consist of 30 to 100 families

Character traits

BUWIS (families must paid tributes)

GOVERNMENT Barangay
alliances between barangays were common and formalize
by SANDUGUAN

conflicts among barangays solved by violence, those who

win is always right

the datu consults with a Council new legislation or laws is

LEGISLATION of Elders who approved of his plans announced and explained
before rules or laws are made by UMALOKOHAN

CUSTOMARY

Political Organization WRIITEN

LAWS dealt with various subjects such as inheritance, property

rights, divorce, usury, family relations,
adoption, loans, etc.

those found guilty were punished by fine or death

JUDICIAL PROCESS Subtopic

to determine the innocence of an accused, he is made to go

through a number of ordeals which he must pass

TRIAL BY ORDEAL examples are dipping one's hand in boiling water, holding a
lighted candle that must not be extinguished, plunging into a
river and staying underwater for as long as possible.
chewing uncooked rice and spitting, etc.

planting of rice, corn, banana, coconut, sugar canes, and

agriculture in the plain lands other kinds of vegetables and fruits

hunting in high lands

fishing in river banks and seas

Economic Organization
shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining and lumbering

trading of products in different barangays by boat

foreign trade with countries like Borneo, China, Japan,

Cambodia, Java, and Thailand

men were in general, decent; while their wives called ASAWA and
concubines called friends

courtship begins with PANINILBIHAN

Customs of the Tagalog prior to marriage the man requires to give a dowry: (1) Bigay kaya (a
piece of land or gold): (2) Panghihimuyat (a gift for the brides parents);
MARRIAGE CUSTOM (3) Bigay - suso (for brides wet nurse)

marriage between couples belonging to different social classes were

not common

several grounds of divorce are: (1) Adultery, (2) Abandonment on the

part of the husband, (3) Cruelty, and (4) Insanity

they worship many gods and goddesses such as; (1)

Bathala, supreme being or the Creator; (2) Idayanale, god of
agriculture; (3) god of death; (4) Agni, god of fire; (5)
Balangaw, god of rainbow; (6) Mandarangan, god of war; (7)
Lalahon, god of harvest; and (8) Siginarungan, god of hell

they also adored idols called anitos or diwatas to whom they

made offerings. The babaylan/baylana or katalona acted as
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS mediums to communicate with these spirits

they also showed respect for animals and plants like the
crocodile, crow, tigmamanukan. Some trees were not cut
because they were thought to be divine and are dwelling
places of spirits. Disease were thought to be cause by the
temper of the environmental spirits
Cultural Practices and Traditions

pre-colonial Filipinos venerated the dead by keeping alive

their memory through the carving of idols of stone, gold or
ivory called LIKHA or LARAWAN, food, wine and other things
were also shared with the dead

the dead was place in a wooden coffin under the

house with gold, cloth and valuable things

BURIAL PRACTICES/BELIEFS
mourning for the dead chief is called LARAW, and this was
accompanied by certain prohibitions like engaging in petty
quarrels, wars, carrying daggers with hilts in the normal
position, singing in boats coming from the sea or river, and
wearing loud cloths

the celebration held on the ninth night after the death of the
person is called pasiyam, in which a play called TIBAW is
staged to honor the dead

relatives of the dead who was murdered would not end their
mourning until they have exact vengeance or BALATA

believe in aswang,dwende,kapre, tikbalang, patyanak/tiyanak

DIVINATION/BELIEFS IN CHARMS
they also believe in magical power of amulet and charms
such as anting-anting,kulam and gayuma or love potion.