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The Philippine Islands People
Home » The Philippines » Philippines - People and Culture » The Philippine Islands PeopleThe typical Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish and Arab blood. The Philippines had a population of 76.5 million as of May 2000, and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines between origins. Filipinos come from a long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, and evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture.
The Filipino character is actually a little bit of all of these cultures put together. The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century. Hospitality is a common denominator in the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino. Filipinos are probably one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today.
The Filipinos are divided geographically and culturally into regions, and each regional group is recognizable by distinct traits and dialects Tribal communities can be found scattered across the archipelago. The Philippines has more than 111 dialects spoken, owing to the subdivisions of these basic regional and cultural groups.
The country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly in the Philippines, East meets West. The background of the people is Indonesian and Malay. There are Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The history of American rule and contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West, both in the appearance and culture of the people of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.
Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino, makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia. Seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their Western visitors. Perhaps due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian.
The American occupation was responsible for teaching the Filipino people the English language. The Philippines is currently the third-largest English speaking country in the world.
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