Some of these traditions are very commonly associated with the Philippines, but may also be found in neighboring Southeast Asian nations.
This greeting gesture may not be exclusive to the Philippines but it is mostly confined to Maritime Southeast Asia. This gesture is most commonly associated with the Philippines though it is also practiced in neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.
- Pagmamano (in Tagalog), also goes by Amin in Cebuano, Siklod in Kapampangan, Siyom in Maranao. This honoring gesture is done to elders in the family. In precolonial times, this gesture would’ve been done to datus and rajahs and the hands would’ve gone to the cheeks.
Pasalubong can be roughly translated to “giving gifts back home from another place.” In the Philippines, this has become a whole industry and a huge part of the tourist economy. Gift-giving is big in Asia and it's especially true in the Philippines.
- Local areas may have their own special pasalubong for travelers. Dried mangoes are one such popular item.
Bayanihan refers to “community spirit”. The culture in the Philippines is very collectivist, and this manifests in the Bayanihan concept.
- This often manifests in the local barangay helping move another person's house from one place to another. This can also be seen in communities around maritime Southeast Asia.
There is even a specific cultural practice for courtship called Harana, where a suitor would sing outside the window or home of the person they are interested in.
- While the most common form of harana is associated with the Spanish colonial period, the practice actually goes back to the pre-colonial era.
- The Maguindanao people even have their own version called kapanirong.
The belief in spirits is huge in the Philippines. Saying “tabi-tabi po” by places that spirits are known to inhabit is a common practice as a sign of respect.
In Catholic areas, pre-colonial traditions have merged with Catholic traditions. One of these is “pangangaluluwa”, or the tradition of souling during All Saints Day. Groups of people carol around houses in exchange for food, usually biko or suman.
- Pangangaluluwa still practiced in rural Philippines.
Being a largely Catholic society, the Philippines has its own unique Christmas traditions.
- There are a series of 9-day early morning masses called Simbang Gabi, a tradition that leads up to Christmas Eve where attendees visit the church before sunrise to attend mass.
- Delicacies such as puto bumbong and bibingka were sold outside of the church.
- Parol lanterns of the Philippines. They have been around for centuries in more simple shapes and took on their iconic star shape in the early 20th century. They are made of papel de japon as well as capiz shell. Parols are a common sight around Christmas in the Philippines.
- Lubenas is a unique lantern tradition in Pampanga.
Indigenous customs are still practiced in many parts of the Philippines.
- Punnuk is the annual harvest festival of the Ifugao people. There is a traditional tug-of-war game against the rival barangays. Local Ifugao people wear their traditional clothing, a red and black bahag and a headdress for the men, and the traditional skirt for the women.
- Dream weaving is still practiced in many indigenous groups in Mindanao. The T’boli people are known for their t’nalak weaving, the designs come from dreams.
- Tanyak-tanyak refers to the powdery makeup applied to the faces of the Yakan people in traditional wedding ceremonies. Its geometric designs are applied from the end of a bamboo stick and signify the moon and stars witnessing a union.
- Buklog is a traditional thanksgiving ceremony of the Subanen people. There is an interesting practice where the participants dance on an elevated wooden structure called the ‘Buklog’ – a sacred and social space – which resonates with a sound believed to please the spirits.
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