Long before the Spaniards and Other foreigners landed on Philippine shores.

our forefathers
already had their own Civilization Were living in independent villages called barangays. The name
barangay originated from balangay, a Malay word which means "Sailboat”.- It may be inferred that
the sea-faring Filipinos, to give meaning to their nostalgic memories as they sailed in the high seas
towards the Philippine archipelago, named their villages after boats which brought them safely
across the seas until they reached the Philippine Islands.

System Of Government

During the pre-Spanish period, there were many barangays. Some barangays were big in land area
and in population. It may be of interest to note that among them, Were Maynilad (Manila), Sugbu
(Cebu), and Maktan (Madan). The barangay Was the unit Of government and consisted Of from
thirty to one hundred families and was ruled by a chieftain called datu who was the Chief
executive, legislator, judge, and supreme commander Oi the barangay in time of wa r. The position
Of the datu is Obtained succession. In the event that the datu had no Son to bequeath his power to
in Of death or being incapacitated. the Was usually banded to a member of the barangay Who
Commanded intelligence and strength.

The federations of the barangays during the Pre-Spanish period was evident and one of the oldest
the "Confederation Of Madya-as” Which Was established by Bornean datus_ It was composed of the
settlement of Hantik (Antique) Aklan and Irong Irong (Iloilo) and was under the overall rule of
datu Sumakwel, considered the Wisest and the oldest datu Of ancient Panay. The rulers Of bigger
barangays title Of rajah or Iakan

Perhaps the primary reason why early barangays were formed was because Of mutual protection
against and the 'subsequent marriage of the Lakambini (princess) and the Lakan (Prince) Of
different barangay which eventually led to the unification of some barangays. Barangay relations
Were established of intermarriage of persons in one barangay to other barangays. F riendship with
each Other was usually sealed by the traditional ceremony, the blood compact called sandugo. (one
blood) and anchored on mutual respect and alliance. The participating parties in the compact drew
blood from their arms and mixed the blood with wine and drank from the same cup.

The primary duty of the datu was to rule and govern his people and ultimately to promotete their
welfare and interests, The subjects where loyal to their Chieftain during wars and Voyages. They
also helped him in cultivating the land harvesting the crops and the construction of his house. They
paid their taxes and Other obligations to the Chieftain in the form Of crops or form Of services.

Laws. Laws are for the a for the the barangay. •rhe early Filipinos had laws that both and •rhe oral
laws Were the that COtutituted the bulk of laws in barangay and orally one gem•ratiOn to
geturation. The written taws written and prCNnulgated by chieftain and the ho m time to time
when necessity publicly the barangay by one known uma/ahokan. in the Code of Kalantiyaw and
was written by