Day Culture

Modern Day Filipino Culture

While identification with one’s particular ethnic group and region are important, there are certainly some overarching cultural practices that help to create a general sense of unity and national identity. 

            Filipino people are generally family oriented; religiously, politically and morally conservative.  Certainly this is largely due to the influence of Catholicism within the country but these are also shared values among the more Muslim dominated areas of the south as well as within some of the indigenous groups that remain in pockets  - particularly in mountainous interior regions (Aquino & Alegado, 1992).

            Cultural life in the Philippines generally revolves around extended family and it is not unusual for multiple generations to live together.  Members of extended families frequently gather together for things such as weddings, baptisms, and holidays. Families are generally close-knit and supportive. Neighborhoods, known as barangays, serve as something of a familial extension.  Much of daily life occurs right within a Filipino's neighborhood – with each barangay generally having a mix of homes and schools as well as certain areas where daily work (such as clothes washing or cleaning of fish) occurs. Most neighborhoods also contain several small little storefronts, often attached to people’s homes.  Called sari-saris in Tagalog, this is where many Filipinos purchase basic necessities. 
     This type of localization serves a practical purpose in that it reduces the amount of time and money spent traveling to larger towns - or even to the main commercial area of the town they live in.  It also serves to unite and connect members of various neighborhoods, as well as provide an informal means of passing along news and other information - including tsismis (gossip) which is jokingly referred to as the national pastime (Aquino & Alegado, 1992).  This stands in contrast to much of present day United States with areas of industry, commerce and housing separated. Furthermore, even within many U.S. neighborhoods, there is limited interaction between people.  

            Celebrations are frequent in Filipino culture and held for almost any reason under the sun.  Hospitality is an important value and it is considered an honor to host a guest.  While many Filipinos live below the poverty level, sharing of ones means is common regardless of how meager their resources.  These celebrations typically revolve around music, games, talking and food. The majority of celebratory or entertainment occasions are also multi-generational, with fewer "adult only" or children-specific occasions (personal experiences).