The culture of the Philippines
reflects the history of the Philippines. The complexity of the
culture was created through the blending of several diverse
cultures. Philippians have a Malay heritage mixed with Spanish,
American and other Asian cultures.
Spanish colonization in the Philippines occurred from 1565 to
1898. Most of that time the islands were governed from Mexico and
later directly from Spain. As a result, there is a significant amount
of Spanish and Mexican influence in Philippine customs and
traditions. Hispanic influences are visible in traditional Philippine folk music, cuisine, festivals, religion, and language.
Due to the Spanish influence most Filipinos practice the Catholic faith or claim to have that faith.
Later, the Philippines was a territory of the United States from
1898 until 1946. American influences are evident in the use of the
English language, and in contemporary pop culture, such as Fast-food,
music, film, and basketball.
Asian ethnic groups such as the Chinese and Japanese have been
settling in the Philippines since the colonial period and their
influence is also present in the popularity of gambling games and
other Asian cuisine.
