Readings in the Philippine History

Learning Activity 2

Vincent C. Carolino

BSFT 1-A

2.1 Breaking down the Customs of the Tagalog (12pts)

Identify the practices mentioned by Plasencia on the following aspects.

1.Community

a. People already had leaders such as Datu ,maharlika, and lastly indio or slaves.

b. People were categorized base on their social status , the castes, chieftain, nobles ,commoners
and slaves.

2. Property

a. The lands are divided among the barangay,and siblings inherits their parents properties equally
once they died.

b. Payments are needed to be able to fish , unless you are associated with the barangay

3. Marriage

a. Marriage between two different social classes are uncommon

b. Men are required to give dowries to the woman he desire

4. Religion

a. They believe in their so-called Bathala or the maker of all things and they also believe in the
power of celestial bodies such are star , sun and moon.

b. They also believe in sacred animals and trees

5. Superstitions

a. They believe in witches such as mangangaway , who pretend to heal the sick , mananangal,
who shows himself at night without heads or organs

b. They believe in magical powers of amulet and charms such as anting-anting, gayuma and
kulam.

6. Burial or Death

a. Normal people are often buried beside their home.and there are temples also where they can
make sacrifices.
 b. The chief are buried under a torch and given four days wake and also the chief can order to kill
anyone who disrespects his family..

2.2 Comparing the Customs to the Tagalog (12pts)

Identify at least the distinct or unique practices , customs and tradition in your province or community.

a. Chairman/ brgy. captain

b. New Year’s Eve

c. Birthdays

d. Holy Week

e. Baptism

2. In 300 to 500 words , compare those practices to the observations discussed by Plasencia in his
article.

In the article of Plasencia, the customs and practices at the Tagalog were most likely the same as the
custom and practices in our community, first it was stated that Tagalog were originally governed by
chieftain or commonly known as Datu. Back then it was evident that the tagalogs have social classes
from income. Both are headed by village chiefs in which it is their duty to supervise and ensure the
safety and prosperity of their locality.

Another custom of the tagalog is dowry , in which the groom offers something to the unmarried woman
that the groom wants to marry. It is part of our tradition and ist called pamamanhikan before he gets
the woman he desires. Tagalog practice does not exist todays generation.With regards to the religion
both tagalong and our community have common practices like in worshipping or going to church. We
believe and celebrate saints . I believed that the common practice was influenced by the Spaniards and
Christianity was brought to our country.Just like the tagalong our community believed in supernatural
creatures like aswang and mananangal. A creature that flies and usually murder people by eating their
flesh. Both believe about the existence of the different supernatural creatures.

Lastly based on research , the Tagalog bury the dead body besides their homes. These practices do not
exist in our community but some part of our country this kind of practices still exist like in cordillera
region or the Igorot Community. And also we believe that if someone died it is important to let the
person have the last word or the last sacrament . this was influenced by Catholicism.

Instructions: Give three (3) reasons why Plasencias custom of the Tagalog is important to the grand
narrative of Philippines History.

1. The first reason why Plasecia’s Custom of the Tagalog is important to the grand narrative of the
Philippine history is because it mainly accounts the life system of the Filipinos during the pre-
hispanic period. According to Plasencia , there were three castes during that time which are
 called nobles or maharlika, the commoners or aliping namamahay and the slaves or aliping
saguiguilir . Placencia gave us the idea what are the functions and a glimpse of understanding of
past Filipino for the future readers and kinds of practices they used and to be called uniquely
Filipino.
2. It can be used also to describe the whole background story of the Philippines during the time
and how it is built from something in the future. It is also a study how are political, social,
economic and cultural system Filipinos have before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines. We
get to know the background of Filipinos before colonialism has arrived it also connects our true
identity as a pure Filipino culture without any influence of any foreign visitors to our country.
3. Custom of the tagalog also act as an standard source and references of early Filipino natives
during the time. Plasencia accounts us the institution of slavery, marriage,etc. but readers also
may aq accounts us the institution of slavery, marriage,etc. but readers also may aquire or
warned whether that it is neither complete or always accurate.