The Philippine culture reflects the involvedness of the country’s history through the blending of many diverse traditional Malay heritages mixed with Spanish, American as well as other Asian cultures. In other words, traditions were shared to the Filipinos by their colonizers.
This mix and colorful culture is one thing that separates them from the rest of the world. This also includes their different traditions, language, arts, and etc. which can also be found in museums, churches and galleries.
The prehistoric Philippine Mythology and Philippine original and unique culture was influenced by the Malay cultures of Southeast Asia, along with a mixture of Western-Christianity, Eastern-Islamic, Hinduism, and Buddhism tradition.
During Spanish colonization in the Philippines that lasted from 1565 to 1898 (333 years), the country was governed from Mexico and later directly from Spain. That then influenced the Philippine customs and traditions, both the Mexican and Spanish way. But the greatest impact they have shared to the Filipinos was Christianity.
Next, the Philippine territory was occupied by United States from 1898 until 1946. Filipinos learned to use English language. They have also adapted the American pop culture, like fast-food, music, film and the sport, basketball.
While the other Asian ethnic groups like the Chinese and Japanese have already been settling in the Philippines even before the colonial period. Chinese shared their knowledge in business and also influenced the Filipinos their style of cooking and delicacies. But their influence was in the popularity of gambling games such as mahjong and jueteng. They have also shared knowledge about the sport Eskrima (Filipino martial arts).
The Muslim community in the country follows their own unique customs and traditions—a Philippine Islamic culture. There are these Muslim recreations such as the Kali, Kulintang and Gamelan which are often used by the Islamic groups in Mindanao and Sulu archipelago.
The family relationship of the Filipinos is said to be the building block of Philippine culture and society. This close family ties extend to a large circle of relatives that usually includes the third cousin.
Since, the Philippines is an archipelago, culture varies from one region to the other as well as the language. Fiesta and festivals may be celebrated differently but one thing would not differ is the Filipino hospitality towards their visitors.
They say that a Filipino attitude towards foreigners is exceptional. Filipinos truly believe that serving other people the best way they can will give them an honor and a valued friendship.
You will notice Filipinos wearing their joyful smiles and still manage to celebrate even with a struggling economy, political confusion and rising poverty in the country. The jokes and laughs is just one way of the Filipinos to feel relief about everything and make them see things more positively.