Filipino Culture and Social Issues

By: Sofia Lumio Recently, we’ve been hearing and seeing non-stop reports on any news platform about mechanical failures, technical breakdown and such about Metro Rail Transit 3(MRT-3), which is running through EDSA from Quezon City to Pasay City. As if it is a daily weather report, updates just come flashing in day by day. Frequent news has recorded that there have been rich glitches for 2017 compared to 2016. Due to its regular occurrence each citizen’s appointment is disturbed and many time is wasted. On the other hand, the management can’t help but unload the passengers every incident for their safety. Sadly, affecting numerous commuters, who are mostly employees and students, the city more bustling than ever. Officials temporarily set a solution for it by authorizing buses to run for the said MRT riders. Just when will the transportation problem be solve? When will every commuter’s day-to-day lives come back to normal or even lighten up?

By: Sofia Lumio "Mano" greeting slowly fading away As generations past by we can't deny the fact that some filipino customs are disappearing gradually because of social influences we encounter through time. "Mano" for example or also known as "bless" in english is a greeting normally practiced by younger to older Filipinos during meetings or gatherings. It is said that younger ones receive the elderlies' "blessings" doing the gesture and as also a sign of respect to them. The gesture is acted upon pressing the forehead to back of the hand of the elderly, it is usually done by two generation gap family members like a nephew to his uncle. Though many Filipinos, mostly from generation x and y, still practice this gesture some replace it with a "beso-beso" or a "cheek-to-cheek".

According to  http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/951138/dfa-passport-appointments-slots-january-2018             Starting January 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will be issuing Philippine passports with 10-year validity pursuant to Republic Act 10928 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. DFA’s passport appointment system is now operated by state-owned Apo Production Unit, Inc. but the interface has not changed. Base to  http://newsbytes.ph/2018/01/12/whats-wrong-with-the-dfas-passport-appointment-system/ (4th Update – 5:44 p.m., Friday, Jan. 12)  At the start of the year, many people whose passports were up for renewal logged on to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) online Passport Appointment System. Much to their surprise, nearly all of the slots up to March 28, 2018 this year were already taken. In fact, it is worth noting that all the slots in the DFA’s Metro Manila satellite offices were already gone. This left others no other choice but to book appoi

By Paul Cabanos     As we know Pamahiin is a tradition of  some countries such as China, Spain, Philippines and other country, if you live in a world full of tradition of pamahiin and i'm sure you know how it feels like obeying some of the tradition for many reasons why.    F ilipinos have an incredulous number of superstitions. We have one for every event and even for our daily lives Based on : http://www.manillenials.com/filipino-superstitions-funerals-pamahiin-sa-patay/ Here’s an exhaustive list of  “pamahiin sa patay”  still followed by most Filipinos. 1. When the wake is held in a household, cover all the mirrors with cloth. They said that the dead tries to show themselves in mirrors, so they must be covered with a cloth. You must also avoid looking at your reflection in mirrors, too. 2. Family members aren’t allowed to take a bath or comb their hair in the house where the wake is being held. But they can do it in another house. 3. Avoid sweeping the fl

FIESTA  IN  THE PHILIPPINES   By: Riona Patindol THERE IS ALWAYS A FIESTA (FESTIVAL) GOING ON SOMEWHERE IN THE PHILIPPINES AS EVERY CITY AND BARRIO HOLDS AT LEAST ONE EACH YEAR. THE FIESTA IS USUALLY TO HONOR THE LOCAL ROMAN CATHOLIC PATRON SAINT AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE BARRIO'S NAMESAKE FOR GOOD HARVEST AND HEALTH. IT IS A MIXTURE OF BOTH PAGAN AND CATHOLIC BELIEFS. THESE FIESTAS ARE MARKED BY FEASTING AND CELEBRATION OF HOLY MASS, MUSIC, DANCE AND SONG.  THE PLAZA AROUND THE CHURCH    IS DECORATED WITH COLORFUL BUNTINGS   SUDDENLY THE PLAZA IS TRANSFORMED INTO A MINI-MARKET WHERE READY-MADE CLOTHES, TOYS, FRUITS, AND NATIVE DELICACIES ARE SOLD. A BRASS BAND PLAYS AFTER THE MASS AND THEN MAKES A ROUND OF   THE IMMEDIATE VIVINITY PLAYING POPULAR FILIPINO SONGS, MARCHES AND KUNDIMANS. THIS SETS A HAPPY, FESTIVE MOOD IN THE COMMUNITY WITH RESIDENTS   GOING ON SPLURGE ENTERTAINING RELATIVES AND   FRIENDS FROM OTHER TOWNS.     THE TOWN FIESTA IS AN EVENT THAT THE RESI

By: Xander Delos Reyes Base  on  Dariel   Pimintel ,  t he  word   Penance  derives  from   Old  French  and  Latin   poenitentia , meaning repentance, the desire to be forgiven. But traditionally, Penance has been viewed as a punishment and varying with the character with the offences committed.   Doing this often involved severe, often public, discipline, which could be both harsh and humiliating but was considered spiritual act.   Penitensya , the Filipino term for Penance, is a tradition being held by the Filipinos during Holy Week,  especially  on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.   Using shred leather straps, you can hear the loud strikes to the hand and to the back of the man with black Nazarene dress. And believe me, seeing and hearing him taking these punishments, you’ll absolutely say it to yourselves that you don’t  want to  be in his position taking  that painful act .   After kneeling down for a few minutes, they suddenly lie, facing down their flesh

By: Xander Delos Reyes Base on Mr.  Mercurio  of The Philippine Star, Philippines c arbonated drinks, energy drinks, sweetened tea and coffee, fruit drinks and other similar products are expected to see minimal to substantial price increases should the proposed excise tax adjustments on sugar-sweetened beverages be pushed by the Congress, data from the Department of Finance (DOF) showed.   According to a price survey conducted by the DOF, the implementation of House Bill 5636 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act could push the prices of sugar-sweetened beverages by two percent to as much as 140 percent.   Under Section 150-A of the bill, sugar sweetened beverages will be levied an excise tax of P10 per liter of volume capacity.     This is with the exemption of 100 percent natural fruit juices, 100 percent natural vegetable juices, yogurt and fruit flavored yogurt beverages, meal replacement beverages, weight loss product and all milk products.   B