Theories on the Origin of the Philippines Answer: The Land Bridges Theory, Plate Tectonics theory, Sunda Shelf theory, Volcanic theory & the Continental Drift theory
The Ice Age Theory
During the Ice Age, glaciers stored portions of the water on the earth in the form of ice. This ice i ce formation caused a drop in the world’s ocean levels. During this period, the Philippine archipelago was part of the continental landmass of Asia. Scholars believed that land bridges connected the Philippines to Asia.
When the Ice Age ended about 10,000 years ago, the ice formation melted and the ocean levels rose. The land connections to Southeast Asia became flooded. The flooding submerged the land bridges and created the Indonesian and Philippine archipelagos. Since then, these islands had been populated by mi grating people who traveled by boats. The migrants came mainly from Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. However, there were also migrants from the costs of Indochina and, to a lesser extent, from China and Taiwan.
The Bottom-of-the-Sea Theory
In 1976, Dr. Fritjof Voss, a German scientist, challenged the Ice Age theory. According to him, the Philippines was never a part of mainland Asia. Dr. Voss claimed that the Philippine islands were located directly above a fault in the earth’s crust. Powerful earthquakes pushed up the l andmass from the ocean floor and the Philippine islands rose from the bottom of the ocean.
The Volcanic Eruption Theory
Another version on the origin of the Philippi nes is the volcanic eruption theory. Dr. Bail ey Willis, a geologist, concluded that the Philippines was a result of the eruptions of submarine volcanoes along the western side of the Pacific basin. These eruptions caused magma and lava to pile up, forming the Philippine isles.
The Lost-Continent Theory
A group of geographers believed that the Philippines constitute the remains of a lost continent during prehistoric times. This continent had sunk below the ocean waters. However, a few portions of land – which now make up the Philippines – were left above water. Origins of the Filipino People
Wave Migration Theory
Probably the oldest theory about how ancient man came to the Philippines, the wave theory of migration (1947) is also one of th e most attacked theories. Dr. Dizon, for one, says that the theory i s not based on facts. It is, however, the one most known to FIl ipinos because the grade school textbooks still use this as a means of explanation as to how ancient man came to the country. According to Beyer, there was a core population who liv ed 250,000 years ago. They were primitive humans similar to the Java Man. This group was the ancestors of the two pygmy groups who came to the Philippine Islands via the land bridges 30,000-25,000 years ago (Pleistoscene Era). From the south these people, who were of Australoid-Sakai type, came to the islands. They were hunters and gatherers. Then 6,000- 5,000 years ago, another group, which Beyer branded as Indonesian A, came in boats. They were of tall and slender stock, and were inhabitants of the north. This group was followed by another wave of migrants 2,500 year ago, the Indonesian B. Shorter and stockier than their predecessors, this group were m ore advanced. They were horticulture people who, Beyer surmised, came from South China and Indochina towards Luzon and Formosa (now Taiwan). The last group of people who migrated to the Philippines, the Malays, were, for Beyer, the most advanced of all the races. They were also from the south, with mongoloid features--a mixture of ancient Indonesians and mongoloid elements. They had knowledge in pottery, glassmaking, iron making, weaving, and had their own political system. They also came in boats, which Beyer called the Baranggay. The same name was used to connote the unitary political system of the race. The name was retained and i s still being used up the present time.
Landa Jocano's Theory
Jocano's theory (1975) is that the Philippine society developed as a single unitary system. This theory is not without criticisms. According to Dr. Dizon, it is improbable that the Philippines be considered as a single whole during this time because the influences in the different islands vary,
depending on what other islands they are near to. Dizon cites that artifacts dug from Mindanao could be very different from those du g up in the Batanes region. For Jocano, the Filipino culture developed from within the country and not as a part of the Southeast Asia cultural milieu. He gives three major time categories, the Formative period, further divided into the old and new stone age, the Incipient period, and the Emergent period. The Formative period, which is from 500,000 to 250,000 years ago, began when the first hominids arrived in the Tabon Caves in Palawan. The old stone age reveals core and flaked stone tools while the new stone age sees th e dawn of the development of techniques in grinding and polishing stone tools. It was also during this time that pottery making and horticulture was introduced. The Incipient period was marked by the local manufacture of metal artifacts, the improvement of earthenware pottery, the acquisition of the form and decorative techniques, and the beginning of long distance trade, as evidenced by the recovery of jade and gl ass ornaments in burial sites. Trade further flourished during the Emeregent period. There was expansion of the Southeast Asian population contact which ended when the Indian influence reached the Philippines in 100 AD, rendering the exclusivity of Southeast Asian neighbors to the Philippines invalid. It was also during this time that the Filipino Fili pino social organization became defined interms of politics, economics, religion, and others. Patterns of cultural behaviour began to show.
Solheim's Theory
Solheim's theory of how the ancient people populated the country is based on Jocano's theory, and is a revision of the latter. In 1981, Solheim came up with a theory marked by four different periods: the archais period, the Incipient Filipino, the Formative Period, and the Established Filipino. Solheim clarified, however, that details in the theory, especially the dates, were subject to change upon acquisition of new data that may prove his theory false. Solheim gives a further disclaimer that his theory is not a detailed discussion of all available Philippine Prehistoric data. The Archaic period of Solheim began from the arrival of man in the islands up to 5,000 BC While Whil e the Incipient Filipino period began from where the Archaic period ended and stopped i n 1,000BC. Here, Solheim talks about the Nusantao, the maritime people who travelled, according to him, from southern Philippines in the Mindanao Island and Indonesia to the north, ending in South China and passing through Taiwan. Dr. Dizon agrees that this theory might be the closest since artifacts found in South China seem to have come later than those f ound in the Philippines. The
Formative Filipino Period came in 1,000 BC to 500AD, and the established Filipino came after 500AD up to 1521.
The Austronesian Expansion Theory This is the idea that the Malayo Polynesians entered the archipelago from Taiwan and migrated to the Philippines
around
4000
BCE.
These
people
then
displaced
any
earlier
settlers.
The only aspect that the theories have in common is that by 1000 BCE the inhabitants of the archipelago had divided into four social groups; warrior societies, hunter-gatherer tribes, petty plutocracies and maritime centered habor principalities. Any information about the archipelago before this time is still highly debated. Filipino Traits and Values
Filipinos are known for being hospitable, but it’s not only the positive trait that Filipinos possess. Having been colonized by various countries, the Philippine culture, in effect, is mixed with Asian and Western influences. Thus, the Philippine culture is diverse and can be reflected in the our traits. Hard-working Filipinos over the years have proven time and time again that they are a people with an industrious attitude. Sadly, this is seen by others as Filipinos being only useful as domestic helpers, working abroad to help their families in the country. This is also present in the country’s workforce particularly the farmers. Even with little support, technological weaknesses and the country’s seasonal typhoons, the Filipino farmer still strives to earn their daily meal. Even though the government provides small support to the country’s workers, many people choose to engage in micro businesses— businesses—the so-called sari-sari stores and tiangge, the Filipino version of local markets and ukay-ukay, or secondhand stores. Some would also pursue engaging in transportation with jeepneys, tricycles and such to offer low-cost transportation to the ever mobile masses. Though these are some examples on how Filipinos get by with everyday living, these work opportunities offer only minimum pay but Filipinos still pursue them in hopes of giving their children a decent life and proper education so they could elevate themselves to a higher standard of living. Strong family ties In the country the people put family ties and relations as one of their top priorities. Filipinos would do all they could to provide and sustain their respective families. This is present in Filipino festivals where they invite the whole family and in Sundays where they would make time to use it to spend the whole day for their families. You will find that it is common in the country to include the extended members not just the normal nuclear family. It is not unusual that in a single household it would reach up to ten members of a family living under the same roof. They value each other’s company, and everyone strives to provide for the whole and not just for them. Even grandparents still have an active role in the family. It is now the norm in the society that both parents are out working, leaving the care of their children to the lolos and lolas, especially if the family cannot afford to hire a nanny. Grandparents therefore become responsible for instilling into their grandchildren the values and morals they taught to their own children, further increasing the importance of the elderly in our society. Honesty Being a hard-working hard- working people, the Filipinos are also honest. In general, they would prefer to work hard for an honest day’s pay than to find an easier way like stealing or cheating. As in the case of overseas Filipino wor kers or OFWs, they are m ostly domestic helpers and though given a job which requires a lot of trust from the employer as they are left alone with their belongings or children, it is rare that Filipinos would do anything to betray or lose the trust that is given to them. We see so many Filipinos working in the homes of other families precisely because they can be trusted.
But even in our own country, Filipinos have displayed honesty in various forms, may it be from a taxi driver returning a dropped phone or wallet. Filipinos would choose to do the right thing, though sometimes this is not necessarily true. Religious The Philippines is one the most religious countries in world, particularly in Catholicism and Islam. Families would encourage and strengthen the values of their children and would at least have one day a week for worship and at the same time strengthening family ties. Religion is the foundation of most of the country’s morals and values and sometimes, the church greatly affects the minds and opinions of the general populace, affecting its decisions. Sadly, this also applies to the government as they are troubled by whatever the Church’s stand is in every matter, as people see their opinion to be the “right” one. Thus, many of our politicians go with whatever the Church says, fearing that they would lose vote if they go against it. Resiliency The Philippines is a hotspot for disasters, natural and otherwise. Couple that with poverty, and one would think that Filipinos have the most reason for being a depressed people. However, we have demonstrated time and again that Filipinos can bounce back from a tragedy, emerging stronger and better than before. In the middle of a disaster, Filipinos can still manage to smile and be hopeful that the next morning brings new hope. We have shown the world that by working together as a nation, we have what it takes to recover from a bad situation. This is something that all of us should be proud of, no matter where in the world we are. With all of these these good traits (and more!), one would really be proud to say, “I am a Filipino.” Filipinos have shown the world that by working together, we have what it takes to recover from a bad situation —and this is a trait that we should all be proud of.
Positive Traits 1. Hospitable This is one of the most popular qualities of Filipinos. Foreigners who have gone to the Philippines find themselves falling in love for their hospitality. It's a different kind of values which already existed thousands thousands of years ago. Examples of hospitality that they show not only to foreigns but also to their fellow citizens * When one visits a friend's house, they greet them with a very warm welcome. They let their visitor sit down and prepare them a meal or a snack plus drinks for them. They may not want you leave the house with an empty stomach. They make sure you had a great time visiting them. * They offer their guest room to their visitors if they're going to spend the night with them. * Meals offered are very special, if not, they make a way to prepare great tasting food that their visitor wanted to eat. 2. Respectful This is often observed not just from younger people but also from older ones. * Children respect elders by saying "po" and "opo" which means "yes" when answering their elders. * Children or young adults also show respect by putting their elders hands on their forehead. * Filipinos also show respect at work by making a bow to their employers when they're around. 3. Strong Family Ties and Religious Yes. Filipinos value their families so much that they tend to be so intact. * They go to church and pray together because their religion is important making God as the center of their life. * They have quality time together especially after a day's work. Just watching television or eating together is one great quality that they value most.
4. Generosity and Helpful This is observed when one person has nothing and they tend to share what they have to them. * During special occassions such as birthdays or "fiestas"- a celebration when people from other places visit your place to celebrate with you, there are lots of foods specially prepared for everyone! It maybe your friend, family, a friend of your friends or even strangers can gather and they are willing to share foods. * When a neighbor is in trouble, they are always ready to help them. 5. Hardworking Yes, they are hardworking people to the fact that they are willing to work several time to almost whole day just to feed their families. That's how Filipinos are. * One example of a hardworking person is a farmer, they earn so little but still they tend to work very hard for few bucks. * Filipinos always find ways to earn for a living like putting up a small business from their home wherein they sell foods or other items for the convenient of their neighbors as well. 6. Loving and Caring This is so true! Filipinos are the sweetest and loving people in the world. I don't know why, I'm not saying this because Im a Filipino but dude, you gotta know them well. * Men are so sweet and romantic when it comes to love, they will send you flowers, bring you to a very romantic place, they text you sweet quotes and often tell you how special you are to them. * Filipino women are also romantic and very caring, that makes foreigners want to marry a kind like them. Women tend to prepare dinner before their husband comes home. They are so loving that they value the relationship which make them so faithful to their husband. And they will love you for the fullest. Negative Traits of Filipinos I don't want to sound so arrogant, Filipinos are not perfect and we have some trait which really represent what some Filipinos are. * Fatalism - An attitude wherein "what goes around, comes around" or "come what may". They tend to surrender their future on fate. * Crab mentality- This is often observed in politics wherein they tend to push eachother down for the benefit of themselves to go up so they try their best to make the person drop or ruin. I think it goes to the term selfishness. So these are just few common Filipino traits I can give, there are so many out there but these are the ones who really stand out from the rest. If you wanna know more about them, you can travel Philippines and you yourself will discover the beauty.
THE AMBIVALENCE OF FILIPINO TRAITS AND VALUES EMERITA S. QUITO The following Filipino traits show an ambivalence of positive and negative aspects. Hiya (shame) Negative, because it arrests or inhibits inhibits one's action. This trait reduces one to to smallness or to what Nietzsche calls the "morality of slaves", slaves", thus congealing the the soul of the Filipino Filipino and emasculating him, making him timid, meek and weak. Positive, because, it contributes to peace of mind and lack of stress by not even trying to achieve. Ningas-cogon (procrastination) Negative, by all standards, because it begins begins ardently and dies down as soon soon as it begins. This trait trait renders one inactive and unable to initiate things or to persevere. Positive, in a way, because it makes a person non-chalant, detached, indifferent, nonplussed should anything go wrong, and hence conducive to peace and tranquillity. Pakikisama (group loyalty) Negative, because one closes one's eyes to to evils like graft and corruption in in order to conserve peace and harmony in a group at the expense of one's comfort. Positive, because one lives for others; peace peac e or lack of dissension is a constant goal. Patigasan (test of strength) Negative, because it is stubborn and and resists all efforts at reconciliation. reconciliation. The trait makes us childish, childish, vindictive, irresponsible, irrational. Actions resulting from this trait are leaving the phone o ff the hook to get even with one's party line; stopping the engine of the car to prove that one has the right of way; standing one's ground until the opposite party pa rty loses its patience. Positive, because it is assign that we know our rights and are not easily cowed into submission. It is occidental in spirit, hence in keeping k eeping with Nietzsche's "will to power." Bahala na (resignation) Negative, because one leaves everything to chance chance under the pretext of trusting in in Divine providence. This trait is really laziness laziness disguised in religious religious garb.
Positive, because one relies on a superior power rather than on one's own. It is conducive to humility, modesty, and lack of arrogance.
Kasi (because, i. e., scapegoat) Negative, because one disowns responsibility responsibility and makes a scapegoat out of someone or something. One is never to blame; one remains lily white and has a ready alibi for failure. Positive, because one can see both sides of the picture and know exactly where a project failed. One will never suffer from guilt or self-recrimination. Saving Face Negative, because, being closely related to to hiya and kasi, kasi, it enables a person to shirk responsibility. One is never accountable for anything. Positive, because one's psyche is saved from undue embarrassment, sleepless nights, remorse of conscience. It saves one from accountability or responsibility. This trait enables one to make a graceful exit from guilt instead of facing the music and owning responsibility for an offense. Sakop (inclusion) Negative, because one never learns to be on one's own but relies on one's family family and relatives. This trait stunts growth and prevents a person from growing on one's own. Generating a life of parasitism, this trait is very non-existential. Blaring music, loud loud tones are a result of this mentality. We wrongly think that all people like the music we play or the stories we tell. This mentality also makes us consider the world as one vast comfort room. Positive, because one cares for the family and clan; one stands or falls with them. This trait makes a person show concern for the family family to which he belongs. Mañana or " Bukas na" na" (procrastination) Negative, because one constantly postpones postpones action and accomplishes nothing. nothing. This aggravates a situation, a problem grows beyond correction, a leak or a small break becomes a gaping hole. This arises from an indolent mentality that a problem will go away by itself. Positive, because one is without stress and tension; one learns to take what comes naturally. Like the Chinese wu-wei, wu-wei, this trait makes one live naturally and without undue artificiality. Utang na loob (indebtedness) Negative, because one overlooks moral principles principles when one is indebted to to a person. One who is beholden to another person will will do anything to please him, thinking that by doing so he is able to repay a debt. One condones what the other person does and will never censure him for wrongdoing.
Positive, because it is a recognition re cognition of one's indebtedness. This trait portrays the spirit behind the Filipino saying, "He who does not know how to look to the past will never reach his destination." Kanya-kanya (self-centeredness) Negative, because self-centered; one has no regard for others. others. So long as my family family and I are not in need, I do not care about he world. Positive, because one takes care of oneself and one's family: "Blood is thicker than water." At the end of our exposé of the positive and negative aspects of the Filipino psyche, one asks the question: What after all, is its ideal of personality, activity and achievement? Regarding personality, if the ideal is a personality without stress and tension, then Filipino traits contribute to this. The contention is that success necessarily means hypertension, ulcers and sleepless nights. Could there exist a state of success without these physical aberrations? Regarding activity, if the idea is that one should engage in a whirlpool of activity or if the work ethic is workaholism, then the Filipino indeed is in very ve ry poor estate. But is this not more of the Occidental or Western concept of activity? In contrast, the Oriental emphasizes conformity with nature; hence, one should never exaggerate or overact. Regarding achievement, if the ideal is that one must achieve an earthly goal, then the Filipino, as a race, will occupy a low rank. But again, is this ideal not more Occidental or Western, according to which one must always set a goal and accomplish it? Setting a goal is not wrong in any culture, but the manner of achieving it which can be questionable. Does one have to expend one's total energy in the pursuit of an ideal which, after all, is a personal, earthly goal? If for the Filipino smallness, meekness, and humility are ideals, could it not be that he is not thisworldly? Could he not perhaps be aiming, consciously or otherwise, at the life in the hereafter where the last will be the first, the weak will be strong, and the small will be great?
