1. FoodFilipinos love food prepared from curry, especially chicken curry.

2. ReligionHinduism has been a major cultural, economic, political and religious influence
in the archipelago that now comprise the Philippines. However, currently it is l
imited to the small recent immigrant Indian community, though the traditional re
ligious beliefs have strong Hindu and Buddhist influences. Hinduism arrived from
the Javanese empire of Majapahit.

3. Folklore, Arts and LiteratureThe Ramayana and the Mahabharata are the two great epics of India. Ramayana port
rays the battle between good and evil. Rama, with his wife Sita and his brother
Lakshmana, represent the eventual victory of good over evil, represented by Rava
na, the ten-headed demon king. Rama is helped by his devotee, Hanuman and the ar
my of monkeys under the command of the monkey king Sugriv.
Versions from the different ethnic groups of the Philippines exist. The Maranao
version is the Maharadia Lawana (Mahrja Rvaa). Lam-Ang is the version of the Ilocano
s. In addition, many verses from the Hud-Hud of the Ifugao are derived from the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

4. LanguageWith the advent of Spanish colonialism in the 16th century, the Philippines beca
me a closed colony and cultural contacts with other Southeast Asian countries we
re limited, if not closed. In 1481, the Spanish Inquisition commenced with the p
ermission of Pope Sixtus IV and all non-Catholics within the Spanish empire were
to be expelled or to be put to the question (tortured until they renounced their
previous faith). With the re-founding of Manila in 1571, the Philippines became
subject to the King of Spain and the Archbishop of New Galicia (Mexico) became t
he Grand Inquisitor of the Faithful in Mexico and the Philippines. In 1595, the
newly appointed Archbishop of Manila became the Inquisitor-General of the Spanis
h East Indies (i.e.,the Philippines, Guam, and Micronesia) and until 1898, the S
panish Inquisition was active against Protestants, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims
. As was the case in Latin America and Africa, forced conversions were not uncom
mon and any attempt not to submit to the authority of the Roman Catholic Church
was seen as both rebellion against the Pope and sedition against the Spanish Cro
wn, which was punishable by death.
However, the linguistic influence left its most lasting marks on every Philippin
e language throughout the archipelago with the following Buddhist and Hindu conc
epts directly from the original Sanskrit. About 25% of the words in many Philipp
ine languages are Sanskrit and Tamil terms[citation needed]:
From Tagalog:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

budhi "conscience" from the Sanskrit bodhi

dukha "one who suffers" from the Sanskrit dukkha
guro "teacher" from the Sanskrit guru
sampalataya "faith" from the Sanskrit sampratyaya
mukha "face" from the Sanskrit mukha
laho "eclipse" from the Sanskrit rahu
maharlika "noble" from Sanskrit mahardikka

From Kapampangan:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

kalma "fate" from the Sanskrit karma

damla "divine law" from the Sanskrit dharma
mantala -"magic formulas" from the Sanskrit mantra
upaya "power" from the Sanskrit upaya
lupa "face" from the Sanskrit rupa
sabla "every" from the Sanskrit sarva
lawu "eclipse" from the Sanskrit rahu
Galura "giant eagle (a surname)" from the Sanskrit garuda
Laksina -"south (a surname)" from the Sanskrit dakshin
Laksamana/Lacsamana "admiral (a surname)" from the Sanskrit lakshmana

From Tausug:
* suarga "heaven"; compare "sorga" in modern Indonesian [1]
* neraka "hell"
* agama "religion"
Sanskrit and Sanskrit-derived words common to most Philippine languages:
* sutla "silk" from the Sanskrit sutra
* kapas "cotton" from the Sanskrit kerpas
* naga "dragon or serpent" from the Sanskrit naga

5. National PsycheAlthough Hinduism is now a minority in the country, Hindu beliefs still pervade
the national psyche; it is socially and culturally ingrained in the majority of
Filipinos, who are mostly Roman Catholic with a significant Muslim minority. An
example is that karma is readily understood and is a part of the native ethics.

6. Sculptures and Other ArtworksAncient statues of the Hindu gods were hidden to prevent their destruction by a
religion which destroyed all idols. One statue, a 4-pound gold statue of an Indo
-Malayan goddess was found in Mindanao in 1917, which now sits in the Field Muse
um of Natural History in Chicago, and is dated from the period 1200s to early 13
00s. Another gold artifact of Garuda, the phoenix who is the mount of Vishnu was
found on Palawan.
Chinese Influences to the Filipinos
1. Use of jars for burials of bones of the dead
2. Food-food like tofu, hopia, lomi,-bachoy, goto, siopao,-lumpia, siomai, bihon
, kinchay, petchay,- toge, miswa, etc
3. Use of Filipino words borrowed from China like a chi ateko a kuyatau kua tokw
abi ko bikohi kau hikawbak khiaq bakya
4. The convenience store or the sari-sari store.
5. Wearing of the"kamisa de chino", loose pants and long-sleeved shirt
6. Games and toys: tops, cards, sungka, flying kites, Mah-jong
7. Arranged marriage
8. Respect for elders
9. Wearing of white for mourning
10. Use of fireworks during celebrations

Answer 2
The following Chinese influences on Filipino culture are still evident today:
The use of porcelain wares, gongs, and other metals
The manufacture of gunpowder and setting off of fireworks during special occasio
ns
The use of loose trousers and wearing of camisa de chino, slippers, wooden shoes
Gambling games such as jueteng and mahjong
Cooking such dishes as lumpia, mami, pancit and lechon
Customs such as respect for elders and the veneration of ancestors
Traditions such as prearranged marriages and participation of a mediator in mari
tal talks
Traits such as close family ties, frugality and hard work
The use of words with Chinese etymology.