Readings in Philippine History
Friars- became the most knowledgeable and
influential figure in the pueblo.
Miguel de Loarca- an encomendero of Panay;
wrote Relacion de las Islas Filipinas (1582) and
described the Filipinos’ way of life in the Western
Visayas area.
Lieutenant Governor Antonio de Morga- wrote
Sucesos de las Islas Filipina which provides
information about the state of the Philippines in the
latter part of the 16th century.
Fray Juan de Plasencia (Joan de Portocarrero)-
a member of the Franciscan Order who came
together with the first batch of missionaries to the
Philippines in 1578.
 Wrote Relacion de las Costumbres de Loas
Tagalogs (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589)-
where he vividly described the political,
social, economic, and cultural practices of
the Filipinos before they were
Christianiazed.
 Wrote Doctrina Christiana en Lengua
Española y Tagala- became the first printed
book in the Philippines in 1593.
 Died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590.
Fray Juan de Plasencia and Fray Diego de
Oropesa- were assigned to do mission works in the
Southern Tagalog area.
Datos- chiefs; who governed people and were
captains in their wars, and whom they obeyed and
reverenced.
Barangay- Tribal gathering
A Boat- head of the barangay
Three Castes:
1. Nobles- were the freeborn whom they call
maharlica.
2. Commoners- are called aliping
namamahay.
3. Slaves- are called aliping sa guiguilir.
Dowries- are given by the men to the women’s
parents.
Worship of the Tagalog
Simbahan- a temple or place of adoration.
Pandot- when they wished to celebrate a festival or
“worship” they celebrated it in a large house of a
chief.
Sibi- temporary shed on each side of the house
with a roof.
Sorihile- small lamps
Nagaanitos- the whole barangay, or family, united
and joined in the worship.
Bathala- whom they especially worshipped. “All
powerful” or “maker of all things”.
Sun- its beauty, is almost universally respected and
honored by the heathens.
Moon- they worshipped too, especially when it was
new, at which time they had great rejoicings.
Tala- morning star
Mapolon and Balatic- the change of seasons.
Lic-ha- images with different shapes.
Dian Masalanta- who was the patron of lovers and
of generation.
Lacapati and Idianale- were patrons of the
cultivated lands and of husbandry.
Buaya or crocodiles- water-lizards
Tigmamanuguin- a bird singing in the tree.
2 different forms of song:
- Evil omen
- Good omen
Objects of Sacrifice:
 Goats
 Fowls
 Swine
Buyos- a small fruit wrapped in a leaf with some
lime.
Reasons for offering this sacrifice:
 The recovery of a sick person
 Prosperous voyage of those embarking in
the sea
 A good harvest in the sowed lands
 A propitious result in wars
 A successful delivery in childbirth
 A happy outcome in married life
 Readings in Philippine History
Priests of the Devil
1. Catolonan- officiating priest, male or
female. An honorable one among the
natives.
2. Mangagauay- witches who deceived by
pretending to heal the sick.
3. Manyisalat- the same as mangagauay.
These priests had the power of applying
such remedies to lovers that they would
abandon & despise their own wives.
4. Mancocolam- whose duty was to emit fire
from himself at night.
5. Hocloban- which of greater efficacy that the
mangagauay. By simply saluting or raising
the hand, they killed whom they choose.
6. Silagan- if they saw anyone clothed in
white, to tear out his liver and eat it, causing
his death.
7. Magtatangal- purpose was to show himself
at night to many persons, w/o his head or
entrails.
8. Osuang- equivalent to a “sorcerer”. He flies,
murdered men and ate their flesh.
9. Mangagayoma- they made charms for
lovers out of herbs, stones, wood, which
would infuse the heart with love.
10. Sonat- equivalent to “preacher”. It was his
office to help one die.
11. Pangatahojan- was a soothsayer, and
predicted the future.
12. Bayoguin- signified a “cotquean”, a man
whose nature inclined toward that of a
woman.
Maca- another life of rest. “Paradise” or, in other
words, “village of rest”.
- those who go to this place are the just, the valiant,
and those who lived without doing harm, or who
possessed moral virtues.
Casanaan- place of punishment, grief and
affliction. “Place of anguish”
- all wicked went to this place, and there dwelt the
demons, whom they called sitan.
Tigbalaang- ghosts, which they called vibit; and
phantoms.
Patianac- if any woman died in childbirth, she and
the child suffered punishment; at night, she could
be heard lamenting.