KEY CONCEPTS :

Culture - way of life, may be manifested through materials, beliefs or

practices.
Symbols - something with meaning that is understood by people within the same
culture.
Language - system of symbols that enables communication among people.
Norms - expected behavior and established rules in society.
Mores - significant norms being practiced among cultures.
Taboo - strongly forbidden practices.
Ethnocentrism - thinking that one’s own culture is superior compared to others.
Cultural Relativism - acknowledging similarities between one’s culture and
others, and accepting their validity.
Multiculturalism - acknowledging different cultures and respecting them
equally.

Here are some words commonly associated with Filipinos:

Resilience - The ability to recover quickly from difficulties and challenges.
Hospitality - Warm and welcoming nature towards guests and visitors.
Bayanihan - A spirit of communal unity and cooperation.
Family-oriented - Strong emphasis on family ties and relationships.
Faith - Deep religious belief, predominantly Catholicism.
Hardworking - Known for a strong work ethic and dedication.
Joyful - A cheerful and optimistic disposition.
Respectful - Deep respect for elders and authority figures.
Adaptable - Ability to adjust to different environments and situations.
Creative - Artistic and resourceful, particularly in music, dance, and crafts.
Patriotic - Love and pride for their country and heritage.
Generous - Willingness to share and help others, even with limited resources.
Caring - Compassionate and concerned for the well-being of others.
Faithful - Loyal and committed, especially in relationships and friendships.
Courageous - Brave and determined, particularly in facing adversity.
Here are some words that can be associated with "Filipino," "culture," and
"society":
Bayanihan - Community spirit and cooperation.
Fiesta - Celebrations and festivals.
Pagmamano - Showing respect to elders.
Hospitality - Warmth and welcoming nature.
Family - Strong familial ties and values.
Religion - Predominantly Catholic faith.
Resilience - Ability to endure and recover from challenges.
Balikbayan - Filipinos returning home from abroad.
Utang na Loob - Debt of gratitude.
Jeepney - A symbol of Filipino creativity and transportation.
Sarimanok - A mythical bird, symbol of culture.
Harana - Traditional serenading.
Kumusta - A common greeting meaning "How are you?"
Malasakit - Compassion and concern for others.
Fiesta - Communal and religious festivities.

Pagmamano - A gesture of respect to elders by placing their hand on one's

forehead.
Utang na Loob - A sense of deep gratitude and indebtedness.
Family - Strong emphasis on family bonds and connections.
Harana - Traditional form of courtship through serenading.
Resilience - The ability to overcome hardships and remain positive.
Faith - Deep religious devotion, particularly in Catholicism.
Karaoke - A popular social activity involving singing.
Pamahiin - Traditional beliefs or superstitions.
Simplicity - Valuing a modest and unpretentious lifestyle.
Creativity - Rich artistic traditions, especially in music, dance, and crafts.
Malasakit - Compassion and concern for others' well-being

Words commonly associated with the concept of "society" include:

Community - A group of people living together or having shared interests.

Culture - The beliefs, customs, arts, and institutions of a society.
Values - Principles and standards that guide behavior within a society.
Norms - Social expectations and rules that govern behavior.
Diversity - The inclusion of different types of people and perspectives.
Social Structure - The organized pattern of relationships and institutions
within a society.
Cohesion - The unity and togetherness within a group or society.
Inequality - Disparities in wealth, status, and opportunities within a society.
Institutions - Established organizations and systems, such as government,
education, and religion.
Citizenship - The status of being a member of a society, with associated rights
and responsibilities.
Solidarity - Mutual support and shared interests among members of a society.
Tradition - Practices and beliefs passed down through generations.
Social Justice - The pursuit of fairness and equality in society.
Interaction - The communication and relationships between individuals within a
society.
Governance - The system by which a society is controlled and managed.

“Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, arts,

morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society”

“Culture is the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material
objects that together form a people’s way of life. Culture includes what we
think, how we act, and what we own”
(Macionis, 2017)

Types of culture

Material culture - physical things created by the members of the society

(Macionis, 2017).

Nonmaterial culture - ideas and other non-physical things created by the

members of the society (Macionis, 2017).
Components of Culture

Symbols - anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who

share a culture, e.g. the national flag represents our sovereign nationhood, the
red cross is a recognized symbol of medical services, the Star and Crescent
represents Islam.
Culture Shock– inability to “read” the meaning of symbols in strange
surroundings.

Language - a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one

another.
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis– holds that people see and understand the world
through the cultural lens of language. Structure of language determine a native
speaker’s perception and categorization of experience.

Values
culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good,
and beautiful and that serve as broad guidelines for social living.

Beliefs
specific thoughts or ideas that people hold to be true (as supported by the
values a person holds).

Norms - rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its
members.
Mores - are norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance.

(ex: Wedding as a religious sacrament that is highly regarded by Filipinos)

Taboo- is a strict prohibition of behavior that is strongly held by a society.

(ex: Filipinos are prohibited to take home food from the wake of a dead person)

Folkways - norms for routine or casual interaction.

(ex: Pagmamano po)
 Kinds of culture

Dominant Culture/Mainstream Culture - refers to the established language,

religion, values, rituals, and social customs which are often the norm for society
as a whole.

Subculture - refers to a smaller group of people who share their own norms,
customs, values, etc. within the dominant culture of the society.

Counterculture - refers to a subculture whose values and norms of behavior

differ substantially from those of mainstream society. It is often in opposition
to mainstream cultural norms.

High Culture - refers to cultural patterns or behaviours that distinguish a

society’s elite.

Popular Culture - refers to cultural patterns that are widespread among

society’s population.

How do people view their culture?

Ethnocentrism
is a view that a particular group is the center of everything. It is also the
practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture.
(ex: Superiority of Tagalogs over other ethnolinguistic groups in thePhilippines).
judge their food preferences, judging their language

Multiculturalism
recognizes cultural diversity in a group of people and promotes equality of
cultural traditions.
(ex: Recognition of Muslims and IPs in national laws). country of canada
Cultural Relativism
holds that a person’s beliefs, values and practices should be understood based
on that person’s own culture rather than be judged against the criteria of
another.
(ex: Respect for the Ramadan practices of Filipino Muslims).

How do cultures change?

Invention
process of creating new cultural elements.
(ex: creation of new musical instruments or modes of transportation)

Innovation
improving on something that already exists.
(ex: development of smartphones into newer and better versions)

Discovery
recognizing and gaining a better understanding of something already in
existence.
(ex: discovery of new species of plants and animals)

CULTURAL CHANGE this idea denotes that some internal and external factors
influence the cultural pattern of societies leading to change.

Technology Evolution – The emergence of technological evolution will bring

change of culture of one’s country. Example for the latest inventions created
by technology, is our means of communication, transportation, devices and many
more that are very noticeable in our society

Social change - denotes to any substantial transformation of behavioral

patterns, values and social norms over time. There are several and wide-ranging
causes of social change. The common causes of social change as acknowledged
by social scientists includes; technology, population, and environment.

Population – The composition of population is changing at every level of society

over time and space. The births increase and decrease contributes to how
society changes.