CHAPTER III

INTRODUCTION

The pre-Socratic philosopher named Heraclitus added to the “being” of his

predecessors the concept of “becoming,” or flux, which he took to be a basic reality

underlying all things, even the most apparently stable like culture. In every society a

certain culture is developed through the general narratives, some based on common

experience, others on selective encounter with an elite or a ruling class, these are

expressed as a belief that bounds the every individual in a society and even sometimes it

is considered as sacred truths, these are designed to achieve harmony and a shared beliefs

from the past. Thus, culture is also subjected to change specially in this century where

science and technology play a major role in every society. In the advancement of

technology innovations now seem to appear at a rate that increases geometrically, without

respect to geographical limits or political systems. These innovations tend to transform

traditional cultural systems, frequently with unexpected social consequences. Thus

technology can be conceived as both a creative and a destructive process. Nevertheless, it

is not only technology that changes cultural systems, the ascendancy of the dominant

groups in a society is also a factor. These dominant groups have the privilege over the

other groups, it clearly follows that their own interests is either directly or indirectly

subject to challenge and contest. With this situation groups that challenge these dominant

groups develop their own culture of resistance and opposition. With this perpetual

interchange between the dominant groups and its opposition triggers culture to grow or

change.
 In this study the researcher chooses culture to be his secondary variable, but he

will only focus on Philippine culture. The Philippines is known to be colonnaded by

different dominant groups for approximately 400 years. Countless battles and

negotiations were painted in the history of this country. With its colorful history, the

researcher was challenge to do this study. In this chapter the researcher will discuss some

of the vital points in studying the Philippine culture.

Culture

Before the researcher discuss the Philippine culture and its changes that have

occurred, it is necessary to discuss first what really culture is. The term culture is derived

from the Latin word colere1, which its original meaning refers to agricultural activities, it

is the practice of tilling the soil, pasturing animals and growing crops. Thus, culture

means that it molds the identity of a certain society. Though a person’s identity is shaped

genetic inheritance, but it is also coded culturally coded and themed through

communication and representation. Nowadays, culture is known for its two social

meanings which both deal with the urban industrial forms of knowledge and power.

Knowledge here stands for the concrete ideas that deal with culture, while power refers to

the unequal distribution of resources, economy and the changing balance of influence and

force in every state of affair. Many contemporary cultural studies describe culture as a

perpetual interchange of force and resistance.

In this study the researcher will generally talk about culture and its role in

molding the identity of a society. Nevertheless, the researcher will base this study of

Chris Rojek. Cultural Studies. Polity Press: Cambrige, 2007. 5.

culture on the four constructed inclusive approach to culture. First, culture is an

assemblage of imaginings and meanings.2

Jeff Lewis. Cutural Studies-The Basics. Great Britain: The Cromwell Press Ltd., 2002. 6.
DOMINANT CULTURE_SUBCULTURE
PHILIPPINE PRE_SPANISH ERA
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PHILIPPINE CULTURE