Philippines Travel Guide

Archive for the ‘Philippines Culture’ Category

Binondo, Quiapo and Santa Cruz. The sharp end of the visit going east on the street and then spring Customs River, close to the Pasig River to the bridge Jones. We crossed to get into the districts of Binondo and Santa Cruz, where the bustling Chinatown of Manila. On the street we Dasmariñas Plaza Santa Cruz, with European-style fountain in the center and the rebuilt church of Santa Cruz on one side. The huge rush of people, many of Chinese origin, and the chaos of vehicles reminds us that we are in an Asian city. Read the rest of this entry »

The district of Intramuros, located along the south bank of the Pasig River, was built by López de Legazpi in 1571, the beginning of the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines, and is therefore the oldest area of Manila. As its name suggests is a city surrounded by moats and high, thick walls, cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial buildings, churches, ramparts and drawbridges reminiscent of 300 years of Spanish occupation in Manila. Read the rest of this entry »

Can you imagine the ancient rituals of passage to adulthood still applicable today? Incredibly, even today in many rural areas of the Philippines, young people have to go through a bloody ritual to become respectable adults. Apparently, there is a ritual that no one forces them today, but rather to demonstrate that they are very “macho” and most men to women.

This ritual, as you can imagine is about pain and its member. Basically what this young man is 9 to 12 years, the foreskin is cut, we all know what it is. This ceremony can not be seen by women as it brings bad luck. The process is simple, because the foreskin is cut by a machete, so from the court when the person will show what it can bear.

As you can imagine, the blood flows from his body after cutting is very important. Clean the area after the cut and these young people remain without leaving your home for three days because there is a legend that says that snakes can attack this young man’s bloody area.

If they can withstand the intense pain, these people are considered men in the eyes of women. The truth is that it may seem bloody face so much pain, but it is in rural areas still occurs frequently.