The People
The earliest inhabitants of the Philippines were the Negritos, whose descendants live mainly in remote mountain areas. They were followed by Indonesians and, later, Malays, and today persons of Malayo-Indonesian ancestry make up 95 per cent of the population. There are small numbers of Chinese, whose ancestors came as merchants. Neither the Spanish, who began arriving in the 1550's, nor the Americans, who came after 1900, were numerous enough to form permanent minority groups, but both had a strong influence—the Spanish on the country's art and architecture, religion, and customs, the Americans on its political institutions.
The national language is Pilipino, a formal version of Tagalog, an indigenous language. English is widely used in commerce and education. More than half of the people are able to speak the national language, and 45 per cent can speak English. Only “a few people are able to speak Spanish. Of the numerous indigenous languages—based mainly on Malayo-Polynesian languages—there are 11 major ones. Of these, the most widely spoken are Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon.
About 84 per cent of the people are Roman Catholics. About 6 per cent belong to the Filipino Independent Church (commonly called the Aglipayan Church),: founded in 1902 by Gregorio Aglipay in protest against Spanish domination of the Catholic clergy. Moros (Muslims) make up about 5 per cent of the population; Protestants, about 4 per cent. Smaller groups include Buddhists and animists.
Elementary school begins at age seven and lasts six years. Secondary school lasts five years. More than 90 per cent of the elementary schools are maintained by the government, but about 60 per cent of the secondary schools are private. In elementary school, Pilipino and English are the languages of instruction. English is the principal language of instruction in the high schools and the universities. The literacy rate is 93 per cent.
Institutions of higher learning include the University of Santo Tomás (founded 1611) in Manila, Ateneo de Manila University (1859), University of the Philippines (1908) in Quezon City, and University of Manila (1913). There are also a number of teacher-training, technical, and commercial schools.
The Philippines developed a literary tradition in the 19th century. Writers of this era included the poets Fernando M. Guerrero and José Palma and the novelist José Rizal. Most 19th-century poets and novelists wrote in Spanish. Since the beginning of the 20th century most Philippine literature has been in English; the works of Nick Joaquin (novels, plays, poems) and José Garcia Villa (poems) have been the most notable. Literature in Pilipino, by such writers as Andrés Cristóbal Cruz and A. G. Abadilla, also has become popular.
Painting flourished after Damian Domingo founded the first art school in the Philippines, in Manila, in 1815. Well-known 19th-century painters included Juan Luna and Felix R. Hidalgo. The most notable painters of the 20th century were the Impressionist Fernando Amorsolo, the still-life painter Victorio C. Edades, and the muralist Enrique Ruiz. Thriving folk arts include embroidery and wood sculpture.
The predominant music of the Philippines is Western music, both popular and classical. It is often influenced by indigenous folk elements, such as kundiman (traditional sentimental music). Among tribal groups, traditional Asian music played on flutes and lutes is still performed. Among the Moros xylophone ensembles are popular. The Philippines has a rich folk dance tradition; notable dances include the tinikling, in which dancers step through clashing bamboo poles, and the pandanggo sa ilaw, in which dancers balance glasses of burning oil on their heads and hands.
Basketball is the most popular sport in the cities, and there is a professional league. Cockfighting is the most popular sport in rural areas. Filipinos also enjoy baseball, soccer, jai alai, and sipa (a kicking game involving a beanbag-like object). Throughout the Philippines, communities hold fiestas—featuring parades, dancing, and eating—on their patron saints' feast days.
