Saturday, October 13, 2007
The culture of the Philippines reflects the complexity of the History of the Philippines through the blending of pre-Hispanic indigenous Austronesian civilizations and the culture of Spain, imparted during Spain's 377 year colonial rule of the islands. Spanish colonization of the Philippines, governed from Mexico, lasted for more than three centuries, thus there is a significant amount of Spanish-Mexican influence in many facets of the Filipino custom and tradition. Hispanic influence are most visible in literature, folk music, folk dance, language, food, art and religion. Most of the present celebrated religious traditions are a mixture of both Roman Catholic, Pagan and indigenous religious rituals. As an example, each year, towns from around the country hold major festivities known as Barrio fiestas which commemorate the patron saints of each town, villages or regional districts. The festival season is celebrated with church ceremonies, with street parades (in honor of the patron saints), with fireworks, with beauty and dance contests (for generations of old and new), and with cockfighting tournaments. These Fiestas are also observed in most countries that had been part of the Spanish Empire. American influence are evident in the use of English language and contemporary pop culture such as fast-food, music, movies and basketball. The Southern island of the country where most of the followers of Islam are located, celebrate their own customs and traditions. While Chinese Filipinos living in the country also follow their own cultural production.
source: Wikipedia
The history of the Philippines is believed to begin with the arrival of the first humans in the Philippines by land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on Homonhon Island, southeast of Samar on March 16, 1521. Permanent settlements in the island of Cebu were established with the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565, and more settlements continued northward with the colonizers reaching the bay of Manila on the island of Luzon. In Manila they established a new town and thus began an era of Spanish colonization that lasted for more than three centuries.
The Philippine Revolution against Spain began in April of 1896, culminating two years later with a proclamation of independence and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. However, the Treaty of Paris, at the end of the Spanish-American War, transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. U.S. colonial rule of the Philippines began in December 1899, with very limited local rule permitted beginning in 1905. Partial autonomy (commonwealth status) was granted in 1935, preparatory to a planned full independence from the United States in 1946. Preparation for a fully sovereign state was interrupted by the Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II.
With a promising economy in the 1950s and 1960s, the Philippines in the late 1960s and early 1970s saw a rise of student activism and civil unrest against the corrupt dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972. Because of close ties between United States and President Marcos, the U.S. government continued to support Marcos even though his administration was well-known for massive corruption and extensive human rights abuse. The peaceful and bloodless 1986 EDSA Revolution, however, brought about the ousting of Marcos (who fled to Hawaii on board a U.S. military helicopter, where he was exiled until his death) and a return to democracy for the country. The period since then, however, has been marked by political instability and hampered economic productivity.
The Philippine Revolution against Spain began in April of 1896, culminating two years later with a proclamation of independence and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. However, the Treaty of Paris, at the end of the Spanish-American War, transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. U.S. colonial rule of the Philippines began in December 1899, with very limited local rule permitted beginning in 1905. Partial autonomy (commonwealth status) was granted in 1935, preparatory to a planned full independence from the United States in 1946. Preparation for a fully sovereign state was interrupted by the Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II.
With a promising economy in the 1950s and 1960s, the Philippines in the late 1960s and early 1970s saw a rise of student activism and civil unrest against the corrupt dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972. Because of close ties between United States and President Marcos, the U.S. government continued to support Marcos even though his administration was well-known for massive corruption and extensive human rights abuse. The peaceful and bloodless 1986 EDSA Revolution, however, brought about the ousting of Marcos (who fled to Hawaii on board a U.S. military helicopter, where he was exiled until his death) and a return to democracy for the country. The period since then, however, has been marked by political instability and hampered economic productivity.
source: Wikipedia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)