CULTURES AND TRADITIONS

JAPAN:
The customs and traditions of the Japanese people come from the rich cultural and social history from the Nara, Heian
and Kamakura Periods dating from 710 to 1333. Many of the modern traditions, including trends in the arts and theater,
date to the Edno and Meiji Periods beginning in 1602 and ending in 1912. Visitors to modern Japan, however, have a
variety of activities and attractions that explore the Japanese heritage and cultural experience from all historic eras.
Tradition:
Gardens:
The tradition of gardening in Japan ties ritual and religion to garden design and horticulture techniques. Visitors to
Kyoto, Nara and Kanazawa have examples of historic gardens and also modern-influenced garden designs. Many of
the traditional gardens are kept by Zen Buddhist monks as part of the monastery, but welcome visitors to dry
landscape, hill or flat gardens.
Culture:
Japanese cultural manifestations are as following:
Japanese Painting: The Japanese painting is a very popular form of art celebrated through out the country. The
outstanding procedure of the painting is borrowed from continental regions.
Japanese Language: The language of Japan is one of the most eminent elements of Japanese culture. This language
includes a polysynthetic linguistic process and is featured by a distinctive lexical pitch modulation. The written form of
this language is very interesting as the Japanese scripts are combination of various types of scripts as Roman
Alphabets, Chinese Characters.
Japanese Sculpture: Japanese Sculptures are the reflection of Shinto as well as Buddhist cultural heritage. Stone,
metal, pottery and wood are considered as the favored materials for sculpting.
Family:
Various family life-styles exist side by side in contemporary Japan. In many urban salaryman families, the husband
may commute to work and return late, having little time with his children except for Sundays, a favorite day for family
outings. The wife might be a "professional housewife," with nearly total responsibility for raising children, ensuring their
careers and marriages, running the household, and managing the family budget. She also has primary responsibility
for maintaining social relations with the wider circles of relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances and for managing the
family's reputation. Her social life remains separate from that of her husband. It is increasingly likely that in addition to
these family responsibilities, she may also have a part-time job or participate in adult education or other community
activities. The closest emotional ties within such families are between the mother and children.
In other families, particularly among the self-employed, husband and wife work side by side in a family business.
Although gender-based roles are clear cut, they might not be as rigidly distinct as in a household where work and
family are more separated. In such families, fathers are more involved in their children's development because they
have more opportunity for interacting with them.
As women worked outside of the home with increasing frequency beginning in the 1970s, there was pressure on their
husbands to take on more responsibility for housework and child care. Farm families, who depend on nonfarm
employment for most of their income, are also developing patterns of interaction different from those of previous
generations.
Festival:
Kifune Matsuri
Spring Festival
Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00

Location: Kifune Shrine

Address: Ota, Tokyo,
1

Meiji Shrine Spring Festival

Spring Festival
Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00
Location: Meiji Jingu Shrine
Address: Shibuya, Tokyo,
Osunafumi Taisai
Walking-on-sand ritual
Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00
Location: Tamagawa Daishi Temple
Address: Setagaya, Tokyo,
Shishi Matsuri
Lion dance festival
Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00
Location: Nagasaki Shrine

Address: Toshima, Tokyo,

Takigi Noh
Open-air torchlight Noh performance
Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00
Location: Zojoji Temple
Address: Minato, Tokyo,
Yayoi Matsuri
Yayoi Matsuri is held in Taito Ward of Tokyo near
the Sensoji Temple. The Yayoi Matsuri celebrates
the Edo Shobo Kinen-kai (Edo Civilian Fire
Fighters' Association).
Date: 2013-03-01 00:00:00
Location: Taito
Address: Taito, Tokyo,

Religion:
Two main religions dominate the Japanese culture: Buddhism and Shintoism.
Arts:
o ANIME
Anime ( ) is a style of animation originating in Japan. Anime is characterized by character and
background styles which may be created by hand or may be assisted by computers. Storylines may feature a
variety of characters and may be set in different locations and in different eras.
o Japanese Calligraphy - Before Nara period
The oldest existing calligraphic text in Japan is the inscription on the halo of the Bhaisajyaguru statue in
Hry-ji Temple.
o Tatami mats are a traditional form of Japanese floor covering, which are still found in ryokan and many
Japanese homes.
o ONSEN
An onsen ( , onsen) is a Japanese hot spring. Many springs are developed, having an
associated outdoor bath (rotenburo (, rotenburo) or notenburo (, notenburo))
and/or indoor bath.
o OFURO - JAPANESE BATH
Ofuro are a traditional Japanese hot bath. Ofuro include private baths, and public baths like those
Ofuro found at Onsen.
Attitude:
In interpersonal relationships, most Japanese tend to avoid open competition and confrontation.[4] Working with others
requires self-control, but it carries the rewards of pride in contributing to the group, emotional security, and social
identity. Wa (), the notion of harmony within a group, requires an attitude of cooperation and a recognition of social
roles. If each individual in the group understands personal obligations and empathizes with the situations of others,
then the group as a whole benefits.
Food:

Soba

Ramen

Sashimi

Okonomiyaki

Korokke

Mushrooms

Udon

Domburi

Wasabi

Gyoza

Nikujaga

Wasabi

Rice

Tempura

Sea Weed

Yakitori

Tourist Spots:

Tokyo National Museum established in 1872 is the oldest and largest Japanese museum. It has a collection of
over 90,000 items representing the cultural and architectural heritage of Asian civilizations with special
emphasis on Japan.National Museum in Tokyo consists of five buildings, each of which is dedicated to a
particular theme.
Honkan or Japanese Gallery
Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

Beliefs:
Empathy and Human Relations
In Japanese mythology, the gods display human emotions, such as love and anger. In these stories, behavior that
results in positive relations with others is rewarded, and empathy, identifying oneself with another, is highly valued. By
contrast, those actions that are antisocial, or that harm others, are condemned. Hurtful behavior is punished in the
myths by ostracizing the offender. No society can exist that tolerates significant antisocial behavior in the long term, but
Japan is among the societies that most strongly rely on social rather than supernatural sanctions and emphasize the
benefits of harmony. Japanese children learn from their earliest days that human fulfillment comes from close
association with others. Children learn early to recognize that they are part of an interdependent society, beginning in
the family and later extending to larger groups such as neighborhood, school, community, and workplace. Dependence
on others is a natural part of the human condition; it is viewed negatively only when the social obligations it creates are
too onerous to fulfill.
Dances:
There are many traditional dances in Japan, but the one of the most famous and common dances is the Bon dance,
called "Bon Odori" in Japanese. People dance the Bon Dance during the Bon Festival, held every summer in districts
and neighbourhoods in every city in Japan.
Songs:

'J-pop' means 'the popular music among the youths in Japan'.

Japanese rock is a form of popular music, often abbreviated to "J-Rock" in much the same way that "J-Pop" is used as
an abbreviation of Japanese Pop. J-Rock is one of the most popular forms of music in Japan.
KOTO- The koto is one of the most popular Japanese traditional musical instruments. To many, the character of koto
music is evocative of traditional Japan with the attributes of the western harp, dulcimer and lute.

KOREA
Korea is a small penninsula on the far East side of Asia. It is between China and Japan. It is connected to mainland
Asia in the North. It is separated from China and Russia by the Yalu River and the Tuman River. Between Korea and
Japan is the East Sea. To the West between Korea and China is the Yellow Sea. The size of Korea is roughly 1,000
kilometers in length.
Tradition:

Although South Korea is modernizing extremely fast, it still holds on to many traditional values and the old way of life.
Where there are not highly populated cities, there are rural area's which are still relatively poor, and still follow
traditional ways of life. In cities, millions of people live in apartments, but in the rural area's you will find traditional
housing. Also, even though the cities are headed toward very modern times, people still hold onto some traditional
values. One thing that guarantee's this is the language. The language has traditional values of social status and
respect built directly into it. Words change depending on who you are speaking with. This will keep traditional values
always present.
Culture:
A few basic facts about Korean people. They are generally known for their darker complexion and high cheek bones.
As a race, they can be extremely nice as long as you treat them with respect. However, just keep in mind that some
cultural differences are involved so you may consider what they do as rude but they do not mean anything personally
by it, it is simply thousands of years of tradition. One example of this may be with the older Koreans. Everywhere older
people are respected, but in Korea they are highly respected. Sometimes they may appear to be pushy or rude to you,
but it really is nothing personal :) Just a different place. The people truly are nice and helpful. If you need help and
understand little Korean, they will help you. They love when you want to learn the language and will help you with that
as well.
Some Koreans may still be stubborn and independent (I mean no disrespect!). Some are still very grouped
(independent, but grouped.) What I mean is it hasn't been long since Korean's came out of the whole dynasty deal. You
may find a lot of generalizations about each 'dynasty', such as the Lee Dynasty, Park, Kim, etc...and most of them are
true! There are distinct characteristics that hold true, so older Koreans will ask a lot of questions about family
backround.
Family:
Values and functions of the family. The family is the basic component of social life in Korea, and its perpetuation has
been of paramount importance under patriarchal Confucianism. In a Confucian patriarchal family, the family as an
entity takes precedence over its individual members, and the family group is inseparably identified with the clan. The
most important function of family members is to maintain and preserve the household within the traditional Confucian
system (Lee 1960). Society became organized around two principles: that males shall dominate females and that
elders shall dominate the young (Kim 1993). Growing old in Korea had advantages for both women and men, for age
was respected. According to this perspective, women were often self-assertive and highly valued, as the family finance
managers, decisionmakers in family matters, and educators of children.
Festival:

The traditional Korean calendar was based on the lunisolar calendar.[16] Dates are calculated from Korea's
meridian, and observances and festivals are rooted in Korean culture. The Korean lunar calendar is divided
into 24 turning points (, jeolgi), each lasting about 15 days. The lunar calendar was the timetable for the
agrarian society in the past, but is vanishing in the modern Korean lifestyle.
The Gregorian calendar was officially adopted in 1895, but traditional holidays and age reckoning are still
based on the old calendar.[16][17] Older generations still celebrate their birthdays according to the lunar
calendar.
The biggest festival in Korea today is Seollal (the traditional Korean New Year). Other important festivals
include Daeboreum (the first full moon), Dano (spring festival), and Chuseok (harvest festival).
There are also a number of regional festivals, celebrated according to the lunar calendar. See also Public
holidays in North Korea and Public holidays in South Korea.

Religion:
Buddhism Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the older religions in South Korea. It comes from the Mahayana branch of Buddhism, similar to
China and Japan. It's influence in society has declined recently, but there are still many Korean's that practice
Buddhism. The pictures above are of various temples that followers will visit.
Christianity Christianity

Christianity has become more and more popular in recent years in South Korea. Christianity was introduced to Korea
by the Jesuits in China. Catholics spread very quickly, but were persecuted by the King who perceived it as a threat.
Protestants began to enter Korea in the late 19th century. Some of the world's largest churches will be found in Korea.
Arts:
The earliest paintings found on the Korean peninsula are petroglyphs of prehistoric times. With the arrival of Buddhism
from India via China, different techniques were introduced. These techniques quickly established themselves as the
mainstream techniques, but indigenous techniques still survived. There is a tendency towards naturalism with subjects
such as realistic landscapes, flowers and birds being particularly popular. Ink is the most common material used, and it
is painted on mulberry paper or silk.Gardens:
The principles of temple gardens and private gardens are the same. Korean gardening in East Asia is influenced by
primarily Korean Shamanism and Korean folk religion. Shamanism emphasizes nature and mystery, paying great
attention to the details of the layout. In contrast to Japanese and Chinese gardens which fill a garden with man made
elements, traditional Korean gardens avoid artificialities, trying to make a garden more natural than nature.
Clothing:
The traditional dress known as hanbok (, ) (known as joseonot [] in the DPRK) has been worn since
ancient times. The hanbok consists of a shirt (jeogori) and a skirt (chima).
Attitude:
A few basic facts about Korean people. They are generally known for their darker complexion and high cheek bones.
As a race, they can be extremely nice as long as you treat them with respect. However, just keep in mind that some
cultural differences are involved so you may consider what they do as rude but they do not mean anything personally
by it, it is simply thousands of years of tradition. One example of this may be with the older Koreans. Everywhere older
people are respected, but in Korea they are highly respected. Sometimes they may appear to be pushy or rude to you,
but it really is nothing personal :) Just a different place. The people truly are nice and helpful. If you need help and
understand little Korean, they will help you. They love when you want to learn the language and will help you with that
as well.
Some Koreans may still be stubborn and independent (I mean no disrespect!). Some are still very grouped
(independent, but grouped.) What I mean is it hasn't been long since Korean's came out of the whole dynasty deal. You
may find a lot of generalizations about each 'dynasty', such as the Lee Dynasty, Park, Kim, etc...and most of them are
true! There are distinct characteristics that hold true, so older Koreans will ask a lot of questions about family
backround.
Food:

Rice is the staple food of Korea. Having been an almost exclusively agricultural country until recently, the
essential recipes in Korea are shaped by this experience. The main crops in Korea are rice, barley, and
beans, but many supplementary crops are used. Fish and other seafood are also important because Korea is
a peninsula.
Fermented recipes were also developed in early times. These include pickled fish and pickled vegetables.
This kind of food provides essential proteins and vitamins during the winter.
A number of dishes have been developed. These can be divided into ceremonial foods and ritual foods.
Ceremonial foods are used when a child reaches 100 days, at the first birthday, at a wedding ceremony, and
the sixtieth birthday. Ritual foods are used at funerals, at ancestral rites, shaman's offerings and as temple
food.
A distinguishing characteristic of Temple Food is that it does not use the common five strong-flavoured
ingredients of Korean cuisine--(garlic, spring onion, wild rocambole, leek, and ginger), and meat.
Kimchi is one of the famous foods of Korea. Kimchi is pickled vegetables which contain vitamins A and C,
thiamine, riboflavin, iron, calcium, carotene, etc. There are many types of kimchi including cabbage kimchi,
string onion kimchi, cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, and sesame kimchi.
For ceremonies and rituals rice cakes are vital. The colouring of the food and the ingredients of the recipes
are matched with a balance of yin and yang.

Tourist Spots:

Today, surasang (traditional court cuisine) is available to the whole population. In the past vegetable dishes
were essential, but meat consumption has increased. Traditional dishes include ssambap, bulgogi, sinseollo,
kimchi, bibimbap, and gujeolpan.
The Jongmyo Shrine was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1995 and is located in Seoul. The
shrine is dedicated to the spirits of the ancestors of the royal family of the Joseon Dynasty.
Changdeokgung is also known as the "palace of illustrious virtue". It was built in 1405, burnt to the ground
during the Imjin wars in 1592 and reconstructed in 1609. For more than 300 years Changdeokgung was the
site of the royal seat. It is located in Seoul.
Bulguksa is also known as the temple of the Buddha Land and home of the Seokguram Grotto. The temple
was constructed in 751 and consists of a great number of halls. There are two pagodas placed in the temple.

Beliefs:
The original religion of the Korean people was Shamanism, which though not as widespread as in ancient times, still
survives to this day. Female shamans or mudang are often called upon to enlist the help of various spirits to achieve
various means. Buddhism and Confucianism were later introduced to Korea through cultural exchanges with Chinese
dynasties. Buddhism was the official religion of the Goryeo dynasty, and many privileges were given to Buddhist monks
during this period. However, the Joseon period saw the suppression of Buddhism, where Buddhist monks and temples
were banned from the cities and confined to the countryside. In its place a strict form of Confucianism, which some see
as even more strict than what had ever been adopted by the Chinese, became the official philosophy.The traditional
beliefs of Korean Shamanism, Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism have remained an underlying influence of the
religion of the Korean people as well as a vital aspect of their culture.[19] In fact, all these traditions coexisted
peacefully for hundreds of years.
Dances:

As with music, there is a distinction between court dance and folk dance. Common court dances are
jeongjaemu ( ) performed at banquets, and ilmu ( ), performed at Korean Confucian rituals.
Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (, hyangak jeongjae) and forms imported from Central
Asia and China (, dangak jeongjae). Ilmu are divided into civil dance (, munmu) and military
dance (, mumu). Many mask dramas and mask dances are performed in many regional areas of Korea.
[7] The traditional clothing is the genja, it is a special kind of dress that women wear on festivals. It is pink with
multiple symbols around the neck area.
Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary productions.
Taekkyeon, a traditional Korean martial art, is central to the classic Korean dance. Taekkyeon, being a
complete system of integrated movement, found its core techniques adaptable to mask, dance and other
traditional artforms of Korea.

Songs:
There is a genre distinction between folk music and court music. Korean folk music is varied and complex, but all forms
maintain a set of rhythms (called ; Jangdan) and a loosely defined set of melodic modes. Korean folk musics are
Pansori () performed by one singer and one drummer. Occasionally, there might be dancers and narraters.
They have been designated an intangible cultural property in UNESCO's Memory of the world,[15] and Pungmul (
) performed by drumming, dancing and singing. Samul Nori is a type of Korean traditional music based on

PHILIPPINES:
The Republic of the Philippines is a sprawling archipelago set in the western Pacific Ocean.
The Philippines is an incredibly diverse nation in terms of language, religion, ethnicity and also geography. Ethnic and
religious fault-lines that run through the country continue to produce a state of constant, low-level civil war between
north and south.
Tradition/ Culture:

Foreigners and tourists who have experienced the Philippine culture and being with Filipinos find them very hospitable.
This is a common trait that Filipinos are known for to most foreigners who have traveled around the country.
The attitude of Filipino people towards foreigners and other people is said to be exceptional. Even the humblest home
along the road can serve as a shelter for a stranger who has lost his way. In Filipino culture, serving other people the
best of what they have gives them an honor and a promise of true friendship. A typical Filipino house is not completely
called a home without any facility ready for guests. It is filled with new and nice-looking items reserved only for them
while ordinary ones are for everyday use.
Family:
Domestic Unit. The extended family is the most important societal unit, especially for women. Women's closest
friendships come from within the family. Mothers and daughters who share a home make decisions concerning the
home without conferring with male family members. One child remains in the family home to care for the parents and
grandparents. This child, usually a daughter, is not necessarily unmarried. The home may include assorted children
from the extended family, and single aunts and uncles. Several houses may be erected on the same lot to keep the
family together. Childcare is shared. Fathers carry and play with children but are unlikely to change diapers.
Grandparents who live in the home are the primary care givers for the children since both parents generally work.
Preschool grandchildren who live in other communities may be brought home for their grandparents to raise. Indigent
relatives live in the family circle and provide as household and childcare help. Young people may work their way
through college by exchanging work for room and board. Family bonds are so close that nieces and nephews are
referred to as one's own children and cousins are referred to as sisters and brothers. Unmarried adult women may
legally adopt one of a sibling's children.
Festival:
Month
January

February

March

April

May

June

July
August
September

Festival
Ati-Atihan
Sinulog
Dinagyang
Coconut
Panagbenga
Kaamulan
Paraw Regatta
Pintados de Passi
Araw ng Dabaw
Kariton
Moriones
Sinuam
Aliwan
Magayon
Pahiyas
Sanduguan
Baragatan
Pintados
Pista Y Ang Kagueban
Tinalak
Kadayawan
Pavvu-rulun
Peafrancia
Padul-ong
Bonok-Bonok
Banigan
Diyandi

Place
Kalibo, Aklan
Cebu
Iloilo
San Pablo City, Laguna
Baguio
Bukidnon
Iloilo City and Guimaras
Passi City, Iloilo
Davao
Licab, Nueva Ecija
Marinduque
San Jose, Batangas
Pasay
Albay
Lucban, Quezon
Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
Palawan
Tacloban City
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
Koronadal, South Cotabato
Davao
Tuguegarao City
Naga, Bicol
Borongan City, Eastern Samar
Surigao City
Basey, Samar
Iligan City

October

November

Fiesta Pilar
Masskara
Buglasan
Itik

Zamboanga City
Bacolod
Oriental Negros
Victoria, Laguna

Religion:
The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia-Pacific, the other being East Timor. From a
census in 2012, Christianity consist about 80%[3][4] of the population. Islam is the religion for about 11%[5] of the
population. Buddhism shares 1.8% of the population, while 3.8% practice other religions. The remaining 0.6 did not
specify a religion while 11% are irreligious[6] according to Dentsu Communication Institute Inc.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards and the introduction of Roman Catholicism and Western culture in the 16th century,
the indigenous Austronesian people of what is now called the Philippines were adherents of a mixture of shamanistic
Animism, Islam, Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism.
Arts:
o

o
o
o

The literature of the Philippines illustrates the Prehistory and European colonial legacy of the Philippines,
written in both Indigenous and Hispanic writing system. Most of the traditional literatures of the Philippines
were written during the Mexican and Spanish period. Philippine literature is written in Spanish, English,
Tagalog, and/or other native Philippine languages.
Painting
Early Filipino painting can be found in red slip (clay mixed with water) designs embellished on the ritual
pottery of the Philippines such as the acclaimed Manunggul Jar.
Indigenous art
The Itneg people are known for their intricate woven fabrics. The binakol is a blanket which features designs
that incorporate optical illusions. Woven fabrics of the Ga'dang people usually have bright red tones.
Kut-kut art
A technique combining ancient Oriental and European art process. Considered lost art and highly collectible
art form. Very few known art pieces existed today.

Attitude:
People believe that it is one's duty to keep things operating smoothly. It is very important not to lose face. Being
corrected or correcting another person in public is not considered acceptable behavior. People want to grant all
requests, and so they often say yes when they mean no or maybe. Others understand when the request is not fulfilled
because saying no might have caused the individual to lose face. When one is asked to join a family for a meal, the
offer must be refused. If the invitation is extended a second time, it is permissible to accept. Time consciousness and
time management are not important considerations. A planned meeting may take place later, much later, or never.
Filipinos walk hand in hand or arm in arm with relatives and friends of either sex as a sign of affection or friendship.
Women are expected not to cross their legs or drink alcohol in public. Shorts are not common wear for women.
People pride themselves on hospitality. They readily go out of their way to help visitors or take them to their destination.
It is of the highest importance to recognize the positions of others and use full titles and full names when introducing or
referring to people. Non-verbal language, such as pointing to an object with one's lips, is a key element in
communication. One greets friends by lifting the eyebrows. A longer lift can be used to ask a question.
Food:
Filipinos cook a variety of foods influenced by Western and Asian cuisine. The Philippines is considered a melting pot
of Asia.
Eating out is a favorite Filipino pastime. A typical Pinoy diet consists at most of six meals a day; breakfast, snacks,
lunch, snacks, dinner, and again a midnight snack before going to sleep. Rice is a staple in the Filipino diet, and is
usually eaten together with other dishes. Filipinos regularly use spoons together with forks and knives. Some also eat
with their hands, especially in informal settings, and when eating seafood. Rice, corn, and popular dishes such as

adobo (a meat stew made from either pork or chicken), lumpia (meat or vegetable rolls), pancit (a noodle dish), and
lechn (roasted pig) are served on plates.
Tourist Spots:
The Chocolate Hills are found in the island province of Bohol, which is also the home of one of the smallest primates in
the world the Philippine Tarsier. The Hanging Coffins of Sagada and the Banaue Rice Terraces are worth a visit in the
Northern Philippines. Taal Volcano, one of the smallest active volcanoes in the world, sits on a lake and is just an hour
away from Manila. Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the country, is one of the most popular climbing destinations. The
Hundred Islands, also located in the Northern Philippines, is a group of more than 400 islets with coral reefs
surrounding the islets.
Palawan Island is home to the spectacular Tubbataha Reef and the breathtaking Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
National Park; both are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Boracay Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in
the country. The island boasts a 4-kilometer stretch of white sand beach, considered to be the best beach in Asia and
one of the top ten beaches in the world. Other destinations in the country are the dive sites in Anilao, Siargao, Apo
Island, Balicasag, La Union and Zambales.
Beliefs:
While there somewhat of a trend going on in the ethnological circles claiming that widespread monotheistic beliefs
found among many tribal peoples were due to the influence of diffusion, or by forced interpretation by missionaries, the
belief in a Supreme God seems to be one of the most natural and simplest of beliefs. Indeed, very little evidence has
been mustered in support of this theory and it remains simple conjecture.
In the Philippines, the record of the Spanish, and the surviving indigenous traditions leave little doubt that the Filipinos
had a belief in a Supreme Creator God. The name of this god varied depending on what region is discussed. Among
some of the names are: Bathala, Diwata, Kabunian, Mansilatan, Makaptan, Laon, Lumauig, Mamarsua, Tuhan, etc.
Here is a graph showing the hierarchy of creation generally held in Philippine belief systems:
The Creator God was almost always said to be invisible, or without form, and as such, images of the deity were not
generally made. The name was considered sacred, and very rarely uttered, usually only in sacred rituals by special
initiates. This same phenomenon occurs widely throughout the Malay Archipelago. Generally, the Supreme God was
seen as distant and too involved in higher matters for direct worship. Instead, a lower class of deities, who, like
humans, were also created, were the principle objects of prayer, supplication and ritual. However, sacrifices, offerings
and rituals aimed at the Supreme God were no unknown, and they were usually reserved for emergency-type
situations as among the Bagobo, or in very special annual rites.
The lower gods were known by names like diwa, diwata, tuhan and anito. As in many shamanistic cultures, these
deities were divided into benefic and malefic categories. A sort of cosmic dualism was ever present in which humans
and other earthly beings were also involved. However, the malefic deities were not generally seen as enemies and
were often supplicated themselves. Their role in bringing harm to earthly beings was seen as having a special
significance in the cosmic scheme of things. While a sort of battle between good and evil did exist, this was primarily
between the beings of earth and the lower realms. In this conflict, the shaman/priest acted as the primary defender in
native society. He/she sought the aid of the benefic deities against the malevolent lower spirits, or the appeasement of
the malefic deities. In special cases, the shaman/priest even appealed to the Supreme Deity.
Dances:
Philippine folk dances include the Tinikling and Cariosa. In the southern region of Mindanao, Singkil is a popular
dance showcasing the story of a prince and princess in the forest. Bamboo poles are arranged in a tic-tac-toe pattern
in which the dancers exploit every position of these clashing poles
Songs:
The early music of the Philippines featured a mixture of Indigenous, Islamic and a variety of Asian sounds that
flourished before the European and American colonization in the 16th and 20th centuries. Spanish settlers and
Filipinos played a variety of musical instruments, including flutes, guitar, ukelele, violin, trumpets and drums. They

performed songs and dances to celebrate festive occasions. By the 21st century, many of the folk songs and dances
have remained intact throughout the Philippines. Some of the groups that perform these folk songs and dances are the
Bayanihan, Filipinescas, Barangay-Barrio, Hariraya, the Karilagan Ensemble, and groups associated with the guilds of
Manila, and Fort Santiago theatres. Many Filipino musicians have risen prominence such as the composer and
conductor Antonio J. Molina, the composer Felipe P. de Leon, known for his nationalistic themes and the opera singer
Jovita Fuentes.
Modern day Philippine music features several styles. Most music genres are contemporary such as Filipino rock,
Filipino hip hop and other musical styles. Some are traditional such as Filipino folk music.

THAILAND
Officially the Kingdom of Thailand ,formerly known as Siam (Thai: ; rtgs: Sayam), is a country at the
centre of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the
east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the
Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of
Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
Tradition:
The most distinctive Thai custom is the Wai that bears resemblance to the Indian namaste demonstration of
affection amongst friends are common in public. It is considered rude to put the feet above someone's head
or step on a Thai coin as it has the King's head engraved upon it.
Culture:

Thai Culture and Buddhist Traditions

Thai culture is Buddhist. Accordingly the culture is one where individuals are taught to think for themselves
and not be subjugated by religious authorities as is the case with Christain, Jewish or Muslim religions.

The essence of this culture has two principal themes, first, one must understand the difference between
reality and self delusion, and second, one must understand the nature of cause and effect, that is, to
understand whatever one does now will have implications later, not only in the very short term, but the very
long term.

In Thai society Thai culture is such that people do not mix self delusion in their thoughts and conversation.
This is seen as foolish. Good examples of self delusion include arrogance, superiority beliefs, social status
etc. Some cultures do not make the distinction. The distinction is made in business matters as well as private
relationships. Thai culture enables Thai people to better self distinguish their emotional desires with a
cautious respect for reality.

Thai culture also calls for detachment. In some societies if people want something they have to have it
whatever, in fact they strive to become part of what they seek, be it a status symbol object like a motor car or
a position of social recognition. They become in their minds what they seek to obtain, the delusion is over
whelming. In Thai culture such desire and attachment for objects is regarded as weekness.

To this we add the need for respect of others also a concept not really understood in western cultures.
Examples of this respect are, not to shout at others, not to talk at some one, rather talk to them, not to
impose on another with meaningless and convoluted talk [ thus wasting their time ], not to defame someone
and respect their property in their own good name. For example, defamation is a crime in Thailand.

Thai Culture About Telling Lies

Thai culture does not permit telling lies. Again words have different applications.

In western society people tell ties all the time, not only in politics, but to children, friends and in business and
government of the people for the people. In the west we dismiss these as '' white lies '', not important, or
being polite to avoid the truth to confront someone. Not so in Thai culture, so travellers should understand a
strict interpretation of the concept of a lie applies and when a Thai avoids telling you the truth then you know
this is his or her way of refusing to lie.

Family:
In Thailand there is a much stronger company in the family compared to our western culture. Often live
several generations under one roof. The parents house for example is bequeathed to the youngest daughter,
she together with her husband in return accommodate her parents when they are older. The oldest man of a
Thai family is the patriarch, the other family members have to act in accordance with his decisions. In
Bangkok every days live adapts more and more to the western developed nations but in the country the old
traditions continue to exist almost unchanged. As a tradition a Thai man has to meet the whole family of the
bride and get the total consent before he can get engaged. Only then he can propose to her parents for the
hand of their daughter. Do both families agree the date for the wedding is fixed. But the date for the wedding
is delayed until the groom has finished his apprenticeship. The brides parents get bride-money from the
groom, a kind of compensation for the upbringing consisting of natural produce or money. Many a time this is
returned to the bridal couple on the wedding day. In the country the newly married often stay with their
parents until they have the first child.

Festival:
o Songkran
The most well known of all Thai festivals, Songkran is for those who love a good water fight. Its the
official Thai New Year landing on April 13th each year and lasting around 2 to 3 days. During the
festival, the streets fill up with people looking to soak and get soaked with super-soakers in hand!
Water is used as a symbol of cleansing, which is exactly what the Thai want to do to start the New
Year.
o Phi Ta Khon
is a tradition of the Dan Sai district of the Loei Province in Isan. It is better known as the ghost
festival since it reflects the regions beliefs on ghosts and spirits. It occurs each year around
June/July and is probably Thailands most colorful festival. Men dress up as spirits in bright colorful
costumes and masks. Along with the costumes, theres plenty of dancing and rejoicing.
o Monkey Buffet
Animals lovers would get a kick out of this bizarre festival. On the last Sunday of November each
year, the town of Lopburi shows appreciation to their main tourist attraction, monkeys. They do this
by serving a huge buffet of food, solely for the adorable and smart animals. This festivals makes
some funny photos!
Religion:
Thailand is predominantly a Theravada Buddhist country but there are the minorities like the Phra
Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera and the Muslims as well.
Arts:
Traditional visual arts in Thailand bear a great influence of Buddhism but contemporary Thai art is a
combination of the modern techniques along with the traditional styles. Crafts include textiles and decorative
items that bear the distinct Thai style.
Attitude:
The behavior of the Thais is well controlled by etiquette based on the Buddhism. The society is nonconfrontational in nature and so disputes need to be averted at all costs. Thais prefer proper behavior and
dress. Revealing clothes and behaving rudely in public needs to be avoided at all costs.
The traditional customs and the folklore of Thai people were gathered and described by Phya Anuman
Rajadhon in the 20th century, at a time when modernity changed the face of Thailand and a great number of
traditions disappeared or became adapted to modern life. Still, the striving towards refinement, rooted in
ancient Siamese culture, consisting of promoting that which is refined and avoiding coarseness is a major
focus of the daily life of Thai people and high on their scale of values.[5]
Public displays of affection is not overly common in traditional Thai society, especially between lovers. It is
becoming more common, especially among the younger generation.
A notable social norm holds that touching someone on the head may be considered rude. It is also
considered rude to place one's feet at a level above someone else's head, especially if that person is of
higher social standing. This is because the Thai people consider the foot to be the dirtiest and lowliest part of
the body, and the head the most respected and highest part of the body. This also influences how Thais sit
when on the groundtheir feet always pointing away from others, tucked to the side or behind them.
Pointing at or touching something with the feet is also considered rude.

Food:
Thai cuisine is extremely popular due to the blending of the four fundamental tastes of salty, sour, spicy and
sweet. Most of the dishes combine all of these and there are innumerable spices and herbs used to achieve
this.
Khao breakfast dishes, for Thais are limited. Very often, a Thai breakfast can consist of the same dishes with
rice which are also eaten for lunch or dinner. Single dishes such as fried rice, noodle soups, and steamed
rice with something simple such as an omelette, fried/grilled pork or chicken, or a stir-fry with vegetables, are
commonly sold for breakfast from street stalls as a quick take-out.
Tourist Spots:

Bangkok Thailand's bustling, frenetic capital, known among the Thai as Krung Thep

Ayutthaya a historical city, UNESCO World Heritage Site and old capital of Siam

Chiang Mai de facto capital of Northern Thailand and the heart of Lanna culture

Chumphon gateway to the Chumphon Archipelago, Pathio's unspoilt beaches & Ko Tao Island

Chiang Rai gateway to the Golden Triangle, ethnic minorities and mountain trekking

Kanchanaburi home of the bridge over the River Kwai and numerous World War II museums

Nakhon Ratchasima largest city of the Isaan region

Pattaya one of the main tourist destinations, known for its nightlife

Sukhothai Thailand's first capital, with amazing ruins still

Surat Thani home of the Srivijaya Empire, gateway to Ko Samui

Beliefs:
Traditional principles concerning pregnancy and childbirth are largely influenced by folk beliefs, especially in
rural areas of central and north Thailand. Modern practices follow the Western medical model.
One of the most distinctive Thai customs is the wai. Used in greetings, leave-taking, or as an
acknowledgement, it comes in many forms, reflecting the relative status of those involved. Generally the
salutation involves a prayer-like gesture with the hands, similar to the Ajali Mudr of the Indian
subcontinent, and it also may include a slight bow of the head. This salutation is often accompanied by a
serene smile symbolizing a welcoming disposition and a pleasant attitude. Thailand is often referred to as the
"land of smiles" in tourist brochures.

Dances:

Khon is the most stylized form of Thai dance. It is performed by troupes of non-speaking dancers,
the story being told by a chorus at the side of the stage. Choreography follows traditional models
rather than attempting to innovate. Most khon performances feature episodes from the Ramakien.
Costumes are dictated by tradition, with angels, both good and bad, wearing coloured masks.
Lakhon features a wider range of stories than khon, including folk tales and Jataka stories. Dancers
are usually female and perform as a group rather than representing individual characters.
Ramwong () is a type of partner dance which dance in a circle.

Wai Khru ( ) is a ritualized form of dance meant to pay respect to, or homage to the khru or
teacher. It is performed annually by Thai classical dance institutions as well as before Muay Thai
matches.

Songs:
Thai classical music is synonymous with those stylized court ensembles and repertoires that emerged in its
present form within the royal centers of Central Thailand some 800 years ago. These ensembles, while being
deeply influenced by Khmer and even older practices and repertoires from India, are today uniquely Thai
expressions. While the three primary classical ensembles, the Piphat, Khrueang sai and Mahori differ in
significant ways, they all share a basic instrumentation and theoretical approach. Each employ the small
ching hand cymbals and the krap wooden sticks to mark the primary beat reference.
The most common and iconic Thai classical music that symbolizes the dancing of the Thailand's legendary
dragons, a midsized orchestra including two xylophones (ranat), an oboe (pi), barrel drums (klong) and two
circular sets of tuned horizontal gong-chimes (khong wong lek and khong wong yai). Piphat can be
performed in either a loud outdoor style using hard mallets(Piphat mai khaeng; ) or in an
indoor style using padded hammers(Piphat mai nuam; ).
The third major Thai classical ensemble is the Mahori, traditionally played by women in the courts of both
Central Thailand and Cambodia. Historically the ensemble included smaller instruments more appropriate, it
was thought, to the build of female performers.