S E N I O R H I G H S C H O O L D E PA R T M E N T
Understanding
Culture, Society,
& Politics
Module 4:
Analyze the Significance
of Cultural, Social,
Political, and
Economic Symbols and
Practices
After going through this module,
you are expected to:
1. Identify cultural, social,
political, and economic symbols.
2. Discuss cultural, social,
political, and economic
practices.
3. Analyze the significance of
cultural, social, political, and
economic symbols and
practices.
Activity!
Identify the following Filipino
symbols and practices.
PESO SIGN
FOLK DANCE
PHILIPPINE
EAGLE
NATIONAL HERO
MANO PO
SYMBOL - is an object, word,
or action that stands for
something else, without
natural relationship, that is
culturally defined.
SYMBOLISM - is when something
represents abstract ideas or concepts;
it assigns names, denominations, and
defines relations between various
elements (actors, actions, goals,
means, objects, values, etc.) articulated
within a narrative.
Functions of Symbols and Symbolism
1. Social symbols are used to transfer culture, ideologies, or
beliefs from group to another group of people.
2. Symbols are also used to preserve traditions or beliefs of a
certain group of people.
3. All symbols contain the “face” and “hidden” values, the
hidden value, in a functional perspective, holds greater meaning
and importance than the face value.
4. Symbols and symbolism have been used to create
movements, spread ideas, and share advocacies that surpasses
time and distance.
Types of Symbols
Cultural symbols – manifestation that signifies ideology of a
particular culture that has meaning within that culture.
Social symbols – relating to human societies and its modes of
organization (i.e., social classes, social problems, social issues,
etc.)
Political symbols – used to represent a political standpoint;
seen in various media and forms such as banners, flag, motto,
etc.
Economic symbols – used in production, distribution, and
consumption of goods and services like currency, market, labor,
demands and other economic activities.
Cultural Symbols and Practices
Examples are objects, figures, sounds and colors.
Facial expressions
Word interpretations
Gestures (handshakes and hand signals)
Victory sign Okay sign
Peace Money
Cultural Practices
These are manifestation of a culture or sub-culture.
Examples:
religious and spiritual
medical treatment
forms of artistic expressions
culinary
housing and
child-rearing
Some Examples of Religious Symbols Around the World
Star and crescent
Christian cross Jewish flags
Some Examples of Cultural Symbols in the Philippines
Philippine National
Anthem
Philippine Flag
Philippine Eagle
National Hero
Some Examples of Cultural Practices in the Philippines
Traditional Medical Practices- belief in “albularyo”,
herbal medicines, alternative medicines, and other
home remedies
Some Examples of Cultural Practices in the Philippines
Religious/ Spiritual Practices – Obando Festival in Bulacan for fertility, Panaad
sa Camiguin as act of penance and pilgrim. Feast of the Black Nazarene in
Manila, etc.
Obando Festival Panaad Festival Black Nazarene Festival
Some Culinary Practices in the Philippines
Famous Filipino Food Famous Filipino Snacks
Adobo Sinigang Balut Street Foods
Rice Cakes
Child-Rearing Practices in the Philippines
Mano po Obedience No talking back
Family meal time Use of stick/belt
Ninong/Ninang
Social Symbols and Practices
It is a visible, external denotation of one’s social
position, indicator of one’s social or economic
status.
Status Symbol
It relates to how individuals and groups interact
and interpret various cultural symbols.
clothing and possessions
societal recognition
material possessions
Examples of Common Social Symbols
Colors
Black- evil, death
White – purity, peace
Red – blood, war, possession,
danger
Purple- royalty
Blue- calm and peace
Yellow- violence
Some social symbols are informative or
instructive like the following symbols
Political Symbols and Practices
Political practices are common things
that are done within a state or country.
It is related to the practices done in the
administration, distribution and
attainment of power, bureaucratic
composition, etc.
Examples of Common Political Symbols
Colors
Black- anarchism, fascism, Blue- conservatism, Judaism, men,
Catholicism, Christian democracy monarchism, liberalism
Brown- Nazism, fascism Gold- capitalism, liberalism
Examples of Common Political Symbols
Political Practices in the Philippines
• Political Dynasties – it is the
concentration, consolidation or
perpetuation of public office and
political power by persons
related to
one another.
• Filipino Clans
• Celebrities turned Politicians.
• Palakasan system – refers to a system of getting an advantage when
having or knowing someone powerful from the office that can
recommend you. This usually happens within government offices.
• Trapo ( Traditional Politics )
• Catholic Church Influence
• Power Revolt
Economic Symbols
This represents economic standpoint
Philippine Economic Practices
One of the traditional way of saving
money in Filipino is using
“alkansya”.
It is where they Filipino use
bamboo as a vault to their money
until it becomes full and ready to
be withdrawn by its owner.
Another way of economic
practice of Filipino is
“paluwagan”.
It is a group savings where
group of people agrees to give
money to a money manager who
is also part of this group and
manages the money.
The money will cycle throughout
the group.
Significance of Symbols and Symbolism
As rational thinkers, we have been
making and giving meaning to
symbols for a long time. Symbols
have been part of our lives and
growth as humankind. The usage
of symbols and symbolism have
given mankind an avenue to
communicate with different
groups of people, influence others
of different ideologies, and
preserve values that were
transferred from generations to
generations.
