MeMeMe (Motivational Activity)

Instructions. This activity is a simple getting-to-know-each-other

drill. This will help prompt the students to see how the lesson
relates to their personal lives.

Guide Questions.
a. I am (fullname). (identity and lineage)
b. I live in (address) with (household members). (culture at home and
people they socialize with most of the time)
c. My father/mother/guardian works as a/an (job). (socioeconomic status)
d. I am (nationality/ethnicity). I practice (religion). (cultural and religious
upbringing)
e. If there is a hashtag to describe me, it would be # . (values, beliefs,
behavior)
MeMeMe (Motivational Activity)
Instructions.
INTRODUCTION: The
Understanding of
Culture, Society,
and Politics
TOPICS 01 Cultural Variations and Social
Differences (Gender)

02 Cultural Variations and Social

Differences (Socioeconomic Class)

03 Cultural Variations and Social

Differences (Ethnicity)

04 Cultural Variation and Social

Differences (Religion)
Cultural Variations and Social Differences
05 (Exceptionality/Non-Exceptionality)

Cultural Variations and Social

06 Differences (Nationality)

07 Social, Political, and Cultural Behavior

and Phenomena

08 Social, Political, and Cultural Change

09 The Study of Culture, Society, and

Politics
 Cultural Variations and
Social Differences
(Gender)
Objective:
Discuss gender roles in
Philippine society from pre-
colonial to the present era.

• How do gender roles vary across cultures

according to a particular culture’s beliefs and
expectations concerning men and women’s roles?
 GENDER GENDER Roles

People play different roles in society depending on age and occupation.

There are jobs that require a specific gender to perform tasks while other
jobs are open to both men and women.
 Gender
• refers to social, cultural, and psychological
characteristics or traits related to males and
females based on certain social contexts
• different from SEX

refers to the biological characteristics that

distinguish a male from a female

• Thus, sex makes a person male or female,

while gender makes a person masculine or
feminine.
 Gender Roles
• refer to attitudes and behaviors that the society expects a
person to exhibit based on his or her sex.

• For example, in traditional Philippine society, women are

expected to be plain housewives and take care of their
children, while men are expected to be professionals and
provide the needs of their family.

• Another example is that society expects women to be more

emotional and sensitive while men are expected to be strong
and capable of doing things that women cannot do.
 Gender Roles in Pre-colonial Philippine Society
Males and females enjoyed the same rights and privileges. Different social functions
were assigned to different members of society. There were functions that were
specifically given to males, females, or both.
 Gender Roles in colonial period Philippine Society
Gender roles during the colonial period changed drastically. Women were restrained
from other activities outside their homes, while men were given more social functions.
These roles also changed as the Philippines was occupied by new colonizers.
 At present, Philippine society is more
open to allowing both men and
women to perform different tasks not

Gender Roles based solely on gender, but on an

individual’s capabilities and strengths.
For example, fields like engineering,
in Current architecture, and medicine, which are
often associated with men, have long

Philippine been open to women. Likewise, there

are also lots of male teachers,

Society
nurses, chefs, and hairdressers
nowadays.
Cultural Variations and Social
Differences (Socioeconomic
Class)

Objective:
define and discuss the different
socioeconomic classes that exist in
Philippine society.

• What are the different socioeconomic classes in the

Philippines?
• How did these socioeconomic classes change through time?
 Socioeconomic Classes during the Pre-Colonial Period

a.k.a. Leaders and Royals

• first social class; composed of community leaders (datu) and their families
• also called the group of the maginoo, raha, or gat
Maharlik
a.k.a. Freemen a
Timaw
• second or “middle” social class; composed of all freemen living in the
barangay
• consisted of workers, warriors, merchants, and others who were not
under debt bondage
• had their own properties such as houses and pieces of land to cultivate a
a.k.a. Slaves

Alipin
• third class; served another person or family as payment for debt
• became slaves when their families lost to a war with another
• were not bound to their masters for life
• could go back to their previous status as soon as they pay off their
debts, or if they marry a maharlika, who will then pay for their debt

• had their own properties

• often from the timawa class and became slaves because of
Aliping
debt or as punishment for a wrongdoing
• could go back to being part of the timawa class once they
Namama
pay off their debt hay
• did not have the right to own any property Aliping
• often came from a family of slaves or were captives in war
• could also be sold or exchanged for goods or other slaves Saguiguilid
Socioeconomic
Classes during Peninsu- Insu- mesti-
the Spanish lares lares zos
Colonial
Period

princi- ilustra-
indios palia dos
 Peninsulares
• Spaniards in the Philippines who were born in
Spain
• came from the word “peninsula,” which was in
direct reference to the Spanish peninsula
 Insulares
• Spaniards who were of Spanish
descent but were born in the Philippines
• came from the word “insular,” which
means "from the islands"
 mestizos

• those of mixed ancestry

• usually children of Spanish and
Chinese couples or of Spanish
and indio couples
• had economic and political
power because of their mixed
heritage
 indios

• consisted of the natives

• the lowest class in society
• were stripped of their rights
and freedom
• were forced to bow down to
Spanish colonizers
 principalia

• consisted of native leaders in the

government and their families
•were often educated and served
as gobernadorcillo (town mayor)
or cabeza de barangay (Barangay
leader)
 ilustrados

• the children of the principalia who

usually studied in Europe
• consisted mostly of the popular
artists and scholars of the period,
including Jose Rizal
 Modern Socioeconomic Classes
At present, a person’s position in society is based mainly on his or her family’s economic status. Social
stratification or the division of society based on occupation, income, wealth, or power is simpler at
present than in the past.
In 1987, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) divided the population into high-income,
middle-income, and low-income classes.

• people earning an average of PhP

36,000 per month
• consists of professionals and small-
scale entrepreneurs Middle-income Class
• people earning an average of PhP
200,000 per month High-Income Class
• the “rich” class that accounts for
merely one percent of the country’s Low-income Class
•people
total population
earning less than PhP 10,000
per month
•consists of laborers and minimum
wage earners
 Social This process,
Mobility called social mobility, is:
the movement of people
or families within or
Unlike in other
societies where
between different levels
persons born into a in society, and
specific class have no the opportunity to
choice but to die as transfer from a lower
part of the same socioeconomic class to a
class, people in the higher one possibly
Philippines usually
have the opportunity
through education or
to transfer from a marriage.
lower socioeconomic
Cultural Variations and Social
Differences (Ethnicity)

Objective:
define and discuss different concepts
and issues regarding ethnicity and ethnic
groups in the Philippines.

• What is ethnicity?
• What is race and how is it related to ethnicity?
• What are the issues regarding ethnicity?
• What are the ethnic groups in the Philippines?
 Ethnicity Race
• refers to a group of • refers to a group of people
that shares the same
people, also called physical attributes, such as
the ethnic group, skin color, height, and facial
who have a common features.

Ethnicity
or shared culture,
•grouped into different
language, history, races based on physical
religion, and tradition. appearance.
• Here, people are • Human beings are

vs divided into groups

based on different
classified into three major
races−Caucasoid, Mongol
social factors. oid, and Negroid.

Race Examples: Filipinos,

Malays, Anglo-Saxons,
and Muslims.
• based on the color of the
skin, the shape of the face
and eyes, texture of the
hair, and other prominent
physical features.
 Two people belonging to the same race may be part of
different ethnic groups. For example, Asians belong to the
Mongoloid race but consists of different ethnic groups like the
Japanese, the Chinese, and the Malays. They all share the
same physical features but have different cultures, histories,
 Ethnolinguistic
Groups in the
n o n
Il o ka p a Philippines
p a m There are more than 180
K a ethnic or ethnolinguistic groups

a n
g si n e g
in the Philippines.
The eight major ethnolinguistic

a al o groups in the country are:

n g Ta g
Pa
n s e
o n o
o ng g e b ua
l a n Il o C
iko
B r a y
Wa
• Other smaller ethnolinguistic groups are
the Ibanag, Ivatan, Sambal, Subanon, Maguind
anaoan, and Zamboangueño.
• There are also indigenous groups in the
country that may belong to the same
ethnolingguistic groups, but have different
cultures or traditions. Some of them are
the Mangyans of Mindoro, the Igorots of the
Mountain Province, and the Moros of
Mindanao.
 Issues About Race and Ethnicity
Differences in ethnicity and race make some people believe that one ethnic group is superior than
others. This belief creates discrimination and prejudice against people from minorities who are
perceived to be of “inferior” ethnicity or race.
Racism Ethnocentricism
• discrimination or prejudice based on one’s • discrimination or prejudice based on one’s
race. culture.
• In the 1970s, white Americans (Caucasoids) • Recently, Muslim extremists discriminate
discriminated black Americans (Negroids) who Christians and non-Muslims in Muslim countries
were descendants of immigrants from because of their religion. Some Christians and
African countries. ethnic groups are discriminated in
Muslim-dominated areas.

Genocide Ethnic cleansing

• elimination of a group of people from the
same race, ethnic group, religion, or nation; an • harassment, rape, or forced
extreme action against people from another migration of an ethnic group to banish
ethnicity or race. them from a certain area or territory.
• The Holocaust during the World War II, • This happens in certain areas in
executed by the Nazis of Germany led by Adolf Africa.
Hitler, killed millions of Jews all over Europe.
Cultural Variations and Social
Differences (religion)

Objectives:
• explain religion as a form of cultural
variation,
• describe the diversity of religions in the
world and in the Philippines,
• analyze issues regarding religion in the
world and in the Philippines

• How is cultural variation explained in terms of religion?

• What are the existing religions in the world and in the
Philippines?
• What are the issues surrounding differences in religion?
Religion as a Variety of
Cultural Variation Religion
• We live in a world with varying • There are many religions around
and diverse cultures. the world.
• Cultural variation or differences • Among the major religions in the
take many forms within and world
among societies, one of which is are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism,
religion. Taoism, and Buddhism.
• Religion can be defined as a set • Each of these religions has its own
of practices and behaviors that set of beliefs and practices that must
relate to a group of people's belief be followed by its believers.
in a god or a group of gods.
• In a society, several religions may
• Sociologists studying religion exist, and since religion affects an
consider it a part of society's individual’s way of life, we can
culture. observe cultural variations in the
• In most cases, religion not only form of different religions.
affects a person's belief, but one's
way of life.
 Religion in the Philippines

The Philippines is a secular In the Philippines, the majority of the

country, which means that the population are Christians, with a
government does not prescribe certain portion of the population
a specific set of activities or
practicing Islam, particularly in the
laws based on religion. A
citizen's right to choose his or southern part of the country.
her own religion is protected by
the Philippine Constitution.

Buddhism, Taoism, and Different religions are

Hinduism are also being practiced in
practiced by a small Philippine society today.
number of inhabitants This variation in religion is
in the archipelago. a product of the evolution
of Philippine society
across time.
Understanding Cultural Variation in the
Form of Religion

• Cultural variations do exist as exemplified through

different religions in the world, more so in Philippine
society.
• For example, Christians and Muslims believe in
one God, Hindus believe in many gods, and
Buddhists do not.
• The sets of practices and beliefs of a particular
religion influence the behavior of its followers and
their interaction with other members of society.
 Issues Surrounding Differences in Religion
• Since differences in religion do not only •To prevent conflicts, the Philippine
mean worshipping different gods, conflicts government, for example, started
sometimes arise between believers. recognizing some of the special days
• Some believers of a particular religion celebrated by different religions.
feel like they are being marginalized, while Problems •Employees are not required to work during
some feel like those following other Holy Week, when Catholics commemorate
religions are taking advantage of their the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
number. •The start and end of the Ramadan are also
• It may be easy to be swayed by religious considered holidays, just like when the
differences and start a conflict. A believer Chinese celebrate the start of their new year.
or follower of a particular religion may Solutions •This way, the government allows followers
offend a follower of another religion if he or of different religions to attend to their
she imposes his or her religious beliefs or religious obligations without work getting in
practices. the way.
• In history, bloody wars happened •To those conflicts brought about by
because of religious differences, and differences in religion, the key word is
unfortunately, conflicts continue until now respect. This entails a conscious effort to
due to varying religions. acquire cultural knowledge and understand
which this course is mainly about.
Cultural Variations and Social
Differences
(Exceptionality/non-
exceptionality)
Objectives:
• describe exceptionality and non- exceptionality
as a form of social category or one’s source of
identity
• explain the characteristics that make a person
“exceptional,”
• discuss the challenges and problems
affecting exceptional people, and
• suggest solutions to the problems.

• What makes a person exceptional?

• How similar/different are they from “non-exceptional” people?
Exceptionality and
the Exceptiona Exceptional
lity
• a quality or a • differPeople
from societal
Exceptional characteristic of a and community
person that makes standards of
People him or her different normalcy
from an established
People have different norm in a society • have learning or
characteristics, needs, • various physical behavioral problems
desires, lifestyles, and and mental and physical and
interference or sensory disabilities
challenges. However, there problems that affect
are people who, from one a person and which • are intellectually
reason or another, are makes it difficult for gifted
him or her to
described or categorized by function properly in
the society as exceptional. society
The characteristics that
make a person exceptional
may have been acquired
from birth, through a
 Exceptional
people, the
disabled, or the
intellectually
gifted, encounter
challenges and
issues in dealing
with other
members of the
society.
Here are some
common
problems and
challenges that
Overcoming In the Philippines, despite the passage of Republic Act
7277 or the Magna Carta for People with Disabilities
Challenges (PWDs) in 1991, there are still significant barriers that
keep exceptional people from fully participating in
and Problems society−including the stigma surrounding disability and
society’s poor understanding of the abilities and
aspirations of exceptional people. However, the
government, private sectors, media, and some
concerned groups have been working together to solve
these existing problems.
Here are some ways on how both private and public
sectors have been helping them:

This picture shows the International Symbol of Access

(ISA). It is found in locations or spots that are designated
for all persons with disabilities.
Cultural Variations and Social
Differences (nationality)

Objectives:
• define nationality as a concept in
cultural variation and social differences,
• explain different concepts regarding
nationality, and
• discuss issues regarding nationality and
statelessness
• What is nationality and how is it related to nation and citizenship?
• What does Philippine law say about Filipino nationality?
• How does the United Nations Organization resolve issues regarding
the right to have a nationality?
• What is statelessness? What happens to a stateless person?
 Nation vs Nationality vs Citizenship

• a person’s instinctive • a person’s legal and political status in a

• a large aggregate of people membership to a specific city or state, which means that an
united by common descent, nation or country. individual has been registered with the
history, culture, language, • can be acquired by an government in some country.
and economic life through • An individual becomes a citizen of a
individual from the country
inhabiting a particular country where he or she was born country only when he or she is accepted
or territory. into that country’s political framework
(jus soli).
through legal terms.
Example: • can be acquired by an
The United Kingdom is a individual through his or her Examples:
country inhabited mainly by parents (jus sanguinis) • An individual born in the Philippines has
people of four nations: • An individual is a national of a Filipino nationality. He may, however,
English, Irish, Scottish, and a particular country by birth. apply for citizenship in another country,
Welsh. Nationality is acquired should he wish to (e.g. a Filipino national
through inheritance from his applying for citizenship in Mexico).
• A nation emphasizes a or her parents. • Some people from European Union
particular group of people, • People with the same member countries may have European
and a country emphasizes nationality often share the citizenships that are different from their
the physical dimensions and nationalities (e.g. an Italian national who
same language, culture,
boundaries of a geographical is registered as a German citizen).
territory, and in some cases,
area. On the other hand, • No one will be able to change his
ancestry. They share the
a state is a self-governing nationality, but one can have a different
same rights and are
legal and political entity. citizenship.
protected by the same laws.
 Filipino Nationality

• The Philippine Nationality Law is based on the

principles of jus sanguinis or "right of blood."
Therefore, anyone with a parent who is a citizen or
national of the Republic of the Philippines can acquire
Philippine citizenship. This is the primary method
of acquiring citizenship.
• For people born in the Philippines to non-Filipino
parents, the Administrative Naturalization Law of
2000 (R.A. 9139) provides an avenue for
administrative naturalization.
 Issues Regarding Nationality and
Statelessness

• Right to a Nationality

a. Every person has a right to a nationality.

b. The right to a nationality is a fundamental
human right. It is an individual’s right to
acquire, change, or retain his or her
nationality. Thus, a country’s law cannot
deprive a person the right to gain a
nationality, in case he or she loses it.
• Statelessness
[Link] who do not have a nationality are
considered as stateless people.
[Link] to Article 1 of the 1954 Convention
relating to the Status of Stateless Persons of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), "a stateless person is someone who is
not considered as a national by any State under
the operation of its law."
[Link] stateless people are considered "refugees,"
while others lose their nationalities due to war or
conflict, or if their country is annexed by another
country and loses its sovereignty.
• Statelessness
• Case Study: Statelessness in Sabah
a. Most Filipinos living in Sabah, Malaysia are considered
"stateless." Thus, they are not recognized as people with a
nationality. They do not belong to any country or nation.
b. Since Sabah is a contested territory between Malaysia and the
Philippines, the people in Sabah experience problems in
securing their nationalities. Filipinos from nearby Sulu and
Tawi-tawi, even those who are born in Sabah, are not
recognized by the Malaysian government as Malaysians. They
are also denied of their Filipino nationality since they are not
properly registered in the Philippines. As a result, they do not
enjoy the rights and privileges that citizens of either country
enjoy.
c. This concern is also true in areas and territories under war and
conflict.
Social, Political, and Cultural
Behavior and Phenomena

Objectives:
• recognize behavior and phenomena in
society which are socially, politically,
and culturally significant
• demonstrate curiosity and open-
mindedness to explore the origins and
dynamics of society, culture, and
politics.
• How should members of society respond toward different 1
social, political, and cultural behavior and phenomena?
• What is the proper attitude toward different social, political,
and cultural behavior and phenomena?
 Social Behavior and Phenomena

• Social behavior and phenomena are broad

and complicated sociological concepts. These
involve every event between at least two
individuals and include all knowledge and
experiences a person acquires in the entirety of
his or her lifetime.
• Social phenomena are the individual, external,
and social constructions that influence a
person’s life and development.
• The table shows some examples of social
behavior and phenomena.
 political Behavior and Phenomena

• In sociology, political behavior and

phenomena include events through which
authority, governance, and public opinion are put
into practice.
• A political behavior of a person or a group may be
influenced by their political views, ideologies, and
levels of political participation. An example of
an act of political behavior is the act of voting.
• Political phenomena are not only limited to public
offices as these also include how institutions
like schools, churches, or companies are ran and
governed.
 cultural Behavior and Phenomena

•Also known as the bandwagon effect,

a cultural behavior is an event where
certain individuals behave a certain way
merely because other persons do as well.
•cultural phenomenon happens when
something or someone gains widespread
popularity. However, it is noteworthy that it
is not the subject that is the cultural
phenomenon but rather the process of
becoming famous.
Interactions
within Social,
Society political, and cultural behaviors and
phenomena in the society are results of
interactions within society. People talk and share
stories. People share ways of living among other
things. People do things together and work for the
attainment of the common good and social order.
These behaviors, be they usual or not, are natural
responses to changes and ideologies developing
within society as a result of constant interactions
between its members.
 Social, Political, and Cultural
change

Objectives:
• define and explain social, cultural, and
political changes,
• recognize common concerns or events
within society on the phenomenon of
change,
• explain the concept of social and cultural
change and highlight the mechanisms
• analyze social, political, and cultural change
within society.
•How do changes in society take place?
Social is the transformation of social Communication
change institutions over time. • A vital human process where people exchange
information and thoughts.
• Nowadays, communication is made easier like
Culturalis the transformation of culture or the sharing information in just a click. New
way people live. media−social networking, text messaging,
change e-mail, and the like−have defied time and distance.
• While it makes the world seem borderless, this form
of communication may produce individuals who lack
the basic understanding of direct and personal
connections.

Transnational Families
• Where one or both parents live and work in another country while
the children remain in their country of origin.
• While these families remain secured financially, their members are
also exposed to setbacks.
• Children who become overly unsupervised find themselves facing
peer pressure, too much independence, and lack of family
orientation. These may result in alcohol or drug abuse,
unwanted pregnancy, mood swings, or early marriage.
Political happens when the rulers of a country lose power or
change when the type of governance in the country changes.
Governance is the kind of system or ideology used to
express authority in a country. It may be a democracy,
monarchy, oligarchy, and others.

Local are provided by the government to people living within

Public its jurisdiction, either directly (through the public sector)
or by financing the provision of services.
Services

Youth Volunteerism is the use or involvement of a

volunteer or free labor in community services.
Volunteerism
 Political happens when the rulers of a
country lose power or when the
change type of governance in the country
changes. Governance is the kind of
system or ideology used to express
authority in a country. It may be a
democracy, monarchy, oligarchy,
and others.

Local are provided by the government to

people living within its jurisdiction,
Public either directly (through the public
sector) or by financing the provision
Services of services.

Volunteerism is the use or

Youth involvement of a volunteer or
Volunteerism free labor in community
services.
 Mechanisms of Changes

Diffusion Invention Discovery

the process through the process where is the process where
which the cultural traits people recognize or
new cultural
of one society are gain a better
borrowed, transmitted, elements are understanding of
and adopted by created to solve already existing
another and social and cultural elements present in
considered as its own. problems. the environment.

Examples: Example: Example:

Migration Scientific research
Internet
Globalization
 Changes within Society
Change is said to be constant. It is expected to happen. but,
what makes it happen? Of course, there are many factors—
social, political, or cultural.
Along with time, persons, environments, and ideologies
change. People move in and move out. People live and die.
People's stories and experiences change. People make
discoveries and innovations.
The environment changes as well—nature, water, earth,
minerals, climate, seasons, sources of raw materials, and
energy.
New knowledge replaces old ones. Slavery has been banned.
Civil rights were granted to those who were once deprived of
them. Same-sex marriage is on its way to worldwide
recognition. Nothing is permanent but change, so they say.
 The Study of Culture,
Society, and Politics

Objectives:
• recognize the importance of the study
of culture, society, and politics,
• identify the subjects of inquiry and goals
of anthropology, political science, and
sociology.

• What is the significance of having scientific knowledge about culture,

society, and politics?
• How do the disciplines of anthropology, political science, and politics
help us understand and make decisions in society?
Culture is the focus of
anthropology, society is for sociology,
while politics is for political science.
These are disciplines of the social
sciences.

The goal of having these disciplines is

to prepare people for active and
responsible civic engagement
through the development of critical
thought. Exposure to these areas of
discipline exposes its learners to the
following:
• social diversity and inequality,
 Anthropology:
the study of humans and their
society in the past and present.
Dealing with what makes us
human, anthropology delves into
objects and materials we have
created, our interconnectedness
and adaptability with
environment, our lifestyle, our
Goalsmodes of communication, and our
of Anthropology
understanding of the world
• to describe and analyze the biological
around us.
evolution of mankind
• to describe and assess the cultural
development of our species
• to explain and analyze present-day
human cultural similarities and
differences
• to describe and explain human
 Political Science:
• a social science discipline that
deals with systems of government
and the analysis
of political activities
and political behavior. •

• helps people gain an

understanding of “who gets what,
when they get it, and how they get
it.”
• helps us understand politics,
political institutions and behavior,
public policy,
Goals of Political and philosophical
Science:
concepts,
• for people to be such as justice,
immersed equality,
in current affairs
• to buildfairness, and liberty,
an understanding and how
of local, the
national,
and said politics
international subject matters affect
• to assisteconomy, public and
people in learning howprivate life,
political
law, and
activities are organized public
in and outservices.
of our
country
• to provide substantially critical and scientific
 Sociology:
• the study of human social
relationships and institutions;
mainly focuses on society—its
functions, its members, and its
diversity.
• tackles the basic unit of the
society—the family, the
functionality and relevance of
state as an important human
institution, social issues on
Goals of Sociology:
• to guide inreligion, crime, intrapersonal
understanding race, social
factors class, and the stability and
• to build a betterinstability of societies.
understanding of
mankind
• to aid in decision-making in the micro
and macro level
• to gather systematic information from
 ESSAY

Questions:
[Link] is it important for the study of culture,
society, and politics to be included in the school
curriculum?
2. Cite three practical situations where knowledge
of anthropology, political science, and sociology
can be applied.
3. Which among the three social science
disciplines is most relevant in your life?
 Key points
• Gender refers to social, cultural, and psychological characteristics or traits related
to males and females based on certain social contexts.
• Gender roles refer to attitudes and behaviors that the society expects a person to
exhibit based on his or her sex.
• In pre-colonial Philippines, males and females enjoyed the same rights and
privileges. Different social functions were assigned to different members of society.
There were functions that were specifically given to males, females, or both.
• Gender roles during the colonial period changed drastically. Women were restrained
from other activities outside their homes, while men were given more social
functions. These roles also changed as the Philippines was occupied by new
colonizers.
• The present Filipino society has become more open in allowing people of different
genders to do things not based on their sex but based on their capabilities.
• Anyone can move from one socioeconomic class to another, depending
on educational attainment and life decisions.
• Social mobility is the movement of people or families within or between different
levels in society.
• Social stratification is the division of society based on occupation, income, wealth,
or power.
 Key points
• Ethnicity refers to a group of people, also called the ethnic group, who have a
common culture, language, history, religion, and tradition.
• People from the same ethnic group share a
common culture, language, religion, belief, and tradition.
• There are more than 180 ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines.
• Race refers to a group of people that shares the same physical attributes, such
as skin color, height, and facial features.
• Racism is prejudice or discrimination against people of other races with the
idea that one’s race is superior than others'.
• Ethnocentrism is similar to racism, but it discriminates based on differences in
culture.
• Ethnocentrism and racism may lead to genocide or ethnic cleansing which
are crimes against a specific ethnic group or race.
• Cultural variation takes many forms, one of which is religion.
• Religion is a set of practices and behaviors that relate to a group of people's
belief in a god or group of gods.
• Among the major religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism,
and Buddhism.
 Key points
• In the Philippines, the majority of the population are Christians, with a certain portion of
the population practicing Islam, particularly in the southern part of the country,
while some inhabitants practice Buddhism, Taoism, or Hinduism.
• Protestants also believe in Jesus Christ, but they do not share the same practices as
Catholicism.
• The Philippine government started to recognize special days in different religions to
give believers freedom to practice their own religions.
• Despite being largely Catholic, the Philippines remains a secular country. A citizen's
right to choose his or her own religion is protected by the Philippine Constitution.
• Many conflicts happened because of cultural variations such as differences in religion.
• Recognizing cultural variations and showing respect to different religions can help
avoid conflict.
• Respect can effectively be achieved through the conscious effort of acquiring cultural
knowledge and understanding.
• Society categorizes people based on their characteristics, needs, desires, lifestyles, and
challenges.
• Exceptionality refers to a characteristic of a person that makes him or her different from
the established norms in society.
 Key points
• Exceptional people are individuals who differ from societal and community standards of
normalcy.
• Some of the problems and challenges that the exceptional people experience
are discrimination, limited access to educational opportunities,
and isolation from society.
• Philippine Republic Act 7277 gives special rights and privileges to persons with
disabilities (PWDs).
• The International Symbol of Access (ISA) is placed in all areas that are reserved for
PWDs, regardless of their disability.
• By law, all public schools in the Philippines are mandated to offer special education
classes for all students with physical or learning disabilities.
• Nationality is the person’s automatic membership to a specific nation
while citizenship is a person’s political status in a city or state.
• No one will be able to change his or her nationality, but one can have a different
citizenship.
• Every person has a right to a nationality because it is a fundamental human right.
• Statelessness is not having a nationality.
• The role of the UNHCR is to identify stateless people, protect their rights, prevent
statelessness from happening all over the world, and aid refugees in acquiring new
citizenship in other countries.
 Key points
• Social phenomena are the individual, external, and social constructs that influence
a person’s life and development.
• Political behavior and phenomena include events through which authority,
governance, and public opinion are put into practice.
• Cultural behavior is emphasized when certain individuals behave a certain way
merely because other individuals do so as well.
• Social change is the transformation of social institutions over time.
• Cultural change is the transformation of culture or the way people live.
• Political change happens when the rulers of a country lose power or when the type
of governance in the country changes.
• Diffusion is the process through which the cultural traits of one society are
borrowed, transmitted, and adopted by another and considered as its own.
• An invention is a process where new cultural elements are created to solve social
and cultural problems.
• Discovery is the process where people recognize or gain a better understanding of
already existing elements present in the environment.
• Changes are inevitable. Therefore, all changes−socially, politically, and
culturally−must be for the benefit of all.
 Key points
• Anthropology is a social science discipline that studies humans
and their society in the past and present.
• Political science is a social science discipline that deals with
systems of government and the analysis of political activity
and political behavior.
• Sociology is the study of human social relationships and
institutions.