CUSTOMS

OF THE
TAGALOGS
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
During the first century of the Spanish rule, the
colonial government had difficulty in running local
politics because of the limited number of
Spaniards who wanted to live outside of
Intramuros.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The friars who were assigned in mission territories
were required periodically to inform their
superiors of what was happening in their
respective areas.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
They prepare reports on the number of natives
they converted, the people's way of life, their
socio-economic situation, and the problems they
encountered.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Some of them submitted short letters while
others who were keen observers and gifted writers
wrote long dispatches. On top of the regular
reports they submitted, they also shared their
personal observations and experiences.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Placencia's Relacion de las Costumbres de los
Tagalogs contains numerous information that a
historian can use in reconstructing the political
and socio-cultural history of the Tagalog region.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Placencia's Relacion de las Costumbres de los
Tagalogs is a primary source because he
personally witnessed the events and his account
contained his observations.
 Fray Juan De Plasencia
Joan de Portocarrero

Franciscan Order
Came together with the first batch of

ABOUT missionaries to the Philippines in 1578.

THE Southern Tagalog Area

Together with a fellow Franciscan Fray Diego

AUTHOR
de Oropesa, he was assigned to do missionary
works in the Southern Tagalog area.

Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, and

Bulacan
Plasencia also helped in numerous
foundations and organizations in different
towns.
 Plasencia wrote the

Doctrina Christiana en
Lengua Espanola y Tagala
Plasencia died in Liliw,
Laguna in 1590.
EXCERPTS FROM THE
CUSTOMS OF THE
TAGALOGS
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
HIERARCHY
WHY "ABA GINOONG
MARIA" AND NOT "ABA
GINANG MARIA"?
SOCIAL
STRUCTURE
This people always had chiefs called by
them datos who governed them and were
captains in their wars, and whom they
obeyed and reverenced. The subject who
committed any offense against them, or
spoke but a word to their wives and
children, was severly punished.
SOCIAL
STRUCTURE
These chiefs ruled over a few people;
sometimes as many as a hundred houses,
sometimes even less than thirty. This
tribal gathering is called in Tagalog a
barangay.
SOCIAL
STRUCTURE
In addition to these chiefs, who
corresponded to our knights, there were
three castes: nobles, commoners, and
slaves.
SOCIAL
STRUCTURE
The lands which they inhabited were
divided among the whole barangay,
especially the irrigated portion, and thus
each one knew his own.
SOCIAL
STRUCTURE
But now, since the advent of the
Spaniards, it is not so divided.
DATU
The Duties of a Datu

A datu was expected to:

govern his people,

lead them in war,
protect them from their enemies,
settle their disputes, and
serve as a good administration.
DATU
Priveledges of a Datu

A datu received services, agricultural produce,

and respect from his people.
COMMONERS
Aliping Namamahay

They are married, and serve their master,

whether he be a dato or not, with half their
cultivated lands, as was agreed upon in the
beginning.
COMMONERS
Aliping Namamahay

They live in their own houses and are lords of

their property and golds. Their children inherit
it and enjoy their property and lands. The
children, then, enjoy the rank of their fathers,
and they cannot be made slaves nor can
either paresnt or children be sold.
SLAVES
Aliping Saguiguilir

They serve their master in his house and on his

cultivated lands, may be sold. The master
grants them, shoeld they see fit, and providing
that he has profited through their industry, a
portion of their harvests, so that they may
work faithfully.
MARRIAGE AND
FAMILY
DOWRY
By the men to the
women's parents.

Dowries are given by the men to the women's

parents. If the latter are living, they enjoy the use
of it. At their death, provided that the dowry has
not been consumed, it is divided like the rest of the
estate, equally among the children.
DOWRY
By the men to the
women's parents.

If the wife at the time of her marriage, has neither

father, mother, nor grandparents, she enjoys her
dowry.
DOWRY
By the men to the
women's parents.

It should be noticed that unmarried women can

own no property, in land or dowry, for the result of
all their labors accrues to their parents.
DOWRY
Properties at the
Time of Separation

In the case of a divorce before the birth of the

children, if the wife left the husbnd for the purpose
of marrying another, all her dowry and an equal
additional amount fell to the husband.
DOWRY
Properties at the
Time of Separation

But, if she left him, and did not marry another, the
dowry was returned.
DOWRY
Properties at the
Time of Separation

When the husband left his wife, he lost half of the

dowry, and the other half was returned to him. If
he possessed children at the time of his divorce,
the whole dowry and the fine went to the children,
and was held for them by their grandparents or
other responsible relatives.
MAHARLICA ALIPIN
F

M
F