Another distinct Filipino attitude is the “hiya” or “shame” attitude wherein one is either ashamed to borrow money or one is oblige no matter what to pay what one owes to another, lest one will be labeled “walang hiya” or “no shame”. Another Filipino cultural trait related to this attitude is the Filipinos “utang na loob” or “reciprocity” attitude if one owes something from a favor done or anything, one should pay it, lest a ruin in relationship will happen. This “reciprocity” of Filipinos is sometimes called the “debt of gratitude”. These two cultural traits of Filipino makes their relationship not only to their families but also to other people brings harmony and good-relationship attitude. Moreover, there is another distinct cultural trait among Filipinos – the Bayanihan traits. This Bayanihan trait of Filipino promotes close friendship with their neighbors. This distinct Philippine culture is about helping your fellow neighbor when one is need of urgent help. Filipinos gather together and contribute whatever they could help their fellow neighbor in need. For this Bayanihan trait of Filipinos means togetherness in times of help and need. This is one of the beautiful traits of Filipinos that unites them one another despite of their differing beliefs and traditions which they have inherited from their respective ancestors.

Though Filipinos have distinct cultural traits, their literature is also distinct with the conglomeration of different fables, legends, and prehistoric stories and scary stories from their ancestral conquerors’ culture which has now become a colonial legacy on the Philippine literature and arts. Some of these are the belief in Jewish God which the Spaniards and Muslim conquerors have brought which is the prevalent belief of Filipinos today. The Hindu and Malay-Native American belief in Voodoo or “Arbularyo” (faith Healers) doctors and psychic surgeon is also high believed by most Filipinos today. When one Filipino does not have money to go to a medical doctor, Filipinos resort to “arbularyos” and psychic surgeons. Moreover, the beliefs in demonic creatures and evil spirits such as the “aswang” or weredog, the “tikbalang (half horse-half man creature), the kapre (giant smoking tobacco up on a tree), the beliefs in dwarf and elves, mananangal (witch that could divide oneself into two parts having a bat wings), the belief in fairies and engkanto (minor spirits),as well as belief to Christian and Muslim beliefs about Satan and arch-angel Michael still within the fabric of Filipinos cultural beliefs.

Aside from their mixed literature, their art of dancing and visual arts still have reflections of colonial influence. Such as their famous folk dance – the singkil and tinikling come Muslim influence, as well as their modern dance today have traces of American and Spanish influenced.

Furthermore, Filipinos visual arts, such the style of their paintings cinemas, and structural architecture are colonial inspired ones.

Philippine arts like Philippine literature is indeed a combination of different cultures being Filipino is the final product or child or offspring of this marriage cultures, thus, Filipinos are said be excellent peoples in terms of arts and literature and cultural values.

Related posts:

1. Life in the Philippines
2. A Brief Summary of Philippine Culture

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