Chinese influences

The Filipinos were mainly economic in life; Chinese people who came to the islands
were also mainly economic men whose interest set in profits rather than political domination.
So, the Chinese never had any political designs on our country.
The ancient Filipinos also learned how to use umbrellas, gongs, lead, porcelain, the manufacture
of gunpowder, mining methods and metallurgy. They also adopted some of the Chinese customs
like the ancient customs of arranging the marriages of children by the parents was probably of
Chinese origin. So is the employment of a go-between to negotiate marriages. Among the ancient
Visayans, mourning was shown by wearing white shirts or dress.
Hindu Influences
It started in the 7th century when The Philippines has been trading with India as far back
as the Sriwijaya Empire, because of this trade, it came influence in language, music, and
writing (Baybayin is based on Sanskrit; a quarter of Tagalog is of Sanskrit origin). Some
common words we learned are guro/guru (teacher), mukha (face), Likhain (to write), and putong
(turban).

India has also brought the spread and influence of religion, including forms of Hinduism,
Buddhism, and Islam (brought by the Majapahit Empire). The pre-historic Filipino creator god
"Bathala" comes from the Hindu god "Brahman." Many of the customs in India and the
Philippines are similar also, such as feeding the dead and dowries. Many people think that before
the Spanish arrived, the Philippines lacked culture and parts of the Philippines was even ruled by
kings (Rajas) and the central region of the Philippines, Visayas (where my dad is from), is
supposedly named after the last Filipino king, Srivijaya.

Coming of Islam in the Philippines

An Arabian scholar Mudum, laid the foundation of Islam in Malaysia, who arrived in the
Malay Peninsula about the middle of ht 14th century. He succeeded in establishing in Malacca a
rather tenuous foothold of Islam. About 1380, he proceeded and preached the doctrines of
Mohammed in Sulu. In 1390, Raja Baginda, one of the petty rulers of MenangKabaw, Sumatra,
arrived and promptly converted some of the natives to Islam. His religious activities were
followed by Abu Bakr whom about 1450 left Palembang for Sulu. He married Raja Bagindas
daughter, paramisuli. After Bagindas death, Abu Bakr exercised his power as sultan and
established a government patterned agter the Sultanate of Arabia. Islam spread rapidly to all parts
of sulu.

In Mindanao, Serif Kabungsuan, who had meanwhile arrived from Johore with his men,
immediately began laying the foundations of Islam. He converted many tribes to his religion and
having married into an influential family, made himself the first sultan of Mindanao. From then
on, Islam spreaded rapidly to the Visayas and Luzon.
5 Pillars of Islam
Iman or Faith
"There is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is the messenger
of God." This declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula that all the faithful
pronounce. The importance and significance of this declaration is the belief that the only
meaning or purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings
and practices of the Last Prophet, Muhammad.

Salah or Prayer
In Islam, Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day,
and it is a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in
Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an and is
generally chosen by the congregation.
Prayers are said at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus
determine the rhythm of the entire day. These five prescribed obligatory prayers contain verses
from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation. Personal supplications,
however, can be offered in one's own language and at any time.
Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost
anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Oftentimes visitors to the Muslim
world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.

Zakah (The financial obligation upon Muslims)

An important principle of Islam is that everything belongs to God, and that wealth is,
therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakah means both "purification" and
"growth." Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and for the
society in general. Like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new
growth.

Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakah individually. This involves the annual payment of
a fortiet of one's capital, excluding such items as primary residence, car and professional tools.

Sawm or Fasting
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundownthey
abstain and keep away from food, drink, and sexual relations with their spouses.
Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are menstruating, pregnant or
nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year if
they are healthy and able. Children begin to fast (and to observe prayers) from puberty, although
many start earlier.
Although fasting is beneficial to health, it is mainly a method of self-purification and selfrestraint. By cutting oneself from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person
focuses on his or her purpose in life by constantly being aware of the presence of God. God
states in the Qur'an: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to
those before you that you may learn self-restraint."

Hajj or Pilgrimage
Hajj, is an obligatory duty on every sane, financially able, adult Muslim. It is every
Muslims desire to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Mecca is the birth
place of the Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims, the holiest and most blessed structure on the face
of the earth is Kabah, the house of Allah. The mosque that surrounds Kabah is called al-Haram.
The reward of one prayer offered in its worth one hundred thousand prayers offered.

Muslims Practices and Traditions

Every culture, besides a number of other things, has its own
distinct set of customs, traditions and etiquettes. In fact, one of the
important distinguishing features between one nation and one tribe and
another has generally been its distinct set of customs, traditions and
etiquettes. The nation or tribe formed by the followers of the prophets and
messengers of God is no exception.

Pronouncing God's Name before Eating or Drinking

The pronouncement of God's name before eating or drinking is
with a twofold purpose. Firstly, as a recognition of God's countless blessings
upon us, and secondly as a supplication for the continuation and abundance
of these blessings in future.

Using the Right Hand for Eating & Drinking

After pronouncing God's name before starting to eat or drink, a
Muslim should use his right hand for eating and drinking. This practice is a
continual reminder for Muslims to strive to be among those, who - on the Day
of Judgment - shall get their records in their right hands. Adherence to this
practice, on behalf of the individual symbolizes his desire and commitment
to be among the people of 'right hand' on the Day of Judgment.

Muslim Greeting & its Response

At the time of meeting a Muslim should greet his brother with the
words: Assalaam `alaikum. The addressees should subsequently respond
with the words: Wa `alaikum Assalaam'". These words are, in fact, a
supplication for the addressee for peace and blessings.

Blessing After Sneeze & its Response

A sneeze is a relief from a common temporary disorder in the
human body. After being relieved from this temporary disorder, a Muslim
should thank the Almighty with the words: Al-Hamdulillah" , while those
present around him, who hear him praise and thank the Lord, should pray for
God's mercy and blessings for him with the words: Yarhamukallah" . The
initial utterance is obviously to thank the Almighty for the relief one feels
after sneezing, while the response - entailing an invocation of God's mercy
for the person who has thanked his Lord - signifies a reminder of the fact that
God's mercy and His blessings are, in fact, the right only of the thankful.

Reciting 'Adhaan' in the Right Ear of a Newly Born

The Adhaan - the call to prayers is, in fact, a call to Islam - a call
to complete submission to God's will. Every Muslim is continually being
called toward the message entailed in the Adhaan. This message is being
delivered through our mosques five times during every day.
Recitation of the Adhaan in the right ear of a new born child
symbolizes, on behalf of the parents, that like their respective physical
contributions in the formation of the child, they have also, through the
deliverance of God's message, initiated the transmission of their spiritual
beings to the child.

Trimming Moustaches, Removing Hair from the Pubic Area and from
Under the Armpits, Clipping Nails & Circumcision
As part of the teachings related to physical cleansing, the
Prophet (peace be upon him) directed the Muslims to trim their moustaches,
remove the hair from their pubic area and that which grows under the
armpits, clip their nails and circumcise their male offspring

Large and unkempt moustaches have generally been considered a sign

of arrogance. Moreover, such moustaches can also soil food and water at the
time of eating and drinking. Likewise, large nails are not only a sign of an
uncouth and a dirty personality, but also give a wild and beastly appearance.
Thus, the Prophet gave the directive regarding the trimming of moustaches
and the clipping of nails. In the same manner, removing hair from the pubic
area and from under the armpits and circumcising the male offspring are also
clearly related to physical cleansing. To stress adherence to all these
practices, the Prophet even fixed a time-period for some of these practices.

Keeping the Nose, the Mouth & the Teeth Clean

As a part of elevating the religious tastes and developing a
strong sense of purification and cleanliness among their followers, cleaning
the nose, the mouth and the teeth has been a permanent feature of the
teachings of the prophets of God. Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene,
especially, keeping the nose, the mouth and the teeth clean has been
mentioned in the history of the Arabs, since pre-Islamic times, as an
accepted religious tradition.