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Readings in the Philippine History

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: Life of early Filipinos

Topics: 1. Civilization of Early Filipinos
2. Ancient Political and Economic Setting
3. Social life of the Filipinos during the pre-colonial period

Overview: This module is designed and written in consideration of you and your level of
knowledge as well as your capacity to learn and apply the necessary skills needed. It is made to
train your mind appreciating the History of the Philippines. To further your ideas and imagination
in relation to the topic, this module offers various activities that are contextualized and simplified.

At the start of the module, you are to take the pre-assessment test to see how much
background information and knowledge you have about the topic. This module is self-instructional.
You can read, analyze the concepts and ideas presented and reflect on them. The activity help you
assess how you expected progress as you go through the module. Remember you are to work on
this module independently. It is that you will make the most of this module and grow academically.
This module is intended for Midyear . After studying and scrutinizing this module please
submit your answers on the assessment in our LMS group. The deadline of submission will be on
July 17, 2021 at exactly 4 in the afternoon.

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What Should You Learn?

At the end of this module, you should able to:

1. Explain the social, political and economic life of early Filipinos;
2. Identify the system of education, arts, literature and beliefs and
traditions of early Filipinos;
3. Relate the life of early Filipinos in today’s condition; and
4. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of life of early
Filipinos.

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Challenge
Yourself!

Let’s Start!
Before the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos had a civilization of their own. The
various aspects of the civilization doubtless came partly from Malays who settled in the
country and partly from a response to the new environment. The customs and traditions, the
government and mode of living had to a great extent, come down to the present and may be
found in remote rural areas which have so far succeeded in resisting the impact of modern
civilization.

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Questions To Ponder
1. How was the culture of Filipino’s during the pre-colonial times? 2. What are
the different social classes during the pre-colonial Philippines? 3. Describe the
economic life of our ancestors
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Read Up, Absorb and
Discover
Let us discover the life and culture of our ancestors during the pre-colonial period.

First, let us know how were the Filipino houses look like during the pre-colonial times. The house of the
early Filipino during the prehispanic Philippines was Bahay Kubo, it was suited to the Philippine climate.
Bamboo or wood stakes (haligi) held the hut above the ground. The washing and bathing area are called Batalan.
In Mindanao, the Badjaos or commonly known as a Sea gypsies of Sulu lived in boat – houses. This was
so, because these people mainly derived their living from the resources of the sea.

Our ancestors have their unique style of dress before the coming of the Spanish, it was Kangan, a
collarless short-sleeved jacket /upper part (men); Bahag – lower part, a strip of cloth wrapped around the
waist and in between the legs of men; Putong- men’s headgear; Baro or Camisa- a wide sleeved-jacket,
the upper part (women); Saya (Tagalog) and Patadyong (Visayans) – women’s skirt or lower part
(women); Tapis – a piece of white or red cloth wrapped around the waist of women.

Ornaments - Kalumbiga - Armlets, gold rings, gold necklaces, gold bracelets; Pintados - The early
Filipinos adorned their bodies and faces with tattoos.

Note: The Visayans were the most tattooed people among the ancient Filipinos and for this reason the
Spanish missionaries called them Pintados.

The Pre-colonial Government

Government: BARANGAY
Came from the word BALANGAY, meaning a boatload of people. Composed of 30 to100
families. It was a monarchy ruled by a chieftain called Datu, Hari, Gat, Lakan whose primary duty was to
rule and govern his subjects and to promote their welfare and interests. They were advised by the
ELDERS.Each barangay was independent from one another, thus there was NO CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT. The chief exercised all the functions of government – executive, legislative, judicial,
and in some occasions religious. BUWIS (tributes) were paid to the Chieftain in the form of crops.

The Inter-Barangay Relations is consisted in carrying on commerce between barangays and in

agreements concerning friendship and alliance.
Treaty of Friendship and Alliance was concluded by SANDUGUAN, making the contracting parties “blood
brothers”

Causes of Wars
A man from one barangays went to another and was murdered without any obvious cause;
Kidnapping the wives of men belonging to another barangays; Maltreatment of men of one barangays by
men of another barangays.

The Datu (Chieftains)

The CHIEFTAIN was also expected to attend the personal needs of the people such as settling
family feuds and personal disputes. He even acted as an intermediary from marriages and attended other
social functions.
The chieftain was powerful and exercised the powers of EXECUTIVE, the LEGISLATIVE, and the
JUDICIARY and in some cases performs religious powers.
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The chieftain might be chosen from lineage (a son or relative if there was no son), or based on his ability
to acquire wealth, or possession of a skill or even his ability to influence or sway public opinion into his
favor.

Here are the Duties of the Datu

1. Maintain peace and order in the community
2. Protect the welfare of the constituents
3. Defend the people from enemies and invaders
4. Help the sick and the needy
5. Give advice to those who come to him
6. Rule with justice and in accordance with barangay’s traditions and beliefs.

The Datu was chosen upon the death of the Datu, his eldest son would inherit his position. If the Datu
has no child, the people I the barangay would choose their new Datu. Even an ordinary person could
become a Datu if he’s oldest, wisest, strongest warrior, richest, and bravest leader. The Datu was
assisted by a council of elders. His chief adviser was called ATUBANG

SULTANATE SYSTEM
The SULTANATE was a form of government introduced by the Muslims. It was composed of
10 to 12 communities, each of which had its own leader.

What is the Criteria to become sultan?

The RICHEST and the MOST POWERFUL member of the entire SULTANATE. The powers
of the SULTAN were different from the datu. Aside from the political and civil duties, the sultan was
responsible in looking after the religious practices and beliefs of the people within his Jurisdiction.
*Laws and Decisions were based on the Koran, the holy bible of the Muslims.

Note: The first Arabs who came to the Philippines were traders. Is was Tuan Mashaika who introduced
Islam to the country. According to the Tarsila (Book of Genealogies), Mashaika married the daughter
of Rajah Sipad of Patikol in Buansa (now Jolo). In 1380, Karim- Ul Mahkdum, A Muslim Missionary,
set foot on Simunul, which is an island in Sulu. Mahkdum was an Arabian scholar who successfully
spread Islam in Malacca.

The laws are Oral or Written.

Customary laws were handed down ORALLY from generation to generation andconstitued the bulk of
the laws of the barangays. Written laws were those that the chieftain and the elders promulgated from time to time
as necessity arose. Ex. CODEOFKALANTIYAW, it dealt with various subjects such as inheritance, divorce,
partnership, crime and punishment, property rights, family relations, adoption and loans.

Judicial Process: TRIAL-BY-ORDEAL

The Pre-Colonial Women has enjoyed many privileges during those times. They enjoyed a unique
position in society. Customary laws gave them the right to be equal to men. They could own and inherit
property. Engage in trade and industry. Succeed to the chieftainship of a barangay in the absence of a male
heir. Had the exclusive right to give names to their children. As a sign of deep respect, the men,
accompanying women, walked behind them.

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Social Classes
 Lines drawn between classes were not hard; any member of the social classes could go up or
down the social ladder depending upon the attendant circumstances.

The Nobles (Maharlika) - Consists of the chiefs and their families. They carried the title GAT or
LAKAN. Wielded tremendous influence in the barangay. Enjoyed rights that were not usually enjoyed
by the other members of society
Freemen (Timawa) - The Middle class or freemen or freemen who were usually free- born persons or
freed slaves constituted the majority of the social classes. Includes the dependents who had earned their
freedom

Dependents (Alipin) - Acquired his low status by: Inheritance; By captivity in war; By failing to pay his
debts; By purchase; or By committing
Gradations among dependents:
Full dependent – the son or daughter of dependent parents
Half-dependent – the son or daughter of parents, one of whom was full dependent and the other
a freeman
Quarter-dependent – the son or daughter of parents, one of whom was a half dependent and the
other a freeman.

There are two Types of Dependents, the aliping namamahay at aliping sagigilid a. Aliping Namamahay
- Had his own family and house. Served his master during planting and harvest seasons. Rowed for
the master. Helped in the construction of the master’s house. Served the visitors of the master
b. Aliping Sagigilid - Had no property of his own. Lived with his master . Could not marry without
the master’s consent

ECONOMIC LIFE
Agriculture is the main source of livelihood. Rice, coconuts, sugar cane, cotton, hemp, bananas,
oranges, and many species of fruits and vegetables were grown. It was done in two ways: kaingin
system (slash and burn) and tillage. When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they noted that Cebu
and Palawan were abundant in many agricultural foodstuffs. Agricultural productivity was enhanced by
use of irrigation ditches like those found in the Ifugao Rice Terraces. Landholding was either public
(less arable land that could be tilled freely by anyone) and private (rich and cultivated lands belonging
to nobles and datus). Some rented land and paid in gold or in kind. The daily fare consisted of rice and
boiled fish, or sometimes pork or venison, carabao or wild buffalo meat fermented the sap of palm trees
and drank
it as liquor called tuba.

Livestock - Pre-colonial Filipinos raised chickens, pigs, goats, carabaos, and small native ponies.

Fishing was a thriving industry for those who live in the coast or near rivers and lakes. Various tools
for fishing such as nets, bow and arrow, spear, wicker basket, hooks and lines, corrals and fish poisons
were used; pearls fisheries also abound in Sulu.

Mining - the ancients mined gold in many parts of the archipelago and were traded throughout the
country and with other countries

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Lumbering and Shipbuilding were flourishing industries. Filipinos were said to be proficient in
building ocean-going vessels. All kinds of boats or ships were built, which the Spaniards later call
banca, balangay, lapis, caracoa, virey, vinta and prau.

Weaving is a home industry that was dominated by women by using crude wooden looms, textiles
such as sinamay from hemp, medrinaque from banana, cotton, linen, and silk, were woven
Trade was conducted between or among barangays, or even among the islands. There was trade too
with other countries such as China, Siam, Japan, Cambodia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and other islands
of old Malaysia. Did not use any currency but conducted trade through barter. Sometimes, goods were
priced in terms of gold or metal gongs Chinese traders noted that Filipinos were very honest in their
commercial transactions

EDUCATION

Education in the Philippines has undergone several stages of development from the
pre-Spanish times to the present. In meeting the needs of the society, education serves as focus
of emphases/priorities of the leadership at certain periods/epochs in our national struggle as
a race.

As early as in pre-Magellanic times, education was informal, unstructured, and devoid of

methods. Children were provided more vocational training and less academics (3 Rs) by their
parents and in the houses of tribal tutors.

At first, our ancestors

had no
established schools. The system
of
education of our ancestors was
informal. The children learned
at
home. Their teachers were their
parents or the elders in the
tribe
whom they called AGURANG.
Reading, writing, singing,
counting,
manner of worship, customs,
traditions, and beliefs, as well
as
proper decorum and interpersonal
relationships, were taught at home.
The boys were trained for battle,
farming, hunting, sailing, fishing, and
poultry raising. They were also taught
to make their war weapons like the
spear. The girls were taught to weave,
sew, cook, and do other household chores. Their mothers also taught them personal hygiene
and responsible motherhood. After sometime, formal schools called BOTHOAN were
established in Panay. Reading, writing, arithmetic, and how to use war weapons were taught.
Students were also taught how to get anting-anting and galing or charms which called Lubus.
Teaching how to use war weapons.
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Reading and WRITING

Our ancestors had unique system of writing

called
BAYBAYIN, which is traditionally and
erroneously referred as ALIBATA. They used
knives, daggers, pointed sticks, and pointed
metals, which they called SIPOL, as their
instruments.

According to Father Chirino, Writing at thee

beginning of the 17th century, said of the Filipinos:

“I found in this language (TAGALOG) four qualities of the four greatest lanuages of the world –
Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Spanish. It has the mysticism and difficulties of the Hebrew; the distinctive

terms of the Greek not only in the common but also in the proper names; the fullness and elegance of
Latin; and the civility and courtesy of Spanish.”

Only few are left of the written materials of our ancestors simply because the bamboo,
leaves, and barks of plants where they wrote were not that durable. Another reason is
that the Spanish Missionaries burned/destroyed a lot of these written materials. Some
pieces of Literature, have been handed down orally from generation to generation.

Note: The direction of writing is still a problem, for no scholar could present incontrovertible
proofs and strong reasons to support his theory. It is more probable, however, that FATHER
PERDO CHIRINO was correct in his theory that the early Filipinos wrote VERTICALLY
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
Note: The differentiation into the present number of the Philippine Languages may have been
the result of the necessity of forming new words and phrases to fit the new environment

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ARTS
 First glimpse can be seen in primitive tools
and
weapons that were polished along the lines of
leaves and petals of flowers. Can also be seen
in
beads, amulets, bracelets, and other ornaments
made of jade, red cornelian, and other stones.
Dyed
and ornamented their bark cloth with designs
of
attractive colors . In the Iron Age, aside from
armlets, bracelets, rings, and headbands,
tattoos
also became fashionable; metals and glass also
came into use; weaving became a preoccupation
for women; weapons were manufactured with
designs on their handles; pottery with incised

designs were made; and carvings made of wood, bone, ivory or horn were also done not
only for the use of the living but also of the dead.

The zigzag designs on ancient lime tubes and the ornamental carvings on combs reflect
Negrito influence. Indonesian influence can be seen in the apparel of the Kalingas, Maranaos,
Manobos and Bagobos. Malay influence can be traced to the wood carvings found in utensils,
boats, and wooden shields of the people of Sulu, Mindanao and Mountain Province. Islamic
influence can be gleaned from the ornamental and decorative art of the Lanao Muslims; most
represent geometric and plant designs because Islam is iconoclastic. Ifugao art deals with
human and animal representations but not fish and plant forms; Ifugao art is functional.

Burial Mourning and Practices

✓Laraw/Larao –mourning for a dead chieftain
✓Maglahe – for a dead man
✓Morotal – for a dead woman

Divination and Magic Charms

Ancient Filipinos are quite superstitious and put much stock into auguries, and magic
charms. They interpreted signs in nature like the flight of birds, the barking of dogs, the singing
of lizards, and the like, as good or bad omens depending on the circumstances. They also
consulted with the pangatauhan, or soothsayers, to tell their fortunes
 There was also a belief in the existence of the aswang, mangkukulam, manggagaway, tiyanak,
and the tikbalang. Amulets and charms were also used by the ancients like the anting-anting.
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These beliefs were not eradicated with the coming of Western civilization and most of them
were practiced behind the backs of the Christian missionaries. The result was a blending of
pagan and Christian beliefs that made Filipino Catholicism unique.

Languages and Dialects

More than a hundred languages and dialects were spoken by ancient Filipinos. The 8
major languages and dialects:
a. Tagalog c. Pangasinan e. Sugbahanon g. Samaranon
b. Iloko d. Kapampangan f. Hiligaynon h. Maguindanao

✓Malayo – Polynesian – Almost all of these languages and dialects originated from one
linguistic family.

Literature
The pre-colonial Filipinos had both written and oral literature. Their oral literature
consisted of the following:
a. Awit (Songs) b. d. Bugtong songs)
Salawikain (Provebs) (Riddles)
c. Hele (Cradle Songs) e. Ihiman (Wedding

- Examples of their written literature were their myths and epics like:
a. Huhhud and the Alim – c. Handiong – Bicolanos
Ifugao d. Bantungan, Indirapatra, Sulayman, Parang Sabil –
b. Biag ni Lam-ang – Ilocanos Muslims

Music and Dances

✓Musical Instruments
o Kudyapi- the Tagalog guitar
o Tultogan – Visayan bamboo drum
o Silbay- Ilocano red flute
o Kutibeng- Ilocano five-stringed guitar

✓Dances
o Balitaw and Dandansoy – Visayans
o Kumintang (Love Dance) – Tagalog
o Mahinhin (Courtship Dance)- Tagalog
o Kinnotan- Ilocanos ants dance
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It’s Your Time to Shine!

Activity:

In a bound paper, make atleast 3 paragraph love letter for your loved ones written in
“Baybayin”. Video yourself while doing the activity.

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KNOW What You Learned!
From this study of our early ancestors, we learn the following historical values:

1. Our early ancestors were civilized people. They were not cruel savages or stupid
barbarians. They had organized government, written laws, literature, art and
sciences.

2. Our ancestors were free – free to choose their leader, to make their own laws, rules and
regulations, and to do business and make a living.
3. Our ancestors were honest, clean, hardworking, and honorable. They had a strict code of
conduct among themselves and with outsider. The settled their differences peacefully
because they like to have good relations.

Generate your own generalization atleast two:

1._______________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

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What’s on your Mind?
Congratulations for finishing this module! You can share your thoughts and insights about
the Life of early Filipinos by leaving a message below.
_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________

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See you on your next adventure!

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Books:
Agoncillo, T. A. (1990). History of the Filipino People Eight Edition. Quezon City: GAROTECH Publishing.

Halili, M. C. (2010). Philippine History. Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Electronic Sources:
www.britannica.com. (2019). Retrieved August 30, 2019, from Britannica.com:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Resources-and-power
Steinberg, David Joel. "Republic of the Philippines." Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond,
WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.
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