does anyone know where ic an get some info on the true culture of the philipinos, pre-spain colonization?

Answer 1

I don't know where you can get info, but pre Spanish natives here were not Filipinos, they were tribes with names such as Tagbanua, Mangyan, Igorot etc etc.
They are also a little like the american 'Red' Indians, in that they have been pushed farther away from 'civilization' into little areas, where they are dragged out to be tourist entertainment every now and again, and have received nothing for the lands which have been stolen from them by 'civilized' Spanish descendants.
Take, for example, the original inhabitants of your 'famous' tourist island of Boracay.The only original residents left, shelter under a group of trees on the North side of the windsurfing beach, and, if it wasn't for the help of a few people, friends of mine included, who offer them basic necessities at almost cost price, they would all be dead by now.
The original natives of these islands are totally unselfish, animist
harmless folk, who deserve a lot more respect than they receive.
They have lived here for thousands of years without the trappings of a society which is only a few hundred years old, and which has managed to destroy a lot of the natural resources of these islands in such a short space of time, e.g, marine reefs, forests and species of flora and fauna that the original natives used to be able to worship.
Hope you find some info and pass it on, they shouldn't just be known for their dances and baskets.

Answer 2

History of the Philippines

The history of the Philippines begins with the arrival of the first humans in the Philippines by land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on Homonhon Island, southeast of Samar on March 16, 1521. Permanent settlements in the island of Cebu were established with the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565, and more settlements continued northward with the colonizers reaching the bay of Manila on the island of Luzon. In Manila they established a new town and thus began an era of Spanish colonization that lasted for more than three centuries.

The Philippine Revolution against Spain began in April of 1896, culminating two years later with a proclamation of independence and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. However, the Treaty of Paris, at the end of the Spanish-American War, transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. U.S. colonial rule of the Philippines began in December 1899, with very limited local rule permitted beginning in 1905. Partial autonomy (commonwealth status) was granted in 1935, preparatory to a planned full independence from the United States in 1945. But what was envisioned as a 10-year transition period from a commonwealth to a fully sovereign state was interrupted by the Japanese occupation of the islands during World War II. Full independence was only granted to the Philippines in July 1946.

With a promising economy in the 1950s and 1960s, the Philippines in the late 1960s and early 1970s saw a rise of student activism and civil unrest against the corrupt dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972. Because of close ties between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and President Marcos, the U.S. government continued to support Marcos even though his administration was well-known for massive corruption and extensive human rights abuse. The peaceful and bloodless 1986 EDSA Revolution, however, brought about the ousting of Marcos (who fled to Hawai'i on board a U.S. military helicopter, where he was exiled until his death) and a return to democracy for the country. The period since then, however, has been marked by political instability and hampered economic productivity.

Answer 3

Try visiting this website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Philippines

You can also check my website. I wrote something about current Philippine Culture. Click on the Local Culture & Laws section
http://www.freewebs.com/cdoguide

Also check out Philippines National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) website
http://www.ncca.gov.ph/

It is sad that most of the Philippines original traditions and culture vanished through the colonization and forced Christian conversion of Spaniards. Philippines used to have its own system of writing. Luckily it was documented, however it is not used anymore.

Answer 4

You have just asked a very good and interesting question, my friend! I cannot wait to see all the answers here!

Good Luck!!!!!