What would happen if the Philippines broke apart?

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

Barok and Takya Blog | Bisaya Podcast

The most valuable thing we can have as Filipinos is unity. Our resilience

[1]

 and strength are found in our unity and togetherness. If the Philippines were to break apart, it would spell disaster for us all, as it would signify disunity amongst our people. Although many of us have different beliefs, cultures, customs, and lifestyles, it's important to remember that we're all Filipinos at heart with a shared vision for progress and development. We are bound by our national pride, which unites us from different islands and regions across the country. The betterment of our nation depends on each one of us embracing our differences while coming together in love, appreciation, and support. As long as we remain united, the potential of what we can achieve is limitless.

Footnotes

[1] 

The Spirit of Being Resilient in Filipino Culture

Filipinos prefer sari-sari stores during inflationary times – study

by Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat

More Filipinos, even the rich, are keeping their proximity stores, mostly sari-sari stores and small convenient stores and groceries as important source of supply, a trend that is expected to continue during the inflationary period, a new consumer survey revealed.

The latest survey by Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company, showed that while the economy has fully reopened and consumers are also going out to the malls and the formal shopping channels, they also continued to source from the small proximity channels as they adopt to inflationary times. 

In the past 12 months, Laurice Obana, Shopper Insight Director at the Worldpanel Division of Kantar in the Philippines, said the lower class have increased their spending in sari-sari stores.

Since the economy is experiencing inflationary times, Kantar said the lower D and E or the socio-economic classes prefer to go to proximity store and buy only what they need depending on the size of their pockets.

Data showed that the D and E classes have been going to the small stores 18 times in a month from 15 times during the pandemic while the middle class are maintaining a 50:50 ratio between proximity stores and supermarkets and hypermarkets.

The upper class are going back to the big grocery stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets but they are not leaving the small stores, Obana added. 

“We are seeing a continuing trend (buying from proximity small store channel), it’s not faltering or decreasing. The small channel is very relevant during the inflationary period,” said Obana.

Kantar further said that to adapt to inflationary times, Filipinos have become more discerning in their choices when it comes to Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). They are opting for brands and retailers that offer the most value, convenience and product assortment to get their money’s worth.

Kantar tracks the FMCG purchases of 5,000 local households, the largest shopper panel in the Philippines.

“Filipinos put a premium on value. While value can be as straightforward as cheaper goods or paying less for the same quantity, other factors such as the increase in gas prices, traffic and uncomfortable modes of transportation have redefined value in more encompassing terms when it comes to shopping. What we have seen is that, in general for packaged goods, shoppers are coping with rising prices by being more open to value brands. To some extent, however, they also take into consideration where to shop. Nowadays, with multiple retailers and channel options within reach, shoppers can easily adapt to what would best fit their budgets and lifestyle that will address their needs at the moment,” explained Obana.

According to Kantar, there is a bit of pressure on Hypermarkets and Supermarkets as most Filipinos who are feeling the economic strain are buying their basic FMCG needs in smaller proximity stores. In fact, 41 percent of FMCG purchases in 2022 are made in neighborhood sari-sari stores. This is a six percent increase compared to purchases made in 2020. Meanwhile, a six percent value share decline in hypermarkets and supermarkets was noted from 34 percent in 2020 to 28 percent in 2022.

Obana added that Filipino shoppers are discerning on the choices they make when it comes to their channel and retailer of choice. Value delivery in forms of rewards, lower prices or promotions is a given. Convenience or the ease of access and availability of options are also important factors that shoppers now consider.

What country do the Filipinos feel more close culturally?

Joseph Solis Alcayde Alberici

political scientist; political and economic analyst; and historical buff

Freelance Columnist at SunStar Cebu2013–present

B.A in Political Science & Political Theory, University of San CarlosGraduated 2015

Lives in Cebu City, Philippines2010–present

Most Filipinos feel cultural affinity with the United States and white Anglophone countries like Canada and Australia but Americans, Canadians, and Australians don’t reciprocate them much because core Filipino cultural values and Anglo-Saxon values are fundamentally different from each other and most Filipinos in the Philippines are in fact not capable of adopting many traits of white Anglophones like individualism, self-accountability, sense of guilt, representative democracy, and others.

The core cultural values of the Filipino people are mostly laid down by Spanish colonizers and most of cultural, ideological, political, and religious aspects of Filipino society have had been derived from Spain and Mexico. The preexisting family oriented values of the Filipino people before Spanish colonization was further strengthened and institutionalized by the Spaniards and may remain such in the foreseeable future.

What are Filipinos like?

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

Filipinos are some of the most friendly, hospitable people you will ever meet. They are always quick to help out a stranger, and they love to celebrate. There are few things that Filipinos enjoy more than a good party, and they are always ready to dance, sing, and eat. Filipinos are also incredibly proud of their culture and heritage.They are quick to tell you about their country's history, and they are happy to share their traditions with anyone interested. If you want to experience the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people, there is no better way than to visit the Philippines yourself. You will quickly see why Filipinos are known as some of the most welcoming people in the world.

About the Author

Bisaya

Proud Bisaya Ko

Pinoy Podcaster

Lived in Iligan City

Active in 2 Spaces

Knows Cebuano

Filipinos continue to rule dancesport

By Jean Malanum

GOLDEN PERFORMANCE Mark Jayson Corales Gayon and Mary Joy Guiao Renigen of the Philippines compete in the slow foxtrot category of the dancesport event at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, on Monday, May 16, 2022. PHOTO BY NHAC NGUYEN/AFP

GOLDEN PERFORMANCE Mark Jayson Corales Gayon and Mary Joy Guiao Renigen of the Philippines compete in the slow foxtrot category of the dancesport event at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, on Monday, May 16, 2022. PHOTO BY NHAC NGUYEN/AFP

THE country's successful campaign in dancesport at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Hanoi, Vietnam, has proven once again that the Filipinos are the best in the region.

After winning five golds, five silvers and two bronzes, the Philippines retained the overall title it won during the 2019 edition held at Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

Philippine Dancesport Federation president Becky Garcia commended the Standard and Latin teams for making their country proud.

"They did their best because they are focused and passionate in their dancing," Garcia told The Manila Times on Wednesday.

Ana Leonila Nualla and Sean Mischa Aranar produced three gold medals in Standard Viennese Waltz, Standard Tango and Standard All Five Dances, the same three events they ruled in 2019.

In the Viennese Waltz event, they defeated Thailand's Anucha Wijitkoon and Pasraporn Phandech while Vietnam's Minh Vu Hoang Anh and Xuan Nguyen Truong won the bronze.

They triumphed in the Tango event, beating Thailand's Thanawan Yananun and Issaparung Duangkaew (silver) and Vietnam's Duc Hoa Nguyen and Yeu Nguyen Thi Hai, while in the All Five Dances, they conquered Anucha and Pasraporn (silver) and Duc Hoa and Yeu Nguyen (bronze).

"Our fighting spirits are high during the competition. We are determined to give them three gold-level performances," the 30-year-old Nualla, a licensed chemist who is now a full-time athlete, said.

"We never stopped training even during the pandemic. We're always thinking about the SEA Games. In our own way, we made sure that we will be ready for the competition," Nualla, who has been dancing with Sean for nine years, added.

Mary Joy Renigen and Mark Jayson Gayon also retained their title in the Standard Slow Foxtrot event, beating Thailand's Anucha Wijitkoon and Pasraporn Phandech (silver) and Malaysia's Leonard Jie Ren Hoh and Ning Huan Mu (bronze).

They claimed the silver medal in the Standard Quickstep event won by Thailand's Thanawan Yananun and Issarapong Duangkaew with Vietnam's Minh Vu Hoang Anh and Xuan Nguyen Truong placing third.

In the Standard Waltz, Renigen and Gayon lost the gold medal to Thanawan and Issarapong while Vietnam's Duc Hoa Nguyen and Yen Nguyen Thi Hai secured the bronze medal.

"I can say that our performance as partners has gone to another level because we trust each other more. I know in my heart that my partner is more confident this time, he's the one telling me to relax because we are competing outside of the country," the 27-year-old Renigen from Taguig City said.

She graduated from University of Makati with a physical wellness degree majoring in dance and is currently dancesport head coach of Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.

Renigen and Gayon stopped dancing for two years during the pandemic and resumed only in October last year.

"Before the SEA Games, we trained in London, United Kingdom from April 14-26. We fund-raised a budget for it and by God's grace and with the help of many generous people, we were able to pursue it. We also trained in Cebu from April 30 to May 4, with Italian coach Paolo Bosco, a seven-time world champion in Standard. This training is through the generosity of Pagcor chair Andrea Domingo," Renigen shared.

Renigen and Gayon have been dancing partners since 2014. They joined the national team in 2017.

"These are great help for us in winning these medals and of course, all the people behind us who never stopped believing and trusting us, despite all the struggles," she added.

Coach German Enriquez is all praises for the Standard dance team, saying "the team performed very well. Better than in practice."

He also observed that the dancers from other countries "have also improved in terms of power."

The country's only gold medal in the Latin category was delivered by Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo in the Cha-cha event.

Vietnam's Kien Nguyen Trung and Anh Pham Hong took the silver medal while Thailand's Shinawat Lerson and Preeyanoot Patoomsriwiroje won the bronze medal.

Marquez and Sabalo placed second to Vietnam's Doan Minh Truong Nguyen and Huong Dang Thu in the Jive event. Thailand's Jettapon Inthakun and Apichaya Kuptawanith were third.

They also finished second to Doan and Huong in the All Five Dances event, while Thailand's Lerson and Patoomsriwiroje walked away with the bronze medal.

Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda won the silver medal in the Samba. Kien and Anh Pham Hong got the gold medal while Thailand's Jettapon Inthakun and Apichaya Kuptawanith took the bronze medal.

Kien and Anh beat Jettapon and Apichaya for the gold medal in Rumba while Aunzo and Caneda picked up the bronze medal.

Aunzo and Caneda also bagged the bronze medal in the Paso Doble, where Vietnam's Doan Minh Truong Nguyen and Huong Dang Thu pocketed the gold medal while Lerson and Patoomsriwiroje won the silver medal.

116 Filipinos remain in Ukraine; 200 seafarers stranded in Black Sea

POLAND. Displaced persons carry belongings as they walk to a border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Thursday, March 3, 2022. More than 1 million people have fled Ukraine following Russia's invasion in the swiftest refugee exodus in this century, the United Nations said Thursday. (AP)

By THIRD ANNE PERALTA-MALONZO, SunStar

OVER a hundred Filipinos are still inside Ukraine, while 200 Pinoy seafarers have been stranded in the Black Sea amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday, March 4, 2022.

DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said 31 land-based Filipinos in Ukraine, including 21 seafarers, have already made their way out of Ukraine and awaiting their flight to the Philippines in Romania.

She said there were also 15 Filipinos from Ukraine in Hungary and nine in Austria.

Arriola said 116 Filipinos are still in Ukraine, including those who are married to Ukraine nationals and refused to evacuate. Forty-five of them were in Kyiv, the country’s capital.

She said the DFA has accounted a total of 209 Filipinos in Ukraine.

She said some of the Filipinos refused to leave due to their work in humanitarian and security organizations, which the country needed the most now.

"We're giving them care packages and financial assistance but we’re really asking them to please leave because the problem is the fighting is getting to be more intense," said Ariolla.

“And what we're afraid of is if the train stops operating, there's no other way to get to Lviv. But we understand some can’t leave because they have their families there,” she added.

She said according to the record of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, around 200 Filipino seamen were stranded in the Black Sea, which lies in the northern portion of Ukraine and northeast of Russia, and in several ports in Ukraine.

Arriola said ships are more careful in sailing after two cargo vessels were hit by explosions caused by the Russian invasion.

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“If there’s really heavy fire, the only thing they can do is hunker down and take cover because the one who might extract them might get killed or if they leave the ships they might also get hurt,” she said.

The DFA earlier said 19 Filipinos from Ukraine have already arrived in the country since February when the conflict began.

Do Latinos and Filipinos look alike?

Nelson Agelvis

Life coach, college counselor, college professor, English teacher, magazine editor, photographer, Venezuelan travel expert & more

I’m Latino (Venezuela) and I have been to the Philipines. In general, Latinos and Filipinos don’t look alike but many—millions—do, because the original indigenous Americans, from Alaska to Patagonia, are of Asian (Siberian and Polynesian) origin. And Filipinos are a wild mix of Asian, Polynesian, with some European (Spanish) and even some with African (the Aetas). If you look at the indigenous tribes of the Amazon, of the highlands of Peru and Bolivia, of the Southwestern United States, of Northwestern Canada, they look like many Filipinos. Many Filipinos actually look less Asian than many Amazonian indigenous people. Visiting the Philipines, I was surprised at how many Filipinos look like many Latin Americans from Peru to the Caribbean. The Filipinos of Aeta origin look like any Latin American from the coastal cacao-growing towns along the Caribbean. The Lumad, Badjaos, Igorot, etc. also look like some Latin American indigenous groups.

Anyway, the average Filipino looks more Southeast Asian while the average Latin American does not. But even though you could perfectly differentiate a group of 100 random Filipinos from a group of 100 random Venezuelans/Colombians, you will find some that are similar. Look at the current and former Miss Philippines. Their faces are like those of millions that you’ll find in Colombia/Venezuela. You put those girls in a Venezuelan/Colombian gym working out and nobody will ever think that they are not local girls.

And here are Philipinos of Aeta origin. There are millions of Latinos that look like them too (Would you guess they are Filipinos?).

Conclusion: Average Filipinos (not Miss Universes and not a remote tribe), have high Southeast Asian DNA (China, Malaysia, Polynesia) while Latin Americans have high indigenous (Native American) and European DNA (Spain, Italy, Portugal). So I can’t say we “look alike” but many—millions of us—do. Anyway, look like us or not, Filipinos are part of the Hispanic world from the Iberian point of view (Spanish colonial origin). They are our Asian cousins.

What makes us Filipinos?

 

Bisaya

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Are there necessary traits, practices, or beliefs that make us unique from other nationalities?

There are undoubtedly many things that make us Filipinos unique. For example, our culture is steeped in tradition and family values. 

We are also known for being friendly and hospitable people. But I think the thing that makes us most unique is our resilience[1] in the face of difficult circumstances.

Despite facing many challenges throughout history, we have always overcome them. We are a nation of survivors, which makes us so strong. We never give up, no matter how hard things get. This fighting spirit is what unites us as a people, and it's what makes us unique. So whatever challenge life throws at you, remember that you are not alone – Filipinos have been through worse, and we have come out stronger. We are a proud people, and we will overcome anything that comes our way! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Footnotes

[1] The Spirit of Being Resilient in Filipino Culture

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Why are Filipinos in every corner of the globe?

Ryan Fernandez

History Geek based in Manila

Why shouldn't we be? It's a global marketplace after all. Filipinos like everyone else respond to the law of supply and demand. There's a nursing shortage in the UK? Someone's got to fill it up. Housekeeping vacancies in Italy? Filipinos show up. Skyscrapers being built in Dubai? It's Filipino engineers who lay the foundation. Singaporean or Hongkonger parents too busy to raise their kids? It's Filipina nannies and maids who run the upkeep of their households. Filipino executives work in Indoensian companies; Filipino English teachers work in Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean schools; and Filipino soldiers staff the United States Armed Forces.

With a population of 105 million that's on the young end, the Philippines has a large labor force, but as a developing nation, does not have enough employment opportunities. That's changing because of new industries like the outsourcing sector.

Filipinos going overseas is nothing new. Ilocano farmers were sent to Hawaii in the early 1900s to grow pineapples.

Even earlier, Filipino artists, political thinkers, and liberals were hobnobbing in France, Germany, and Spain the late 19th-century.

Even earlier, so-called Manila Men settled in Louisiana, and Chinos - a catch-all label for all Asians but mostly Filipinos - migrated to Mexico during Spain's 300-yearlong hold on the Philippines.

Even earlier than that, pre-Hispanic ‘Filipinos' were reportedly working as sailors and mercenaries all across Southeast Asia.

Even earlier, their Austronesian ancestors explored the islands of Southeast Asia, reaching as far west as Madagascar and as far east as Easter Island.

Simply put, we get around.

What are the first livelihood skills that Filipinos developed?

 

Bisaya

Filipinos in the early 1500s were primarily farmers and traders. This is one of the reasons why a majority in the present day, 10 million Filipino people in Metro Manila, still reside around slums near public markets.

Life becomes difficult when you continually move from place to place to access clean water, food, or jobs. For our city dwellers not to be deprived of any one of these three, they needed a system that brought everything within their reach to start trading with other countries from all over Southeast Asia by land and sea routes. They created a kiosk-residence type, which became Manila's center point where all population flowed into during breaks between work periods and always found a comfortable room to rest.

For the average Filipino to survive, they needed to produce crops for food and clothing, build their own house, teach English or Spanish in exchange for money with foreigners who came to Manila. These were the first livelihood skills that Filipinos developed before modern technologies were introduced.