BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to determine the extent of observance of

the cultural practices of the the Upland Municipality of Uso Suyo
Ilocos Sur, and lowland, Municipality of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur
Philippines. The respondents of this study were the citizens of Uso
and Tagudin Ilocos Sur, Philippines. This study employed the
descriptive survey research with interview guidelines or a
questionnaire as a tool for gathering data. The researchers’
findings and conclusions are as follows: Despite the fact that
people are now living in the modern age, the upland and highland
communities still preserved some of their cultural practices. Much
of the value system being practiced by the upland and lowland
communities since the early days is still presently observed. The
traditional system is sometimes observed by them. Their
observance of value system and traditional system brings some
degree of prosperity to their families and community.The
researchers view the different aspects of their way of living, their
education, agriculture/farming, burial and other traditions. This
study seek for the answers of what is the similarities and
differences and also the advantages and disadvantages of living
either in upland and lowland.To determine the impacts of changes
like modernization in their society and how they will take part with
the changing world.The researchers needed to understand the
wisdom of their cultural practices which they inherited from their
ancestors and should retain what is good and beneficial. Mostly, to
be part of their culture ones, to feel to be belong in their society in
order for us to know the way they unite/harmony.

The Philippines consist of a large number of upland and

lowland ethnolinguistic groups living in the country. The highland
ethnic nations have co-existed with the lowland Austronesian
ethnic groups for thousands of years in the Philippine archipelago.
The primary difference is that they were not absorbed by centuries
of Spanish and United States colonization of the Philippines, and
in the process have retained their customs and traditions. This is
mainly due to the rugged inaccessibility of the mountains, which
discouraged Spanish and American colonizers from coming into
contact with the highlanders. The indigenous peoples of northern
Philippines are collectively called as Igorot, while the non-Muslim
indigenous groups of mainland Mindanao are collectively called as
Lumad. Numerous indigenous groups also live outside these two
indigenous corridors.

According to the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, there are 135

recognized local languages in the Philippines, one of which
(Filipino) is known to all groups in the Philippines, and each of the
remaining 134 is inherent to a single ethnic group. There are 134
ethnic groups in the Philippines, the majority of which are
indigenous, though much of the overall Philippine population is
constituted by only 8-10 lowland ethnic groups.

The Filipino culture is an exuberant story that tells of the

nation's journey through the centuries. Customs reflect the
people's faith, their oneness with others, their affinity with nature,
and their celebration of life.

The Filipino's charm lies in their smiles, in the numerous

religious festivals that venerate nature, the Divine and the cycles of
life and in the virtue of pakikipag-kapwa tao that treasures
relationships, with friends and strangers alike. The concept
of kapwa(others) is at the core of the Filipino soul. A Filipino
scholar says of the Filipino: the joy of his being is in being with
others.
 The nation's charm is in the diversity in ways of life across
the archipelago, the resplendent colors of its folk arts and the
cacophony of foreign influences that have found roots in the
Filipino languages, customs and traditions.

And so there are the bright Santacruzan festivals in May,

with pagan origins but portraying strong Christian symbols, and
an extended romance with Christmas in December. There are the
passionate Hispanic tempos in the dances of the plains of Luzon,
the elegant Muslim dances for wars and weddings from Mindanao,
and the ancient strains of indigenous music in the highlands. The
country has quaint town squares that remind the spectator of its
colonial past, light breezy huts with fences decked with
bougainvillas along the country lanes, sprawling malls, high-rises
and frantic city avenues, houses made of stones in typhoon-strewn
islands in the North and houses on stilts in the South.

The Filipinos tendency towards passionate profusion and

unrestrained exuberance in his art stems from his exposure to
nature's lush, magnificent landscapes around him the whole year
through. Thus the richly embroidered Barong Tagalog (national
dress), baroque architecture in the 19th century and the flaming
spectrum of colors in jeepney passenger cars, ice cream carts,
Christmas lanterns, kalesa (horse carriages), fiestas and religious
processions.

Filipinos worship devoutly in their cathedrals and mosques

(the busy urban dwellers attend religious services inside shopping
malls and al fresco, in parks and plazas). They can sing and
recognize good singing when they hear it. They smile at strangers
and babies, and through queues, rainshowers and traffic. They
socialize in parties and discotheques, as well as in markets and
community dances. They make and keep friendships over food,
over lambanog (coconut wine), over mobile phone text messaging.
They are sentimental and devoted to their families. They have
profound respect for elders and show self-effacing hospitality for
guests. They speak over 100 local languages and dialects, of which
the Tagalog-based Filipino is the lingua franca, as well English,
with an accent. They are basketball fans. They love Hollywood
films and television dramas. They are pedestrians who chat while
walking and they are the passengers in the ubiquitous jeepneys.
They love laughing, at themselves, their politics, their game shows.
They are cosmopolitan in their views but their values are rooted in
their faith, their family and their community.

The Filipinos' temperament is as warm and constant as their

sunshine. Their way of life is rich, diverse and rooted. They are in
harmony with others and face the world with an engagingly
courageous spirit.