Philippine by Henry Gabrielski

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Philippine

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

PHILIPPINES

BY HENRY GABRIELSKI

Photo by therealbrute

GEOGRAPHY

Thick forests once covered most of the Philippines. But since the 1950's, extensive lumbering has destroyed most of the forest resources. Narrow strips of lowland lie along the coasts of the islands. The islands of Luzon and Panay have wide inland plains. Volcanic mountains rise on most of the country's larger islands, and many of the volcanoes are active. The highest mountain, Mount Apo on Mindanao, towers 9,692 feet (2,954 meters) above sea level. Violent earthquakes occur frequently on the islands.
The Philippines has many fine bays and harbors. Large lakes include Laguna de Bay on Luzon and Lake Lanao on Mindanao. Most of the rivers flow only in the rainy season, from June to February. The Philippine Trench, one of the deepest spots in all the oceans, is off the northeast coast of Mindanao. It is 34,578 feet (10,539 meters) below the surface of the Pacific.
A wide variety of plants and animals live in the Philippines. Banyan and palm trees grow in the forests. Thick groves of bamboo and about 9,000 other kinds of flowering plants grow throughout the islands. Wild animals of the Philippines include crocodiles, monkeys, snakes, and many species of tropical birds. Tarsiers—small mammals with owllike eyes—live only in the Philippines and the East Indies. The chief domestic animal in the Philippines is the carabao, a type of water buffalo that farmers use to pull plows and do other heavy work.
The Philippine Islands extend 1,152 miles (1,854 kilometers) from north to south and 688 miles (1,107 kilometers) from east to west. Most of the islands form three groups. The northern group consists mainly of two large islands, Luzon and Mindoro. The central group, called the Visayan Islands, is made up of about 7,000 islands. The southern group consists of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, a group of about 400 islands that extend south and west toward Borneo. This section describes the 11 largest islands of the Philippines. The islands are listed in order of size.
Luzon in the northern group, and is the most important island. Manila lies on the southwest coast. Luzon produces most of the nation's rice and tobacco. It also has large deposits of copper, gold, and other minerals.
Mindanao lies at the southeastern end of the Philippines. The country's highest mountains, including some active volcanoes, are on this island. Mindanao is one of the world's leading producers of abaca (Manila hemp). The leaves of the abaca plant contain a strong fiber, which the Filipinos use in making rope. Fruit plantations cover vast stretches of land.
The Philippines consists of more than 7,000 islands, but only about 1,000 of them are inhabited.
The Philippines are in the ring of fire and that means that they get earthquakes flooding and volcanic activity.

Photo by Andrew Haimerl

TECHNOLOGY

Some transportation the Philippines use are cars, buses, bout, train, airplane bikes.
Some ways they complicate are newspaper, computers, iPhones, and television.
The Philippines technology is more advanced then The United States but not more advanced then Japan.
Many Filipinos in the middle class own cars, but others rely on public transportation. Metro Manila has numerous modes of public transportation, including buses, taxis, and jeepneys. A jeepney is an elaborately decorated minibus built on the frame of an old U.S. military jeep. They travel on relatively fixed routes and stop when waved at from the sidewalk. They carry 10 to 20 passengers for a low fare; passengers tap or pound on the roof when they want to stop. Traffic is heavy and driving habits aggressive. Rural transportation is less developed, often employing animals, bicycles, motorcycles, or motorelas (a motorcycle version of the jeepney). In addition to a domestic airline, ferries and banca (local outrigger) boats provide interisland transportation.
Although the communications system is generally good, service is not extensive in rural regions and between islands. Middle-class homes have phones if service is available in the area. Cellular phones are increasingly popular.

Photo by hotspur_star

FAMILY AND KIN

The extended family is the most important societal unit, especially for women. Women's closest friendships come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share a home make decisions concerning the home without conferring with male family members. One child remains in the family home to care for the parents and grandparents. This child, usually a daughter, is not necessarily unmarried. The home may include assorted children from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may be erected on the same lot to keep the family together. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry and play with children but are unlikely to change diapers. Grandparents who live in the home are the primary care givers for the children since both parents generally work. Preschool grandchildren who live in other communities may be brought home for their grandparents to raise. Indigent relatives live in the family circle and provide as household and childcare help. Young people may work their way through college by exchanging work for room and board. Family bonds are so close that nieces and nephews are referred to as one's own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adult women may legally adopt one of a sibling's children.
It is not income for family members to sleep into the same room or bed. Some with The United States some people sleep in the same room and so people sleep together.
Because of the closeness of the immediate family, all familial ties are recognized. Anyone who is remotely related is known as a cousin. Indigenous tribes live in clan groups. Marriage into another clan may mean that the individual is considered dead to his or her clan.
In the typical village, political organization is weakly developed. Activities are usually organized on the basis of familial alliance and common economic and ritual interests. Leadership is provided by the dominant family (or families), the primary determinants of the leadership being wealth and the size of the kin group. In a typical town/village election, you will find that the qualifications of a candidate will not matter if he is running against someone from the dominant family in the area. No matter how good a candidate’s qualification and experience is, the candidate with most family members would surely win.
The cohesiveness of the family also has a powerful influence upon interpersonal relationships, particularly with non-kinsmen. An offence against one of its members is interpreted as a threat to the whole family and families often stand up for each other whether or not their objective is right or wrong. The family provides a secure environment for its members, in sharp contrast to the often uncertain and delicate relationships with non-relatives. To the Filipino kinship group, it is the child who establishes the kinship bond, from the child’s grandparents, uncles and aunts, and down the line, forming the common link to both families. This is why children are very important to the kinship group.
The godparent institution is a common and important institution in countries like the Philippines (and Malaysia) where marriages traditionally were arranged between families. In these areas, long before the advent of Islam or Christianity, it was considered customary and desirable for the heads of two friendly families to cement their 'alliance' by arranging an appropriate marriage for their children--in many cases while their children were still very young.
As one family member marries another person, then the two families join into each other’s kinship system. In the USA, the families of two people who marry generally do not form a relationship with each other, unless they are very, very close to the people who marry. Of course, the groom would become close with the bride’s family, and vice versa. Here, though, the ties between families of people who marry become much closer and go much deeper. This layer of the kinship system extends the “family circle” up to around 200 or 300 people.
People support financially needy relatives (immediate or extended) when necessary. Many Filipinos work overseas to earn money for education costs or medical expenses of the extended family at home. Recipients of such aid are expected to return help when possible or necessary. Individuals may sacrifice much to help provide family members (especially children) with a better life. Within the country, people may help find employment or opportunities for relatives.

Photo by Pepino1976

RELIGION AND BELIEF

Filipinos celebrate several national holidays and dozens of local fiestas, which are events for recreation and visiting family. Public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Easter Sunday, Day of Valor (also known as Bataan Day, 9 April), Labor Day (1 May), Independence Day (12 June), National Heroes Day (last Monday in August), All Saints' Day (1 November), Bonifacio Day (30 November), Christmas (25 December), and Rizal Day (30 December).
Lent (a period of fasting for Catholics) extends from Ash Wednesday (46 days before Easter Sunday) to Easter Sunday. Most people are given Maundy Thursday (the Thursday preceding Easter Sunday) through Easter Sunday off from work. During Lent, devout Catholics refrain from eating meat and doing physically strenuous activities. Many religious traditions are followed during Lent such as Visita Iglesia (visiting seven churches while performing Catholic rituals) and Pabasa (chanting biblical passages). A few towns reenact scenes from the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, people attend Mass and afterward enjoy a special meal served for lunch or dinner. People might also take advantage of this time to travel or relax at home.
Philippine Independent Church is a self-governing Christian church in the Philippines. In Spanish, it is called the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). The church’s doctrine is strongly influenced by Roman Catholic and Anglican, especially Episcopalian, beliefs. Historically, the IFI has been associated with organized labor and with the interests of less privileged people.
The IFI originated in the late 1800’s, when Spain, followed by the United States, controlled the Philippines. Its formation reflected strong nationalist sentiment. The Spaniards had converted many Filipinos to Roman Catholicism, and Spanish influence in the Catholic Church resulted in discrimination against native Filipino clergy. The founders of the IFI also objected to the amassing of wealth by Catholic religious orders in the Philippines.
The time Buddhism first spread into the Philippines is unknown for the most part, although archaeological records point towards the 6th or 7th Century. Through sea trade with the Srivijaya Empire of India which was predominantly Buddhist, Vajrayana, a form of Buddhism became introduced in the Philippines. The adherents of this religion are primarily Chinese, Filipino-Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian or Middle-East groups residing in the country. Buddhists do not believe in a creator God in the same fashion Christians do. The main beliefs include suffering which is inherent in human existence, impermanence of everything in the world, and the absence of a permanent soul. Buddhism has had linguistic influences on Filipino culture as the origin of some words can be traced to Sanskrit and Pali which are Buddhist languages.
Roman Catholicism has the largest religious following in the Philippines. This religion was first introduced to the Filipino peoples through the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the early 1500's. Magellan, whose original destination was Spice Island, arrived on Cebu Island in Philippines due to a missed route. He then proceeded to make Roman Catholicism a state religion by first converting the Chief of Cebu, and several hundreds of his followers. Roman Catholics believe in a supreme deity or God, who exists in three forms. These are God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the Holy Trinity. Catholics believe that God sent his son, Jesus to the world through a virgin to die for the sins of the world. There are also three main sacraments of initiation kept by Roman Catholics, which include Water Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Conversion and acceptance of the religion precedes these three sacraments. In terms of influence, the Catholic Church historically has impacted decision making in such areas as marriage, reproduction and family life in general. However, that influence seems to be waning. For instance, divorce which was previously unacceptable due to the country's predominant Catholic beliefs, is now being accepted or tolerated by many. Family planning through the use of contraceptives or abortion which was also frowned upon by the Church seems to have been adopted by those who consider themselves "liberal" Catholics. As expected, these have not resonated well with the Catholic church.
Indigenous traditions predate the colonial religions of Islam and Christianity in the Philippines. The most predominant views are that of animism, which is the belief that even non-living entities such trees and plants have spirits. Indigenous religions are characterized by worship of various deities, as opposed to the monotheistic religions. With regards to influence, other religions, even the predominant Roman Catholic, have adopted animism in combination with their own beliefs. This blending is known as religious syncretism.
1. If one passes through the window instead of the door, a ghost will come. 2. When two dogs bark at night there is a ghost. 3. Before six o'clock at night, children should be in the house or else they may bump into a person without a head. 4. When one passes by an anthill, one should ask to be excused, otherwise, a spirit will play tricks on that person. 5. A person who always uses a bandage on Fridays is a witch.

Photo by bjornmeansbear