Читать книгу Philippines: A Visual Journey - Elizabeth V. Reyes - Страница 8

meet the filipinos

They are natural musicians and Westernized Asians—a combination of dusky Malay and fiery Spanish, with a touch of Chinese and a generous topping of hip, savvy America.

fILIPINOS are playful folks with smiles, easy-going characters and personal kinship systems that keep their world going. Thespian Rolando Tinio said it best: “Like islanders everywhere in the tropics, Filipinos do tend to be quite blissful.” There are two sources of the inner strength and friendliness of the typical Filipino: a fervent belief in the goodness of God, Life and Nature, and a sense of security in and reliance on family ties and neighborhood associations. The typical Filipino is long on religiosity, family, hometown loyalty and cockeyed optimism.

Everyday street life in the district of Intramuros, which was the seat of government when the Philippines were a part of the Spanish Empire.

Young female students at “Universidad de Manila”. The main campus of this public university is at the heart of the city near the LRT Central Terminal.

Blue face paint on a brown-face windsurfer; it’s just sunblock, the bathing costume of party island Boracay. Exotic Davao beckons with a pretty face. Rice harvest in Bicol, under the gaze of Mt Mayon.

A colorful Jeepney wends its way through traffic in Makati City. Passengers can hop on and hop off anytime.

STUDIES ON FILIPINO BEHAVIOR have pointed out distinct values and patterns in Filipino society: pakikisama or getting on well with associates; utang na loob, which means a deep sense of gratitude for favors received; hiya or a strong fear of losing face; and a bahala na attitude—things will take care of themselves. Filipinos live in a modern world without being thoroughly modern. The majority are people still in the bosom of Mother Nature—noble savages, both charming and exasperating.

Proud Maranao women before a highborn household of Marawi City.

Smiling Davao girl with Mindanao dove.

A tricycle taxi, one of the most popular forms of local transport, in front of the Manila Cathedral in the Intramuros district of Manila.

Selling fresh buko juice at the Carbon Market in Cebu.