ACTIVITY 1 Philippine Pop Culture

Philippine Pop Culture
by Abigail Sabido Aug 2, 2019
Popular culture reveals the characteristics of modern society. Filipino pop culture is
superficial in most cases, casting only the people’s inclinations that spring from their fun-loving
nature. Anyone can see most (if not all) of these elements on social media. This comes as no
surprise as Filipino are the world’s top social media users, according to creative agencies We Are
Social and Hootsuite. While there are a lot of things going on in the country, here are a few
trends that dominate Philippine pop culture.
Hugot is Life
Hugot is basically the deep lingering emotions brought about by a person’s circumstance and
experiences, usually from heartbreaks and adulting. The term evolved into the practice of coming
up with the saddest lines out of the mundane that evokes a particular experience.
Memes, or humorous online content like images and videos, spurred the trend with which added
context and illustration to achieve the intended effect. Tagalog (major language in the capital) is
often used but also comes with a mix of English or other dialects.
Bundok: Minsan lugar. Madalas…
Translation: A mountain: Sometimes a place. Usually… (a beer belly)
COMMITMENT ang costume ko sa Halloween. Dun ka takot, di ba?
Translation: I’ll dress up as COMMITMENT on Halloween. Everyone’s afraid of that, right?

Pagsisid: Minsan parang pag-ibig. Kung kailan lumalalim, saka lumalamig.
Translation: Diving is like love. The deeper you get, the colder it gets.

Think of puns and cringe-cheesy pick-up lines; many consider them as precursors. Famous lines
from popular Filipino movies also helped lay the foundation of this widespread practice. As to
how the hugot began, it’s unclear (like some relationships). But one thing is for sure, it’s here to
stay (unlike some relationships).
Milk Tea is the New Coffee
Businesses utilize social media to attract more customers by enticing them with aesthetic
pictures of their place or location, menus, drinks, services, or products. Followers are then
converted into customers. Customers then post their experiences with the food or products.
Chances are their followers become the next set of customers.
The milk tea fad, for instance, became widespread thanks to social media. Plenty of shops have
been operating but it’s only recently that they gained so much popularity. Revamping their
brands and the hype brought by social media posts account for their new-found popularity. Milk
tea entrepreneurs also come up with the catchiest names to stand out. In Iloilo City (where our
VMAs are based) alone, shops like MLKT, OMT (Oh My Tea), and Humanitea established
their social media presence thanks to their wit.
Daily Dose of Teleserye

Teleseryes or primetime TV series are often criticized for their seemingly endless
storylines. Take Ang Probinsyano for instance (titled Brothers on Netflix). First premiered in
2015, Brothers has aired 970 episodes throughout their weekday night timeslot. Add to that is the
invincible main character whose specialty is to cheat death after countless near-death
experiences. Ironically, the same people continue watching it. Perhaps anticipating to take part in
its historic ending.
Just recently, memes of an afternoon drama scene joined the ranks of the most iconic in
Philippine TV history. While all glammed up in a red dress, chic bag, heels, and matching red
luggage, the antagonist-turned-show favorite of the top-rated series walks along an impoverished
neighborhood alley looking for a place to stay. While the where is yet to be revealed in the next
season, Filipinos have taken her around the world.
Popular culture comes and goes along with the shifting beliefs and activities. They’re technically
inessential but they give color to the ordinary and add flavor to the humdrum bustle of life.
Activity 1
Name __________________________________ Course _____________ Date __________
Directions: Read the above article and answer the following questions in essay form. Submit
your activity online to [email protected] on or before May 10, 2021. You may
encode or handwrite your output (photographed file).
1. What is popular culture? Why is there a need to study it?
2. What are some of the popular culture in the Philippines cited by the article? Do you
agree?
3. What do you think are the effects of popular culture to the Philippine Society?
4. Do you agree with the claim of the author that there is massive influence of foreign
elements in our popular culture? Why is this so?
5. What do you think are the effects of social media in the proliferation of the recent
popular culture in the country?
Prepared by MICHAEL P. PECAYO, MALL, JD

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ACTIVITY 1 Philippine Pop Culture

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Philippine Pop Culture

by Abigail Sabido Aug 2, 2019

Daily Dose of Teleserye

Prepared by MICHAEL P. PECAYO, MALL, JD

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