One of the traits Filipinos are known to have is being

“hospitable”. Even our ancestors, the Early Filipinos, showed this

kind of personality especially to the different races who traded

with them and those who colonized our country. Due to this trait

they showed, many of our present traditions are products of

Localization. It is a long and slow process in which we mix other

nations’ culture with our own. New Year beliefs, Sungka, and La

Jota Caviteña are just some of the hundreds of traditions and

cultures that were brought to us by other countries and were

developed by us, Filipinos.

A Short

Introduction

New Year TraditionsThe traditions that were influenced by the Chinese during

New Year here in the Philippines are the following: usage of firecrackers, that elders say, can drive away bad luck as well as bad spirits away. Filipinos go all out with the noise on New Year’s eve. Filipino paputok (firecrackers) come in so many shapes and go by very interesting names — judas belt (a string of firecrackers), super lolo (“grandfather”), kwitis (from the Spanish word cohetes meaning rocket), bawang (“garlic”), airwolf… Children love scratching the dancing firecracker watusi against concrete sidewalks and cemented surfaces, although the government has been warning against it because of chemical poisoning. Pots and pans are clanged to scare away evil spirits.

Celebration of New Year with 12 round fruits on the dinner table is also an influence by Chinese. The 12 round fruits signify a year of pure good luck. The same goes for hanging raisins on every door as a good luck absorber. The preparation of special food during New Year like pancit (noodles) which are cooked to signify long life as are eggs signifying new life is also a tradition influenced by the Chinese. As well as the traditional delicacies made from malagkit(glutinous or sticky rice) like biko are prepared — that’s so good fortune will stick around throughout the year; tikoy, rice cakes and other Pinoy kakanin is thought to make good luck attach to the family as the New Years in the Philippines begin. There are two contradicting beliefs when it comes to serving fish during New Year. Some think that serving fish on the dining table will promote health and wealth. In Chinese, the word for fish is “Yu” which sounds similar to wish and abundance. For the Filipino-Chinese, serving a whole fish (with its head and tail attached) symbolizes a good beginning and

ending for the coming year. On the other hand, some people think that fish means poverty or scarcity.

Jumping and hopping on New Years in the Philippines are ways that are believed to help a person gain some height as the older generations have said. Wearing a polka-dots outfit during New Year in the Philippines is also an Influence from other country. This is another way of welcoming in the New Year in the Philippines with good luck in wealth. Polka dots or wearing a fire red t-shirt is believed to attract a yearlong of happiness. There is the belief that wearing clothes with polka-dots will bring lots of money (or prosperity) during the coming year. Pockets are filled with round coins, which are jangled to attract wealth. Coins are also left on top of tables and in drawers.

Knowing some of these influences by China, we can say that the Chinese had greatly contributed to our prosperous culture.

La Jota CaviteñaLa Jota Caviteña is the combination of Spanish Dance and

Philippine Folk Dance. The costume, the style of the hair, the

materials used like castanets and some of the steps shows and

proves the Spanish influence.

The Jota tends to have a 3/4 rhythm, although some

authors maintain that the 6/8 is better adapted to the poetic and

choreographic structure. For their interpretation, guitars,

bandurrias, lutes, dulzaina, and drums are used in the Castilian

style, while the Galicians use bagpipes, drums, and bombos.

Theatrical versions are sung and danced with regional costumes

and castanets, though such things are not used when dancing the

jota in less formal settings. The content of the songs is quite

diverse, from patriotism to religion to sexual exploits. In addition

to this, the songs also have the effect of helping to generate a

sense of local identity and cohesion.

The jota is probably the most Filipinized in all the Spanish

dances. The northern most version of the jota, geographically

speaking is probably the La Jota Ivatan. Down to Cagayan and

ultimately to the Visayas are 40 plus versions of the jota like the

popular Jota Manileña, Jota Caviteña, Jota Rizal and the lesser

know versions like the Laota, A La Fotta, Jota Echagueña, Jota Han

Kalipay, Jota Calbigana and Jota de Olongapo.

The Philippine Jota was among the most popular dances

during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines and up to the

early 20th century. It was originally performed

by Señoritas and Caballeros in social gatherings (like wedding,

parties and baptismal) during the Spanish period in the

Philippines. The Filipinos adapted this lively and delightful dance

with different versions. These versions are combinations of

Spanish and Filipino dance steps and music. Notable differences

between the Philippine and Spanish jotas are the use of unstrung

bamboo castanets. The jota is accompanied by the Philippine

rondalla often consisting of a bandurria, guitar, bass and other

mandolin-type instruments.

Sungka

Sungka, one of the Philippine’s native games, is

believed that it was the Arab traders who brought this to

us. In other countries, specifically in Malaysia, this is also

called Mancala. The oldest mancala game boards were

found in a ruined fort of Roman Egypt and date back to

the 4th century AD. The game was likely introduced to

Southeast Asia by Arab traders in the 15th century.

Sungká in the Philippines is embedded in different

cultures. In the early times, sungká was used by

fortunetellers called bailan or manghuhula, for their

rituals and auguries. Other people find it helpful in finding

their destination on a certain day or in deciding

marriages. Filipino superstition tells people that the game

should not be played indoors or else their house will be

burn. Tournaments are also held in the country, the

biggest tournament is at the Kadayawan Sports Festival

in Davao.

It is a popular traditional board game. The board is a

carved length of wood called a sungkahan and the game

involves moving shells or pebbles around the pits carved

into the board.

The main objective of the game is to capture more

shells than one's opponent.