Monday, November 22, 2010

Syllabus in Anthropology 225 (2ND SEM): Introduction to Philippine Culture and Society

Copyright © 2010 by Chester B. Cabalza. All Rights Reserved.

ANTHROPOLOGY 225
Philippine Culture and Society
Saturday 9:00 AM - 12:00 NN
Second Semester, 2010-2011 (Graduate Course)
Exclusively for Master in International Studies Students
Prof. Chester B. Cabalza, MA



I. Course Description


Culture in its classic definition by English anthropologist Edward Tylor (1871) is “that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, law, morals, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by a person as a member of society (Miller, 2002:12).

This course aims to provide students with basic knowledge and appreciation of Philippine culture and society through the use of anthropological perspectives.

The course will give a general survey of the major cultural, social, historical, political, and economic processes in the country through an examination of the cultural changes in Filipino values and character.

Through this course, the students will gather first-hand experience of Philippine culture by doing class exercises through simple ethnographies and fieldwork.

The content of this Course involves the study of the following subjects:

- Theories and Approaches of anthropological perspectives in understanding Philippine Culture and Society;

- Understanding the prehistory and ethno-history in the Philippines of the various archaeological, anthropological and historical processes;

- To identify explanatory frameworks that could lead to a deeper understanding of the cultural factors affecting Philippine Culture and Society during the country’s colonization period, post-war and post-independence, and the contemporary period;

- To be critical in analyzing anthropological studies on Philippine value system, Filipino family and kinship, Filipino indigenous ethnic communities, and other important cultural beliefs in the country.

- To enable the student to apply the concepts and ideas on a research problem mutually agreed upon by the student and teacher.

II. Course Objectives

Upon the completion of this Course, a student is expected to have:

- obtained a comprehension of the various frameworks and levels of analysis of Philippine Culture and Society;

- acquired an appreciation and understanding of the cultural factors influencing the internal and external environment of the country from Spanish, American and Japanese colonial periods in the Philippines, to post-war and succeeding administrations by Filipino presidents, and the contemporary and global Filipino diaspora; and

- gained an insight into the social role of culture in selected indigenous ethnic communities in the Philippines, and in rural and urban societies in the country.

III. Course Requirements

Requirements:

Long Examination 30%
Class Project (Documentary) 30%
Reports/Ethnography 20%
Seminar Paper 20%

IV. Course Outline

Week 1 (Nov 13, 2010)

1. Introduction: Scope, Coverage, and Expectations of the Course
2. Assignments:
- Read an Ethnography on “The Barrio Folk” by Juan Flavier
- Read “Wisdom from a Rainforest: A Spiritual Journey of an Anthropologist” by Stuart Schlegel
3. Classroom Policies

A. Students are only allowed up to a maximum of three (3) unexcused absences. Beyond this number, students will be given a grade of DRP if his or her class standing is passing or 5.0 if failing.

B. Those who want to be excused from class must secure a certificate from the U.P Health Service or a letter from his/her Dean explaining the reason for the absence.

C. Students who arrive more than 20 minutes late will be marked absent for the day.

D. Turn off your mobile phones during class hours.

Week 2 (Nov 20, 2010)

1. Lecture on the Development of Anthropology in the Philippines
2. Lecture on Theories and Methods in Anthropology and the Anthropological Approaches in Writing Ethnography
3. Assignment:
- Ethnography 1: Trip to Museums in Metro Manila (National Museum, AFP & PNP Museums, Ayala Museum, George Vargas Museum, Anthropology Museum, Metropolitan Museum, etc.)
- Distribution of Reports on Philippine Prehistory

Week 3 (Nov 27, 2010)

1. Lecture on Philippine Prehistoric Society and Culture
2. Reports
- “A Study of the Animal Bones Recovered from Pits 9 and 10 at the Site of Nagsabaran in Northern Luzon, Philippines” by Phil Piper, Fredeliza Campos, and Hsiao-Chung Hung
- “Characterisation and Geological Provenance of Jasper that was Used for Debitages in the Archaeological Site of Tabon Cave, Philippines” by Patrick Schmidt
3. Discussion of Ethnography 1 (A Visit to Museum)
4. Submission of Abstract of Seminar Paper

Week 4 (Dec 4, 2010)

1. Lecture on “A Preliminary Study on Early Indian and Chinese Influences in Philippine Ethnomathematics” by Chester Cabalza
2. Lecture on "Chinese or Indian and Not Spanish Discovery of the Philippines: A New Perspective" and 'Maritime Strategies in Asia" by Chester Cabalza
3. Reports on Philippine Culture and Society during the Spanish, American, and Japanese Colonial Periods
- Group 1: Spanish Period
- Group 2: American Period
- Group 3: Japanese Period
3. Assignments:
- Ethnography 2: Ride on a Public Transportation in Metro Manila (Jeepney Ride at UP Ikot & UP Toki, LRT 1 & 2, MRT, Ferry boat along Pasig River)
- Distribution of Reports on the Philippines Indigenous Peoples

Week 5 (Dec 11, 2010)

1. Reports on the Philippines’ Indigenous Peoples
- “Distribution of Filipino Indigenous Ethnic Communities” by F. Landa Jocano
- “Indigenous Peoples and National Security” by Rudy Rodil
- “Ethnography of the Muslim Filipino” by Realidad Rolda
- “The Internationalization of Ethnic Minority Movements in the Philippines” by Nestor Castro
- “Luwaran.com: Mouthpiece of the Bangsamoro in Southern Philippines” by Chester Cabalza
2. Lecture on “Writing the History of Non-Literate Peoples: The Case of Ayta in Bataan” by Chester Cabalza
3. Lecture on Actual Legal Cases Pertaining to IPs, Ancestral Domain, and Ethnic Minorities in the Philippines
- Sec 22, Art II, 1987 Constitution; IPRA Law (1997) or RA 8371, ILO 107 & ILO 169; UN Declaration on the rights of the IPs (2008)
- UP vs CA, Ortiz, Elizalde, Balayem, et. al., G.R.No. 97827, February 9, 1993
- Rubi vs Provincial Board of Mindoro, 39 Phil 660 (1919)
- Carino vs Insular Government, 212 US 449
- Cruz vs Sec of DENR, G.R. No. 135385, December 6, 2000
- Province of North Cotabato vs GRP Peace Panel on Ancestral Domain, G.R. No. 1833591, October 14, 2008
4. Assignment:
- Ethnography 3: Celebrating Filipino Christmas and New Year Holidays or the UP Lantern Parade

Week 6 (Dec 18, 2010)

1. Field Research: Class Project

Week 7 (Jan 8, 2011)

1. Discussion of Ethnography 3
2. Assignment:
- Ethnography 4: Malling (SM North, Trinoma, Shangrila Mall, Megamall, SM MOA, Starmall, Greenbelt, Robinson’s mall, etc.)
- Distribution of Reports on Filipino Values

Week 8 (Jan 15, 2011)

1. Discussion of Ethnography 4
2. Reports:
- “The Study of Values” by Frank Lynch
- “Notion of Value in Filipino Culture” by F. Landa Jocano
- “Filipino Values” by Alfredo and Grace Roces
- “Reciprocity as a Filipino Value” by Mary Racelis
3. Lecture on “The Dimensions of the Filipino Character” by Prospero Covar

Week 9 (Jan 27, 2011)

1. WORKSHOP: Analyzing James Fallows’ proposition on “A Damaged Culture: A New Philippines” using Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats (Write-ups of future scenarios on Philippine culture and society up to years 2016-2020).
2. Assignment for Week 11 – Group Reports (Post-war to Martial Law and Post-Martial Law to Contemporary Times)

Week 10 (Jan 29, 2011)

First Long Examination

Week 11 (Feb 5, 2011)

1. Discussion on Exam Results
2. Group Reports
- Group 4: Post-War Philippines and Martial Law
- Group 5: Post-Martial Law to Contemporary Period
3. Assignments:
- Ethnography 5: Filipino Life Circle (Baptism, Debut, Wedding, Burial) or Kinship System (Family Tree)
- Distribution of Reports

Week 12 (Feb 12, 2011)

1. Reports
- “Life Circle” by Alfredo Roces”
- “The Filipino Family Confronts the Modern World” by Mary Racelis
- “State Policies and Practices around Transnational Marriages in the Philippines” by Joseph Ryan Indon
- “Marriage as a Contract and Marriage as a Status in the Philippines” by Edgardo Paras
2. Lecture on Marriage in the Philippines (Cultural, Historical, and Legal Implications; Actual Cases and Philippine Jurisprudence on Annulment, Declaration of Nullity of Marriage, and Legal Separation)
3. Discuss Ethnography 5

Week 13 (Feb 19, 2011)

1. Research Break for Approved Abstract of Seminar Paper
2. Assignments:
- Ethnography 6 Watch Filipino Movies in Cinemas or Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)Games or University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)Games
- Distribution of Reports on Language and Culture

Week 14 (Feb 26, 2011)

1. Reports
- “Conceptual Categories in Primitive Language” by Edward Sapir
- “Language and Education: Colonial Legacy and the National Imperative” by Macario Tiu
2. Discuss Ethnography 6
3. Lecture on “Colonialism, Decadence and Orientalism: Problematizing Southeast Asian Cinema and Literature” by Chester Cabalza
4. Lecture on "Philippine Pastimes and the Making Filipino Sports Legends" by Chester Cabalza
5. Assignment:
- Ethnography 7 Trip to Quiapo Church
- Distribution of Reports on Religion, Bangungot and Filipino Caring System

Week 15 (March 5, 2011)

1. Reports
- “Folk Catholicism in the Philippines” by Frank Lynch
- “Folk Islam in the Life of Jama Mapun” by Eric Casiño
- “The Diagnosis of Disease among the Subanun of Mindanao” by Charles Frake
- “The Filipino Perspectives on Caring and a Caring Society” by Cora Anonuevo
2. Discuss Ethnography 7
3. Lecture on Legal and Actual Cases Related to Religion in the Philippines
- Sec 5, Article III, 1987 Constitution
- Aglipay vs Ruiz, 64 Phil 201 (1937)
- Islamic Da’wah Council vs Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 153888, July 9, 2003
- American Bible Society vs City of Manila, 181 Phil 386 (1957)
- Iglesia ni Cristo vs Court of Appeals, 259 SCRA 529 (1996)
- Victoriano vs Elizalde Rope Workers Union, 59 SCRA 54 (1974)

Week 16 (March 12, 2011)

Reporters of Seminar Papers

Week 17 (March 19, 2011)

1. Presentation of Class Project (Documentary)
2. Integration

Week 18 (March 26, 2011)

Final Examination

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