the filipino perspectives and contexts of culture and arts
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THE FILIPINOPerspectives and Contexts
Arts and Culture is Power
Arts is not meant to embody art itself, but to express the very soul of man.
Cultural identity distinguishes the power to reiterate political ideologies that is based on the very fabric of the society’s existence. ( not the reality, of course )
A well defined arts and culture, defines the future of the society.
Paano ba natin sisimulan?
Search for identity
Sino ba ang Filipino?
Search for existence
Ano ba ang Filipino?
Search for meaning
Bakit tayo Filipino?
Filipinos are not Malays Filipinos did not descend from the
Malays (Manuel, Jocano, Hornedo, et al) Our culture and languages are not
derived from Malay “There is no such thing as a Malay race in anthropological science” - Dr.Arsenio
Manuel Rizal is not the “Pride of the Malay
Race” (Ozaeta, 1949) but of the Filipino people
The belief that the Philippines was inhabited by successive waves of migration of Negritos, Indonesians and Malays has no basis in historical fact.
David Zorc, a world class linguist, with specialization in Austronesian languages had this to say:
“while Filipinos want to claim Indonesians and Malaysians as their progenitors (hence the Maragtas, Code of Kalantiaw, etc.),
in truth it was from the Philippines that the Indonesians and Malays came, and at a much greater time depth than anyone estimated."
What is Culture?
To culture is to cultivate, as in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, sericulture, beauty culture, voice culture, etc.
Any activity, product or expression attained through the application of human skill is CULTURE, that which is not is NATURE, such as trees, rivers, mountains, birds.
In its broadest sense, culture may be defined as:
Way of life, a design for living
Shared patterns of behavior and meaning, of expectations and responses
Shared system of vital ideas about the world
UNESCO defines culture as:
“The whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and
emotional features that characterize a society or social
group. It includes not only the arts and letters, but also modes of life,
the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems,
traditions and beliefs.”
Cultural Questions (Being Questions of Perception, Valuing, and Meaning)
What brings out the good, the best in the Filipino? How do you inspire or what inspires Filipinos towards positive, productive or constructive behavior/social action?
How do you get Filipinos to cooperate and work together harmoniously, happily, efficiently and effectively?
What are we most productive/creative at/in? What is the nature of the Filipino cultural genius (both local and nationally shared)?
How do you bring out honesty, sincerity, and loyalty?
How do you resolve conflicts? How do you criticize one’s work
or raise standards of excellence without arousing ill will and resentment?
How do you inculcate or promote discipline and dedication to one’s task?*
*The feeling of being taken advantage of; being exploited, abused; being treated unfairly, unjustly, or being demeaned, insulted (pinagsasamantalahan, minamaltrato, ginugulangan, nilalamangan, iniinsulto o binabastos) is abhorrent to the Filipino, it being a serious affront to one’s dignity as an ultimately sacred being.
A Filipino Perspective Build on Our Strengths - Need for Positive Self-Image:
- Social Self-Images are Self-Fulfilling
- Root cause of Philippine under- development: Filipino tendency towards self bashing,
esp. among the Westernized elite, preventing us from tapping our greatest asset for sustainable development - our cultural strengths and resources.
Cult of smallness Celebration of Defeat Dona Victorina Syndrome
Work for the Good of the Nation as a Whole:
ACT LOCALLY, THINK NATIONALLY,
Pride, Commitment, Excellence
Promoting Filipino Cultural Identity
Cultural Identity as the Basis of Economic Competitiveness: Cultural identity has it source in
originality, indigenousness, authenticity, uniqueness, historicity, magnitude, and excellence
Anywhere in the world people prefer the distinctive, one with character, not anything bland
and featureless
FILIPINOS LOVE TO CONNECT, ESPECIALLY TO PEOPLE
Among the most highly relational in the world, Filipinos are hardly alone. They are happy being together - when they eat, sleep, work, travel, pray, create or celebrate. They feel connected to the world, God and nature, but most of all to people.
“Nobody likes to be left out of a photo op”
Togetherness is happiness
Filipinos hardly eat alone Invite a person to your party,
how many will come?Bantay(watcher) & extra bedPicture-taking maniaPrizes for everybody“Do not praise small items” -
Juan Flavier
Pabalot, balato, bonus (forms of sharing)Pasalubong( quasi-sacred
ritual: gift from a journey)Cannot keep secrets Relational terms for calling
each otherTexting capital of the worldNo isolated notes (hagod,
slides, “scooping”)
Notes are PeoplePitch Relations Reflect People Relations
In individualistic cultures where people preserve their private space and separateness from others, musical pitches also tend to be discrete or isolated from each other.
In communal cultures where togetherness and connectedness with others is highly valued, musical pitches tend to be bridged by slides or a microtonal continuum.
FILIPINO PROXEMICS OF PRIVACY
To be alone a German needs four thick walls which shut off all light and sound from the outside.
A Japanese needs only thin paper screens
A Filipino does not need a physical structure to spend time alone. All that is needed is for him to stay in a corner and keep quiet.
This is proof that even in our precious moments of solitude, we are still willing to share our whole being, should the need arise
MY SPACE IS YOUR SPACE
OPEN HOUSE: In most Western cultures, guests are allowed to move around only within the confines of the living room.In Filipino culture, guests may roam anywhere inside or outside the house, even in the bedrooms
“FEEL AT HOME”: How long can your relative or close friend temporarily stay in your house?
Most Romantic in Southeast Asia
A Mobile Lifestyle Survey conducted by Asia Market Intelligence for Siemens in late 2002 among six SEA’n countries found that Filipinos send “I love you” messages the most often:
Filipinos 58%
Indonesians 41% Malaysians 36% Singaporeans 31% Thais 30% Indians 24%
WORKPLACE AS EXTENSION OF THE HOME
Filipinos are strongly family-oriented and most comfortable in a homey setting
Superiors tend be regarded as filial authority
As in the family, rituals for affirming togetherness would be very helpful, such as prayers, singing, recreational activities, sharing of concerns
Like parents, superiors are expected to provide care and support in all levels
FASHIONABLE ELEGANCE
The highly sociable Filipino always likes to be in style – neat, fit and smart. Whether rich or poor, reformer or rebel, manager or laborer, the Filipino dresses well and smells nice. A well-groomed person is socially attractive.
Loners More Prone to Heart Disease
People with lots of friends are usually the healthiest in the world
Lack of friends and close social ties are the hidden cause of heart disease
As social ties increase, mortality rates decrease
Married people, members of religious groups and the like often live longer
Social isolation breeds depression, which may lead to lower immunity to disease and even suicide
MULTI-SIGNIFICANCE:Bringing People Together
An effective Filipino tool for connecting people to each other is to endow an activity, presentation or creation with as many different meanings, functions and qualities as possible.
TRANSPARENCY: Openness and Trust
The Filipino is a highly accessible and accommodating person, basically trusting and open, yet quite sensitive and demanding of respect and recognition of one’s dignity.
Bukas ang kalooban, not private
Windows all around ancestral houses
Aliwalas, airy spaciousness and openness of interiors
“Space surrounds space”High value placed on being
natural, informal, personal
LISTEN TO THE FEELING TONE
Do not listen to what the Filipino says as much as how he says it.
Listen to the feeling tone, read between the lines
Filipinos communicate non-verbally most of the time
Be sensitive to non-verbal symbols, facial expressions, gestures, or body language to understand what the Filipino is really trying to say
“Makuha Ka Sa Tingin”
88 WAYS OF LOOKING IN TAGALOG
TINGIN – to look DILAT, PANDILATAN – stare
squarely at MASID, MASDAN – observe or
look at searchingly MALAS – observing look MATYAG – close observation LIYAW – to spy, watch, observe
ANINAG – see thru a transparent or translucent medium
ANINAW – see thru a haze TANGHOD – to look fascinatedly TANGA, TUMANGA – to look at
something absentmindedly SULILING – to glance sideways,
affectedly or disdainfully MATA, MATAHIN – to look at
something with critical eyes, condescendingly
SILAY – briefly but seriously TITIG – steadfastly and fixedly IRAP – with annoyance LISIK – sparkling of the eyes as
when one is extremely irked or irritated
LIING – to look out of the corner of one’s eyes
MUSING – with a frown SULI – vexedly DAYAP – with an evil eye
ILAM – to look sideways SULYAP – sidewise quickly DUNGSOL – look again and again LINGAP – cast a glance LINGA – look here and there as if
searching for something LINGI, LINGIGIG – look here and
there, worriedly because of some noise
LINGOS – here and there, unmindfully
BALILILING – with a turn of the head
LINGON – over one’s shoulders TUNGO – downwards TINGALA – upwards SIPAT – looking over (a surface) to
check levelness, (or a line, row) to check alignment
SUMIK – looking as if listening BANTAY – to look at what is one’s
own (to keep an eye on)
TANAW – looking from a distance TANGHAL – looking from a
distance contemplating the beauty or grandeur of something
NOOD – to look at something that brings delight
TINGHAD – strain one’s neck in order to see an object not on the level of one’s eyes
MULAGAT – stare SILIP – peep
SIGLAP – superficial, accidental glance without much attention
SIGLAW – glimpse; involuntary passing notice
PATUMANGA or DANGA – look born of awe or dread
LISAW – disquieting look because of anger
LILAP – peculiar flushing of the eyes of drunks
TUNGANGA – open-mouthed curiosity or indifference
BALING – look from one side to another
SULINDING, PASULINDING – glance obliquely, superciliously
MANGANINO, MANALAMIN – to look into a mirror
SILAW – dazzled ALIBAY – follow a moving object
with one’s eyes BANAAG – glimpse, have a
glimmer of MULAT – open eyed At marami pang iba
EXPRESSIVENESS: Maximalism
The common Filipino is a maximalist, filling up every available space with forms and things. It springs from an expressive exuberance deeply rooted in emotional sensitivity and the strong urge to connect.
Treat the other person as you treat yourself because the other person
is also yourself - Filipino core idea
THE CORE VALUES
KAPWA (Shared Identity) PAKIRAMDAM (Shared Inner Perception) KAGANDAHANG LOOB (Shared Humanity)
KAPWA
SHARED IDENTITY (Shared Inner Self, “The other person is also yourself”)
the core of Filipino psychology, it is humaneness at the highest level
implies unique moral obligation to treat one another as equal fellow human beings
PAKIRAMDAM
(Knowing Through Feeling or Tacit Knowing; Participatory
Sensitivity)
A unique social skill inherent in Filipino personhood
The need for openness and basic trust is a precondition for this active process of sensing subtle cues
SHARED INNER PERCEPTION
KAGANDAHANG LOOB
SHARED HUMANITY (Pagkamakatao; A Shared Inner Nobility; A Quiet Sense of Responsibility for Others; A Great Compassion for All Living Beings)
Nudges a person towards genuine acts of generosity, kindness and caring
Levels of Filipino Social Interaction
AMONG OUTSIDERS:
PAKIKITUNGO (courtesy)
PAKIKISALAMUHA (mixing)
PAKIKILAHOK (joining)
PAKIKIBAGAY (adapting)
PAKIKISAMA (getting along with)
PAKIKISAMA
DEEPEST LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT WITH ANOTHER PERSON STILL CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER (IBANG TAO)
Characteristic tendencies of this trait are giving in to another person’s wish, demands, wants or desires. The motive for this could be politeness or expectation of future concessions or immediate rewards
Levels of Filipino Social Interaction
AMONG INSIDERS:PAKIKIPAGPALAGAYANG-
LOOB (rapport)
PAKIKISANGKOT (involvement)
PAKIKIISA (oneness, unity with)
KAPWA: THE OTHER PERSON IS ALSO YOURSELF
The Filipino tends to do business with friends and relatives, or those with whom he has the closest personal ties.
He prefers a trust-based, long-term and deep relationship rather than one based on short-term, material gains.
An impersonal, formal, legal, purely business transaction – devoid of emotional depth - is alien to the Filipino and may only bring out the worst in him.
SOCIETAL VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH
FILIPINO PERSONHOOD
KALAYAAN (Freedom)
KATARUNGAN (Justice, Equality)
KARANGALAN (Honor, Dignity)
BIPOLARITY: The Unity of Opposites
An intuitive logic vastly superior to the either/or of mechanistic cultures is Filipino bipolarity.
In bipolaristic logic, it is axiomatic that if a thing is true or valid, then its opposite must also be true or valid.
A PERSON AND HIS ACTIONS ARE ONE, NOT SEPARATE
To criticize a person’s work is also to criticize the person himself, so how does one urge him to improve his work and raise standards without hurting him?
The solution is to use a bipolar approach: Praise-Criticize or Better, PRAISE-CRITICIZE-PRAISE
(KISS-KICK-KISS)
BRIDGING DIFFERENCES: Curves not Angles
The Filipino prefers mediation to confrontation. Pahiwatig, pakiusap, pakikibagay, biro are only a few of the orchestral wealth of techniques for bridging differences.
Vitalistic, Life Energy-Seeking
Filipinos love
biomorphic, non-architectonic shapes
informal, asymmetrical balance
rich tactile valueskinaesthetic interaction
KINESTHETIC INTERACTIVENESS:Connecting Through Touch
Filipinos love to feel, literally touching their way through life. Rich textural qualities, biomorphic shapes, tasty foods, lush sounds and social clustering make life exceedingly warm and intimate.
A hundred words for touch
DAMA, HIPO, KAPA, KAPKAP, HIMAS, LAMAS, HAPLOS, HAGOD, SALAT, HAWAK, KAPIT, DIIT, LAPAT, SUNGGAB, SAMBILAT(clutch, grab, snatch violently), AKAP, SAGI, ANTIG, LAMUKOS, LAMYOS, KUYUMOS, KUSKOS, KALABIT, KAMOT, KALMOT, DAITI, KANTI, TAPIK, TIPA, KUTOS, SANGGI, KADYOT, SABUNOT, SAMPAL, BUNTAL, PALO, SUNTOK, SUNGGO (bump against lightly), SIPA, SIKO
SIIL (violent pushing or shoving with the elbow), SALAGOY (touch lightly), LUKOT, SIKLOT, KALIKOT, LAPIROT, BALUTBOT, DUTDOT, SUNDOT, KUTKOT, KUROT, PINGGER, KALKAL, KALIKAW, BUTINGTING, BULATLAT, DIKIT, KISKIS, KIMIS, KILITI, SINTAK, SUONG, AKAY, AKBAY
DALA, KARGA, BUHAT, BITBIT, SAPO, SALO, KIMKIM, KIPKIP, SUKBIT, BABA, PASAN, SUNONG, KANDONG, KALONG, PANGKO, SAKBIBI, etc.
KINESTHETIC INTERACTIVENESS:The Magical, Healing Touch
Traditional rituals are a way of connecting to the divine. Through touch people get healed. A “magical” transference of vital energy occurs in many levels, physical and metaphysical.
Hug If You Want To Live
Hugging is a key to happiness – Leo Buscaglia
Hugs make you feel psychologically more secure and together
Touching releases endorphins (the “happy hormones”), which kill pain and increase immunity to disease
Positive feelings strengthen the blood’s immune system
PAKIKIRAMDAM AND LAMBING: Soft, Flowing Movements
Pakikiramdam, knowing through feeling or participatory sensitivity makes the Filipino especially compassionate, affective, malambing, gentle, and kind.
Sharing of Moods and Feelings
Pakikiramdam is the ability to participate in the inner life process or monitor the flow of feelings in others, especially if deeper feelings are involved.
This is the source of the much vaunted Filipino affinity with the underdog, melodrama, and sentimental and compassionate nature.
Pakikiramdam is more than sympathy or empathy: it is dynamic, profound and immeasurable.
For ex, whereas in the U.S., funeral parlors have fixed opening and closing hours, in the Philippines they are open 24 hours. It is simply unthinkable for Filipinos to subject lamay to fixed, limited schedules just because of commercial considerations.
When Filipinos bury their dead, it is not only close relatives who attend the ritual but even distant relatives, friends of relatives, relatives of friends, all those who have become neighbors of the deceased, peers, officemates, classmates and friends.
The Participatory Filipino: Pantay-pantay, walang lamangan
Pagbibigayan, sharing, interdependence; equitable distribution of resources
micro interweaving of colors, visual elements
interlocking/ interconnected wide spaces (non-compartmentalized)
salitan, interlocking rhythms in music
Verbs expressing mutual, reciprocal action and equal possession of
similar qualities magsi- magsilabas, magsigising,
magsitayo magsipag- magsipaghanda,
magsipagkalat magka- magkaisa, magkasundo magka- magkasama, magkapatid,
magkatulad, magkakulay magkasing- magkasingganda,
magkasimpangit
ka - karamay, katuwang, katulong,
katabi, kaklase, kalahi, kauri,
kalaro, kasapi kasing - kasintigas, kasinlapit,
kasintanda, kasindali,
kasing-asim, kasinggaling mag-an- magsagutan, magsabunutan,
magtakbuhan,magtawanan magka-an magkalinawan, magkainisan,
magkarinigan, magkasintahan magsing- magsing-irog
maki- makisangkot, makialam,
makiisa,makibahagi, makibaka,
makisama, makigawa,
makibili, makihalo, makitulog makipag- makipag-away, makipag-
kamay, makipag-usap makipag - an makipag-agawan,
makipagsagutan makipagka - an makipagkaibigan,
makipagkasunduan
ka - an kasunduan, kaibigan,
kasintahan pakiki- pakikiramay, pakikiramdam,
pakikiisa, pakikiapid pakikipag- pakikipagtalo, pakikipag-
sayaw, pakikipag-usap pakikipag - an pakikipagtulungan,
pakikipagtawanan, pakikipag-ugnayan,
pakikipag-unawaan, pakikipagsulatan, pakikipagsapalaran
pakikipagka - an pakikipagkasunduan,
pakikipagkaibigan paki- pakialam, pakisuyo, pakibasa paki – an pakibagayan, pakisamahan,
pakilapitan, pakibihisan ta- kain ta
PROVIDING CHOICES:Variability of Form, Medium and Technique
A greater range of materials, forms, techniques, ideas and possibilities for engaging in productive or creative work allows for wider and democratic social participation
FILIPINO DIGNITY IS THE CREATIVE HUMAN ESSENCE
There is nothing more dehumanizing to a human being than to feel he is merely being treated as a machine The consequences for an organization are a rapid turnover rate, absenteeism, safety violations, high accident rate, high rates of illness, and low productivity.
FILIPINO DIGNITY IS THE CREATIVE HUMAN ESSENCE
In the work place and in other relationships which fail to recognize the individual as more than a robot, we see negative behavior such as lack of cooperation and absenteeism – John W. Burton
CREATIVE IMPROVISATION Extemporaneous
or on-the-spot creativity comes very naturally to the Filipino who has the finest artistic yet improvisatory traditions such as the duplo, balagtasan, balitaw, tultul, kulintang, kuntao and okir. Creative spontaneity is highly valued.
ROUTINE KILLS CREATIVE SPONTANEITY
Filipinos tend to fall into a stupor if work becomes routine. The solution is job rotation, multi-tasking, change of activity, breaks, leisure and play or better, to make work INTRINSICALLY REWARDING and
CULTIVATE A PASSION FOR EXCELLENCE so that every moment
of the work situation becomes A CREATIVE CHALLENGE.
Personal Identity Within The CommunityWithin a shared matrix of
communal values, every person’s inherent uniqueness must be socially recognized. His/ her personal identity must find creative expression in a particular social role.
FILIPINO CULTURAL GENIUS
HIGHLY RELATIONAL Most active in the exploration of meaning in
relationships as seen in our prolific affixation system, one of the richest in the world
Promotion of togetherness through activities,
practices, and creations characterized by multiple functions, values and qualities
A highly caring, nurturing orientation
Strong family values
Genius in interpersonal skills
Excellence in service industries
Highest in religiosity
Superior in mental health
The phenomenon of EDSA and other manifestations of our genius in designing social institutions
Preference for human scale in social organization, including size of political constituency (governance with a face)
Giving everybody an active role. Decision-making is a collective activity
There is no separation of participant/performer/creator and observer/audience/spectator
The individual is recognized within a shared social matrix
HIGHLY PARTICIPATORY, CONSENSUS-BUILDERS
THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF HUMANITY ARE ROOTED IN A
COMMON CORE OF BEING(UBOD),
A CREATIVE, LIVING AND DIVINE GOODNESS
A contagious joie de vivre and optimistic attitude, a great capacity for happiness
A highly adaptable, versatile, flexible, creative and expressive people
Amazing babaylans, psychic healers and practitioners
Passion for freedom, justice and dignity
THE NOTION OF LIFE AS AN INTEGRATED WHOLE
The principle of absolute equality of man and woman
Non-sexist languages
Strong educational, knowledge orientation
Happiest People
Filipinos are happiest in Southeast Asia, 43%, Malay, 42%, Thai, 39% (SRG Happiness Index, 9,000 surveyed in 1987)
Young Filipinos are the happiest in Asia, 78%, Thai, 77%, Malay 76%, Indian, 73%…Taiwanese, 7%, Hongkong youths are the saddest, 5%.
(Channel V Network Survey,Nov. 2000)
Filipinos are the happiest in East Asia (2003 survey)
Happiness Protects Against Colds People who are energetic, happy and
relaxed are less likely to catch colds, research has found.
Conversely, those who are depressed, nervous or angry are more likely to complain about cold symptoms – whether or not they get bitten by the cold bug.
A team from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh found that people who had a positive emotional attitude were not infected as often as people with a negative emotional style – BBC News July 26, 2003
WAKASWAKAS
Salamat Po!
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