The Philippines

As a parent volunteer for the Multicultural Event at Gabi's school, I spent my evenings this week putting together a display on the Philippines. My in-laws gathered Filipino items of interest and assisted with my collection of information before they left to give lectures on a world tour. This week I finished everything by putting together the tri-fold board, which really felt like I was back in school finishing up a major project or science fair display. At any rate, I thought this would be an opportune time to record the interesting information I collected for my children to learn their ethnic heritage. (Next year I'll have to work on Germany or Ireland!)


The Philippine flag is displayed with the blue field on top in times of peace, and with the red field on top in times of war. The eight primary rays of the sun represent the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain. The three stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon (the northern group of islands, including the island of Luzon itself, and the seat of government), the Visayas (central group of islands), and Mindanao (Southern group of islands, including the eastern island Mindanao itself, and home to the Muslim population).


The carabao (water buffalo) is the national mammal of the Philippines. I took the above picture at Lola's family home on Iloilo when we visited the Philippines during the summer of 2004.


The carabao is primarily a farming animal.


The Narra tree (also called an Angsana tree)
is the national tree of the Philippines.


The Sampaguita (also called an Arabian Jasmine)
is the national flower of the Philippines.


Mango (or mangga), the national fruit


The bahay kubo (or nipa hut) is the national house.


Nipa hut on Lola's family property


Me underneath the nipa hut

These bamboo houses are on stilts (and the floor boards are separated) to allow air circulation to cool the house, which is necessary when living near the equator without A/C. Typically they have thatched roofs, which are woven tight to prevent leaks. However, thatched roofs must be replaced occasionally, so the richer people buy tin roofs instead.


Mayon volcano


Mt. Pinatubo erupting


Mt. Pinatubo volcano


Mt. Pinatubo crater


Languages/Dialects of the Philippines

Filipino (which is based on Tagalog -- pronounced "tuh-gah-log") and English are the two official languages of the Philippines. Because the Philippines is an archipelago with over 7,000 islands, geographical divisions caused the languages to develop separately on each island, creating 76+ major language groups. Well over a hundred different dialects are currently spoken in the Philippines. The eight major dialects are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense. Therefore, English is an important unifying language, and all advanced education is taught in English.


Malacanang Palace, home of the Filipino president


Farm road during rainy season

The Philippines tropical climate is hot and humid with two main seasons: Rainy season and Dry season. Above, Tita Christine and I are riding on a sled pulled by a carabao past the rice fields to get to the river. Lola used to wake up early in the morning to bathe in the river before the carabao arrived upstream.

Filipino History
The Philippine islands were initially populated by Negritos (pygmies). Malay people escaping from oppression in Borneo came and bought the flatlands from the Negrito chief for a hat made of gold (Salakot), so the Negritos moved to the mountains.

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan from Spain "discovered" the Philippines and Spanish colonization began. The many islands of the Philippine archipelago were united for the first time and named after the king of Spain, King Philip II. The Malay people had been Muslim, but with the Spanish colonization, most of the Filipino people converted to Catholicism.


Barong Tagalog, national dress of the Philippines

Filipinos never tuck their shirts in. When the Philippines were colonized by Spain, the Spaniards would not allow the natives to have tucked shirts and forced them to wear transparent clothing so that they wouldn't steal anything. This manner of dress has now become a point of national pride. The Barong Tagalog is also very light, which makes it more comfortable in the tropical climate. While some barongs are informal for daily use, Michael and his family are dressed in formal barongs in the above picture.


Rizal Park

Jose Rizal promoted Philippine nationalism and independence, but was executed for treason on December 30, 1896. In 1898, the Philippines finally gained independence from Spain, only to have Spain "give" the Philippines to the US following the Spanish-American War. While a colony of the United States, the Philippines gained widespread education. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II, most famously in the Battle of Bataan and Corregidor, which delayed the Japanese advance and saved Australia. However, the Japanese conquered the Philippines, and Japanese occupation began in 1941.


View of island of Bataan from the island of Corregidor


Reenactment of the Battle of Bataan and Corregidor

US General Douglas MacArthur returned in 1946 to liberate the Philippines from Japan, and the US soon granted independence to the Philippines.

In the 1970s, Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos refused to leave office and declared martial law to stop elections. A Filipino senator named Ninoy Aquino was assassinated for opposing Marcos, but eventually Marcos was compelled to hold an election in 1986. Aquino's widow, Corazon Aquino, ran against Marcos in the election. Marcos set up the election such that he would win, but his military leaders defected and instead supported Aquino. The Filipino Catholic Church also declared support for Aquino, along with thousands of civilian protesters in the People Power Revolution, finally forcing Marcos to flee the country. Democracy returned to the Philippines in 1987 with the ratification of the new Philippine Constitution.

Thus, Filipino culture is a blend of Indonesian, Malaysian, Arab, Chinese, Spanish, and American influences.


Tagaytay, a resort and golf course


One of the islands across the water is an active volcano at Tagaytay.