Category Archives: Culture

Culture

Hilot: Science or Superstition?

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“A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.” – Spanish proverb.    

 We’ve all been there before:

You wake up early in the morning feeling like your head is about to explode – this is usually coupled with the stuffiness of nasal congestion and that burning feeling in the back of your throat.

In western nations, the next step in this scenario would be to visit the GPs office. They will direct you towards the best way to treat your symptoms and how to nurture your body through the recovery process.

This is the modus operandi most of us follow. This is also a service which many of us – especially those living in the west –  seem to take for granted.

Modern medicine: Treatment of illness in the Philippines

In many Asian nations, the tradition of visiting a doctor is not as common as some may think. Deciding to see a doctor means making sacrifices in other areas of your life. This could mean families are having to go as far as sacrificing food to care for a sick family member.

Modern medicine in the Philippines – although widely available in major cities such as Manila and Cebu – has yet to take hold in many of the provinces. Despite this, strong demand for the services of medical practitioners still exists across the country.

This has lead to many citizens turning to the countries traditional medical practices, a form of folk medicine. With the rise of alternative medical treatment and interest in traditional medicine, has also come an increase in the popularity of folk medicine.

In early Filipino communities, the “Manghihilot” was the primary caregiver. These Hilot specialists (pronounced HEE-lot) were not formally trained. They were usually elderly members of the community who had received instruction and guidance from their relatives. They are then expected to pass the knowledge on to the next generation.

Now the practice of Hilot is deeply ingrained into the culture of the country. It was practised by Filipinos even long before the Spaniards occupied the land. Before doctors, there were albularyos and manghihilots, relied upon to treat broken bones, attending to childbirth, and preparing herbal concoctions to treat ailments present in their communities.

Hilot massage and the summoning of divine power

Hilot contains some interesting practices often not seen within conventional medicine. In modern times it is known for its use of massage as a form of diagnosis and treatment of patients. Before beginning treatment, the manghihilot will call upon the divine power within your surroundings to provide the energy needed for healing.

The manghihilot will then carry out the massage while frequently using various herbs, medicinal plants, and banana leaves to assist in identifying areas of energy imbalance. The goal of the treatment is to call into action the clients powers of self-healing as well as restoring harmony and balance to their body.

Here are a few interesting facts about hilot you probably did not know:

1. It is one of the oldest forms of healing in the Philippines

Before the introduction of modern medicine in the Philippines, hilot was the primary form of healing, and it served people for very many years. It then went dormant for a while as people turned to western medicine until its sudden resurgence.

Now, hundreds of spas and traditional healers are practicing the art even beyond the borders of Philippines. Its success is attributed to the holistic approach to the healing process where wellness of body, mind and spirit is ensured.

2. The practitioners (manghihilots) have no medical training

Yes, you read it right. These particular healers referred to as manghihilots have never attended medical school. These practitioners understand the body often through years of apprenticeship. Ailments that are often easily treatable using this particular form of treatment involve musculoskeletal disorders.

The manghihilots, therefore, employ their understanding of the human body to massage as well as employ chiropractic-like manoeuvres for body and mind healing.

Whether it is sprained muscles, broken bones or even dislocated joints, these doctor’ are famous for being top-notch healers. Mangihilots also understand the body so well they know energy points that hand the entire human being wellness beyond the natural experience.

3. It involves invoking the supernatural

It is often said, doctors treat, but God heals. This is the particular mindset that Mangihilots employ in their healing. First-hand accounts of hilot healing express a process that is deeply spiritual. At the beginning of the treatment, the diagnosis is often done with the help of divine entities as well as energy from the environment.

It is often vital for the patient to be a believer for the manghihilot to evoke self-healing energy from the patient. The combination of the divinities and the energy provided by nature as well as within the body enables both the client and the healer to understand and manage the particular condition at hand.

4. The art is hereditary

As mentioned earlier, being a manghihilot involves years of apprenticeship. Before being accepted as a healer, one has to undergo a lot of training from the preceding manghihilot.

The art is therefore passed through lineages and generations within a particular family. Once a child is identified as a prospective manghihilot, they are introduced to the art of healing at a tender age and live their entire lives around fellow healers.

When they are old enough and have gathered enough experience, they are allowed to start practising. Usually, one was regarded as ready to begin practising after advancing well in age

Modern-day manghihilots are however trained individuals who often work in spas and hospitals. They, therefore, don’t have to be old as they are medically trained in schools. This has however not reduced the demand for the manghihilots who have mastered the art the old school way.

5. Mangihilots often work with herbalists (albularyo)

More often than not, manghihilots involve other professional herbalists known as albularyo. The effectiveness of the healing process will only be enhanced by the herbal equivalents of modern-day medicine.

So as the manghihilots diagnosed and treated the ailments of their clients, the albularyo tagged along and handled the herbal aspect of the healing. It is vital to note that it is virtually impossible to be both a manghihilot and an albularyo. Both forms of art involve many years of apprenticeship and training. Their co-relation is often thus very vital to ensure that the client is fine in all aspects.

6. The healing process involves a lot of earth elements

This healing process is often so much more than just a massage. The whole process consists of a lot of natural attributes.

For starters, during the process leaves of different plants as well as special soil and other earthly elements are used. The mangihilots often attribute the entire process to nature. Therefore they involve a lot of natural products in the whole process. Banana leaves, dagdagay sticks (traced back hundreds of years) and volcanic soil is often used in the process for different reasons.

These elements were used many years ago but are still used even in modern day hilot treatment. Banana leaves, for instance, is often leased with coconut oil then run over the body to clear energy blockages. Also, it is a natural ionizer and has an antiseptic effect that treats maladies such as fevers.

Whether it is mild ailments such as fever, cold or even stress, or it is more severe ailments such as broken bones or dislocated joints, hilot is often a way of healing your body and mind.

With the proven therapy that involves wellness over a period of time, hilot is a form of treatment everyone should try once in a while. It will give you an experience of a lifetime and healing that might actually addict you.

It is a fact that healing does occur through hilot treatment. Many superstitions are tied to this particular form of healing. Some people think that it is just modern day medicine that was ahead of its time, others attribute this form of healing to the supernatural.

What do you personally think?

Some would gladly attend this form of healing but others are quite sceptical. But, the question of the year is – is hilot treatment a science or superstition?

 

 

Culture

The Love For Christmas In The Philippines

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It amazes me how Christmas celebrations – simply the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ – can come in so many different forms on the international stage. My first experience of “Pasko Sa Pilipinas” or Christmas in the Philippines opened my eyes to the varying degrees of cultural significance the celebration can take across different nations.

For many Filipinos, the Christmas season is one of the most important times of the year. This is due to approximately 80% of the countries population being Catholic. Christmas has become an integral pillar of the Christian faith of many Filipinos.

The Christmas countdown in the Philippines

Now, when I say Christmas is one of the most important times of the year in the Philippines, I mean it. Often I will find myself walking through a mall and hear Christmas carols playing. This is followed by the realisation that it is only mid-September.

Enthusiasm for Christmas is what the Philippines is known for. It is often quoted as having the worlds most extended Christmas season. Carols can begin as early as September 1, the day Filipinos around the world mark the beginning of the countdown to Christmas. The festive season can then continue as far as the third Sunday of January, the day of the Feast of the Santo Niño.

The official observance of Christmas in The Philippines

The Catholic Church begin their Christmas formalities on December 16. This is the beginning of ‘Simbang Gabi’ or the ‘Misa de Gallo’; these are the early morning masses held on the lead up to Christmas. “Simbang Gabi” literally translates to “NIght Worship”, this is due to Filipinos waking up at four o’clock in the morning to attend mass.

Attending the nine masses leading up to Christmas is seen as quite an accomplishment. Often you will have breakfast together after the mass; often enjoying a warm ginger tea called ‘salabatand’ along with a flat but thick yellow rice cake called ‘bibingka’.

Many Filipinos attend the ‘Simbang Gabi” as a way to build anticipation for December 25ths celebration of the birth of the Christ. It is also a folk belief that if you attend all nine masses, any wish you have may become true.

After the reaching December 25, the Christmas season continues for the Catholic church up until the Feast of the Epiphany, occurring on the first Sunday of the year.

Beautiful lighting displays are seen in business districts and malls around the Philippines during the festive season.

What to expect on Christmas Eve in the Philippines

Celebrating Christmas Eve in the Philippines is so much more than what I had experienced anywhere else. The city had come to life with families out in the city heading to restaurants for their Christmas feasts. Every restaurant I passed by was filled to capacity with long lines of guests waiting for tables.

This hints at the importance of Christmas Eve for Filipinos. Christians will first go to church to attend the final ‘Simbang Gabi’ or the Christmas Eve mass. This is immediately followed by what I was witnessing on the streets of Manila on Christmas Eve – Noche Buena or the midnight feast.

Noche Buena is a grand family dinner and comprised of delicious traditional Filipino food such as lechon, pancit, ham, queso de bola, fruit salad, rice cakes (bibingka and puto bumbong) and a lot more.

When Christmas day arrives

On Christmas day Filipinos will meet together with their relatives. Children will often dress neatly in their best clothes when they go to see their extended family.

When Children meet with older relatives, they ensure they practice ‘mano’ or to bless, which is a show of respect for their elders. When greeting the elder, the children will take the hand of the elder and gently press it to their forehead.

The children then receive gifts of money and toys from their relatives or godparents as a reward.

During this time it is not uncommon to be visited by carolers. Groups visit houses with tambourines and guitars singing Christmas carols to the householder.

Often carolers will use unique handmade instruments such as tambourines made from bottle tops, or drums made from milk cans.

After singing their songs, the householder will often reward the carolers with handfull of coins; this is then followed by the carolers singing words of thanks to the householder.

Schools and business embrace the spirit of Christmas in the Philippines

During Christmas parties schools and offices often enjoy their adaption of Secret Santa called “Monito Monita”. It is the same concept of Secret Santa in which all the participants will receive their anonymous gift. The gift is often purchased according to certain conditions and cost restrictions laid out at the beginning of the event.

These social events hosted by schools and businesses are often held a week before the Christmas holidays. This is usually around the time many private and public companies and agencies issue their bonuses along with other gifts to their employees.

So, although the Philippines doesn’t fit the traditional wintry setting of Christmas, we can see that the tradition is still alive and well in the country.

Culture

The unique animals of The Philippines

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The Philippines is one of the most vibrant countries in the world when it comes to wildlife. The Philippines has become a sanctuary for a wide variety of flora and fauna species unique to the region. From the thriving coral reefs to the untouched jungles and rainforests, The Philippines houses one of the most biodiverse environments in the world.

The waters of the Pacific Ocean surrounding the island nation are filled with striking coral reefs, home to over 2,000 different species of fish. These reefs have become well known within dive communities, subsequently drawing in a large flow of tourists from all over the world.

Here we will take a closer look at some of the more unique examples of the kind of wildlife you can expect to find in the Philippines.

The rare and endangered animals of The Philippines

The Palawan Bearcat (Binturong)

The Palawan Bearcat is a truly unique animal when it comes to its physical appearance. It has a large heavyset body with paws like a bear, growing to as long as 1.4 metres (4.6 ft). In addition to this, it has a long bushy tail – which it can use to hang from trees – coupled with a face similar to a cat.

Despite the docile nature of The Palawan Binturong, it still has long sharp claws and teeth. These could quite easily tear through flesh. Though it’s generally not a concern for those handling the creature.

Philippines Crocodile (Mindoro Crocodile)

The Philippines Crocodile is a relatively small crocodile which gained popularity due to its critically endangered status. Previously, the Philippine crocodile was found across the nation but is now primarily found on Luzon. The drop in population was initially due to commercial exploitation of the crocodile, though it is now primarily due to the destruction of its habitat.



Philippine Eagle

The Philippine Eagles reputation of being a monkey eating bird hints at the sheer power of the animal. Being the largest eagle in the world means the Philippine eagle tends to prey on larger animals. It is known to hunt palm civets, flying lemurs and even monkeys.

Like the Mindoro Crocodile, the Philippine Eagle used to be found across the nation. Due to loss of habitat the eagle is now primarily found on the island of Mindanao.

Tarsier

The Tarsier is noted in the Guinness Book of Records for being the animal with the largest eyes in proportion to its body. Their eyes are actually unable to rotate inside their sockets; to compensate for this the Tarsier is able to rotate its neck 180 degrees.

Tarsiers are nocturnal creatures, sleeping through the day, then becoming very active at night. They use their ability to jump up to 10 feet to travel forests, hunting small creatures like insects and lizards.

The Philippines Tarsier is a small primate found in the Visayas region of the Philippines.

Philippine Mouse-Deer

The Philippine Mouse-Deer also known as the Pilandok is local to the island of Palawan. It can often be seen roaming around the resorts of El Nido. The Mouse-Deer runs around the island at night feeding on fruits, leaves, buds and grasses.

An interesting trait of the Mouse-Deer is its suicidal tendencies. While under stress the Mouse-Deer is known to hit its head on trees and run off cliffs, possibly to relieve itself from the stress.

 Animal conservation in the Philippines

Within the Philippines, many of the country’s biologically rich areas are still unprotected from extractive activities. Forest areas are still facing destruction due to indiscriminate logging, increasing population, mining, infrastructure development and conflicting land uses.

As mentioned, many animals unique to this country are facing extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitat.

The Philippine government is enacting environmental laws which are strictly implemented and monitored with the help of the communities and the local government to ensure that the plants and animals are secured from invasive and disruptive practices. Various regions of the country home to these endangered species are now protected against these destructive practices by law. Allowing for the population of these endangered species to improve.
Culture

What To Wear On Your Trip To The Philippines

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For those visiting The Philippines for the first time, deciding what clothing to pack can be quite a challenge. The Philippines contains such a diverse range of environments – Cities, vast jungles, mountain ranges, and the tropical beaches – so deciding what to bring can become quite overwhelming.

Attire to suit the climate

It is important to remember that The Philippines is a tropical climate; meaning the weather ranges between hot and very hot. So wearing heavy materials is generally not an option if you want to have a comfortable stay.

Even if the temperature does drop, experiencing a day in the Philippines which doesn’t feel humid is rare. So, the density of the fabrics you wear makes a very noticeable difference. I feel this is an important point to keep in mind when packing for the Philippines.

The Philippines can also be a very wet destination. Between the months of June through to October, you can expect a decent amount of heavy rainfall. Despite this, the weather still generally remains hot and humid, so it should not change much. Although it is a good idea to keep a compact umbrella in your bag when you’re out and about as the weather can change quite quickly.

What to wear in the Philippines major cities

Most of you travelling here for the first time will be most likely be arriving in either Manila or Cebu. For the most part, the cities – especially around the business districts – are what you would typically expect from larger western cities.

The city blocks are filled with high rise offices and apartments. These are surrounded by streets filled with traffic as well as a sea of white-collar workers, college students and young BPO employees lining the sidewalk.

When I find myself in the city I will always wear long pants as well as enclosed shoes. I usually avoid shorts and light coloured fabrics as the city can be quite dirty sometimes depending on where you are.

I always wear enclosed shoes while in the city due to the terrain you may encounter. The Philippines is notorious for having some neglected infrastructure, including their sidewalks. It is common to find holes in the sidewalk as well as pieces of damaged concrete laying about; so enclosed footwear guarantees your feet stay safe.

I also recommend bringing a small towel with you when you are out and about in the city. It is quite common to see people cleaning their face due to sweat as well as the dust and fumes from city traffic.

So are there situations were you will need formal attire?

When visiting cities such as Cebu or Manila, you will notice that Filipino’s do dress quite well, although this really depends on which area in the city you are staying, in some areas dressing up may draw unnecessary attention to yourself.

  • When experiencing the nightlife it is best to dress up a little, some of the clubs do have dress codes, so you may be refused entry if you are not dressed to standard. 
  • A lot of the churches and temples around the country have strict dress codes. The general rule to go by is to wear clothing which will cover your shoulders and knees
Locals on the streets in Manila wearing, this is a good example of typical street wear seen in Manila.
 
What to wear when travelling to the beaches of The Philippines

It is common for people to talk about the conservative nature of The Philippines. I have read many articles which talk about it being unusual for women to be seen wearing bikinis on The Philippines beaches. From my experience, this has rarely, if ever been the case.

For women, the dress code is almost identical to what you would see in most other western nations. Young women will generally wear a bikini or a bikini top with shorts. The older women will generally something a little less revealing.

For men the usual swim shorts are fine. It is common for men to wear rash vests while swimming as the sun can be quite intense at times.

When visiting beach destinations it is also highly likely you will end up going island hoping. This means it would be a good idea to bring a waterproof bag with you to avoid damaging your belongings.

Its also a good idea to bring sturdy footwear for navigating around the boat, and walking different trails around the beaches.

Read more about my favourite beach holiday destinations in the Philippines.

The Philippines is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, including Apo Island, found in the Visayas region of the Philippines.
What to wear when travelling to the mountains of Northern Luzon

Often the first thing associated with the mountains of The Philippines is the cold weather. When compared to the weather experienced by the rest of the country, this seems justified.

For those travelling to The Philippines internationally – especially from colder climates – you may not feel the same way. Temperatures in the mountains may range from the high teens to the low twenties. This is cold relative to the rest of the countries, but for some visitors, this temperature range may seem completely normal.

For the Philippine locals or tourists unfamiliar with the colder weather it is recommended to pack at least some colder weather attire. This means you may want to pack a sweater or a light jacket. Though nothing too heavy is really necessary.

Read more about my favourite holiday destination in the North of Luzon

What if I forget something?

The Philippines is famous for its mall culture. Whether you are within the major cities or out in the provinces you will be able to find a mall.

So if you feel the clothing you have packed is not suitable for the environment, then there are plenty of affordable destinations where you can find a wide range of clothing options to suit your needs.

It is also not worth loading your suitcase full of clothing, as every city has a launderette. A lot of the hotels also have a cleaning service for your clothing, so its really not worth bringing excessive amounts f clothing when those services are widely available throughout the country.

Culture

Askal: The Mongrel Dogs Of The Philippines

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The Philippines, like many other nations, is a place home to many unique ways of life. On any given day, you may see street kids playing in puddles left by the previous nights’ downpour. Businessmen walking along the sidewalk heading to one of the countries many financial districts. BPO workers and college students standing along the side of the road; waiting for jeepneys to take them off to college or work.

Amongst this scene, you may also find another familiar figure. They are often found darting through traffic, sniffing through piles of rubbish, or playing amongst themselves in the neighbourhood streets.

It’s the Askal or Aspin, the mongrel dog we are so used to seeing around the countries suburban environments. Unfortunately, this is also the native dog frequently neglected due to many misconceptions surrounding the breed.

The term “Askal” is an amalgamation of two common Tagalog terms – asong and kalye – meaning “street dog”. The term is fitting as these dogs seem to flood the streets of the country, especially in suburban areas.

It is a commonly assumed that these dogs must be stray as they are roaming the streets alone. When really, many of their owners trust them to roam the streets and play with other dogs, then return home in the evenings.

The Askal, an unappreciated asset to The Philippines

Traditionally, the Askal is seen as a reliable guard dog. Askals are naturally suspicious of strangers and protective of family members. While it is true many males are free to roam the streets, the female dogs will often stay home and watch the house.

A lot of the neglect relating to Askals is due to the prestige surrounding purebred dogs. Many families will pay large sums of money for a purebred dog, whereas Askals are so common, so don’t hold the same value. This means a disproportionate amount of attention is typically given to purebred dogs, while Askals are left unnoticed.

The mixed breed dogs are also frequently seen as being weak or unhealthy in comparison to many pure breeds. But, on the contrary, the dogs are healthy and sometimes quite intelligent due to their mix of genes.

Askals can, in fact, be very resilient and street smart when left to exercise their independence. They can then easily adapt to a family environment due to their extremely friendly nature. Askals are known to quickly make themselves at home when taken in by a family.

For more information regarding support of The Philippines natives dogs, please refer to The Philippine Animal Welfare Society.

Read more about the animals of the Philippines here.

Culture

The Ilongot Tribe Of Headhunters

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Deep in the rolling mountains of Northern Luzon, far from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila exists the beautiful landscapes of the Cagayan Valley. The Valley – mostly consisting of the region between the Cordilleras and the Sierra Madre mountain ranges – is home to some of The Philippines most iconic landmarks.

Apart from its beautiful scenic views, the Cagayan Valley is also known to house a peculiar tribe of people whose cultural practices have drawn the attention of anthropologists from around the world.

To address the culturally unique elements of this tribe I will first take you through the mythology subscribed to by these people – the Bugkalut or the more common expression used by tribal outsiders, the Ilongot people.

Creation mythology of the Ilongot people

Those familiar with the Abrahamic religions will know the story of Cain and Abel; found in the Bible Book of Genesis. Well, the Ilongot people follow a creation myth very similar to the story of Cain and Abel.

According to the Ilongot people, the creators of the universe are two quarrelling brothers who go by the name Cain and Abel. Abel was a shepherd who is known to have been looked upon favourably due to his propensity to self-sacrifice. While Cain, who worked in agriculture was known for his inclination towards chaos. The Ilongot people identify those who live down in the lowlands as following the spirit of Abel.

The Ilongot people identify those who live down in the lowlands as following the spirit of Abel. They view them as superior as well as having had learned to work with the domesticated animals such as Carabao. Interestingly, the Ilongot see themselves as following in the footsteps of Cain and his spirit of chaos.

This is because the Ilongot have long been known as a tribe of headhunters. Like Cain, in moments of grief or intense emotion, the Ilongot have an inclination towards murder.



Manifestation of liget in the Ilongot tribe

After the loss of a loved one, a rage of bereavement arises in the men of the Ilongot. While under this condition – identified by the tribe as liget – the men of the Ilongot would hunt and kill other men.

This intense emotional state labelled as liget became the motivation for many cultural practices and “rites of passage” for the tribe. The spirit of liget has been described as a sense of anger, heat, energy, and envy.

This emotional state which often leads to headhunting manifests itself in many situations. It is used in times of warfare, elders harness the power of the emotional state in such situations. An unsettled feud or the death of a loved one may also lead to headhunting.

It is also a requirement that a young man must kill before he can marry. Once the headhunters return, a pig is sacrificed as well as there typically is a celebration amongst the whole tribe.

In modern times, there has been a crackdown on the headhunting carried out by the tribe. Protestant missionaries then began to make contact with the tribe; before that time, the Ilongot people had no regular contact with the major world religions.

Many members of the tribe began to practice Christianity, the intense emotional states of the tribal members began to subside. The members were no longer reaching those previously intense emotional states of linget. This meant the tribes people no longer resort to murder and headhunting as an expression of this emotional state.

Culture

Carabao, The Philippines Greatest Ally

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What is The Philippines national animal? I was recently in discussion with a friend, for a second we were both adamant that the national animal was the Philippine Eagle. Though, I was also conflicted as the eagle was more widely known to be representative of the USA.

A countries national animal is said to be something unique to that region, something with an admirable nature, representative of the country in which it dwells. That is why after a quick Google search I felt ashamed that it took us so long to realize what the animal was.

Of course, it is the Carabao, also widely known as Water Buffalo. Once you venture from the countries metropolis, you will find these animals adorning the countries picturesque landscapes. They have graced these regions of The Philippines for centuries, believed to have moved into the region with the Malays.

How the Carabao helped build the nation

These majestic animals are also seen to represent the deep cultural roots of the country. As well as the nature of the people in modern times. They have been assisting farmers since the dawn of the nation; playing an integral role in the production of the countries food supply for generations – even up until modern times.

They represent the hardworking and patient nature Filipinos have become known for on the international stage. The Carabao has always remained by the side of the Filipino. Even during the many revolutions and wars to hit the country the carabao suffered mass casualties.

The Carabao has also continually assisted in the process of producing the countries cash crops for export – rice, corn, and sugarcane – which, in turn, contribute to the nation’s prosperity.

History shows that the Carabao has gone above and beyond in proving itself an ally of the Filipino people. The myriad of benefits brought by the creature has shown the creature to really be a “Beast of Fortune”.

 

Culture

Appreciating The Afternoon Siesta

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The afternoon siesta was something that never made sense to me. I come from a western culture where time is money. Every minute of the day needs to be filled with something productive, you need to always be working on something.

I could not fathom just shutting down everything for an hour or two to have a nap. For me sleeping during the day was a foreign concept. My background consisted of waking up early in the morning, taking care of responsibilities during the day, and then sleeping at night.

Before I visited the Philippines, I was not aware of the prevalence of the afternoon nap. The first time I arrived in the country was during the rainy season. This was when the country is a little cooler than average although generally, it’s always hot in The Philippines.

Where I come from, the climate is a whole different animal compared to The Philippines. I remember leaving the airport for the first time and feeling the warm, thick air surround me. My body almost instantly broke out in perspiration. Although, I quickly got used to that feeling of leaving the comfort of an air conditioned Condo or Mall and walking out into the humidity – which I have now grown to love.

During my first visit, we always had a lot of plans as the city was still so new to me. We would wake up early each morning, go out and find somewhere for breakfast. Then we would spend hours travelling around the city looking at all the sites Manila has to offer.

We would then get back to the Condo in the afternoon. My Filipino friends and family would just disappear into their rooms for an hour or two. It would just be complete silence inside the condo; I would just lay down and play on my phone or walk down to the mall and get some food while everybody else had stayed in their rooms.

But it was not long until I came around to indulging in the practice myself. So often everybody would wake up and be ready to start a whole new adventure with the second half of the day. Everyone seemed so happy and recharged, whereas I was always still feeling drained from the morning’s activities out in the humid streets of Manila.

After my first week in the country I without actually realising it. I would almost immediately go to my room on returning to the condo and sleep. It was the ideal time to recharge before we would set off for our evening’s activities. It would give me plenty of energy and a positive state of mind for the second half of our day.

Now, at this point, I can’t say I have maintained the habit. Although I still do have a soft spot for the afternoon nap. Although I don’t always sleep, I will go off to my room for an hour or so and just lay on my bed doing some work on my laptop or just play some soft music.

The tradition of the afternoon siesta wouldn’t have stuck around all of these years if it didn’t have anything to offer. It is an excellent way to de-stress and recover from your morning’s activities. It’s also a great way to position yourself to be alert and full of energy, ready to jump into and enjoy the rest of what the day has to offer.

Culture

Is Banning Smoking A Step Towards Banishing The Smoke?

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Manila is a town of action, no matter where you are across the city, what time of day it is, there will aways be something happening. This is just a by-product of the high density living residents of Manila have grown accustomed. Manila is known to contain some of the most densely populated areas in the world; a certain part of Manila known as the Tondo district houses over 600,000 residents in that one area alone.

Unfortunately with these high-density cities have some drawbacks, especially when it comes to the field of public health. I would not classify the air quality in Metro Manila as being in the same league as some of the larger cities of China and India. But I’m sure that the consensus is that the air quality within Manila is often less than satisfactory.

This brings me to the recent hot topic of a blanket ban on smoking in public within The Philippines. Banning smoking is an issue which I both strongly agree with; though I have some mixed feelings when considering the context in which the new laws have risen.

The first issue is restricting people’s access to tobacco products, which this prohibition does not seem to address. I think that the ban should not restrict the individuals right in engaging in the act of smoking, as I feel that psychologically stable people should remain somewhat autonomous when it comes to choosing what they do to their bodies.

The issue the ban addresses is when unwilling individuals are forced into the detrimental act of breathing in cigarette smoke due to no fault of their own. I am happy for people to engage in this unhealthy habit as long as the adverse outcome is confined to the single party. 

The issue the ban addresses is when unwilling individuals are forced into the detrimental act of breathing in cigarette smoke due to no fault of their own. Simply walking past a mall or office building can leave you having to breathe in clouds of tobacco smoke from staff standing outside during their breaks. I have no problems with individuals engaging in this unhealthy habit as long as the negative outcome is confined to the individual.

So when it comes to public health, the ban seems like a step in the right direction. Though I feel like the smoking ban can be seen as low-hanging fruit. Especially when it comes to the bigger issue of making improvements to the quality of air inhaled by residents of the countries larger cities such as Manila and Cebu.

I am supportive of any effort to positively impact the health of the public. But an aggressive push against cigarette smoke polluting our air should be partnered with an equal, if not more aggressive push against bigger sources of air pollution within our cities such as vehicle exhaust and heavy industry.

Is the goal based on encroaching on the liberties of tobacco users in the country or is there a much bigger end goal of improving the health of the general public by minimizing the presence of toxic particles in the air?

Eradicating cigarette smoke is a win although very minor when it comes to the goal of improving the lives of citizens of The Philippines. Hope lies in this move being a step towards more significant action in improving conditions within the countries thriving cities.

 

 

 

 

 

Culture

Digging Into The World Of Iglesia Ni Cristo

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The Iglesia Ni Cristo captivated my interest the moment I caught a glimpse of their extravagant castle-like church headquarters found in Quezon City, Manila. The heavily fortified buildings often surrounded by high boundary walls and large iron gates, along with the unique, now iconic architecture radiates a feeling of mystery and secrecy.

Besides the obviously more dominant belief systems in the country such as  Islam and Catholicism; It would be safe to assume that this is one of the more popular belief systems within the Philippines. Whether I was out in the provinces or traveling through metro Manila, I always seemed to come across the distinctive churches of Iglesia Ni Cristo.

When it comes to people’s beliefs, I can’t get enough. I love digging into these generally insular worlds and learning about what makes them tick. Naturally, I began asking friends about the church. I received a series of concordant responses all along the lines of, “I think that’s the church which takes 10% of your income”.

This spiked my interest as there seemed to be this meme related to Iglesia Ni Cristo, in which they maintained a level of influence over the allocation of the member’s income. I was actually raised in the Jehovahs Witness cult so this seemed to resonate with my experience with the church.

After a little research, I have found a series of external sources claiming they do require members surrender 10% of their income. This is contrasted by a series of internal sources all rejecting this persistent meme of mandatory contributions to the church.

Despite this being a persistent theme, there was no concrete information showing the INC forcing members to surrender 10% of their income to the church. Although this may seem to discredit the rumors surrounding the church, it does seem like a lot of the sources defending the church are somehow distorting the INCs method of eliciting funds from its members.

Despite my lack of first-hand experience with the church, it seems unusual that this has become a meme surrounding the church despite claims that the church is not engaging in the practice of tithing. I have a distrust of this style of organization, which has major parallels with the Jehovahs Witness and Mormon church.

I have no doubts that these organizations are generally filled with good, well meaning people, under the impression they are working towards something greater than themselves. In these types of organization, there is always an individual or group of people who insert themselves between these people and “God”. This becomes a basis for these individuals to appear as holding a kind of “divine authority”.

Despite the claims that members are not obliged to surrender 10% of their salary to church; I would not be surprised if another form of pressure existed within the church to elicit funds from the rank and file members. When the churches authorities portray themselves as delivering messages from god, controlling the lives of the members becomes a very straightforward exercise.

Due to my history, I have a deep distrust of these high control organizations. Although this is all just speculation, there is a clear visible framework which all these groups follow. If you strip these organizations down to their basic framework you can see that the Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses, and Iglesia Ni Cristo are all basically the same.

Highly controlled information distribution, moderated by the charismatic seemingly benevolent intermediary group or individual. Create an “other” typically in the form of labeling aggressors as apostates in order to detract in credibility from their allegations. They often focus on the idea of an impending apocalypse or revelation in order to create a feeling of scarcity of time. This builds dependence on the “messenger of god” who will guide them through this time.

Although, I admit that this is all purely speculation; I think anybody considering becoming an affiliate of these groups should at least ensure they carefully weigh up the pros and cons committing to these organizations.