A presentation of the topic on elements of culture

2. What is culture?
Culture refers to the total lifestyle of a
people, including all of their ideas, values,
knowledge, behaviors, and material objects
that they share.
Culture shapes and guides people’s
perception of reality.

3. Culture determines…
Food we eat
Clothing
Music
Games we play
How to express emotions
What is good or bad
What is high or low culture (if any)

4. 4
1. Knowledge. It is the total range of what
has been learned or perceived as true. This
body of information is accumulated through
experience, study, or investigation.
Elements of Culture

5. 5
a. Natural Knowledge refers to the accumulated facts about
the natural world, including both the biological and physical
aspects.
b. Technological Knowledge pertains to knowledge of
nature which is useful in dealing with practical problems, like
knowledge of the methods of acquiring food, dealing with
diseases, means of transportation, tools and implements,
and weapons of war.
c. Supernatural Knowledge refers to perceptions about the
actions of gods, goddesses, demons, angels or spirits, and
natural beings like shamans, witches, or prophets who are
held to possess supernatural powers.
d. Magical Knowledge refers to perceptions about methods
of influencing supernatural events by manipulating certain
laws of nature.

6. Elements of Culture
2. Social Norms. A norm is an idea in the
minds of the members of a group put into a
statement specifying what members of the
group should do, ought to do, or are
expected to do under circumstances.
Norms are usually in the form of rules,
standards, or prescriptions and socially
shared expectations. Norms pertain to
society’s standards of propriety, morality,
ethics, and legality.

7. Norms
Norms differ according to the age, sex,
religion, occupation, or ethnic group.
Among social norms are folkways, mores,
and laws.

8. 8

9. According to the informal norms of culture of the
mountainous Asian kingdom of Bhutan, people greet
each other by extending their tongues and hands

10. 10
a. Folkways
• They are commonly known as the
customs, traditions, and conventions of
a society.
• They are the general rules, customary
and habitual ways and patterns of
expected behavior within the society
where it is followed, without much
thought given to the matter.
Types of Norms (according to their
relative importance to society)

11. 11
Folkways are norms governing everyday
behavior whose violation might cause a
dirty look, rolled eyes, or disapproving
comment.
Example: Walking up a “down” escalator
in a department store challenges our
standards of appropriate behavior.

12. 12

13. 13
Types of Norms (according to their
relative importance to society)
b. Mores
• They are special folkways which are
important to the welfare of the people
and their cherished values.
• They are based on ethical and moral
values which are strongly held and
emphasized.

14. Each society demands obedience to its
mores (violation can lead to severe
penalties)
Examples: murder, child abuse

15. 15

16. Folkways vs. Mores
Sociologists Ian Robertson
illustrated the difference
between folkways and
mores: “A man who walks
down a street wearing
nothing on the upper half of
his body is violating a
folkway; a man is wearing
nothing on the lower half of
his body is violating one of
mores (requirement that
people cover their genitals
and buttocks in public).

17. Types of Norms (according to
their relative importance to society)
c. Laws
They are formalized norms, enacted by
people who are vested with governmental
power and enforced by political and legal
authorities designated by the government.

18. 18

19. 19
• Fashions, fads, crazes, and other passing fancies
operate primarily as forces of social change, yet they
may be considered short-lived social norms.
Sanctions for Violators
Folkways. Sanctions may be in the form of ridicule,
disapproval, or being considered as funny, ridiculous,
eccentric or labeled as an “odd ball.”
Mores. Violators are considered immoral, sinful, vicious,
or antisocial.
Laws. Negative sanctions include fines, imprisonment, or
the death penalty
Those who do not keep up with the fashions or fads are
subjected to ridicule or are called “old-fashioned.”

20. 3. Values. They are abstract concepts of
what is important and worthwhile. These
values are the basis of our judgment, of
what we consider good, desirable, and
correct, as well as what is considered
bad, undesirable, ugly and wrong.
Values influence people's behavior and
serve as criteria for evaluation the
actions of others
Elements of Culture

21. 21
4. Beliefs. They embody people’s perception of
reality and include the primitive ideas of the
universe as well as the scientist’s empirical view
of the world. They result from one’s experiences
about the physical, biological, and social world in
which the individual lives.
Examples are superstitions, and those that relate
to philosophy, theology, technology, art, and
science.
Elements of Culture

22. 22
5. Technology and Material Culture. Technology
refers to techniques and know-how in utilizing raw
materials to produce food, tools, shelter, clothing,
means of transportation, and weapons. The
material objects that are the products of
technology are called artifacts.
Elements of Culture

23. The
Filipino
Culture

24. Damaged culture and the sick man of
Asia are just two of the many phrases
used to describe the Philippine situation
today. Questions such as “what’s
wrong, what’s right with the Filipino?
have set many Filipino minds upon
some deep and not so deep soul-
searching and brainstorming. Is
American democracy fit for the
Philippines? Is Catholicism brought by
Spain partly responsible for the failure
of the country to become another “tiger”
of Asia?
Manuel B. Dy Jr., Ph.D.
Ateneo de Manila University

25.  The Malays. The basic component of Filipino culture
is the Malay temperament which could best be
described by “niceness and pleasantness” to others
rather than by virtue of law abiding features. In its
fluidness of culture, the Malay family clan or unit is
the world’s best security system.
 Chinese. Filial piety between parents and children,
the flexibility to go along with other people and the
“sageliness within and the kingliness without” of the
Filipino is believed to be due to Chinese influence.
CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS TO FILIPINO
CULTURE

26.  The Indian influence. Indian influence is found in the
languages, mode of dressing, architectural art, folk,
beliefs, brass, and copperware.
 The Hindu influence. It is the most pervasive in the
Filipino belief system. For instance is the prediction
of Filipino newspaper readers for horoscope and
fortune-telling sections.
CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS TO FILIPINO
CULTURE

27.  The Spanish heritage. Spain introduced a community
oriented rather than a family-oriented religion in the
form of Christianity. It contributed to an elite class. A
social and political organization, according to Western
institutions, was brought into the Philippines.
 The Americans. The United States further broadened
this heritage by introducing a democracy that called
for individual liberty and equality as well as a national
political community to which everybody was supposed
to participate through national suffrage.
CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS TO FILIPINO
CULTURE

28. The Filipino culture’s existence and development is viewed and
interpreted in many ways. Some of them are:
 The Traditional Concept. The traditionalist holds that Filipino
culture was developed due to the conglomeration of the physical,
intellectual, moral, and spiritual aspects. It assumes that
underneath the independent and widely divergent culture as
shown in their way of life, there is an underlying basic root of
unity that holds the cultural tree together and infuses one clear,
distinct substance through its veins. This includes their art of
living, philosophy in life, attitudes toward God, nature and
fellowmen.
THE FILIPINO CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

29.  The Nationalistic View. This concept regards culture as
the summation of the needs of the people, the
description of their past and present condition, an
expression of their values, thoughts and emotions, and
the depiction of their historic struggles to liberate
themselves. True national culture is inextricably linked to
the people’s needs, ideas, emotions, and practices.
THE FILIPINO CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

30.  Cultural Dualism. This theory maintains that the
Philippines is a transitional society dominated on one
side by the traditional culture and on the other side by
the modern culture. The norms and values of these two
forces inevitably oppose each other leading to conflicts
in the life of individual. Because of the conflict brought
by the various foreign influences into the Philippines, the
Filipinos have to engage into a selective integration and
modification of foreign influences into a distinct Filipino
culture.
THE FILIPINO CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

31. Belief System
 Filipinos are religious. They believe so much in
supernatural powers and view themselves as only a
speck in this wide universe. This Filipino belief in the
supernatural powers taught them to trust prayers
rather than hard work in the realization of their
dreams. Success is considered a blessing from above,
a result of good luck and faith.
 Good is considered relative. What is considered good
to one may not be good to another. Happiness and
success differ from one person to another. Elders,
parents, and superiors are respected and obeyed.
Hospitality is one practice Filipinos believe in
because it is their way of implementing the golden
rule: “Do unto others what you want others do unto
you”.

32. Value System
 Personally, the Filipinos value more their honor and
status than anything else. Majority of them takes care of
their honor (karangalan) rather than wealth. In decision
making, the Filipinos usually consult and take into
consideration the consensus of the family members as
the feelings of those who are to be affected.
 Socially, the Filipinos give more emphasis on social
relationships. In terms of emotion, the Filipinos are
friendly. They smile at people, even with strangers
when they are approached.They are warm and simple.

35. STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER
 Pakikipagkapwa-tao. It is having a regard
for others with dignity and respect and deal
with them as fellow human being.
 Utang na Loob. It is a technique of
reciprocity of debt of gratitude to others
within the family circle or primary group,
sometimes unlimited in nature, emotional
rather than financial or rational.
 Family Orientation. To the Filipino, one’s
family is the source of personal identity, the
source of emotional and material support
and the person’s main commitment and
responsibility.

36. STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER
 Joy and Humor. Filipinos have a cheerful and
fun-loving approach to life and its ups and
downs which is manifested in the Filipino’s love
for socials and celebrations, in our capacity to
laugh even in the most trying of times.
 Flexibility, Adaptability and Creativity.
Filipinos have a great capacity to adjust and to
adapt to circumstances and to the surrounding
environment, both physical and social. Filipinos
possess a tolerance for ambiguity, creative,
resourceful, adept at learning and able to
improvise and make use of whatever is at hand
in order to create and produce.

37. STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTER
 Hard Work and Industry. Filipinos have the
capacity for hard work given the proper
conditions. The desire to raise one’s standard
of living and to possess the essentials of a
decent life for one’s family, combined with
the right opportunities and incentive
stimulate the Filipino to work very hard.
 Faith and Religiosity. Filipinos have deep
faith in God.
 Ability to Survive. It is manifested in the
capacity to endure difficult times and to get
by even on so little.

38. WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTERS
 Extreme Personalism. This is manifested in the
tendency to give personal interpretations to
actions, to take things personally.
 Extreme Family-Centeredness. It creates an image
to which the Filipino is fiercely loyal to the
detriment of concern for the larger community or
common good. It manifests in the use of office and
power as a means of promoting the interests of the
family, patronage and political dynasties and in
the protection of erring family members.
 Lack of Discipline. It is the casual and relaxed
attitude towards time and space which manifests
itself in lack of precision and compulsiveness, in
poor time management and in procrastination.

39. WEAKNESSES OF THE FILIPINO CHARACTERS
 Passivity and Lack of Initiative. It is strong reliance
on others, submissive to authority, Filipinos tend to
be complacent and there rarely sense of urgency
about any problem.
 Colonial Mentality. This has two dimensions: (1)
lack of patriotism and (2) actual preference for
things foreign. It manifests in the alienation of the
elite from their roots and from the masses, as well
as in the basic feeling of national inferiority that
makes us difficult to relate as equals to
Westerners.
 Kanya-kanya Syndrome. It pertains to crab
mentality, selfish, self- serving attitude of the
Filipinos.

40. Ways To Tell If You’re A Filipino

41. Ways To Tell If You’re A Filipino
• You point with your lips.
• You eat using hands and you have it down to a technique.
• Your other piece of luggage is a balikbayan box.
• You nod upwards to greet someone.
• You put your foot up on your chair and rest your elbow on
your knee while eating.
• You think that half-hatched duck eggs are a delicacy.
• You have to kiss your relative on the cheek as soon as
you enter the room.
• You collect items from hotels or restaurants "for souvenir."
• You smile for no reason.
• You flirt by having a foolish grin in your face while raising
your eyebrows repeatedly.

42. Ways To Tell If You’re A Filipino
• You go to a department store and try to bargain the
prices.
• You scratch your head when you don’t know the
answer.
• You never eat the last morsel of food on the table.
• You add an unwarranted "H" to your name, i.e.
"Jhun," Bhoy," "Rhon."
• You put hands together in front of you as if to make a
path and say "excuse, excuse" when you pass in
between people or in front of the TV.
• Your middle name is your mother’s maiden name.
• You like everything imported or "state-side."
• You check the labels on clothes to see where it was
made before buying.
• You hang your clothes out to dry.
• You use your fingers to measure the water..

43. Ways To Tell If You’re A Filipino
• You always offer food to all your visitors.
• You say "comfort room" instead of "bathroom."
• You say "for take out" instead of "to go"
• You say "open" or "close" the light.
• You ask for a "pentel-pen" or a "ball-pen" instead of just
"pen."
• You asked for "Colgate" instead of "toothpaste."
• You say "Hoy" get someone attention.
• You turn around when someone says "Psst"
• You say "he" when you mean "she" and vice versa.
• Your sneeze sounds like "ahh-ching" instead of "ahh-
choo."

44. • You prefer to make acronyms for phrases such as "OA: for
over acting or "TNT" for, well, you know.
• You say "brown-out" instead of "black-out."
• You have a portrait of "The Last Supper" hanging in your
dining room.
• You own a karaoke system.
• You own a piano that no one ever plays.
• Your house has too many “burloloys”.
• You have two to three pairs of tsinelas at your doorstep.
• You have a giant wooden fork and spoon hanging
somewhere in the dining room.
• Your car chirps like a bird or plays a tune when it is in
reverse.
• You hang a rosary on your car’s rear view mirror.
Ways To Tell If You’re A Filipino

45. • Your parents call each other "Mommy" and "Daddy" or
"ma" and "pa."
• You have family member that has a nickname that repeats
itself, i.e."Deng-Deng," Ling-Ling" or "Bing-Bing"
• You put hot dogs in your spaghetti.
• You consider dilis the Filipino equivalent to French fries.
• You think that eating chocolate rice pudding and dried fish
is a great morning meal.
• You instinctively grab a toothpick after each meal.
• You dip bread in your morning coffee.
• Your cupboards are full of Spam, Vienna Sausage, Ligo,
and Corned Beef, which you refer to as Karne Norte.
• You bring your "baon" most of the time to work.
• You consistently arrive 30 minutes late for all events.
Ways To Tell If You’re A Filipino

46. #finished
#thankyou