The Filipino Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Filipino Culture - Essay Example The Filipino characteristic is a mix of various cultures put together although it is basically of Malay stock. The spirit of kinship and camaraderie is inherited from the Malays, the close family relations from the Chinese, and the piousness from the Spaniards. The Filipinos have distinguishing characteristics of hospitality. They are divided geographically and culturally and their traits and dialects differ accordingly. They are easily distinguished by their fair color, tall structure and fairly formed nose structure. The main religion is Christianity (Roman Catholics). About 80 percent of the population is Catholic Christians while 15 percent are Muslims. The rest are Buddhists. The Filipinos refer to themselves as ‘God-fearing’ people. Rice is the main food eaten thrice a day. Fish and seafood are the principal source of protein. The food had minimal cooking and they either steamed, boiled or roasted their food. The ethnic food is Chinese cuisine which includes noodles and soy products. It is known as the Filipino-Chinese food. Gradually local ingredients were added to suit the local taste. The cuisine was given Spanish name for the convenience of the clients. The Spaniards too brought food influence from Spain and Mexico. After independence, there was a severe recession in Philippines and the economy shrunk by more than 10%. The Asian financial crisis added to the grim situation. It is now experiencing a very fast economic growth. It is now making a steady growth and meeting all government targets. Its growth rate is amongst the fastest in the Asian region. The Filipino language known as Tagalog, contains many Spanish words. Amongst their customs the most noticeable is the "fiesta" or the celebration of a towns patron saints feast day. This is an annual event and is celebrated with street parade, church ceremonies, fireworks and a grand feast. They