CULTURE AS A WAY OF LIFE

WHAT DEFINES YOU?

Culture is an entire way of life. It is what defines people. It defines how they act and what they believe so much. It is the sum of attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another. 

"Culture defines who we are and how we see ourselves. A new attitude toward nature provides space for a new attitude toward culture and the role it plays in sustainable development"

                         - Wangari Maathai

Let us think of it this way: 

The more we know our own culture, the better we understand ourselves. 

However, oftentimes than not, people take culture for granted. We are so used to our way of life that we don't notice it. Whenever I think of culture I can't help but think of a fish inside a bowl.

The fish sees what is inside and outside the bowl. The designs, the leaves, the shells, the pebbles, etc. But one thing that the fish doesn't seem to 'see' is the water. The fish lives in the waters all its life. However, it doesn't notice the water because the water is all it has ever known. But if you take it out of the water and expose it to the open air, only then, would the fish understand the importance of water. This is why we say that the culture, defines who we are. Because similarly, we often take our culture for granted and don't give importance to it much until we are pulled out of our own culture or must interact with someone outside of our culture. 

Imagine changing your way of life. Pretty hard right? Because you are already accustomed to your way of living. Imagine eating foods that are so different from what you used to eat or wearing clothes that you are not used to wearing. Yes, very depressing. 

We are so heavily influenced by our culture that it would be so hard to get used to other cultures completely.

 

Culture is our identity, we carry our culture wherever we go or whoever we talk to. Our culture separates us from other people of different cultures as well. It is like our distinction and what distinguishes us from another. 

It is important to know then that culture impacts all facets of our lives. From food, fashion, music, arts, and livelihood, to our everyday lives. 

In every place, there comes a different culture. When people live beside the sea, their primary livelihood is fishing. The same is true when people live in the mountains, they may be accustomed to hiking, planting, etc. In other words, in a different environment, different practices are being done. Practices that make a certain place and people unique and different from others.

With that said, I want to take you all to my hometown. The town of Mahaplag. Surely, Mahaplag has a lot of cultures that may be similar or different from others. But, I would like to share one tradition that is being practiced in Mahaplag that I can call unique and different. That is the Mahaplag Kaplag Festival. Indeed, almost every town has fiestas and festivals but Kaplag Festival in Mahaplag is incomparable. 

ABOUT KAPLAG FESTIVAL

The Sinulog Festival is commended out of appreciation for the Santo Nino. It is praised each third Sunday of January advertisement is the most prominent celebration in Cebu. While the Sinulog Festival might be the most terrific all things considered, there is one festival that can be considered as critical as the Sinulog. This festival is the Kaplag Festival. The Kaplag Festival or the Kaplag Buwad Festival is commended on the day the picture of the Santo Niño was found by Juan Camus, a Spanish fighter. He was a piece of the undertaking of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to Cebu. "Kaplag" implies revelation in Cebuano. The celebration is commended each September 28.

In any case, you may ask how "kaplag" is identified with the "buwad" or dried fish. While Fr. Trinidad Silva said the present-day area of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino is the place the picture was discovered, the basilica reaches out to San Nicolas. This gives the barangay the motivation to commend the celebration. Likewise, the barangay is a noteworthy provider of this Cebuano delicacy. Like the Sinulog, the Kaplag Festival or the Kaplag Buwad Festival has a road moving and a custom move rivalry. The celebration likewise has a religious perspective since it praises the revelation of the picture of the Holy Child.

To end, culture is our identity. Our whole life is influenced by culture: our beliefs, our behaviors, our attitudes, etc. Let us remember that we are unique as our culture is unique. This distinguishes us from other groups of people in this world. So wherever you go, whether you are in your comfort zone or in the danger zone, remember your identity. Don't take it for granted.