Hispanic influence on Filipino culture
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The British historian Arnold J. Toynbee once asserted in one of his works that "the Philippines is a Latin American country that was transported to the Orient by a gigantic marine wave". While the many Hispanic contributions made to the culture of the Philippines can not be overlooked, Toynbee's romanticized assertion fails to acknowledge the cultural contributions made by the Chinese and Islamic traders who settled in the islands between the 9th and 15th century and more recently contemporary influences from the United States following the Philippine-American War during the 20th century.
The Spanish language was used by the Spanish conquerors of Philippines. Spanish did not expand to become the first language of a majority of Filipinos because the First Philippine Republic was abolished by US forces who occupied the islands in 1898 following the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. The medium of instruction was changed to English. However, native Philippine languages such as Tagalog, Ilocano and Cebuano have thousands of Spanish loan words and phrases. In the province of Cavite (central Luzon) and in the island of Mindanao a Spanish-based creole called Chabacano is spoken by almost 1 million people.
The Philippines, having been the only Spanish possession in Asia, endured the least amount of Spanish influence on its people in terms of demography. This was primarily due to population geography and small amounts of European population in the islands. Consequently, the Philippines was able to retain most of its predominantly indigenous population. Nonetheless, many of the Hispanic elements in the Culture of the Philippines have been incorporated into the native core, and Spanish became the Lingua Franca of the Philippines well into the 20th century. Since the 16th century, Spanish culture has transformed the Filipino cultural landscape of today. While remaining Austronesian at its core, Modern day Filipino culture is described as a unique blend of Eastern and Western traditions. [1]
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[edit] History
Negrito and Austronesian peoples were the principal peoples of the Philippine archipelago.[1] The Negritos and Austronesians migrated to the islands during the last ice age some 30,000 years ago, when land bridges connected the archipelago to mainland Asia.[2] Later migrations were by water and took place over several thousand years.[1]
The Philippines was ruled from Mexico City as a territory of New Spain, from 1565 to 1821 and as a province of Spain until 1898.
In the past few years, the Philippines has began to re-establish closer ties to its former colonial ruler. The King and Queen of Spain attended the Centennial celebration of Philippine Independence from Spain on June 12, 1998 in recognition of a shared history.
[edit] Language
Since the Philippines was a territorial part of New Spain for 256 years during the first half of the Spanish colonial period, the Spanish that's spoken in the Philippines today has a great affinity to Mexican Spanish. In fact, the number of Mexican Spanish loan-words that appear in various indigenous Filipino languages are of Nahuatl origin that were first incorporated into Mexican Spanish, and which do not exist in European Spanish. These words include nanay (nantl), tatay (tatle), bayabas [from guayaba(s), guava], abokado (avocado), papaya, zapote, etc.
Spanish was introduced in the 16th century, and by the 19th century remained as the official language of country. However, it was never spoken by the majority of the Philippine population. At its peak in the early 20th century, the language was spoken by approximately 60% of the population (with different degrees of fluency) and by 10 to 15% as a first language. After the Spanish-American War of 1898; colonists from the United States introduced English to the islands. Spanish remained as a co-official language, along with Tagalog and English until 1987, when it lost its status; prompting the Philippine government to declare Tagalog and English as the official languages of the country. Today, Spanish is only spoken by the country's minor Hispanic communities, which includes Spaniards and Filipino mestizos of Spanish and Latin American descent.
However, various Filipino indigenous languages have significantly assimilated aspects of the Spanish language and contain thousands of loan words. Numerous words and some grammatical concepts of Spanish origin are still used in Chavacano, Cebuano and Tagalog.
[edit] Names of the country, provinces and cities
The name of the country itself comes from the king of Spain, Philip II. The name was bestowed on the country by Ruy López de Villalobos, in reference to the Samar and Leyte regions during his expedition in 1543. It was later given to all of the islands in 1565, after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
There are many Provinces in the Philippines with Spanish names, including Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Laguna, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, La Union, Marinduque, Antique, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Valle de Compostela.
Many cities and towns are also named in Spanish, such as Medellin, Santander, Nueva Valencia, Naga City (prior to 1919 was known as Nueva Cáceres), Las Piñas, Prosperidad, Isabela, Sierra Bullones, Angeles, La Paz, Esperanza, Buenavista, Pilar, La Trinidad, Garcia Hernandez, Trece Martires, Los Baños, Floridablanca and many more. There are numerous other towns named after saints, such as San Fernando, Santa Rosa, Santa Rita, San Jose, San Pablo, and San Marcelino, as well as after Spanish cities, such as Sevilla, Toledo, Cadiz, Zaragoza, Avila and Salamanca.
Many other indigenous place names are spelled using Spanish orthography, such as Cagayán de Oro, Parañaque, and Cebú.
[edit] People
One of the most visible marks left by Spanish rule in the Philippines is the prevalence of the Roman Catholic religion and Hispanic names and surnames among most Filipinos (see: Catálogo alfabético de apellidos). Over 95% of the population is predominantly of indigenous ancestry. Filipinos of Chinese descent, who had been settling in the Philippines since pre-Hispanic times, currently form the largest non-Austronesian ethnic group throughout the archipelago. According to a scientific study, Mestizos, those of mixed Spanish, Mexican or other European ancestry, from either Spanish or U.S. colonial periods, make up less than 3.6% of the entire population.
[edit] Catholic religion
The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country, with (83%) of the population baptized with the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Spaniards. Friars and priests were in charge of converting the entire Filipino population from the previously practiced Islam and the many local native spiritual traditions to Christianity.
Many Filipinos at home set up altars in Hispanic Catholic fashion, adorned with icons, flowers, statues, etc. On feast days, various barrios host processions in honor of their patron saint. Many young girls are chosen as the 'queen' of the procession.
Except for the Muslim minority in the southern Philippines, concentrated mainly in Mindanao, conversion was almost universal.
With the Spanish government withdrawing from the islands, Filipinos were able to hold more and higher positions in church life - positions that had been previously reserved for Spaniards, Mexicans and mestizos and leading to the fortification of the Filipino relationship with the faith and allowing for its continued position as the country's mainstream religion.
[edit] Fiestas and religious holidays
All major Roman Catholic holy days are observed as official national holidays.
Spanish-Mexican Culture and Roman Catholicism has significantly influenced the culture and traditions. Every year on the 3rd week of January, the country celebrates the festival of the "Santo Niño" (Spanish, "Santo Niño"), or "Holy Child Jesus", the largest being held in Cebu City. The country also celebrates the "Patrona" (Female Patron Saint) with festivals nation wide. Millions of Filipinos around the country attend this religious Mardi Gras born from the amalgam of the indigenous Austronesian cultures, devotion to the Holy Child Jesus, Christianity and the founding of the country.
Religious holidays are:
- "Semana Santa" (Holy Week or Easter), in March or April.
- "Araw ng mga Kaluluwa" (All Souls' Day) and "Todos Los Santos" (All Saints' Day), October 31 to November 2. Celebrates "Día de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead), where families spend much of the 3 days and 3 evenings visiting their ancestral graves, showing respect and honoring the departed relatives by feasting, decorating and offering prayers.
- "Navidad" ("Pasko") (Christmas), December 25.
[edit] Arts, literature and music
Early Hispanic borrowings, although highly hybridized into the Filipino culture, is essentially based on indigenous and European foundations.
Folk dances, music and literature have remained relatively intact in the 21st century. These were introduced from Spain and Mexico in the 16th century and can be regarded as largely Hispanic in constitution, which have remained in the Philippines for centuries.
[edit] Cooking
Food reflects on the adaptation of Spanish and Mexican cuisines.
They include:
- Chorizo
- Calabaza
- Camote
- Tortas
- Pescado
- Menudo
- Empanadas
- Ensaymadas
- Natilla
- Chicharrón
- Dulce de membrillo
- Flan
- Mazapan
- Galletas
- Pan de sal,
- Avocado (introduced from Mexico),
- Adobo
- Lechon
- Longaniza
- Tocino
- Jamon
- Relleno
- Embutido
- Caldereta
- Tortilla quesada
- Albondigas
- Galantina
- Asado
- Paella
- Picadillo
- Pochero de bacalao
- Afritada
- Pastel de lengua
- Torta del cielo
[edit] Business
In the business community, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) plays an integral role in the economic, political and social development of the nation. Historically, the chamber can be traced back as early as the 1890s with the inauguration of the Cámara de Comercio de Filipinas. This organization was composed mainly of Spanish companies such as the Compañía General de Tabaco de Filipinas, Fábrica de Cerveza San Miguel and Elizalde y Cia, among others mandated by Spain under a Royal Grant.
During the first half of the 20th century commerce and industrial trades with other Hispanic countries declined due to the American administration of the country. However the resurgence of trade between Spain and Latin American countries had risen toward the closing of the century. The year 1998 marked the centennial of the end of colonial Spain, however, it also opened a new opportunity for both Spanish and Filipino businesses to reconnect their historic ties as trade between east and west continues to rise during the 21st century.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Philippines - Early History. U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2006-08-22.
- ^ A Brief History of the Philippines from a Filipino Perspective. Health Action Information Network. Retrieved on 2006-08-21.
