Submitted by: Ranel Ann L.

Palma

”
June 20, 2019

Observation about social political behavior and phenomena

LET’S REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PHENOMENA.

A. FOOD TABOOS

Culturally, food taboos are known from virtually all human societies. A food taboo is a
prohibition against consuming certain foods. Some religions assert that there are certain
foods which to them are prohibited while other religions may consider them fit for human
consumption. In the society, there are certain dietary rules that may affect particular aspects
of the human life. These food taboos or prohibitions may be associated with special events
such as childbirth, pregnancy, menstrual period or breast feeding.

In some cases, dietary rules are thought to be a result of health considerations or other
practical reasons. Some foods may be prohibited during certain religious periods like during
the Holy Week, at certain stages of life such as when one is pregnant, or to certain classes of
people like priests or religious people, even though the food is otherwise permitted.

FOOD TABOOS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The cuisine of the Filipinos has its roots or with influences from the Malay, Spanish, Arab,
Indian, Japanese, Chinese and American cuisines. The Filipinos traditionally have three meals
a day like many other cultures. There is an afternoon snack called “merienda”. There are
many different dishes, from chicken, pork to beef. The staples are rice which is eaten with
sauce of the main dish or soup, fruits, meat and seafood. Cooking methods are frying, grilling,
sautéing and most of the time, boiling. There are many unique dishes in the Filipino cuisine.
Some of them are papaitan which is goat or beef innards stew flavored with bile which gives
it a bitter taste.

SOME DISHES THAT FILIPINOS CONSIDER AS TABOO:

1. Any dish that have dog or cat meat. Although there are those who really prefer dog
meat, this is not allowed by law in the Philippines. Republic act No. 8485 declares that it is
completely “illegal to slaughter a dog or cat for personal trade or slaughtering a dog or cat for
commercial trade and consumption. Common opinion also disapproves it considering that
“the dog is a man’s best friend.”

2. Any meat of animals considered as endangered. Meat of monkeys, tortoise (pawikan),

monitor lizards (bayawak), or rare birds are unacceptable to eat either by public standards or
by law.

3. Any food that violates human dignity because they are not anymore acceptable for
human consumption by public opinion. Such are like the “double-dead meat” or “botcha”
pork, beef and chicken meat coming from previously already dead animals butchered to be
sold for human consumption at significantly low prices compared to the fresh ones. Another
is the “pagpag” which are food that are left-over chicken or pork from restaurants salvaged
and remade into another dish.
Submitted by: Ranel Ann L. Palma
June 20, 2019

There are other dishes in the Philippines that may be popular to the majority but are prohibited to
others on reason of religious beliefs. The pork is a regular meat for many Christians, Catholics or
Protestants. This is not so with the Muslims who are not allowed to eat pork. The members of the Iglesia
ni Cristo may eat pork but are not allowed to eat pig’s blood as in the popular dish “dinuguan”. Among
Protestants, the 7th Day Adventists also do not consume pork. On the other hand, Hinduism does not
condone the eating of beef. These differences among members of society must be recognized and
respected as mandated by the 1967 Philippine Constitution Article III Section 5 declaring freedom of
religion and the free exercise thereof.

B. THE STANDBY (ISTAMBAY) PHENOMENON

A very interesting social issue with economic implications is the Istambay phenomenon. Etymologically,
the Filipino term “istambay” is derived from the English idiom “on standby”. Istambay is a localized
version of standby, which over the years has developed a set of peculiar characteristics that signify a
particular subsector in Philippine society. One definition of istambay is “a person who does not have
work and who usually hangs-out on street corners.” Another definition of istambay comes from a
Pilipino-English dictionary which offers a more lucid characterization of the negative stereotypes
attached to being an istambay. The
dictionary defines istambay as (1) an
act of spending one’s time
unprofitably; idler (2) a person who
spends his time unprofitably.

This definition also suggests the

Filipino terms ‘paglalakwtsa’
(gallivanting), ‘taong tamad’ (lazy
person), and ‘di ginagamit’ (not
being used) as synonymous to
istambay. Interestingly a great
number of our populations, as a
Submitted by: Ranel Ann L. Palma
June 20, 2019

matter of choice or being force, are into this unlikeable condition.

C. POLITICAL DYNASTY

Another interesting issue in the country is about political dynasty, a phenomenon with socio-economic
undertones. Political dynasties which refer to families whose members are engaged in politics have been
in the Philippine political structure since time past. Most political dynasties are found in affluent families
that have entrenched themselves in local politics before going to the national level. Political dynasties,
therefore, usually have a strong local support base. In fact, dynasties are also active in socio-economic
ventures and not just limited to politics.

Historically, political dynasties emerged after the Philippine revolution upon the establishment of the
first republic of the Philippines. Since then, more dynasties have evolved while the original ones became
inactive. Today, several positions in the Philippine government are held by members of political
dynasties.

While many believe that political dynasties are associated with the extent of poverty and corruption
happening in the country, there is no enabling law enacted in congress that would give tooth to Sec. 26,
Article II Declaration of Principles and State
Policies, 1987 Philippine Constitution, “The
State shall guarantee equal access to
opportunities for public service and prohibit
political dynasties as may be provided by law”,
that would eradicate political dynasties the
Philippines.

As of the moment, there is no law that officially

defines a political dynasty in the Philippines.
There have been bills that attempted to define
a political dynasty such as the Anti-Dynasty Bill
but up to this day no law has been passed by
Congress since 1987 to stamp out political
dynasties.

The usual practice of political dynasties in the

Philippines can be observed in families that
have long been part of politics for many
generations. One of the usual strategies is for
members of the family to occupy certain
government positions in every term. After the
politician’s term is over, a relative of that
politician determines to get elected for that
same position. Another technique used is for
several members of the family occupying
different government positions at the same
Submitted by: Ranel Ann L. Palma
June 20, 2019

time. This is plain and simple political dynasty scheme.

D. PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS

Another equally interesting political phenomenon is about elections in the Philippines.

 The president, vice-president, and the senators are elected on a national or popular elections
serve for a six year term.

 The members of the House of Representatives, and the local government officials, namely;
governors, vice-governors, members of the provincial board, mayors, vice mayors, the city/municipal
councilors are elected for a term of three years and are eligible for re-elections.

The President, as per the 1987 Philippine constitution, is limited to a single term and is barred from
running for re-election. The Vice-president, on the other hand, nay run for re-election or may opt for a
higher position.

The Philippine congress has two chambers. The senate or Upper House has 24 members which are
elected on a nationwide at-large basis; they do not represent and geographical district. The lower half of
the Senator’s term is renewed every three years. The House of Representatives or Lower House has 250
seats which 80% are contested in congressional districts and 20% are allotted to party-lists representing
the marginalized groups and other civic- oriented sectors of the country.

The Philippine electoral system is a multi-party contest which allows the emergence of various political
affiliations in the political arena. Each political party advocates and adheres with their respective
platforms and political agendas. More often than not, electoral campaigns in the Philippines are marred
with personal assassinations and mud-slinging efforts from the protagonists. Lamentably, the fever-
pitched elections often result to divisiveness, harassments, and even election-related killings. Each
candidate or political party resorts to every possible means to win in the electoral fray-be it legal or
illegal. Every election is marred with reports of fraud, vote-buying, vote-padding and vote-shaving. Event
with the use of Automated Elections System some candidates have filed election protests for suspected
tampering of election results.

In the Philippines, the common dictum in the vernacular is “Kaya siya nanalo kasi nandya siya; Kaya siya
natalo kasi dinaya siya.”