Immigrate to the Philippines Learn about the Philippines: The Philippines is an archipelago nation located at the northern end of the equator in Southeast Asia. It faces Taiwan Province of China across the Bashi Channel to the north, and is separated from Indonesia and Malaysia to the south and southwest by the Celebes Sea, Sulu Sea, and Balabac Strait. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The coastline is 18,533 kilometers long. Among its 7,107 islands, 2,800 are named, with 11 being the main islands. The territory is divided into Luzon in the north, the Visayas in the center, Mindanao in the south, and Palawan and the Sulu Archipelago in the southwest. There are over 70 languages in the Philippines. The vast majority belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language family. Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Bicolano, Waray, Kapampangan, and Pangasinan are widely used. Tagalog is the national lingua franca. The writing system uses the Latin alphabet. Most other dialects also use the Latin alphabet.
Approximately 85% of the residents are Catholic, 4.9% are Muslim, a minority practice independent religions and Protestantism, indigenous peoples practice primitive religions, and the Chinese population mostly practices Buddhism.
Tattoos
The Kalinga people, regardless of gender or age, enjoy tattoos. When children reach the age of 12, they have many patterns tattooed on their arms, chests, and backs. As they age, the patterns on their bodies increase.
Living by the Sea
The Bajau people live on the sea all year round, making their homes on boats, where they are born and die, almost completely isolated from the outside world. Intermarriage within the tribe is allowed. If the couple are close relatives, they must pray to the Sea God during the wedding ceremony to ward off disasters and difficulties.
Cockfighting
Cockfighting is a popular folk sport in the Philippines. It is extremely common among all walks of life, from cities to rural areas, and among officials and gentry. Cockfighting can generally be divided into three types: natural fighting cocks, local hybrid fighting cocks, and imported fighting cocks. There is also a "Mondino" fighting cock, which is a crossbreed of local chickens from the United States, Cuba, and Spain, and has a better combat record. The cockfighting arena is built in the center of a hall, with a platform about 1.5 meters high, surrounded by spectators. After the cockfight begins, the owners hold their respective chickens, each with a long blade tied to its leg, and place them into the enclosure. Once the fierce battle begins, both sides fight desperately. Once a blade hits the target, the scene of the cockfight is thrilling and cruel, attracting not only a large number of local spectators but also many foreign tourists.
Marriage Customs
Generally, most Filipinos marry for love. In rural areas, young men often woo the girls they love with songs and present them with bouquets. White and peach-colored flowers are preferred, while tea-colored and red flowers are considered taboo. Marriages among Philippine Muslims are decided by parents. The man proposes to the woman's family through a matchmaker and pays a dowry. The wedding ceremony is presided over by an Islamic Imam. Girls are considered of marriageable age at 12 or 13. Indigenous marriage customs are diverse. There are two main ways of engagement among the Igorot people: arranged by parents and trial marriage. During the trial marriage period, if they cannot conceive, they can separate at any time. The Bajau people allow polygamy. Most marriages are arranged by parents and often occur between cousins. For Negrito men, a marriage proposal is based on shooting an arrow through a bamboo tube placed at a distance by the woman; those who fail to hit it indicate that the man is unable to support a wife, making it difficult to achieve the goal of the proposal.
Holy Week
The first Sunday after March 15 each year marks the beginning of a seven-day religious celebration held by Filipino Catholics to commemorate Jesus' crucifixion. There are activities every day during the 7 days of Holy Week. On Sunday, believers gather in churches to pray and then hold a procession to commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem before his passion. On Holy Monday, scripture reading begins. On Holy Tuesday, mass is held. On Holy Wednesday, the "Holy Joy" is held for the passion of Jesus. Holy Thursday is the Day of Penance. Good Friday is the day of Jesus' crucifixion, and the "Holy Burial" is held that night. Holy Saturday is the day of Jesus' resurrection, and Holy Week reaches its climax. To commemorate the reunion of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, a "Meeting Procession" is also held.
Feast of San Isidro
Held annually on May 15. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a farmer in the Banahaw area who still had a bumper harvest when everyone else had nothing. After he died, he was honored by the locals as the patron saint of this land. On May 15, the day he passed away, people decorate their houses with "Kiping" made of rice, painted in various colors. On this day, people also carry a large statue of this farmer in a procession. The farmer's name is San Isidro.
Folk Taboos
Most Filipino names are Spanish-style, in the order of: Given Name. Mother's Maiden Name Initial. Father's Surname. When interacting with professional technicians, address them by their titles such as Engineer, Architect, Lawyer, Professor, etc. When conversing, avoid topics such as domestic political disputes, religion, and modern Philippine history.
However, Filipinos like to ask about personal situations. Speak softly during conversations. The elderly are respected; one should greet the elders first, offer them seats, and must not smoke in front of them.
