Cultural characteristics of PH language groups

T. Llamzon

 Cultural characteristics  periods in history

features of groups (Christian, Pagan, Muslim)
1. Ancient PH society

F. Landa Jocano, narrator of history

Evidence of early PH inhabitants - -> skull fragment in
Tabon Caves, Palawan
Inhabitants in small groups (nuclear family)
Short, about 4 ft.
Black skin, kinky hair
Thick lips, broad nose
Protruded jaws
Negroid pygmies who disliked the sea

Survivors  Aetas (Zambales); Dumagat (S. Madre);

Agtas (Bikolandia)

Immigrants arrived from mainland Asia

(1) Brown skin. Straight hair, looked like the Mongols of northern Asia
Settled in mountain slopes, kaingin farming
Survivors  Mangyans (Mindoro); Tagbanwas (Palwan);
Mamanwas (Agusan, Mindanao)

(2) Tall, handsome, well-built, brown skin, straight hair

Excellent seamen, framers, fishermen
Soon they intermarried with the 2 groups ahead of them
Communities were formed leading to the beginnings of PH culture

DESCRIBE THE PH SOCIETY THEN.

Means of livelihood
Art of doing things
Influences of other race by way of trade and conqueror
- - > (1) Arabs; (2) Chinese; (3) Indians; (4) Spanish

2. Society in the Spanish period

Spain came not to trade but to CONQUER /// 3 ½ centuries; made a dramatic change in
the social organization of the people

1
 Spanish chroniclers - - lacking finesse in narrating finds

(1) Natives lived in small communities - - 30 – 100 families, autonomous community

Except in Mindanao and Jolo (sultanates)
(2) Mostly at war with one another
(3) Barangay - - held by kinship bonds and ruled by chief (maginoo), datu, rajah

(4) Stratification of PH society - -

Tagalog - - maharlika, aliping namamahay, aliping sanguiguilid
Social classes = chiefly and non-chiefly
Settlements - - higher islands
- -riverbanks and shores, mountains and forests
(5) Family – marriage
(6) Religion - - animistic (Spanish chroniclers)
(7) Habits
(8) Clothing
(9) Drinking

Spanish regime ushered in dramatic changes in lifestyle and total culture

Process of Christianization

3. Post-Spanish Christians

NEW religion brought many changes in the lives of the Christians, i.e. social organization
and gov’t, family and kinship systems, worldview and religion, food habits and clothing.

(1) Social organization

(2) Family and kinship system
(3) Worldview and religion
(4) Economy

4. The Pagan Filipinos

Those who live in mountainous areas - - Igorots (N. Luzon); Mangyans (Mindoro);
CORDILLERANS (N. Luzon)

Cordillerans:
(1) Social organization - - headhunting and fierce people
Household
Marriages
Kinship
Death
(2) Worldview and religion
Basically polytheistic and animistic

2
 Kabuniyan – class of deitis
Lumawig - hero
(3) Economy
Resourcefulness, energy and industry of the Cordillerans
Rice
Meat
Fish
Vegetables, pottery, jars
House construction
(4) Clothing -- G-string or trousers, headdress
Women

5. Muslims
Malays professing belief in Islam “Moros” (to the Spanish).
Spanish found them more difficult to subjugate and convert to Christianity.
(1) Social organization
(2) Worldview and religion
(3) Economy
(4) Clothing
(5) Marriage

Wikakul T. Llamzon chap 3 cultural characteristics of PH lang. groups