The islands’ pre-colonial period, during which indigenous peoples engaged in healthy trade with various

cultures and economies in the region, gave way to a long colonial period. This is the community before
the coming of Spanish colonization.

Filipinos developed their own civilization long before the Spaniards came to the Philippines. The Malay
settlers contributed to this civilization in part, but also as a result of their reaction to the new
environment. Despite the changes brought about by westernization and modernization, many of these
customs and traditions, governance, and way of life have survived to the present day. This is why it is
possible to learn about our distant past by merely watching some rituals and behaviors that have stood
the test of time.

a. Society
Philippine pre-colonial society is both different and the same as in the present. Some aspects of
the pre-colonial period have survived into our time.

The following is a description of the way of life of pre-colonial Filipinos.

Mode of dressing

Ornament
 Houses

b. Politics

Government

c. Religion
 Religious Belief
 pre-colonial Filipinos believed in the immortality of the soul and in life after death
 they also believed in the existence of a number of gods whom they worship and made
offerings to according to rank

d. Economic life

Agriculture
 main source of living
 rice, coconuts, sugar cane, cotton, hemp, bananas, oranges, and many species of fruits
and vegetables were grown
 e. Culture

System of writing

Music and dance

Before the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines, there were already communities settled the banks of
Pasig River and one of these areas was “intramuros” also called Maynilad. It was under the
administration of a native chieftain, Rajah Soliman (or Sulayman). The fortress was the center of trade
for Asian commodities