CHAPTER 3

EARLY CONTACTS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES

(900 – 1400 A.D.)

Early Trade Routes and Contacts

Ancient Filipinos, just like their Southeast neighbors, were expert seafarers and boat builders. They
made all sizes and types of boats- big or small,single-hulled or outrigged. Because they had mastered the
wind and sea currents, they could travel far and wide to trade with nearby Southeast and East Asian
neighbors. Some scholars suggested they reached even as far as Champa (present-day Vietnam) and
India. Thus, long before the coming of the Portuguese and Spaniards in the region, the Philippines had
outside trade contacts and along with these, varied cultural exchanges took place.

Scholars have yet to agree as to when and with whom these contacts began. O.W. Wolters said such a
trade may have been there as early as the 3rdCentury, based on the pearls and gold excavated in Funan.
Sulu was rich in 41 pearls and gold was abundant in the country. Filipino historians and archeologists
believe the Filipino-Chinese trade contacts began around the ninth century during the Tang dynasty
(618-906 A.D.). They cite as evidence Tang stonewares that were found in the Babuyan Islands, along
the coasts of Ilocos, Pangasinan, Mindoro (Puerto Galara), Batangas (Calatagan),Manila (Santa Ana),
Bohol, Cebu, Jolo and Cagayan de Oro. If the Chinese did not bring these items directly to the
Philippines, Chinese goods probably found their way to the islands by the way of the Borneo through
Arab traders who had earlier direct trade contacts with the Chinese.

Arab Trade Routes in Southeast Asia

Between 900 and 1200 A.D., a group of people called Orang Dampuan from Southern Annam (Vietnam
Today), established trading posts in Sulu. A flourishing trade developed between Champa (Annamese
Kingdom) and the people of Sulu who were called Buranun. This trade proved favorable to the Orang
Dampuans whose prosperity drew the ire of the Buranuns. In a fit of jealousy, the Buranuns massacred
some Orang Dampuans causing the others to flee and return to Champa. It was not until the 13th
century that they would return to Sulu to trade peacefully once more.

The famous pearl trade of Sulu also attracted another group of people known as the Banjar of nearby
Borneo. Regular Trade relations ensued between Sulu and Banjarmassin. The Buranuns who had not yet
forgotten their tragic experience with the Orang Dampuans, were also suspicious of the Banjars. But the
traders of Banarmassin, aware of the fate of the Orang Dampuans were more diplomatic. Instead of
antagonizing the Buranuns, they brought their beautiful princess to Sulu and offered her as a bride to
the Buranun prince, who eventually married her. Sulu thus became a tribute-state of the empire of Sri-
Vijaya, along with the Banjarmassin and Brunei. Sulu developed into an emporium to which trading ships
of java, Sumatra, 42 Cambodia, Siam, and China would anchor to savor Sulu’s prosperous trade and
splendor.

Arab traders, who up to this point dominated this Southeast Asian trading, were later bared from the
central Chinese coast. They relocated to the Malay Peninsula where they sought an alternative route
starting from Malacca and passing through Borneo and the Philippines to reach Taiwan. They continued
to carry Southeast Asian goods to the Western world using this southern route. They also carried
Philippine goods on board Arab ships to the Chinese mainland through Canton. So keen was the
competition that the Arab ships carried non-Chinese goods amounting to 20-40% of the total cargo. This
lasted up to the Javanese or Madjapahit period (1377-1478).

The Chinese trade in the Philippines greatly improved during the Ming dynasty (1368-1478). During this
time Emperor Yung-lo sent a fleet of vessels to the Philippines, under the command of Admiral Cheng
Ho, to visit Lingayen, Manila Bay, Mindoro, and Sulu in 1405-1406, 1408-1410 and 1417. The Chinese
Emperor even tried to impose its suzerainty over Luzon, however, put an end to this ambitious plan.

Economic and Cultural Exchanges

Using the compass on sea voyages, Chinese traders competed with the Arabs from the eleventh to the
twelfth century. Sung porcelain unearthed in Sta. Ana, Manila and Around the Laguna de Bai, attested to
the success of this trade. By the thirteenth century, the Chinese had overtaken the Arabs in the region.
Description of the lucrative trade between China and the Philippine archipelago can be found in Chao
Jukua’s Chu fan-chi (1225) where the Chinese mentioned the following places: Ma-I (Mindoro or Baé in
Laguna), Min-to-lang (Mindanao), Ma-li-lu (Manila), Su-lu (Sulu), and Pi-shoye (Visayas). The Philippine
trade goods included bulak (raw cotton), abaca, 43 cloth of various patterns, hardwoods, gums, resins,
betel nuts, pear shell, pink and blue coral trees, large conch shells, tortoise shells, sponges, rattan,
beeswax, musk, sandalwood, leather, mats, and pepper.

In exchange, China brought: iron bars, porcelain and pottery, silk chintz, black damask, java cloths, red
taffeta, blue cloth, bronze gongs, small bells, mirror, scales, coins, jade, projectiles, gold, silver, censers,
lead, colored glass beads, iron needles, tin, lead sinkers for fishing nets, lacquered ware, copper
cauldrons, wine, ivory, and “tint” (a kind of Chinese silver money).Although trade was conducted in
general through the barter system, by the eighth century, a type of currency began to be used in the
form of barter rings.

By the twelfth century, gold coins (piloncitos) began to be used as medium of exchange. With trade of
products came cultural exchanges, including religion. These in turn, would influence the indigenous
lifestyles, customs and religious beliefs of the ancient Filipinos. This is particularly true of the influences
on our language, system of writing, technology, attire, ornaments, food and religious beliefs and
practices. Much of the Chinese influence on the Filipino life is economic in nature. This is shown by the
Chinese words that were adopted into the languages of the Philippines, particularly Tagalog.

Here are some examples:

CHINESE TAGALOG EBGLISH

Am-pau Ampaw Puffed rice or corn
He-bi Hibi Dried salted shrimps
Ke-tai Katay Cut up meat
Le-piah Lipya Plowshare
Hok-bu Hukbo Army
Peh-chihai Petsay Chinese cabbage

There are hundreds of Tagalog words which have their origin in Chinese. Most of these words have
economic meanings.
The Filipinos also learned from the Chinese the use of umbrellas, porcelain, gongs, the manufacture of
gunpowder, metallurgy, and mining methods. Perhaps the Filipinos also borrowed the Chinese custom
of having parents arrange the marriage of their children. Wearing white clothing, instead of black, for
mourning of death of family and relatives, is also of Chinese origin, especially among the Visayans.

Quite apart from the Chinese, the ancient Filipinos were also influenced by the Indians of India. The
ancient Indians may not have settled in huge numbers in the Philippines, but their influence on Filipino
culture may have come through the ancestors of the present Indonesians. The Malays who came to the
Philippines were possibly Hinduized Malays, that is, Malays who professed the Hindu religion of India.
This Indian influence is clearly seen in some of the words in the different languages of the Philippines,
including Tagalog, which were derived from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. Some of the Tagalog
words of Sanskrit origin are the following:

SANSKRIT TAGALOG ENGLISH

Ahi Ahas Snake
Swamin Asawa Husband or wife
Bhaga Bahagi Part, potion
Vartta Balita News
Kotta Kuta Fort
Dala Dala Fishing net
Ganda Ganda Beauty
Hari Hari King
Lalarawa Lalawa Spider
Tara Tala Star

Sanskrit words or their variations are also found in Visayan and Maguindanaoan languages. Such words
as agama (religion), pandita (priest or scholar), tumbaga (copper), baginda (emperor), sutra (silk), are of
Sanskrit origin. Several deities in the myths of ancient Filipinos show traces of Indian influences: Indra
Batara, Lord of the Universe; Idiyanale, god of agriculture; Agni, god of fire. A figurine of the Hindu
goddess Padmapani was found in Butuan and was dated to 300AD. This could attest to that ancient
contact between the Philippines and the Indian sub-continent.

The Philippine Catholic wedding ceremony has Indian influences. The use of the cord and the veil during
the Catholic marriage ceremony in the Philippines is Indian in origin. It is not originally Western or
Spanish Catholic, because the non-Philippine Catholic marriage has no veil and cord ceremonies.

The Laguna Copperplate discovered in the Pagsanjan, Laguna river delta in 1986 is another evidence of
this early Philippine contact with its Southeast Asian neighbors particularly the Malays and Indonesians.
Dated to 900AD, the copperplate contains an inscription in an old Philippine language, stating the full
payment of a loan obtained by a woman trader from her contacts in the nearby Indonesia. The
copperplate also shows shared knowledge in metallurgy and its use in trade and commerce to record
transactions as certificate of credit and loan payment.

THE COMING OF ISLAM

After Mohammad’s death in 632 A.D., Islam spread outside of Arabia in twostages. In the first stage,
Islam was brought to the rest of the Middle East, Northern Africa, Spain and Central Asia. In the second
stage, Muslim missionaries travelled with Arab merchants to India, China, and to Southeast Asia where a
number of them (traders and also missionaries) settled and intermarried with members of the royalty.
They also set up mosques and madrasahs (schools).

In the Philippines, Islam was introduced by Tuan Masha’ika, a trader from Malaya, and his companion
Tuan Maqbalu who came to Sulu in the 1240’s. According to Sulu genealogy called Tarsila, his wealth
increased and with it, the status of Muslims in the communities was raised. By 1380, when a missionary
from Java, Karim ul’ Makhdum arrived in Buansa (Sulu), he found a thriving Muslim community that
welcomed him and his efforts to strengthen Islam around the Mosque he built in Tubig Indangan, Tawi-
tawi.

Ten years later (1480), Rajah Baginda arrived from Sumatra. He further deepened Islamic consciousness
among the Muslims in Sulu by building more madrasahs in the area. He later rose to a position of power
tin Sulu. But it was Abu Bakr (who married Rajah Baginda’s daughter, Paramisuli), who succeeded in
establishing a government similar to the sultanate of Arabia.

Meanwhile, in Maguindanao (present-day Cotabato and Lanao) Serif Kabungsuan arrived from Jahore,
now a state of West Malaysia, and converted many inhabitants to Islam. He became the first sultan of
Maguindanao. So rapid was the spread of Islam that when the Spaniards first arrived in 1570, they found
Maynila and nearby places with Muslims connections. The rulers of the Kingdom of Maynila were found
to be related by blood and marriage to the royal house of Muslim Brunei.

TEACHINGS OF ISLAM

The basic tenets of Islam are found in the Qur’an (Koran), the holy book of the Muslims. Written in
Arabic, the Koran is considered the word of the Supreme Creator, Allah, as directly communicated by
the angel to the prophet Mohammad. Among the teachings of the Koran are the following:

 There is only one Supreme Being, Allah, the creator of the Universe and all of humankind.
 Allah is just and merciful God and it is Allah’s desire that all should repent of their sins, purify
themselves so they could enter Paradise after death.
 Life In this world is only temporary and one’s good deeds, as well as the bad deeds, are listed by
an angel for final judgement on the last day on the last day of the entire humanity. Each one will
be judged according to what one has done in his lifetime.

 The Korean forbids any human or animal representation in their art.

 Only geometric patterns are allowed.
 Eating pork, drinking wine, gambling and other vices are forbidden in
 Orthodox Islam.
 Islam forbids loans and usury.
 Muslims are duty-bound to help the poor, the orphans and widows.
 Telling lies, stealing, adultery and murder are all grave sins that deserve serious punishment.
 Every Muslim must have goodness expressed in faith in God and such virtues as patience,
faithfulness, honesty, industry, honor and courage.
 A follower of Allah has to observe the following rituals or obligations: a declaration of faith in
the oneness of God (Shahada); prayer facing the east (Mecca) five times a day (salah); fasting
(sawm); giving the alms (zakat), and a one-time pilgrimage to Mecca (hadji).
Fasting is observed during the Ramadan, which is held at the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. No
solid food are taken from early dawn until the sun sets. They purify themselves by praying and practicing
good deeds and selfrestraint

The Sultanate

Unlike the barangays of the non-Muslim ancient Filipinos which were smaller in size and very much
decentralized, the Sultanate governed a much larger territory through a centralized network of officials
with the Sultan at the top.