Burial Jars

• Burial Jars were the most impressive of the ancient Philippine
potteries.
• A clear sign that people paid tribute to the dead; owing their
belief in life after death
• Most of them were found in Cagayan Valley, Albay, and
Palawan Caves as well in the coastal areas  of Batanes,
Samar, Masbate, Palawan, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, and
Sta. Ana Manila
Early Social Organization
• Barangay­ areas along near the coasts and rivers were
already organized socially.
- Coined from the boat, barangay
- small, consisting of 30 households and its residents are
usually not more than 500 who were generally related
by blood.
- Manila and Cebu however had a population of 2, 500
- Confederation of barangays were formed.
 The Datu as Chieftain
- Wielded great powers; was more of an administrative officer
than an absolute monarch and was bound by customs,
traditions and laws.
- He was the chief executive, legislator and judge of the
barangay in time of peace; commander of the warriors of the
barangay in time of war.
- To be a datu, one had to demonstrate superior skills in combat
and traits like wisdom, strength, courage and valor; however, it
was hereditary in some barangays.
 Social Classes
MAHARLIKA
• Majority of the members of datu’s household
members of the barangay keeping order within the barangay by
• Helps the datu and the maharlika in ensuring that laws and customs, as
promoting the welfare of the barangay well as religious beliefs were
by engaging in productive activities observed by the people.
like cultivating lands, engaging in
various crafts and industries,
participating in trade and other similar
activities.

timawa
 Dependants/Alipin
- debt peons serving individuals and families.

1. Birth
2. Captivity in war
3. Purchase
4. Failure to pay debts
5. Penalty for crimes committed
 Types of Alipin
saguiguilid
• had no property and stayed at the
house of their master
• Had to seek the permission of his
• resided in their own master when he wanted to get
  homes and could own married
• Could be sold anytime by his
  property
master
• could marry even without the permission of
their master and could not be sold by the
latter

namamahay
 Dependants/Alipin
The alipins were not totally useless for they
performed household chores so that others could
concentrate on farming and other similar
preoccupations.
Law Making and Judicial System

laws were considered very important in the

maintenance of order and stability in the ancient
barangays
 Two Types of Laws
oral
• transmitted orally from
consisted of customs which people
  generation to generation had to abide by
• Written laws, however, were
  promulgated by the datu in
  coordination         of elders called “maginoos”. Once
promulgated, these laws were announced to the
people of barangay by the umalahokan or town­crier.

written
 Conflicts existed in pre­Spanish
Philippine Society.
Trials were witnessed by the people of the barangay, where the accuser and the
accused pleaded their own case.

Witnesses for both sides took an oath stating that they are going to tell the truth
and willing to suffer the consequence of their willful utterance of false testimonies
either by being hit by lightning or eaten by crocodiles.
 Trial by Ordeal
­ when the barangay court find it difficult to determine who the guilty party was
­this is done to prove that God protected the innocent and punished the guilty.

The River Ordeal
­ suspects are required to plunge into the river. The one who first floats into the
surface of the river is declared the guilty party.

Boiling Water Ordeal
­ suspects are required to place a stone in a hollow container with boiling water
and were ordered to dip their hands into the container to get the store. The one
who refused to follow the order is pronounced as the culprit.
 Candle Ordeal
– in this mode of trial by ordeal suspects are given lighted candles of the same
length and thickness. The one whose candles dies out is declared the perpetrator
of the crime.

Chewing of uncooked Rice Ordeal
‐suspects are made to chew uncooked rice and are ordered to spit their saliva. In
this ordeal, the suspect whose saliva comes out to be the thickest is deemed
guilty.
 Life in the

Early Filipino
Settlements
 Food and Agriculture
• Planting of root crops e.g. taro and yam
• Rice became the staple food; was already consumed by
4500 or 5000 B.C.
• Rice Terraces were said to be constructed as early as 1000
B.C.
• Planting and farming methods were greatly improved when
stone tools were introduced e.g. axe
• Slash­and­burn and Kaingin System­ mode of farming
 Crafts and industries
• Skillful in pottery
• Weaving was also practiced as early as 2000 B.
C., integral part of their lives especially during
the Waiting Period in between planting and
harvest
• Wood Carving
• Boat building became a necessary skill
 Early arts and music
• 500 A.D. – musical instruments like bamboo flute,
bamboo guitar, and kettle gongs were already present
• Able to produce indigenous songs for the different
stages of life, as well as for various activities such as
planting, hunting, and fishing.
• Body painting and tattoo to enhance their bodily beauty
and to show war record.
 Marriage and divorce
• Practiced marriage within their social class/rank
• Prior to marriage, the groom was required to give a DOWRY or
bigay kaya to the family of his wife­to­be
• Divorced was also practiced
1. Disertion on the part of the husband
2. Adultery on the part of the wife
3. Cruelty
4. Loss of affection
5. Insanity
6. childlessness
 Interactions with

Great Traditions of
Asia
 hindus
• Indochina, Sumatra, Java, and Malay
• Sanskrit Language
HINDU TAGALOG
AMA AMA
GANDA GANDA
INA INA
MAHARDDLIKA MAHARLIKA
BHATTARA BATHALA
HARI HARI
SAKSI SAKSI
 Chinese
• Even before Spanish Era, trading already happened

CHINESE TAGALOG
SU‐SI SUSI
LAU‐LANG KUYA
A‐CHI ATE
BUNG‐TAI BANTAY
PIN‐TO PINTO
CHE‐NA TONA
KAU‐TING GUNTING
 JAPANESE
• Not as evident as others
• Manufacturing of arnis and tools
• Artificial breeding of ducks and fishes; most significant
contribution to Philippine Agriculture
• Tanning of our skin
 Introduction of islam and
the sultanate
• 13th century­ Arab merchants from Bughdad arrived in
the Sulu Archipelago
• Conversion of the people in Sulu and Maguindanao
started after a few years after the arrival of RAJAH
BAGINDA, a prince from Sumatra
• Before Spanish era, Islam was already extending its
influence