Retelling the

Pre-Colonial
Philippines

Presented by: BAC-tols

Introduction

Ciarlot
Agngarayngay
Agenda for Today
Ice Breaker
Geographical Information
Ice Breaker
Culture and Archeological

Evidences
Ice Breaker

Political Systems and Practices

Quiz
Ice Breaker
Geographical Information

Welcome to the Philippines

The Geographical
Setting
The Philippines is an archipelagic country composed of more than
7,000 islands. It is home to hundreds of landforms and bodies of
water that gives the country a special geographical composition.

MOUNTAIN AND
VOLCANIC RIVER
SYSTEM SYSTEMS

PRODUCTS AND
COASTLINES NATURAL
RESOURCES
Mountain System
There are three large mountain ranges in Luzon which formed ramparts around
the Central Plains: Caraballo del Sur, Carabbalos Occidentales, and the Sierra
Madre
The mountain ranges of the eastern and southeastern provinces of Luzon extend
from the Caraballo de Baler to San Bernardino Strait in the south, culminating in
Mayon Volcano in Albay and Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon
The Zambales Range, Tagaytay Range, and Mt. Makiling serves as the mountain
system of the Southern Tagalog
The Negros in Visayas is divide into two by a mountain range that includes Mt.
Kanlaon as its highest peak. Panay also has a range that separates Antique from
Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan.
Mindanao has four distinct ranges: The Surigao Range, The Butuan Range, The
Central Western Ranges (Mt. Apo is located here), and the Western Ranges.
River Systems
The Philippines has extensive but small
river systems that are outlined with
mountain ranges. In Luzon we can find
the Rio Grande de Cagayan and its
tributaries, the Agno Grande, the Abra
River system, and the Rio Grande de
Pampanga and its branches

Mindanao has the largest river system in

the Philippines which is called The Rio
Grande de Mindanao.
Coastline
Philippines’ rugged landmass
and irregular coastline has
resulted in contours that made
for amazing harbors and
landlocked straits.
Products and Natural
Resources
The Philippines is rich with natural products and
resources that have been used for barters and trades.
It is also one of the main reasons why the country has
been a target of many colonization attempts.
Culture and Archaeological
Evidences
Ice Breaker
Peopling of the Philippines
Early 1970s, it was assumed that the
Philippines was part of the mainland
China, that the theory was, during
the Pleistocene or Ice Age, the
Philippines that is surrounded by
water, fell about 156 feet below the
present level, in which it result to
exposing a vast area land, and had
become a sort of land bridges on
the mainland of Asia.
Peopling of the Philippines

©Geographical
Imaginations

©Wikipedia

In February 1976, the theory about the the people of the Philippines are said to
land bridges to Asia was discussed have come in the Philippines in migratory
thoroughly by Dr. Fritjof Voss, a German waves, in accordance with Professor H.
who studied geology in the Philippines. Otley Beyers' Wave Migration Theory,
According to him, the Philippines was
never part of the Mainland China that
was claimed in the early 1970s.
Peopling of the Philippines
© Philippine Evolution

Malayan culture is currently present among the

Filipinos in his theory.

the skull cap and a portion of the jaw they

discovered in the Tabon cave in Palawan in
1962,

had positive proof that there is an ancient

man who came to settle in the Philippines

© Karst Worlds
Austronesian

Austronesian is the one of the largest set of

languages in the world and refers to a group of
people who speak them.
Austronesian
The outrigger canoe, also known as the
"kasaysayang pandagat," o “Balangay” was
developed for the first time in the Philippines and is
significant to maritime history.

Austronesians were able to disperse over the

world, settling in places like Southeast Asia,
Oceania, New Zealand, Hawaii, Madagascar, and
Rapa Nui on Easter Island.
© Flickr
Language
Everyone uses language as a means of
communication. There are over a hundred
languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines.

Eight Prominent language

Tagalog, Iloko, Pangasinan, Pampangan,
Sugbuhanon, Hiligaynon, Samarnon or Samar-
Leyte, and Maguindanao
Language
have a common ancestor, the
Austronesian or Malayo-Polynesian
language, as evidenced by their
vocabulary.

The development of the current

Philippine languages resulted from the
creation of new expressions to suit the
environment.
Writing System
The foreign languages of the Philippines are in
complete agreement that Tagalog is the richest
among them when it comes to the writing
system,
The foreign languages of the Philippines are in
complete agreement that Tagalog is the richest
among them when it comes to the writing system,

Father Pedro Chirino's theory that the earliest

Filipinos wrote vertically from top to bottom and
from left to right
© Narra Studio
Literature
Two category of Pre- Colonial Literature:
1. Floating or Oral Literature
2. Written Literature

The literature of the Philippines is very diverse,

including sabi (maxim), sawi-kain (saying), bugtong (riddle), suliranin and
indulanin (street songs), talindaw (boat songs), diyuna (song of revelry),
kumintang (war song which evolved into a love song), dalit and umbay
(dirge), tagumpay, balikungkong, dupayinin and hili-raw (war songs), uyayi
and hele (lullabies), ihiman (bridal song), tagulaylay (mournful song), tigpasin
(rowing song), tingad (household song), and kutang-kutang (couplets usually
chanted by the blind).
Literature
The song and the dance grow at the same
time

a lot of literature from that time period,

including poetry and epics, in addition to
lyrical or musical works.

They have been passed down orally from

© Mga Kwentong Ba
yan
generation to generation.
© Anyflip
Arts
Literature was the one that ancient
Filipinos had to offer, But there was more
to ancient Filipino culture than just
literature;

New Stone Age advanced, art

progressed as evidenced by the ability to
create beads, amulets, bracelets, and
other body ornaments.

© Tatler Asia
Arts © history-computer.com

In the Bronze Age, bronze was used to

produce tools, instruments, and other “Bello or
items. Shapes and sizes had also Belloneon”
advanced.

There were also tattoos with a range of

patterns at the beginning of the Iron
Age, when there was a beginning of
artistic variety.

© The Aswang Project

Clothing
Arts
The male used to wear
kanggan,for the upper portion
of their clothes, and bahag,
which is a strip of cloth wrapped
around the waist and extending
between the thighs, for the
lower part.
© Brainly
Clothing
Arts
For the woman's clothing, the
upper portion is referred to as
baro or camisa lower portion is
referred to as saya by the
Tagalog language. It consisted of
a loose skirt, a piece of white
material, and something referred
to as tapis that was typically © Slide Share

wrapped around the waist.

Houses
Arts
The houses were known as
Bario or villages.

were constructed using

materials that anyone could
build—wood, bamboo, and
nipa palm
© Wix
Religious System
pre-colonial age, religion was just a belief
system,

People believed that significant Gods, spirits,

creatures, and men protected the streams,
property, trees, mountains, woods, and homes.

Bathala was the ultimate deity who made

the planet and man.

Spanish introduced Christianity in 1565

Marriage Customs
There was a custom, not so strictly followed, in which a man belonging to one class married a
woman of the same class.

The legitimate wife was called “asawa” while the other women were called (euphemistically)
“friends.”

Only the children of the wife were regarded as legitimate and legal heirs, whereas the children
of the other women or “friends” were not considered legitimate and, therefore, barred from
inheriting any property from the illegitimate father.
Marriage Customs
It takes patience and a spirit of dedication on
the part of a man to win the hand of his fair
lady.
Courtship
Serving the girl’s family.
Strictly, no physical contact until
marriage.

After having satisfied themselves that the

suitor would make a good son-in-law and
husband, the parents finally gave their
consent to the marriage.
Conditions Before Marriage

Bigay-kaya
Consists of land, golds, or dependents.

Panghimuyat
Certain amount of money to be given to the
bride-to-be’s parents as a payment for the
mother’s nocturnal effort in rearing the girl to
womanhood.
Conditions Before Marriage
Bigay-suso
Amount of money to be given to the girl’s wet-
nurse.

Himaraw
Money to be given to the bride’s parents for
feeding the girl during her infancy.

Sambon (Among Zambals)

A dowry given to the girl’s relative.
Burial Practices
Filipinos believe in life after death or afterlife.

The deceased relative was placed in a wooden

coffin and buried under the house, complete
with cloth, gold, and other valuable things.

Well-provisioned dead person would be

received with alarcity, while poorly provided
dead one would be received with indifference,
if not hostility.
Burial Taboos
1. When a chieftain dies, all wars or pretty, if there were
any, should stop.
2. Spears were carried with the tips pointing earthward.
3. Daggers were carried with hilts reversed.
4. Singing in the boats coming from the sea or river was
prohibited.
5. Wearing of loud clothes tabooed.
6. An enclosure was made around the house of the dead
chieftain and anybody who trespassed on this enclosure
will be punished.
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Filipino Superstitious Beliefs
Divinations and Magic Charms
Pre-colonial Filipinos believe in omens and superstitions.

Pangatauhan: Soothsayers who have the power to tell the fortune of anybody.

They believe in black magic and sorcerers that’s why they use their magic
charms, anting-anting or agimat to shield them.

They also believe in:

1. Asuwang - Poltergiest and shape-shifting creatures.

2. Mangkukulam - Who could injure any man whose face they did not like.
3. Tiyanak - Creatures that took pleasure in sucking the blood of babies.
4. Tikbalang - A poltergiest that mislead travelers at night.
Chinese Influences
Some Tagalog words have its Chinese origins.
1. Achi - Ate
2. Sangle / Sangley [Merchant] - Sangla [Mortgage / Pawning]
3. Pansit - Pansit

Ancient Filipinos learned to use umbrellas, gong, porcelain, manufacture gunpowder, and mining
methods.
Filipinos also adopted Chinese ancient custom of arrange marriage.
Chinese influence goes deep in Filipino cuisine.
1. We learned to used soy products: Soy Sauce, tokwa, miso, tausi, taho
2. We learned the method of stir frying.
3. Birth of many Filipino-Chinese dishes such as pansit, lumpia, siopao, and siomai.
Indian Influences
Indian influences on Filipino life are primarily reflected in the Philippine languages, particularly,
Tagalog and in Visayan and Magindanao.

1. Bhattara – Bathala
2. Katha – Katha
3. Ina – Ina

Indian influence was also present in the ancient religious beliefs of the Filipinos.

The penetration of Indian influences to ancient Filipinos can be seen in clothing and in textile
industry, specifically among tribes.
Indian Influences

Waist loom works by the Igorot of

Mountain Province is identical with
the looms woven by women of
Assam tribes and northern India.

Image Courtesy of The Image Courtesy of Pratidin

Clamor of Kalinga Time
Indian Influences

Filmy textiles of Iloilo closely

resemble the silky gauze fabric
woven in Benares, India, which is
exceedingly ancient craft.

Image Courtesy of Image Courtesy of Fabric

Nomadic Experience by Singhanias
Indian Influences

The modern Philippine Barong

Tagalog is the same cut and
embroidery as the “Kurta” of
Lucknow, India.

Image Courtesy of Kultura Image Courtesy of eBay

Filipino
Views on Genders
Women can own and inherit property, engage in
trade and industry, and succeed to the
chieftainship of a barangay in the absence of a
male heir.

They had the exclusive right to give names to their

children.

Men, when accompanying women, walked behind

them.
Political
Systems and Practices
Social Class
According to sociologists, social
class is a group of people that have
a similar socioeconomic status such
as level of income, education, and
education.
3 Social Classes
during Precolonial Era

Nobles (Maginoo or Datu)

these are the nobles of the social
class. This class is composed of
datus, rajahs or chiefs. In
Visayas this class is called
“Tumao or Datu”
Nobles

Maginoo
or Datu
Maharlika
this social class is also known as the
freemen, called mahadlika by the
Tagalogs. They were composed of free
men and likewise of dependents who had
earned their freedom. In Visayas, they
are called Timawa
Maharlika

Timawa
Alipin
this social class is also known
as the “dependents”, they
acquired this low status in
society by inheritance. In
Visayas they are called
“Oripun”
2 types of Alipin
Aliping Namamahay
namamahay had his own family and house and served
his master during planting and harvest seasons, rowed
for him, helped in the construction of his house, and
served his visitors.

Alipin sa Gigilid
had no property of his own, lived with the master,
and could not even marry without the latter’s consent.
Alipin sa Gigilid
Among the Visayans, dependents were of
three kinds: the tumataban, the tumarampuk,
and the ayuey.
The tumataban worked for his master
when summoned to do so; the tumarampuk
worked one day for his master; and the
ayuey worked three days for his lord.
There were gradations among the
dependents. The full dependent was the son or
daughter of dependent parents. The half-
dependent was the son or daughter of
parents, one of whom was a full dependent
and the other a freeman. The
quarterdependent was the son or daughter of
parents, one of whom was a half dependent
and the other a freeman.
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A I R N F E U I
R S B L H T G
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F I S H I N G

A I R N F E U I
R S B L H T G
Economic Life
Agriculture
Our archipelago was habitable because

of its vast land, marine, and forest

resources.
The primary livelihood of Filipinos is
agriculture.
Agriculture
The rice, coconuts, sugar cane, and other

tropical crops such as corn, mango are

abundant in our land.

Filipinos are great farmers, according to one of

the first colonizers of the Philippines, Miguel

Lopez de Legazpi, when he arrived at Luzon. He

noted that the land is rich in rice, wine, carabao,

wild boars, and goats.

Land Cultivation
in preparation of farming, filipinos usually conduct land

cultivation and it is done in two ways:

Kaingin (Slash and Burn Method) - this is an

agricultural technique that utilize cutting of trees and

burning the forest in order to have a farm.

Tillage - an agricultural method that prepares the

soil by mechanical

Agriculture was also evident by the use of irrigation

ditches that are found in Rice Terraces or Hagdang-

hadgang palayan in Ifugao. (irrigation ditches are

man-made water channel to supply water to crop in

order for it to grow)

Land Holding
Public- these type of lands are less
arable or suitable for growing crops and
these lands could be tilled freely by
anyone
Private- private lands are rich and
cultivated lands that usually belongs to
the maharlikas and datus
Rented land- these are the lands that
are rented and paid in gold or in kind
Livestock
Type of agriculture that is
concerned in raising and
maintaining the livestock such as
chickens, pigs, goats, carabaos
in purpose of producing meat,
milk, and eggs.
Fishing
This type of industry is
thriving for those who live
on the coast, near rivers,
and lakes.

Pearl fisheries is abundant

in Sulu
Mining
This sector in economy was developed

before the coming of the Spaniards

Our golds and minerals were use for

trading system

Minerals and golds are used for making

porcelains and jewelries

Weaving
This industry of economy was

dominated by women

They use looms, textiles like

sinamay from hemp, derinaque

from banana, cotton, linen, and

silk for weaving

Trade Records in
Precolonial Period
ORANG DAMPUAN

Between 900 and 1200 A.D., some

new people came to the Philippines
from a place called southern Annam.
These newcomers were called Orang
Dampuans or Men from Champa.
They set up places to trade in Sulu,
which led to a lot of trade between
Sulu and southern Annam.
Trade Records in
Precolonial Period
BANJARMASIN

The fame of Sulu, a place in the Philippines,

spread to northern Borneo, and two important
places there, Banjarmasin and Brunei, sent
traders to Sulu. The reason was Sulu's famous
pearl beds, which caught the interest of the
Banjarmasin traders and adventurers. So, they
started trading regularly with the people of
Sulu, who were a bit wary of outsiders because
of past bad experiences with Orang
Dampuans.
Trade Records in
Precolonial Period
CHINA

In the olden days, the Philippines

had some trade connections with
neighboring countries, especially
China. This trade started back in
the 9th century when Arab
traders, who couldn't trade easily
on the central coast of China,
found a new route
Trade Records in
Precolonial Period
CHINA

In the olden days, the Philippines

had some trade connections with
neighboring countries, especially
China. This trade started back in
the 9th century when Arab
traders, who couldn't trade easily
on the central coast of China,
found a new route
Inheritance Succession

In the precolonial period of the Philippines,

when parents passed away, their rightful
children would automatically get their
inheritance, even if there wasn't a written
will about it. These belongings were shared
equally among the kids, although sometimes
a parent might give a favorite child a little
extra something, like a special piece of
jewelry or some extra gold.

In matters of succession, the first son of the

barangay chieftain succeeded his father; if
the first died without leaving an heir, the
second son succeeded as chieftain. In the
absence of any male heir, the eldest
daughter became chieftain
Government System
The political unit of the pre-Colonial
Philippines was considered one of the
weakest units of its culture. The pre-
colonial Filipinos did not embrace the
idea of a “nation” and did not employ
the concept of “one king to rule them
all’.
The barangay was the unit of the
government and consisted of 30 to 100
families. Each barangay of an island
was independent and ruled by a
chieftain they called ‘datu’.
Datu’s Power
Datu’s Duties
The executive, the legislator,
To ensure the wellness and and the judge of the
security of his barangay. barangay
To rule and govern his The supreme commander of
settlement his barangay in war
To make sure that the Datus received tributes
objects his followers gave (buwis) from their subject
him were well kept and The datu’s family are exempt
venerated from buwis and were
considered nobles
Inter-barangay relationships
Inter-barangay relationships consisted of commerce
and agreements of alliance and treaty. They confirm
this relationship via the process of Sanduguan.
Sanduguan
a proof of treaty and alliance; the
contracting parties drew blood from
their arms and mixed the blood thus
drawn with the wine in a cup. The
contracting parties then drank from
the same cup, thereby making them
“blood-brothers”.
War in Pre-colonial
Philippines
very little or no attempt at all to reconcile
conflicts, and the resolution of the conflict was
brought about by force. Vengeance was the
main motive that drove the men of the
barangays to cut each other’s throat.

Causes of War
when a man from one barangay went to
another and was murdered without any
obvious cause.
kidnapping the wives of men belonging to
one barangay.
maltreatment of men of one barangay by
men of another barangay.
How Laws Were Made

1 2 3 4
ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
DATU UMALOHOKAN
BARANGAY BARANGAY
Laws
Laws were either written or customary. Customary laws
were often passed down orally and were the bulk of the
laws in barangays. Written laws were the one the
chieftain or the elders implemented from time to time.
Only a few survived because most of them were either
destroyed by the early Spaniard missionaries or by the
elements.
Disputes were mostly solved peacefully through a “court” - the chieftain (judge) and
the barangay elders (jury). Conflicts between barangays were resolved by arbitration or
intervention of a board composed of neutral barangays as the arbiters.
Trials were held publicly and decisions are done quickly to avoid the notion of “justice
delayed”
All trials were done promptly and without delays
The accuser and the accused faced each other, each with their own set of witnesses
The accused, to show honesty and sincerity, takes an oath to this effect: “May the
crocodile devour me if I tell any falsehood. May the lightning strike me if I don’t tell the
truth and nothing but the truth. May I die here and now if I tell a lie. May the sun and
the moon frown upon me”.
The disputants will then present their arguments; the court will listen and take mental
notes
The disputant with more witnesses to their side will be declared the winner
If one of the disputants contest the result, the chieftain will side with the winner and
compel the party to respect the decision of the honourable court.
TRIAL BY ORDEAL: done to show that God will always take the side of the innocent.

EXAMPLES OF TRIAL BY ORDEAL

1. The suspects will put a stone in a vessel with boiling water, then they will be asked
to put their hand inside to take out their respective stones. If the suspect refuses to
do so, they will be declared the culprit. If both suspects complied with the task, the
one who is scalded the most will be declared the culprit.
2. The suspects will be given lighted candles, the suspect whose candle was the first
to give out will be declared guilty.
3. In Ifugaos, trial by combat was common. In bultong (wrestling match), the one
defeated will be declared guilty. In trial by combat, the loser will almost always lose
their life.
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