History and Evolution of Philippine Pop Culture

Popular Culture in the Philippines is a concern of recent trends and popular activities. Philippines
is a developing nation with a history of colonization which leads to cultural influence particularly
in the Spanish and American occupation. The meaning “popular culture is about the mass which
is applied to the Philippines and its people, the trends in our country which includes lifestyles,
arts and literature, media and technology.

Arts and Literature

Architecture
In the Philippines, architecture has gone through so many changes with time and the influences
of its colonist especially the Spaniards and Americans with their many years taking over the
Philippines.
During the Pre – Spanish period, Philippine architecture was made of bamboo and nipa and
seldom were houses made of stones. In the Philippines it is best known as the Bahay – Kubo which
even in present time still exist, usually resided upon by lowland dwellers in the country.
In the American Commonwealth Period, there was the establishment of civil government thus
the American mission style architecture which are buildings of commerce in their modern 20th
century and Greek like building styles. Today, Contemporary Architecture succumbed by modern
– mundane style which includes concrete structure of cities.

Music and Dance

Anglo – American music was very popular then in the early 20th century. The famous musical
genres at the time, the cakewalk, foxtrot and ragtime – which soon develop as Jazz were played
by Filipino dance bands in shows. When radio, sheet music, live entertainment and movie themes
came, popular music became part of mainstream of Philippines society.
In the Japanese Occupation, American entertainment were banned which is why a pro – Filipino
and Japanese virtue was encouraged in the music industry. In the late 70’s, Metro Manila Popular
Music Festival, a song writing competition boosted the new pop songs. It was in this time the
Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang – awit (OPM) was created for Filipino popular artist. OPM
means Original Pilipino Music; music composed and performed by Filipinos even with its ultimate
use of English for lyrics. Today, a lot of international popular music is being consumed by many
Filipino especially Hollywood and Korean – pop music. Thankfully OPM song remain to be famous.
In terms of dancing, the Philippines has folk dances as its national dance; a dance integrates the
influences of colonist as well while still giving its Filipino touch. This is up to the present time,
being danced in the country but apart from that, many Filipino people have been enjoying dance
crazes through times. Lately, with the application Tiktok, many dances also surface being danced
by many Filipino youths shared on social media platforms.
 Paintings
It is said there is no specific tradition when it comes to painting in the Philippines which means
that there is no particular pattern being followed by the artist. Some famous paintings in the
Philippines include.
▪ The Fisherman by Ang Kiukok (1935-2005)
▪ The fruit Gardener by Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972)
Theatre
The Philippine theatre, just like the arts have evolved through time with the influences of the
various cultures the Philippines has been dawned upon. Before colonization, Philippines theater
was more on verbal joust, indigenous rituals, songs, games and dances to praise gods. In the
Spanish Regime, Spanish people casted off dramas as their instructive tool in influencing and
teaching the Filipino Christianity. One more significant theater from propagated during the time
was the comedia, or the moro – moro.
During the American Colonization, education media and language were introduced with its most
obvious influence, the bodabil (vaudeville) including plays and dramas translated or prescribed in
English. By the 1940s, as the Japanese commence, all film equipment got confiscated. The bodabil
comedia and zaruela endured only as entertainment and expression. From after the Japanese
Occupation to today, Philippine theatre has growth to become an incorporation of the various
influences of all abovementioned, mostly performed in English during the time, until it became
part of classroom education
Literature
Before the Spaniard, records show that Filipinos created epics, poems, songs, myths, tales and
legends which must’ve been imitations from the Indians, elucidating existences through stories
about their lives and the nature, creating brave and patriotic heroes with supernatural powers.
During Spanish Occupation, literary creativity was quientened as Spaniards promoted Christianity.
In the late nineteenth century though, literature came back as poetry and in prose; Florante at
Laura of Francisco Balagtas was born. Filipinos also wrote in Spanish where Spaniards the
supported creative writing and gave prizes.
In the American Occupation, a voice of power and authority came. The first Filipino who wrote in
English took 20 years of studying the new language. Later, writers in English began to rise in
number but were paid very poorly. Nevertheless, it boosted when writers offered prizes by the
Commonwealth Literary Contest. Filipino Literature has been and until now a mixture of
traditional folk – tales, real life experiences and socio – political histories often promoting Filipino
cultural values and struggles of locals.
Fashion, Food and Lifestyle
A person’s lifestyle or way of life is heavily influenced by the history, culture and the values
embedded in the place he or she in. Filipinos, as people of one country are expected to share
commonalities in terms of dealing with existence. With the harsh conditions of the country being
prone to typhoons; also with the number of colonization that transpired, Filipinos were able to
develop resiliency and a stronger faith, above all. With those said, these factors truly affect the
way Filipinos have led and are continuing to lead their lives until now.
Daily life and Social Customs
Living a Filipino life means giving high regard to the family and by that, it includes extended family
members like grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and relatives. Catholic families they also
include godparents assigned as the people responsible of a child should the parents die or to be
disabled. The people abovementioned are the same people you will see in major life gatherings
and events like baptism and confirmation for Catholics, circumcision for Muslims, marriages, and
other special, religious and national holidays. Filipino families are also tight – knit. Children don’t
leave the household easily unlike in other cultures where children are ought to leave by the age
of 18. Usually, children leave their parents’ house the moment they decide to marry but there are
also instances where children do not leave at all and stay with their parents despite having a
family of their own. Most of these who do not leave the house are also making themselves
responsible of taking care of their parents as they grow old.
Education as well is revered by Filipinos. Usually, the first with among parents for their children is
to have them finish their studies. They even celebrate graduations with a feast of food, inviting
family and friends to come and join the celebration. Academic achievement other than work is
something that one would take pride over in the Philippines.
Filipinos are very fond of communicating, in fact, Filipinos are internationally being attributed to
hospitability. The spirit of pakikisama, and pakikibagay which means able to blend with others are
common among Filipinos people; it is easy foreigners as most can understand and speak English.
Filipinos have the thing they call bayanihan which means helping one another or extending help
to those in dire need especially in times of disaster and you can often hear them say po or po as
honorifics to those who are older.
In terms of leisure, Filipinos enjoy singing in karaoke usually at home especially when there is a
special occasion. other than that, Filipino families love going out to the beach or pools, usually
including members of the extended family. Filipinos also love mountaineering with family and
friends and for the youth, they love going out with their barkadas or their group of friends.
Filipinos love going to cinemas in the day and concerts at night. When it comes to sports,
basketball, boxing, football, billiards, and volleyball are the most famous. In fact, every time the
renowned World Boxing Filipino Champion Manny Pacquiao has fight, the streets become
peaceful and almost empty as almost all of the Filipinos are watching and cheering for him in
television.
Shopping is also a thing in the Philippines. There are heaps of malls but most of those who are
thrifty or are saving money opt to buy at ukay – ukay (store for second – handed clothes and
apparels) and tiangges or flea markets. Nowadays, with the impact of digital technology, the
internet of things and globalization, Filipino lifestyles also changed enormously. Things and
machined have become more advanced which made work easier. Even the means of
transportation and home appliances advanced.
In socializing, social media has become a major platform in which people can share and post
things. Most of the youth dedicate a lot of their time surfing the net for entertainment like
scrolling on their social media accounts, watching foreign dramas and youtube videos.
Food
Meals in the Philippines always include rice. Small amounts of meatsbe it chicken or pork for non
– muslims communities, fish, goat, beef and variety of vegetables usually are the viands. When it
comes to meat, there are pork or chicken adobo, sinigang, letchon, sisig, crispy pata, bolalo, etc.
For vegetarians, there are pinakbet, laing.
As for sweet, there are halo -halo, taho, ube halaya, leche flan. Filipinos also have exotic foods,
thereis [Link] also love having a fest or handaan as their way of celebrating achievement
and special occasion. They letchon, pansit, spaghetti, fruit salad, etc.
When it comes to drinks in these occasions, there always are soft and hard drinks. More often
than not, ones to drinks that hard drinks are the male visitors or family members. Females in the
Philippines are often not expected to drink alcohol. Filipinos also like street food very much. Street
foods include kwek – kwek, fish balls, siomai, banana cue,turon, isaw, buko juice, barbecue,
gulaman.
Filipinos especially students enjoy eating these a lot outside while chi – chating with friends and
others. When it comes to snack and sweet, Filipinos also have a lot to offer. There are foods
referred to as kakanin or food made out f glutinous rice widely known as rice cakes,. Kakainin
include biko, sapin-sapin, kutsinta, bibingka, palitaw, etc.
Fashion
Fashion speaks a lot about someone; it’s become a way of expressing the self without having to
say something and clothing, being a universal culture would mean that wherever you go, there
will always be certain ways of dressing in place according to trend, culture and other influences.
Such a fact would not exclude the Philippines of which fashion changed overtime.
The way Filipinos dress through time is incontestably influenced by the colonization’s it has
undergone, reflecting in it the rich history of the country but before these extensive occupations
Filipinos dressed according to social status. In Central Philippines, the Tagalog men wore baro,
while women put on baro at saya made of silk in corresponding colors. The textile for baro’t saya
showed social status. Women in the upper class wore silk, while the lower class used white bark
fibers. Colors of the clothes also indicated social status and tattoos were worn signifying power
and strengthen in warriors, beauty, power and wealth for women.
In the Visayas, clothes were like the Malays, Baquero (ankle – long jacket without collar) or
marlota (a colorful robe) were their usual outfit. Putong /Pudong (string of cloth wrapped around
the forehead) were also worn. Only the braves wore a red Pudong, while commoners wore
Pudong – Pudong. In Mindanao, malong or tubular skirt a fashion basic.
With Spaniards came a different fashion style was born. Baro’t saya changed into its Hispanized
version and a floor – length skirt. Baro turned into barong tagalog, with collars and buttoned lace
shirt. In the 19th century, the Hispanized baro’t saya changed again due to the rising economy
and globalization.
Filipinos travelled and lived in Europe and the US, Western influences became more prominent.
Women started wearing loose dresses and knee- length skirt while men wore suit and coat. Floral
dresses replaced Traje de Metiza in 1930’s. While the elders still used it daily, younger generation
saw it only as a formal dress for special events and occasions.
During the Second World War, the Japanese occupied factories which resulted in shortage of
textiles. Tailoring shops, boutiques and dressmakers closed. Trade and the economy got affected,
people lived through rations and “Americana” Women didn’t wear terno resulting toits death as
stores only sold one- colored dark dresses. With the fame of British pop culture, Philippine fashion
changed in 1960’[Link] became an instant hit. Hem lines got shorter, while the clothes became
more loose. Mini skirt and mini dresses became popular for women. With the invention of
hairspray. Hairstyle got bigger and bolder. In the late 1960’s to 1970’s, Filipinos had the hippie
culture.
Disco culture arose. Bel bottoms stayed a fashion basic paired with polos in bright colors. Women
wore short dresses. The sloppy vibe of the era led to the fame of casual look. Bakya, a footwear,
became famous and the denim – shirt ensemble. Wearing neo – colored clothes with miniskirts
was a huge trend. Curls were in, sporty look got popular.
The 1990’s was all about loose fashion, an oversized shirts and pant with the rock music.
Influence. Dark, leather and overly sized clothes was the trend. Denim became famous including
the long hair or chapchupoy a straight hairstyle with middle parting at the center. The 21st
century, was a combination of different styles from different eras, but the is characterized by the
rise of spaghetti strap clothes. Women wore innerwear as outerwear. Men’s fashion remained
the same, with cargo pants and oversized shirts still famous
Media
Media is one the most important tool for information. It helps to reached out with the people
for different purposes; entertainment news, lifestyle and other. It is one of the reasons why many
Filipinos were up to date on the trends not just in the Philippines set up but also around the world.
In the field of films, the first films shown in the Philippines were short features called
cinematografo (Fernandez, 1981). Jose Rizal’s life was the first feature film produced in the
country but Jose Nepomuceno’s “Dalagang Bukid” was the first full length feature film in 1919.
Musser produced “And Aswang” in 1932 which became the first taking picture in the country.
Dolphy, Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor were the superstar which are always talked because of their
exemplary performances. While on radio, the longest – running shows were “Ilaw ng Tahanan”
and “Gulong ng Palad” recently translated to television, both built on the fool proof formula
cascades of tears and flocks of matryed women (Fernandez 1981)

INTRODUCTION TO POP CULTURE: What is Popular Culture?

It is considered to be as problematic as culture itself in terms of definition. According to
Valdivia (2009), the problem with defining Popular Culture roots from the construction of
the term itself. Since it has two words, "Popular" and "Culture", the term varies from one
person to another depending on how they define "popular" and "culture".
Popular culture is essentially a set of beliefs, values, actions, objects, or goods and
practices that are popular at any given time and space in society. It can refer to things like
art, literature, fashion, dance, film, television, magazines and ways of living
This is generally recognized as the vernacular or people’s culture that predominates in a
society at a point in time. It may be defined as the products and forms of expression and
identity that are frequently encountered or widely accepted, commonly liked or approved,
and characteristic of a particular society at a given time.
Pop Culture allows large heterogeneous masses of people to identify collectively. It serves
an inclusionary role in society as it unites the masses on ideals of acceptable forms of
behavior. It encompasses the most immediate and contemporary aspects of our lives.
A person to another depending on how they define "popular" and "culture". It extends to
reflect the interests of wide audiences or to intentionally target their preferences.
Pop Culture is a fusion of ideas, things, actions, and circumstances that may effect changes
in the belief, personality, and preference of an individual.
It is also a prevalent and well-known culture in most people that dictates what will be the
trend for a certain period of time
A residue of the high culture (Elite Culture) therefore, highlighting it as the culture of the
masses, particularly the working class.
We know that Pop cultures a culture influenced by mass consumption and
commercialization. Which offers an "escape" to ordinary people by providing amusement
to survive everyday life has a didactic orientation or tendency to uplift morality.
This is considered by some scholars to be a medium for "Americanization" (Consolidated from Askin
& Mauskapf, 2017: Reyes, 2014; Wiana, 2013; Sokolowski, 2012; Storey, 2009; Sellnow, 2004)
Characteristics Of Pop Culture
According to Williams (as cited by Storey, 2018):
1. Well-liked by people
2. Inferior kinds of work
3. Deliberately intended to win the favor of the people
4. Made by the people for themselves
According to Tolentino (2004)
1. Made to be commercialized
2. Transgressive in its categories
3. Disseminated with the use of Technology
4. Subjected to notions of Sadomasochism
By Journal of the Society and Culture Association
1. Associated with commercial products and paraphernalia
2. Develops from a local to global level
3. Achieves widespread consumer access
4. Is constantly changing and evolving

Another characteristic that Popular Culture has is its inclination to become transgressive. But in
the first place, what do we mean by transgressive?
So what is “Transgressive”?
TRANSGRESSIVE means challenging the socially accepted norms or the established rules and
boundaries within an artistic, moral, or cultural space.