Philippine Culture, People, and Festivals Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering Filipino origins, ethnic groups, religious traditions, medical practices, and cultural festivals based on lecture notes.

Iglesia ni Cristo

A Protestant church based on Unitarianism, founded by Felix Manalo, known for its concrete, white-painted architecture featuring huge arches and soaring spires.

Felix Manalo

The founder of Iglesia ni Cristo who styled himself as the last messenger of God.

Philippine Independent Church

A Catholic body operating in the Philippines alongside other Christian denominations.

Moro

The present-day name used for Islamic groups in the Philippines, derived from the Spanish term 'Moors' used for North African Islamic invaders.

Tabon Caves

An archaeological site in the Philippines containing the earliest remains of humans from 50,000 years ago.

Negrito

The aboriginal people of the Philippines who are very dark-skinned, short in stature, with high cheekbones and tightly curled hair, traditionally living a simple nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Dumagat

Coastal Negritos who possess seafaring skills.

Mangyan

A shy indigenous tribal group residing in Mindoro.

Tagbanua

A shy indigenous group living on the small island of Coron.

Badjao

An ethnic group found in Palawan and Sulu, frequently seen living on boats or in stilt villages.

Hilot or mangbibilot

A traditional medicine practitioner in the Philippines specializing in massage and bone-setting.

Tawas or Manetatawas

A traditional Philippine medicine practitioner who performs diagnostic rituals to determine illnesses caused by spirits or non-medical causes.

Albularyo

A traditional Philippine herbalist practitioner who treats medical and non-medical conditions.

Jeepneys

The primary mode of public transportation recognized as the 'king in remote areas' throughout the Philippines.

Higantes Festival

A festival in Angono honoring San Clemente featuring 12-foot paper-mache giants, based on local folklore of protesting against the Spanish inquisition.

San Clemente

The patron saint of Angono honored during the Higantes Festival.

Banca

A traditional watercraft used for transportation in protected Philippine waters.

Sinulog Festival

A 9-day January festival in Cebu City celebrating the 16th-century statue of Santo Niño given by Ferdinand Magellan to Hara Amihan in 1521.

Hara Amihan

The wife of Cebu's Chief Rajah Humabon who received the Santo Niño statue from Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

Ati-Atihan Festival

A January festival celebrated in Kalibo on Panay Island honoring Santo Niño statues and commemorating the 13th-century agreement between local Negrito people and ten datus from Borneo.

Dinagyang Festival

A January festival in Iloilo City celebrating Santo Niño and the historical 13th-century pact between local Negritos and ten Malay datus.

Masskara Festival

An October festival created in 1980 in Bacolod, Negros, born out of difficult economic times.

Kaamulan Festival

A tribal festival that combines a thanksgiving ritual, a peace pact between tribes, a datukship ritual, and a wedding ceremony.

Moriones Festival

A dramatic festival reenacting the search for St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced Jesus with a spear, where participants dress as Roman soldiers.

Panagbenga Festival

A flower festival in Baguio City celebrating the city's resurgence following the 1990 Luzon earthquakes.

Giant Lantern Festival

A month-long Christmas celebration in the Christmas Capital of the Philippines featuring a competition of giant lanterns made from locally available materials.

Pahiyas Festival

A harvest festival honoring San Isidro Labrador where homes and floats are decorated with fruits, vegetables, and colourful Kiplings.

Kiplings

Traditional Filipino leaf-shaped wafers made from glutinous rice used as colorful decorations during the Pahiyas Festival.

San Isidro Labrador

The patron saint of farmers honored during the Pahiyas Festival for a bountiful harvest.