Culture

Filipinos are distinguished by their brown skin. Folklore suggests that the creator, Bathala, “undercooked” the white race and “overcooked” blacks, while his “preparation” of the brown race achieved the perfect balance. The legend implies that Filipinos are favoured by God. They possess a configuration of cultural values that have been identified by anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists. Among these are bahala na, a fatalistic outlook that inclines an individual to leave matters in the hands of the supernatural power, who will take care of everything. This attitude permeates aspects of the Filipino’s day-to-day life, such as the performance of household chores, the planting, cultivation, and harvesting of crops, the use of natural resources, and the launching of business ventures.

Utang na loob (a debt of gratitude) describes a situation in which a person who has received special favours or help from someone is expected to repay that individual. Failure to do so is interpreted to mean that the recipient is ungrateful and may risk being denied similar benefits in the future. The characteristic is also applied to the relationship between parents and children and between patrons and clients, and it plays a crucial role in politics as well. It is augmented by the concept of hiya (shame). Anyone who is unwilling to repay a debt of gratitude is likely to be censured. The usual insult directed at such a person is walang hiya (without shame), a description that is considered extremely hurtful. The combination of utang na loob and hiya, although a prominent feature of the Filipino value system, is thought to be in the decline, given increasing modernization and urbanization. Pakikisama essentially implies the ability to get along with others. It is a folk concept that refers to good relations or the avoidance of conflict, and it is characterized by the absence of outward signs of displeasure. Ningas cogons is a negative trait referring to a short-lived enthusiasm for a cause or organization. Literally, it describes the sudden flare-up of wild fire in dry grass, which quickly loses its heat and momentum.

The official national language of the Philippines is Pilipino, which is based on Tagalog, one of the major languages spoken in the islands. The 1991 census shows that, among Filipinos in Canada, Tagalog is the language spoken at home for 31 percent of those who indicated a single ethnic origin and 17 percent of those who reported multiple origins. Since post-secondary education in the Philippines is conducted in English and a majority of Filipinos in Canada have a high level of schooling, they have a good command of that language. Their ability to communicate in English has made their integration into Canadian society relatively easy. Filipino heritage classes have been conducted in various cities across Canada. Teachers try to encourage more parents to register their children for this instruction. Most children speak English at home and reply in that language even if addressed in Pilipino by their parents and grandparents. However, because the parents understand English and speak it fluently themselves, some may not feel a strong need to use the heritage language.

The national costume for women is the terno (or mestiza dress) with its famous butterfly sleeves. This dress was originally adapted from the gowns worn by Spanish women. The style of the terno has been modified in keeping with changes in women’s fashion, but the prominent butterfly sleeves have been retained. The barong tagalog, with either long or short sleeves, is the national costume for men. It is made of native fibre (jusi or piña), which is light in weight and fine in texture. The neckline, collar, and sleeves are embroidered with designs that add an elegant touch to the outfit. Like the terno, the barong tagalog is worn on formal occasions, including wedding ceremonies. Filipino Canadians have these native costumes made for them in the home country in time for their weddings in Canada.

Filipino food is influenced by Malaysian, Chinese, Spanish, and American cuisine. It is generally less spicy than other southeast Asian food. Fresh fruits and vegetables are consumed in large quantities and are preferred to frozen or canned ones. Staple dishes consist of rice, meat, fish, and other seafood, as well as vegetables. There are some regional variations. Filipinos have the habit of adding patis (salted fish sauce), bagoong (salted shrimp or anchovy paste), or soy sauce to their food, which increases the sodium content. Since they come from an island country, it is not surprising that they are particularly fond of fish and seafood such as shrimp, squid, octopus, crab, lobster, and snails.

Traditional food is served in Filipino restaurants in major cities across Canada. Some examples include such dishes as crispy pata (pork hocks), adobo (meat dish of pork or chicken), and pinakbet (mixed vegetable dish), Lechon, a roasted whole pig served with a special sauce, is a traditional Filipino dish. It is a specialty in some restaurants and is so popular that a party does not seem complete without it. Filipino grocery stores in Canada carry food items imported from the Philippines – frozen, canned, dried, or fresh. These include seafood, vegetables, tropical fruits, and spices. Frozen banana leaves, which are used to wrap rice cakes, are aalso available in Canadian food stores. Bakery shops carry pastries such as cassava and ube (root crop) pies; pan de sal (baked buns with more salty and sweet taste), suman (sweet rice wrapped in banana leaves), puto (steamed rice cakes), bibingka (baked flattened cake with coconut milk), and ensaymada (baked buns topped with butter and white sugar).

Among traditional Filipino folk dances are the tinikling, pandango sa ilaw, maglalatik, itik-itik, and singkil. The tinikling depicts the swift movement of a bird (tikling). The dancers’ steps are synchronized with the rhythm produced by two long bamboo poles beaten together. In the pandango sa ilaw the dancers balance lighted candles inside glasses on the palms of their two hands. They dance to the rhythm of a lively music, swinging their arms up and down. At one point in the dance, the lighted candles are placed on the top of their heads. Maglalatik originated in the coconut-growing region of the Philippines. Usually performed by male dancers, it portrays the coconut gatherers at work in the plantations. The dancers vigorously clap coconut shells held in their hands against ones attached to their bodies. In itik-itik, young girls imitate the way that ducks walk, flap their wings, and stretch their necks. Singkil is a ceremonial dance from the Moslem region of the southern Philippines. It depicts early tribal ceremonies in that culture.

Dances of Spanish origin, such as the la jota moncadeña, curacha, polka sala, mazurka-boholana, and lubilubi, have also remained popular. String bands known as rondalla provide an authentic musical backdrop for these folk dances. Folk songs, including the harana (musical serenade) and the kundiman (love song), are usually performed in solo or duet to the accompaniment of the guitar. Many of these traditional dances and musical presentations have been shown on television in Canada; they are also performed annually during festivities such as Caravan in Toronto, Folklorama in Winnipeg, Heritage Days in Edmonton, and the Calgary Stampede.

Filipino dance and choral groups continue to grow in number, particularly in major urban centres in Canada. It is not uncommon to find several of such ensembles in a single city. These groups perform a dual function of sharing traditional dances and songs with the mainstream society and preserving the Filipino cultural heritage. Dramatic groups have also sprung up, but to a lesser degree than dance and choral ones. All these organizations are widely known not only in Ontario, where many of them originate, but also in other provinces and abroad. They have made numerous presentations in Canada, the United States, and Europe. The Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe has already been mentioned. Among others are the Folklorico Filipino Dance Troupe, the Carlos Bulosan Foundation (a dramatic group), Himig Pilipino (a choral group), and the musical ensembles the Philippine Heritage Band and the Banda Pilipino (marching band). The success of one Filipino performer, Ma-Anne Dionisio, the female lead in the Canadian production of the musical Miss Saigon, has brought a real sense of pride to the Filipino community in Canada and to Filipino people in general.

In Canadian cities where a large number of Filipinos reside, newspapers owned and published by members of the community appear regularly. Generally distributed free, these papers rely primarily on advertising to survive. Despite their somewhat precarious financial position, they succeed in disseminating information about the home country and the local scene, provide a channel for the articulation of concerns, and create a sense of community among their readers by publicizing special events and celebrations. Most are published in English, with only a few columns in one of the major dialects, such as Tagalog or Bisayan. Some examples are Atin Ito (This Is Ours; Toronto, 1976– ), Balita (News; Toronto, 1978– ), Filipiniana (About Filipinos; Toronto, 1980– ), Filipino Forum (Montreal, 1991– ), Filipino Journal (Winnipeg, 1986– ), Filipino Star (Montreal, 1982– ), Newstar Tribune (Vancouver, 1989– ), Philippine Chronicle (Vancouver, 1988– ), Philippine Connection (Winnipeg, 1992– ), and Philippine Reporter (Toronto, 1988– ). There is also a newspaper published by Filipino seniors called Philippine Horizons (Edmonton, 1991– ). The latest addition to the community papers is Pahayagan (News; Ottawa, 1993– ). Filipino radio programs are aired in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.