What do you think will relate to European culture?

The Country

Geography

- 2nd largest archipelago

- Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao
- Islands
- Coastline (beaches)

Historical

- Name
- Philippine flag (can say war or peace – only country that switches)
- 3 stars and a sun
- Prehistory (mainly, austronesian: pintados = tattooed people)
- Trading with Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, China, India, Arab, Japan, Korea -> racially ambiguous
- Spanish
- American
- Japanese (2nd world war)
- People Power (after Martial Law)
- Current president

Population

- 7th in Asia, 12th in world

- 11% OFW
- Manila: highest population density

Language

- Many languages (number)

- English (5th in the world)
- Spanish is gone, but Spanish words in Filipino
- artial arts)

Religion

- Pre-colonial: animism
- Predominantly Christian (only in Asia)
- Holidays: Christian, Chinese, Muslim, historical

Education

- University of San Carlos, UST – older than Harvard

- Tagala (Filipino-Spanish dictionary) – older than first book printed in US
- Switched from 10 year to K-12 system
Technology & economy

- Biggest coconut exporter worldwide

- 2nd largest geothermal energy (next to US)
- Copper and gold deposits

The Islands

Tourism

- Boracay
- Rice terraces
- Palawan river

Transportation

- Jeepney (from American GI jeeps after 2nd world war)

- Tricycle
- Banca, vinta

Volcanic Activity

- Taal
- Camiguin (most number of volcano per area)
- Pinatubo (lowered Earth temp)
- Mayon

Flora & Fauna

- Monkey-eating eagle
- Megadiverse; Endemic species; one of the highest rate of discovery
- Crocodiles
- Tubbataha reef

The People

- “Mexicans of Asia” – East meets West

- Hospitality
- Politeness (po, opo)
- Happiness (Humor) – even in natural disasters, hardships
- Family (very close family ties)
- Bayanihan
- Very social: “Texting capital of the world”; Social Media explosion
- Beauty contest
- Shopping Mall culture: 3 out of 10 largest in world: SM megamall, Sm north edsa, Sm mall of
asia
Celebrations

- Longest Christmas
- World largest Christmas lantern
- Fiestas (all year round)

Music, Arts, and Literature

- Tinikling and folk dances

- Clothes: Barong tagalog at terno
- Jose Rizal
- Karaoke culture

Sports

- Basketball
- Boxing (Manny Pacquiao) – crime drops to zero
- Arnis (martial arts)

Toys & Games

- Yoyo “come back”

- Tumbang preso
- Luksong tinik
- Sungka
- Salagubang
- Spider fighting
- Cock fighting “sabong”

Food

- No Rice, no meal
- 5 times a day
- Asia’s melting pot – variety of tastes
- Adobo: “national” food
- Puto
- Halo halo “mix mix”
- Lechon
- Balut (and other street foods)
- Jolibee