Module 4

Livelihood of the Early Filipinos

Name: ____________________________

Section: ___________________________

My learning targets

• Analyze the economy of the country.

• Discuss the livelihood of the early Filipinos in relation to the

environment, the tools they used and the products they pro-
duced.

• Discussed the role played by the economy in the development

of the early civilization
 Figure This Out!

The early Filipinos were nomadic people who

moved from one place to another to look for food.
They soon learned that cultivating their lands and
planting crops were better solutions for their basic
needs. When they began staying in one place to wait
for crops to grow, they built permanent houses that
eventually led to the establishment of communities.
Farming was the basic means of livelihood for
the early Filipinos. Farming then was done in two
ways. The first was the kaingin system wherein the
land was cleared by burning bushes and shrubs.
other method was known as the tillage system wherein the land was plowed by the carabao before it
could be used for planting. The farmers planted sugarcane, coconuts, rice, bananas, abaca, and various
fruits and vegetables. For an improvement in farming, Filipinos used the irrigation ditches that are still be-
ing used by the Ifugaos today.
There were already system of landholding—public or private. The lands on the mountains slopes and
the less fertile lands were considered public properties. On the other hand, the rich and cultivated lands
were considered private properties and were owned by the datus and nobles.
Aside from agriculture, the early Filipinos also engaged in poultry and stock raising. They raised chick-
ens, goats, carabaos and native ponies.
Without a doubt, fishing was another means of livelihood of the
early Filipinos because of the abundant seas surrounding the islands.
They caught seafood using various fishing methods such as fishing
nets, bows and arrows, wicker baskets, fishing spears, hooks and
lines, corrals and poisons. They also practice pearl diving especially in
Sulu where rich pearl beds could be found.

The Tillage System

Web Link

To understand the farming technique of

our ancestors:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=vQa3ZLO9A_8 (Kaingin System)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fqhfdPLb_88 (tillage system)

Early fishing tools used by early Filipinos

 Hunting in the forest was also a means of liveli-
hood of the early Filipinos. They caught wild animals
like deer, wild pigs, and different birds using arrows,
spears, daggers and traps.
Since the country was rich in thick forests, many
Filipinos engaged in lumbering or cutting wood and
ship building. They were good sailors and shipbuild-
ers. The Filipinos constructed boats for different pur-
poses such as travel, trade and war. This was the

reason why Filipinos were forced build galleons for the Galleon trade during the Spanish period.
Also, our ancestors had some knowledge in mining. They dug for gold, silver , copper, and other miner-
als to use them for making decorations and jewelry. Then, these were used for trade with foreigners.
Weaving was one home industry especially for women. Plant fibers were weaved into cotton, silk and
piÑa cloth. Men on the other hand, made weapons such as bows and arrows, bolos, knives and other tools s
and utensils.
Filipinos were also good winemakers. They produced tuba, basi and tapuy from plant. They also gath-
ered birds’ nest in Palawan which they traded with China, Japan, Thailand, India, Old Malyasia and Indone-
sia.

Early Filipinos largely depended on natural re-

sources to earn their livelihood. They used the prod-
ucts from farming, fishing, mining and hunting for bar-
ter with foreigners. In barter. They exchange their
products for other things instead of money. Also, they
had simple technology or tools like sharp objects made
of wood and stone for farming; fish trap, spear and
hook for fishing and arrow, dagger and spears for
hunting.

Web Link

To understand the fishing techniques of our ancestors please watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1loKn6IdCg ( Traditional Net Fishing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMDKPdEW1zc (Basket Fishing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpZZT3wBimA (Hand Line Fishing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWx5YxxVH_g (Spear Fishing)

REFERENCES:
Barcelon et al.(2020). Philippine’s Pride. Nicanor Reyes St. Sampaloc Manila. Rex Bookstore
Gabuat et al (2014). One Country One People. 1253 Gregorio Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Vibal Pub-
lishing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1loKn6IdCg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMDKPdEW1zc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpZZT3wBimA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWx5YxxVH_g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQa3ZLO9A_8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqhfdPLb_88
Name:_______________________________________ Date: __________________________

HOTS BOX

Instruction: Answer the following questions.

A. Analyzing

1. How did our ancestors use the environment to sustain their livelihood activities?

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2. How did the livelihood and industry of the early Filipinos contribute to the development of each civilization.

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3. How did the trading activities of the early Filipinos promote their livelihood?

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B. Comprehension and Contrasting

1. What are the similarities and differences in the economic activities of the ancient Filipinos and the present-day Filipino?

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2. Compare the trading activities of our ancestors with the trading activities of the present.

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 Base from the discussion regarding the livelihood of our early ancestors and that of sus-
tainable development, you are required to write an 3 paragraph essay with 4-6 sentenc-
es per paragraph that talks about the importance of work or livelihood without causing
any harm to the environment.

Web Link

To better understand about sustainable development

and to enrich your write up, you may visit this sites:

https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/wiki/
Sustainable_development#:~:text=Sustainable%
20development%20is%20a%20way,without%20the%
20resources%20running%20out.&text=The%20term%
20used%20by%20the,to%20meet%20their%20own%
20needs.%22 (sustainable development)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AajI7k-Zcfw
(Muro—Ami Fishing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Js4OCF_I8o
(Dynamite Fishing)

Rubrics for Essay Writing