LESSON 4

Pre-test

Direction: Match SET A with

Set A Set B ANSWERS

1.markings on the body a. Alipin 1.
2. men’s lower b, Buaya 2.
garments
3. crocodiles c.Bathala 3.
4. dependents d. tattoo 4.
5. Supreme Being e. bahag 5.

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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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Lesson 4. Customs of the Tagalogs

Lesson 4
Learning Outcomes:
Required 1. To acquire knowledge on the way of life of the pre-
resources: colonial Filipinos as recorded by Father Juan De
Placencia
a. PPT 2. To be able to measure the degree of civilization
b. Worksheet that was already existing when the Spaniards came
c. videos to the Philippines.
d. readings 3. To figure out the early practices are still
A. PRE-ACTIVITY
existing today and its significance in the
Direction:formation
Using your imagination,
of the draw how theIdentity.
Filipino early Filipinos look like.
It may be a man or a woman or both. Try to show how they dress and provide a background
on how the community could have looked like.

Name:

The Early Filipinos

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 LESSON 4

Lesson 4. Customs of the Tagalogs

Lesson 4 Learning Outcomes:
4. To acquire knowledge on the way of life of the pre-
colonial Filipinos as recorded by Father Juan De
Placencia
5. To be able to measure the degree of civilization
that was already existing when the Spaniards came
to the Philippines.
6. To figure out the early practices are still
existing today and its significance in the
B. CONTENT and DISCUSSION
formation of the Filipino Identity.

Juan De Plasencia is a Spanish Friar for the Franciscan order who was in the Philippines for
most of his missionary life.

Juan de Plasencia came together with the first batch of

Franciscan missionaries in the Philippines. He wrote a
number of books designed primarily to promote the
understanding of both the Spanish language among the
natives, and the local languages among the missionaries,
to facilitate the task of spreading Christianity. He died in
Liliw, Laguna in 1590.

Did you know???

In the history of
Printing in the
Philippines, the
first book ever
printed in is
authored by Fray
Juan De Placencia.

It is entitled
Doctrina Cristiana
(Christian Doctrine).
How do we look like when they came? Fray Placencia said that the natives were
barefooted but adorned with lots of gold in their bodies.

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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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Philippine Treasures GMA 7 Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X6jayNtXIk

He noted that social status is

established in some places but not
all.
The unit of Government is the
barangay. Yes, the same term that we
use today. It came from Malay word
“balangay” meaning boat. And before,
we call the leaders as Datu where we
pay our “buwis”. It is true.Tax system is
existing even before ! Although the
natives mostly use goods to pay.

Before marriage is permitted, dowries are required. Dowry are gifts given to the women’s
family as a bribe to ask for her hand in marriage.
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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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Here are some of Fray Juan de Placensia’s observations .

Dowries are given by the men to the women's parents. If the parents are
living, they enjoy the use of it. If the wife, at the time of her marriage, has
neither father, mother, nor grandparents, she enjoys her dowry. It should be
noticed that unmarried women can own no property, in land or dowry, for the
result of all their labors goes to their parents.
On divorce
In the case of a divorce before the birth of children, if the wife left the husband for the
purpose of marrying another, all her dowry and an equal additional amount fell to the
husband; but if she left him, and did not marry another, the dowry was returned.

Relation of the Worship of the Tagalogs, Their Gods, and Their Burials and Superstitions

Religious beliefs. Remember that the early Filipinos have no knowledge about Christianity.
Fr Placensia noted these early religious practices of the Filipinos.
He saw that there are no temples consecrated to the performing of sacrifices, like the
adoration of their idols, or any practice of idolatry. But they have the name SIMBAHAN,
which means a temple or place of adoration which is always temporary. There are festivals

T
called Pandot or Worship. This is celebrated in the large house of the chief. They would
hey purpose
create a temporary shed called “sibi” for the have many idols, butthethey
of sheltering have
people whothewould
BATHALA
assemble. This worship is describedwho
by thesignify
tagalogs
“allaspowerful,”
“Nagaanitos.”
or “maker of all things.” They
also worshiped the sun, which they called TALA and even the
stars. They worship the moon, especially when it was new,
at which time they held great festivities , adoring it and
welcoming it with all the singing and dancing.They had
another idol called Dian masalanta, who was the patron of
lovers and of generation. Other idols were called Lacapati
and Idianale who were the patrons of agriculture and of
those wanting to have a husband.
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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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“Their manner of offering sacrifice was to

proclaim a feast. They also offer to the devil what
they had to eat. This was done in front of the idol,
which they anoint with fragrant perfumes, such as
musk and civet, or gum of the storax-tree and
other odoriferous woods, and praise it in poetic
songs sung by the officiating priest, male or
female, who is called catolonan.” (Blair and
Robertson)

There was a belief in the existence of aswang, tiyanak, tikbalang mangkukulam and more. A
lot of native Filipinos swore they really saw them! Soon it was used by the Spaniards to
discipline Filipinos and make them stay in their homes at night. You don’t want to follow
curfew, then let aswang eat you! Then they run home. That would really come in handy. Fr.

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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

 LESSON 4

Plalencia said that Christianity tried its best to debunk these beliefs but actually, the church
in a way tolerated these because it was helpful in controlling the natives.

They offer reverence to water-lizards

which they call buaya, or crocodiles.
Fearful of these creatures, they will give
these animals a portion of what they
carried in their boats, by throwing it into
the water, or placing it upon the bank. It is
believed that such doing will prevent the
buaya from harming them.

Superstitious beliefs.
Father Placencia noted more superstitious beliefs
of the early Filipimos .For example, if they
chanced upon anyone who sneezed, or heard a
bird singing a bad tune called Tigmamanuguin
they return home at once, because it means bad
luck. They also practiced divination and belief in
lucky charms, to see whether weapons, such as a
dagger or knife, were to be useful and lucky for
their possessor wherever he will be.

MANNER OF BURYING THE DEAD

The early Filipinos believed in life after death. This explains the ceremonies which they practice
to ensure that the dead will experience no hardship in the afterlife.
A deceased may be buried beside the house or under the nipa houses

For many days the relatives of the deceased would be wailed for the dead. People are
singing dirges, and praising him of his good qualities until they got weary, this is
accompanied by eating and drinking. This is believed to be much related to the
hospitality of the Filipinos who would cater to their friends and relatives who came
to share with the sorrow of the family of the deceased.

The Manunggul Jar.

This burial jar was discovered 1964 by Dr. Robert Fox. During that time, he and
his team were excavating the Tabon Cave Complex. This is a secondary burial jar
used by early Filipinos in burying the dead. Bones which were colored in red paint
and a lot ornaments like gold bracelets were found inside it . It was another
proof of the early burial practices much before the Spaniards brought the
Christian burial in the Philippines.

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The Laguna Copperplate Inscription,

among other recent finds is a document
showing pre-Hispanic literacy and
culture. It was found in 1989 near the
Lumbang River in Laguna De Bay.This is
much related to the early system of
writing is now what we call “baybayin” .
Some of the indigenous peoples of today
are still using them. So, who said we don’t
know how to read and write before and
that it was the Spaniards who educated
us? They were really wrong about this.
The copperplate is definitely a proof that a
system of writing existed even before we
learned the Castilian Language

- Juan De Plasencia wrote several religious and linguistic

books including the Customs of the Tagalogs.

_____________________________________________________________________

Online Resources/Activities:
(2.) Philippine Treasures GMA Documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X6jayNtXIk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlQHcmYkzpE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFdiX8mj0Es
https://www.artsy.net/show/ayala-museum-gold-of-ancestors-pre-colonial-treasures-in-the-
philippines 40

http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/archives/194/ginto-a-golden-heritage-from-our-filipino-ancestor
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
 LESSON 4

Name:
Year & Section:
Assessment Professor:
Date:
t

1. Describe at least one of the many religious and spiritual practices or beliefs of the early
Filipinos.10pts.
Answer
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________

2. The Spaniards observed that we look like we are merry making or having a party during a
funeral. Do you agree with that? Explain your answer.10 pts

Answer

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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Name:
Year & Section:
POST-TEST Professor:
Date:

A. Direction: Which do you think is more likely to be existing during the pre- colonial era? Write
your answer in the box. 10pts.

Subject Choices Answers

1. Government A. President
B. Datu
2. Religion A. Paganism
B. Catholic
3. Houses A. Bahay na bato
B. Bahay kubo
4. Clothing A. Bahag
B. Barong tagalog
5. Footwear A. Rubber shoes
A. Barefooted
6. God A.Bathalang Maykapal
B.DIos

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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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7.tax A.tributo
B.buwis
8.religoius image A.Sto Nino
B. Bulol
9.burial practice A. Burial Jars
B. Catholic Cemetery
10 writing A. baybayin
B. Castillian

B. Answer the following

1. Do you think that the early Filipinos were already civilized when the Spaniards came?
Justify your answer.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________.
2. Which among these early practices are still existing today?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

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