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Bayanihan

Bridging Filipinization where having the ability for Filipino and Filipino Americans to work together. For example The USF boxing teaming created a boxing event to raise funds for the Haiyan victims and collecting goods so that they can send the packages back home. Back in the pre-colonial, Filipinos had the values that were similar to many non-western societies, like demonstrating how colonization by Europe and the US has led to cultural shifts in many countries and societies. In America, I’m proud to say that activities are incorporated here in San Francisco such as volunteer activities in the South of Market regarding about the civic involvement, community partnerships, political advocacy, and protest marched. There are also Filipino American who sends money, commit to military services, government work, overseas mission, and sending Filipino farmers to work in the fields.

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Hospitality One thing I can definitely say is that the community in Tacloban has the most outrageous hospitality ever! For example, my mom and I were offered food from the community even though we were a total strangers to them. I asked them “Why are you so nice to us?” then they responded and said “Kapwa”, meaning a fellow being. However, this is not to say that they only help those who are “Filipinos” but also to other ethnicities because of the upbringing of the Roman Catholic values. In the Philippines, from grade school to learning great wisdoms at home, many family members often implement of being generous to others because they believe that God brings blessing to those who brings positivity in this world. Humbleness doesn’t just begins at home, but surprisingly is also seen in the Filipino media. For example, commercials has the significance of bringing this generosity and using the term of “kasama ka” meaning “togetherness” (click the coca cola commercial video above). Another example of feeling togetherness is when I came to the session of the Filipino Heritage Month – Philippine Food Workshop educating the importance of food within the community. As mention in the session, traditional Filipino such as Lumpia, Pancit, Adobo or Dinuguan reminds of us of what it was like to be back home. In addition, the food itself signify the subcultures of the Philippines that is identifying where we came from. For example, Panggasinan are really know for their agamang, bagoong, lechon and manga. Because of the importance of togetherness, hospitality is embrace and practice in the Filipino culture.

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Tacloban Dec 2013 Trip

In the Philippines, 84% are Roman Catholic due to the Spanish colonization where the country was forcefully converted to Catholicism. As a result, this has a significant influences and changes in the Filipino culture, including a push for religious conservatism, an integration of church and state, and an influence on Filipino customs, behaviors, and traditions. There are many pros and cons in pushing the Catholic values into the culture such as following the Ten Commandments in order to have a stable society, or on the other hand, abstinence of sex, instead of pushing for safer sex. For example, when I attended one of the Pilipino American History Month regarding the topic of “Being Filipino American in the Philippines” made me realize that what makes us “Filipino American” is the fact that we are under the umbrella of the American culture that just makes us different from the typical “Filipino”. In the American culture, we are so open about our sex life. These behaviors are seen in the medias, commercials and advertisements. As a result, we get these typical stereotypes of what Americans are like.  On the other hand, the Filipino medias are much more reserve, pin pointing the importance of preservation of sex before marriage. However, I firmly believe that religion does play a significant part of the Filipino culture because it gives them resilience throughout their life. For example, when I came to volunteer in Tacloban, the community out there showed a lot of resilience. Children were scattered all over the streets to look for food, thousands of holes were made on the  ground to bury their loved ones, and bodies were stack up on top of each other because they were no room to bury them on the ground. But guess what, many of them are still smiling. One of the common phrases that I have heard was “Bahala Na” meaning leaving it up to God. This is the kind of attitude that they embrace where they tend to live without worry and just accept things as they are. Having this kind of mentality of “leaving it up to God” gives them the comfort, faith, and hope that things will get better soon. This is the reason why the community in Tacloban have so much resilience. 

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Trip To Tacloban Dec2013

Barangay is a traditional Philippine village, barrio, district, or neighborhood. A barangay is composed of family clusters and is considered to be the smallest political unit in the Philippines. For example, from the introduction video, Filipinos see their church as a key community gathering space. Kasamahan is mostly establish in churches by cultivating formal and informal groupings through the church such as

Filipino language choirs

Bible study groups

Masses

Rosary

Marian devotional activities

Bingo socials

Mahjong groups

Inuman (drinking)

Barkada (group of friends)

All leads to feelings of togetherness, companionship, fraternity, sisterhood, solidarity pride, and competitiveness. 

In the Philippines, Tacloban, it is common to see worship, devotion, and prayer in many forms, being performed by community leaders and ordinary citizens on the streets, in offices, and in homes.  

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Hi, you may not know who I’m but that doesn’t matter. I’m a 3rd year USF students and I have incorporated a lot of the teachings that has been taught to me here on campus. The motto is to change the world from here, which is to spread our wings and explore what’s out there! Like doing humanity work, and providing a culture of service that respects and promotes the dignity of every person. I just want to share with you my volunteer experience in Tacloban, and the Filipino values that I have experience here at USF. These values are identifying the meanings of Barangay (community in action), Kasamahan (community organization), and how religion plays a significant role in people’s lives who was affected by the Haiyan Tyhoon. Popular Phrases in the Philippines during my trip were. Dasal (prayer) o Lamay (wakes) o Libing (funeral services) o Bahala na ( leave up to God) o Makisama (get along with others) o Pasalamat (thankful) o Patawad (forgiveness) o Sakripisyo (sacrifice) o Tulong (help or contribution) o Maintindhin (understanding)

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Kain Na!: Filipino Food at its Finest

by Jasmine Bautista Nicole Ponseca is Filipino royalty when it comes to the food of the Philippines.


The event I attended during Filipino-American Heritage month was Nicole Ponseca’s lecture on Filipino food and her journey from USF to NYC Filipino Restaurant owner. I walked into this event with an empty stomach and not really expecting anything out of the ordinary. Maybe just a couple of pictures of Filipino food and a talk about how great it is. I sit down in one of the rows, not knowing that this would the most inspiring lecture that I would face so far in my college career. In terms of Filipino and Filipino American culture, Nicole was able to take the Filipino identity through food and make it approachable and modern for an American audience.

  Nicole first talks about how Filipino food is not very well-known in America. From my own experience, especially during my first years here in college, I had to explain what exactly was Filipino food. My go-to dishes would always be lumpia or adobo because it seemed simple enough to explain an egg roll and a dish with chicken, vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. I would always be hesitant to describe what dinuguan or kare-kare was because it seemed so “foreign” compared to other dishes that my friends’ cultures would have. Nicole had a similar experience with the feeling of hiya with her dad would eat with his hands. These Filipino characteristics are what make Filipinos so unique, but also so foreign for an American audience. 

In Nicole’s restaurants in NYC, Maharlika and Jeepney, she was able to take Filipino food and create this vision of modern meets traditional Filipino roots. From looking at her websites and social media, her targeted audience seems to be young, hip, and curious Americans looking for a great place to eat. The vibe she has for both of her restaurants is so unique and creative because I can see the historical and personal value of Filipino culture in the restaurants' environment. At the same time, I would mistake it as one of those modern and hip restaurants that I would dream about going to if I ever went to New York. Her brand identity is what makes this restaurant so successful and so approachable. I would never feel hiya if I were to bring my friends here. It’s such a great balance of modern and Filipino culture that I feel proud of and I’m sure Nicole feels proud of too.

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Unknown Princess

by Camille Lopez

I ACCIDENTALLY SUBMITTED IT BELOW

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Storylines

Unknown Princess

Alindogan led a perfectly normal life- being cared for by her free spirited parents, and experiencing a flourishing romance. Although, everything changes when a stranger visits Alindogan's mother. Before Alindogan was born, her married mother had an affair with that man. Though polygamy was vastly popular in those days, that married tribe leader still felt guilty and left her. Years later that leader grew weak and wanted his son take over the tribe. Part of that responsibility is to marry another tribe leader’s daughter to gain power. Weeks after the engagement, the son dies and the leader worries the tribe will be lost when he becomes too weak to look after them. Alindogan agrees to come with him, but once she arrives, her first responsibility was to marry another tribe-leader’s son. Alindogan runs away-seeing her purpose is to be married off. Her father finds the error of his ways and she comes back to lead on her own terms, leading her people with the freedom to marry whomever she wants.

By, Camille Lopez

Gutom Games

On an island up north in Philippines, there were three villages that established their own barangay. Each barangay was running low on food, water, and resource. Until they all discovered another island near by that had all the supplies they needed. None of the barangays wanted to share, so they decided to fight for it. The parents trained their children to become warriors and sent them to battle with each other. The battled lasted for days and over 50 percent were killed. The children were forced to kill, but some were holding back. After the fifth day of battle, the children decided to rebel against their parents order. They all stopped the war and decided to work as a whole community. The parents came into an agreement and the three tribes became one village. 

By, Rhea Bautista

sources:https://www.facebook.com/groups/537676406258662/

Pics.polygamy.

name:http://www.bibingka.com/names/

Alindogan beauty

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Pre Colonial Culture

by Miguel Del Barco

One of the Philippines cultural treasures and early pre-colonial artwork is the Manunggul Jar. This jar was founded in 1964 in the Manunggul Cave in Lipuun Point, Quezon, Palawan. It was believed to be a burial site where many similar jars remained. The artwork of this jar is with a cover featuring a ship of the dead.

The clothing for warriors contains a lot of detail and accents. The warriors wear bahags, which is a type of loincloth that wraps around the hips cover the lower body.  They fight shirtless showing off their tattoos and muscles as a sign of intimidation and strength. The Noble women are depicted wearing beautiful, elegant dresses and very accented. Also, wearing fine jewelry to signify their importance.

In the Pre-Colonial Era, women were held with great respect. Before the Spanish, women were equal to men; Able to own their own property and land, giving their opinions on certain situations. Men were not allowed to touch women’s hair because they prized their hair. No man would dare to touch a woman’s hair without permission and if they weren’t family or end up facing severe punishment.

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People of Pre-Colonial Philippines

Character Development 

by Jacob Donida, Marybelle White, and Lorraine Bower

Male Names

Araw - "day"

Bagasbas - "blessing"

Manalo - "to win"

Atangan - "support"

Bayani - "hero"

Girls Names:

Urduja - “arise”

Mayumi - “gentle” or “modest”

Amihan - “northwest monsoon”

Dalisay - “pure”

Diwata - “goddess”

Lailani - unknown meaning

Liwayway - “the dawn”

Lualhati - “spiritual peace”

Marilag - “beautiful”

Marikit - “pretty:

Tala - “bright star” or “planet”

Adult Female

treated equally as men, held in great respect

helped offer thoughts and suggestions on situations

they were the keepers of the people’s stories, genealogy, traditions, etc.

one of the highest positions was the Babaylans

Babaylans were the priestesses who performed spiritual rites and rituals

women were given tattoos at puberty to signify coming-of-age and transition to womanhood

if they can endure the pain from getting the tattoo, they can endure child birth

Adult Male

treated equally as women

had to respect women - there were laws!

cannot touch a woman’s hair or he would face severe punishment

men were tattooed according to warrior status and experience (widespread in the Visayas)

facial tattoos were only reserved for the fiercest warriors

other burned decorative scars onto their bodies to further prove how battle-hardened they were

Young Girls Customs:

Dating: When a woman beings menstruation for the first time, she is blindfolded by the katalonan (priestess) and secluded for four days and four nights. During that time, she is only able to eat rice and 2 eggs per day; all of which is delivered by an older, female relative. While she is secluded, her friends and family feast and celebrate the transition from child to woman. After the fourth night, she is taken out of seclusion at dawn and walks across planks (she cannot touch soil) to the nearest body of water. In the water, she is bathed by the priestess in aromatic oils and then her blindfold is removed. For the next two days, there is another celebration exclusively for the women in the family. The meaning of this ritual is to ensure the girl could bear children and have a happy marriage.

Young Boys Customs:

?????

http://www.aboutnames.ch/phil.htm#gnAmihan

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Urduja

http://pinoy-culture.tumblr.com/post/26235679286/dating-not-to-be-confused-with-the-english-word

http://pinoy-culture.tumblr.com/

http://www.fmapulse.com/content/fma-corner-symbolism-pre-colonial-filipino-warrior-culture

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"The Boy"

Storyline by Melanie Chu 

There was a young boy named Kalalo, who was the son of a Visayan Datu. He was 10 years old and it was time for him to establish himself as a warrior, just like his father. In order to establish himself as a warrior, Kalalo had to kill his first animal. Being a young, naïve boy, Kalalo had trouble grasping this idea of killing an innocent animal. He believed animals should not be harmed, and they should only be killed for survival purposes. When he told this to his father, he was received as being shameful and was banished from his tribe. Kalalo lived in the woods near his old tribe for several weeks living off of nuts and berries, until one day he met a young girl named Angara. She was from a neighboring tribe, and took Kalalo in. He explained to her that he does not hunt and was not accepted in his own tribe and by his father. Angara then helps Kalalo come to senses with his manhood, and he eventually kills for the first time to establish his warrior title. After his first hunt, Kalalo then vows to never kill an animal without having a purpose for killing it.

http://pinoy-culture.tumblr.com/post/26235679286/dating-not-to-be-confused-with-the-english-word

http://www.earthspirit.com/fireheart/fhpub.html

http://www.bibingka.com/names/ 

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Pre colonial Environment

Research and Development 

The environment for pre-colonial Philippines was abundant in many natural resources, which helped make them great agriculturalists. One important site in pre-colonial Philippines were the Banaue Rice Terraces. These terraces are located in the province of Ifugao. The ifugao people and their culture revolve around rice culture feats that range from rice cultivation to rice consumption. These terraces were built to assist with growing crops in 1000 BC. This example shows that the pre-colonial Pilipinos were very close to the land.

            In pre-colonial Philippines, there were four distinct kinds of people: tribal groups, which concentrated in the forest and were hunter-gatherers, warrior societies, who roamed the plains, the plutocracy that occupied the mountain ranges of Luzon and the harbor principalities that lived along the rivers and seashores. Many of the early shelters of pre-colonial Pilipinos were caves, nipa huts, tree houses, and houses on stilts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines

 http://pinoy-culture.tumblr.com/tagged/history

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_achievements_of_pre-colonial_Philippines

 http://www.slideshare.net/MarcyTrinidad/early-filipino-in-the-prehispanic-period-slide-share

Angheline Austria :) 

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Pre Colonial Fashion

Research and Development

Pre Colonial Fashion by Juliette Langit

Hair: 

Visayans in Homonhon seen and recorded with hair down to their waists

Surigao men pulled their hair back into a knot at the nape of their neck

Butuan king would wear his hair at shoulder length; others would gather their hair and wrap it in a knot with a headcloth or turban (putong)

In Visaya's cutting one's hair was a symbol of punishment or mourning

the surviving relative would cut off their hair esp. women: sign of deep affection for the dead husbands, fathers, etc. 

Balata: cutting their hair and leaving it in their house until they returned from a long voyage

Women would grow their hair to their ankles and tie it into a chignon (pusad)

Women also added artificial hair extensions called panta or talabhok

Offensive for a man to touch a woman's hair without her permission if they weren't a relative or lover

Women would touch other women's hair during fights (sampolong)

Teeth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWrF33-7I5E

Bolinao skull found in the Balingasay site in Bolinao, Pangasinan: gold scales on the buccal surfaces or the upper and lower teeth (pusad)

Mananusad: dental worker who got paid for gold teeth services

blackening teeth was a sign of beauty and status

Different methods of coloring teeth: chewing of anipay root; tapul, tar-based coating that has polishing and preserving effect; red lahka ant eggs and kaso flowers for deep red

Clothing: 

T'nalak: traditional cloth found in Mindanao made by T'boli people; handwoven with 3 primary colors, red, black, and the original color of the Abaca fibers

Malong: traditional "tube skirt" that can be a dress, blanket, sunshade, bed sheet, dressing room, hammock, and prayer mat

Bahag: decorated 4-5 meter piece of cloth worn by men; usually the natural color of the cloth but if they had personally killed an enemy, they were qualified to wear deep red ones

Head Gear:

Vakul: used by Ivatan people in Batanes to protect from rain, wind, and sun; used by women while its counterpart, talgugong, are worn by men

made of date palm or voyavoy leaves

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Aserette Pantaleon Corpus. I bet y’all are wondering where “Aserette” came from. My mom went all clever for her firstborn and made my name the backwards version of hers (Theresa), with the “-ette” coming from French descent, since she loved traveling in Europe. I have one younger brother who is such a brat, but I do everything in my power to be the best Ate out there. My childhood up until now has ranged from doing ballet to playing football, playing the clarinet to being on the swim team.  I am from San Jose and have lived there my entire life. Most of my mom’s side of the family lives within a 20-minute drive from each other so I grew up with family being everything to me.

 My uncle, my mom’s brother, was able to bring the rest of his siblings and his parents to America because he was a part of the navy; and luckily, my mom’s boyfriend at the time (my dad) was allowed to come as well. They are both from Guimba and came to America in the 1980’s. After 2 years of marriage, my mom gave birth to her favorite child. We are a typical family of four, with their ups and downs. But at the end of the day, family is family.

My biggest inspiration is definitely my older cousin, Maureen. I don’t call her “Ate Maureen”, I call her “Ate” because she really does treat me like her baby sister. Losing both her parents during her first year of college before even becoming the legal age of an adult, she didn’t give up. She’s very hard working and has proven to me that nothing can stand in the way of your success as long as you stay dedicated and determined. She is graduating this May with a BS in Chemistry, concentration in biochemistry. She has somehow maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.8 while working two jobs to pay for rent, AND still has time to take each of my cousins out to make sure we all stay on top of our schoolwork as well. My ate does nothing but give, and she never expects anything in return. One day, I hope to be AT LEAST half as amazing as she is.

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Mabu-HI!

Ola! Ako ay si Danielle. Born in the Bay but grew up in the Bayou. I grew up as a white-washed Pinay, although I had hints of Philippine culture thrown at me. I like to go with the flow on things and go where the wind takes me. I tend to procrastinate/forget things a lot, so if something's not written on my hand, chances are I'll forget about it haha. I love to embrace different cultures, so Barrio Fiesta is pretty awesome for me. Lately, I've been super into Brazil, so I like to call myself 'Brazilipino.' I like to say that I am, even though it's not true (kind of).

MYstory includes my grandparents moving to New Orleans in the 1960s making me second generation. My parents were born there and moved to SF by the time I came along. We moved back when I was 3 and miss the culture there everyday. Four years later my younger bro was born, thus creating the 3D's (my brothers and I all have names beginning with 'D'). When I was younger my family was SUPER involved in the Filipino community there, but unfortunately it's not as prominent as it was before.

My inspiration comes from my brothers. Without 'em, I don't think I would want to strive as much to be the best.

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Candyman Saves The Day!

Candyville was a town in the Philippines that had all kinds of Filipino candy; pastillas, pulvuron, cashew marzipan, and sampaloc to name a few. Candy was their delicacy and everyone in the Philippines went there for the best candy. But one day, at sunrise, the town woke up to no candy in sight. All the candy was gone! The town-folk reported a missing candy report and Candyman, the candy hero, went on his search to find the candy thieves. He found them hidden in sugar plantations and took all the candy back to its home. Candyman/Candyville: 1, Thieves: 0.

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The Chosen One: Eskrima Fighter

A Filipino teenager named Marko always grew up being bullied by his classmates. Eskrima, a type of Philippine martial arts that involves sticks as hand-to-hand combat, was an extracurricular activity offered at school. Marko decided to join the eskrima club at the beginners level in order to work his way up and learn how to fight back. However after several months of learning eskrima, his classmates consider him as the weakest fighter. But one day after class, a bully was making fun of Marko and Marko was painfully knocked down. However, Marko got up this time and used his eskrima sticks to fight back. Suddenly, the sticks lit on fire and his fighting speed was incredibly fast! He seemed impossible to fight against because his martial art skills suddenly turned into magic! He was the chosen one.

-Tricia R.