Ancient Filipinos

MAGINOO

The Maginoo were the ruling class, the educated class, the royal class,
and the privileged class. It was from this class that the Datu would
come from. The Datu is the leader of the community called a barangay.
He is the chieftan somewhat synonymous to a Monarch, Rajah, Sultan,
or King.

It is unknown if the Datu position was hereditary such as following the

lineage of the eldest child especially the eldest son of the Datu, or if the
Maginoo class (who were likely all related to one another) elected a
Datu. The practice may have varied throughout the Philippines. We
have to remember that lowland Filipinos arrived on sailboats
called balangays. These early groups would settle near the shorelines or
river banks, and their new found community would be called
a barangay (similar to the word balangay). The size of a barangay can
vary, but usually somewhere between 50 to 100 families, or 30 to 100
houses, or 100 to 500 persons. These migrations were likely led by the
Maginoo class who wanted to found a new barangay for themselves.
 MAHARLIKA

The Maharlika had all the rights of the Timawa, but they are
specifically the warrior class. They were well respected if not revered
by the barangay. Unlike the Timawa, they were not expected to pay
taxes. They would provide protection to the barangay, and were
responsible for providing and preparing the weapons at their own
expense. A Maharlika could change their allegiance to another
barangay by marrying into it or by simply moving to it. This however
required paying a certain amount to his Datu. A feast would be given in
his honor when leaving the barangay.

President Marcos' first use of the word Maharlika was quite appropriate
because he only used it to name a group of soldiers rather than an entire
aristocracy or country.
 TIMAWA

The freeman class known as the Timawa probably made up the bulk of
the barangay community. They were free. They could acquire property,
acquire any job they want, pick their own wives, and acquire an Alipin.
They were however expected to pay taxes, and support the Maginoo
class. They are the only class to pay taxes, and hence their importance
in the community.

ALIPIN
The Alipin had the least rights. They are not exactly slaves in the
traditional sense, but they were indentured servants. Basically they
served their master who belonged to one of the classes above them. But
it does not mean that they did all the work in the barangay. The
Timawa were probably expected to do most of the work in the
barangay, and the Alipin was likely his or her servant at home such as
doing house chores and cooking, or aided the Timawa with their duties
at work.

There are two type of Alipin. Aliping Namamahay was a servant that
lived in their own little house on the property of their master,
and Aliping Sagigilid was a servant that lived around the house of their
master. An Alipin can actually become free, and become a Timawa
provided he or she fulfilled the services of their master, this process is
known as Tinimawa. The Alipin did not likely make any money for
their services, and hence did not pay taxes.

The people who bore the greatest stigma in society were the alipins
who were indebted to other alipins. A gigilid of an aliping namamahay
was called a bulisik, which meant vile and contemptible. Even lower
was the bulislis who was a gigilid indebted to another gigilid. The
vulgar name meant that these alipins were so vulnerable that it was like
their genitals were exposed. In modern terms we might say they "had
their pants down", though bulislis really means, "lifted skirt".

The only people lower than the bulislis were slaves who were brought
from other communities or who were captured in war. They were
considered non-persons until they were accepted into the community.
Once accepted, they had the same rights as other alipins.