‌

Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
‌
Lesson‌‌5.1‌
The‌‌Government‌‌in‌‌Precolonial‌‌Philippines‌ ‌
‌
Contents‌ ‌
Introduction‌ 1‌ ‌

Learning‌‌Objectives‌ 2‌ ‌

Explore‌ 2‌ ‌

Discover‌ 4‌ ‌
The‌‌Barangay‌ 4‌ ‌
Early‌‌Settlements‌ 6‌ ‌
Inter-Baranganic‌‌Relations‌ 7‌ ‌
Wars‌‌between‌‌Barangays‌ 9‌ ‌
The‌‌Chieftain‌‌or‌D
‌ atu‌ 9‌ ‌
Executive‌‌and‌‌Legislative‌‌Powers‌ 11‌ ‌
Judicial‌‌Power‌ 12‌ ‌

Wrap-Up‌ 14‌ ‌

Try‌‌This!‌ 15‌ ‌

Challenge‌‌Yourself‌ 16‌ ‌

Reflect‌‌on‌‌This‌ 18‌ ‌

Bibliography‌ 19‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌5.1‌ ‌

The‌‌Government‌‌in‌ ‌
Precolonial‌‌Philippines‌ ‌

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‌

Introduction‌ ‌
Boats‌ ‌have‌ ‌always‌ ‌had‌ ‌an‌ ‌essential‌ ‌purpose‌ ‌in‌ ‌our‌ ‌lives‌ ‌as‌ ‌Filipinos.‌ ‌Our‌ ‌rich‌ ‌maritime‌‌
culture‌ ‌proves‌ ‌how‌ ‌these‌ ‌vessels‌ ‌are‌ ‌connected‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌many‌ ‌aspects‌ ‌of‌ ‌Filipino‌ ‌life.‌‌
Historically,‌‌boats‌‌played‌‌a‌‌significant‌‌role‌‌in‌‌our‌‌livelihood‌‌and‌‌trade‌‌as‌‌people‌‌living‌‌in‌‌an‌‌
archipelagic‌‌nation.‌ ‌ ‌
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You‌ ‌might‌ ‌have‌ ‌learned‌ ‌about‌‌the‌‌‌balangay‌‌from‌‌your‌‌previous‌‌classes.‌ ‌The‌‌‌balangay‌‌‌or‌‌
balanghai‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌wooden‌ ‌boat‌ ‌excavated‌ ‌not‌ ‌just‌ ‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌but‌‌in‌‌Southeast‌‌
Asia.‌ ‌It‌ ‌is‌ ‌from‌‌this‌‌precolonial‌‌boat‌‌where‌‌the‌‌word‌‌‌barangay‌‌came‌‌from.‌‌‌Barangays‌‌are‌‌
settlements‌‌or‌‌communities‌‌where‌‌our‌‌precolonial‌‌ancestors‌‌lived.‌‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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At‌‌present,‌‌we‌‌all‌‌still‌‌live‌‌in‌‌barangays‌‌that‌‌we‌‌know‌‌to‌‌be‌‌the‌‌smallest‌‌government‌‌units‌‌
in‌ ‌our‌ ‌country.‌ ‌Did‌ ‌you‌ ‌ever‌ ‌wonder‌ ‌how‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌barangays‌ ‌worked?‌ ‌Who‌ ‌usually‌‌
headed‌‌them?‌‌Did‌‌they‌‌have‌‌actual‌‌laws?‌‌To‌‌answer‌‌these‌‌questions,‌‌this‌‌lesson‌‌tackles‌‌the‌‌
precolonial‌‌government‌‌and‌‌governance‌‌structures‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌‌ ‌
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Learning‌‌Objectives‌ ‌ DepEd‌ ‌Learning‌‌Competencies‌ ‌

At‌t‌ he‌e
‌ nd‌o
‌ f‌t‌ his‌l‌esson,‌y
‌ ou‌s‌ hould‌b
‌ e‌a
‌ ble‌t‌ o‌‌
In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌you‌‌should‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌do‌‌the‌‌ do‌t‌ he‌f‌ ollowing:‌ ‌
following:‌ ‌ ● Relate‌t‌ he‌e
‌ volution‌o
‌ f‌P
‌ hilippine‌p
‌ olitics‌‌
and‌g
‌ overnance‌(‌ HUMSS_PG12-If-g-19)‌.‌ ‌
● Describe‌‌the‌‌precolonial‌ ‌
● Describe‌t‌ he‌d
‌ ifferent‌s‌ tages‌i‌n‌t‌ he‌‌
barangay‌‌system‌‌of‌‌government.‌ ‌ evolution‌o
‌ f‌P
‌ hilippine‌p
‌ olitics‌a
‌ nd‌‌
governance‌(‌ HUMSS_PG12-If-g-20).‌ ‌
● Explain‌‌the‌‌different‌‌functions‌‌of‌‌
‌

a‌‌chieftain‌‌or‌‌datu.‌ ‌

Explore‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
‌ ‌ rofile‌ ‌
My‌‌Barangay‌‌P 15‌‌minutes‌

‌Instructions‌ ‌
1. Pair‌‌with‌‌your‌‌seatmate.‌‌ ‌
2. Recall‌ ‌the‌ ‌basic‌ ‌information‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌barangay‌ ‌where‌ ‌you‌ ‌currently‌ ‌reside‌ ‌and‌‌
individually‌‌complete‌‌the‌‌following‌‌table:‌ ‌
‌
Barangay’s‌‌Name:‌ ‌ ‌

Origin‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Barangay’s‌‌Name:‌ ‌ ‌

Main‌‌Livelihood:‌ ‌ ‌

Barangay‌‌Chairman:‌ ‌ ‌

Barangay‌‌Councilors‌ ‌ ‌
(as‌‌many‌‌as‌‌you‌‌can‌‌remember):‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Establishments‌ ‌ ‌
(schools,‌‌hospitals,‌‌churches,‌‌malls,‌‌
etc.):‌ ‌

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3. After‌‌five‌‌minutes,‌‌share‌‌your‌‌answers‌‌with‌‌your‌‌partner.‌ ‌
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Guide‌‌Questions‌ ‌
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1. Were‌ ‌you‌ ‌and‌ ‌your‌ ‌partner‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌provide‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌needed‌ ‌information‌ ‌about‌‌your‌‌
barangay?‌ ‌Why‌‌or‌‌why‌‌not?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

2. Can‌‌you‌‌say‌‌that‌‌you‌‌know‌‌your‌‌barangay‌‌well‌‌enough?‌‌Explain‌‌your‌‌answer.‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

3. Why‌‌should‌‌we‌‌be‌‌aware‌‌of‌‌the‌‌basic‌‌information‌‌about‌‌our‌‌barangay?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Discover‌ ‌
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The‌ ‌Spaniards,‌ ‌Americans,‌‌and‌‌Japanese‌‌all‌‌left‌‌their‌ ‌

‌ ords‌‌to‌‌Remember‌ ‌
W
mark‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌government‌ ‌structure‌ ‌that‌ ‌we‌ ‌have‌
● oriental‌‌‌–‌‌relating‌‌to‌‌
today.‌‌The‌‌hundreds‌‌of‌‌years‌‌of‌‌colonization‌‌shaped‌
or‌‌coming‌‌from‌‌Asia,‌‌
not‌ ‌only‌ ‌Filipino‌ ‌culture‌ ‌and‌ ‌society‌ ‌but‌ ‌politics‌ ‌as‌
especially‌‌Eastern‌‌Asia‌ ‌
well.‌ ‌
● polity‌‌‌–‌‌a‌‌specific‌‌form‌‌
‌
of‌‌political‌‌
However,‌ ‌historical‌ ‌accounts‌ ‌will‌ ‌prove‌ ‌that‌ ‌even‌
organization;‌‌a‌‌
before‌ ‌the‌ ‌arrival‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Spaniards,‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌were‌
politically‌‌organized‌‌
already‌ ‌capable‌ ‌of‌ ‌governing‌ ‌themselves.‌ ‌Each‌
unit‌ ‌
settlement‌ ‌had‌ ‌its‌ ‌own‌ ‌government‌ ‌with‌ ‌laws‌
● revered‌‌‌–‌‌regarded‌‌as‌‌
determining‌‌how‌‌citizens‌‌should‌‌settle‌‌disputes,‌‌how‌
worthy‌‌of‌‌great‌‌honor‌‌
properties‌ ‌should‌ ‌be‌ ‌inherited,‌ ‌and‌‌how‌‌debts‌‌were‌
and‌‌respect‌ ‌
paid.‌ ‌Thus,‌ ‌political‌ ‌activity‌ ‌was‌ ‌already‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌
● commerce‌‌‌–‌‌the‌‌
precolonial‌‌Filipino‌‌life.‌‌ ‌
exchange‌‌or‌‌buying‌‌
‌
and‌‌selling‌‌of‌‌
In‌ ‌this‌ ‌lesson,‌ ‌you‌ ‌will‌ ‌learn‌ ‌more‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌early‌
commodities‌‌on‌‌a‌‌
political‌ ‌customs‌ ‌and‌ ‌practices‌ ‌of‌ ‌precolonial‌
large‌‌scale‌ ‌
Filipinos.‌‌ ‌

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‌

‌
What‌ ‌comparisons‌ ‌can‌ ‌we‌ ‌make‌ ‌between‌ ‌the‌‌
precolonial‌‌and‌‌modern-day‌‌barangay?‌‌ ‌

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‌
The‌‌Barangay‌ ‌
The‌‌precolonial‌‌Filipinos‌‌lived‌‌in‌‌kinship-based‌‌communities‌‌known‌‌as‌‌the‌‌‌barangay‌.‌‌Most‌‌
were‌‌small,‌‌with‌‌10‌‌to‌‌30‌‌houses‌‌each.‌‌However,‌‌larger‌‌communities‌‌consisted‌‌of‌‌a‌‌hundred‌‌
or‌‌more‌‌houses.‌‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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The‌‌Tagalog‌‌word‌‌‌barangay‌‌came‌‌from‌‌the‌‌Malay‌‌word‌‌‌balangay,‌‌‌a‌‌sailing‌‌vessel‌‌commonly‌‌
used‌ ‌for‌ ‌transportation‌ ‌and‌ ‌trading.‌ ‌Sometimes‌ ‌referred‌ ‌to‌ ‌as‌ ‌baranghai‌,‌ ‌binday‌,‌ ‌or‌‌
barangai‌,‌‌larger‌‌types‌‌of‌‌this‌‌ancient‌‌boat‌‌could‌‌carry‌‌60‌‌to‌‌90‌‌persons.‌‌Precolonial‌‌Filipinos‌‌
used‌ ‌the‌ ‌balangay‌ ‌to‌ ‌travel‌ ‌to‌ ‌and‌ ‌establish‌ ‌settlements‌ ‌in‌ ‌islands.‌‌Each‌‌boat‌‌would‌‌have‌‌
families‌‌in‌‌it‌‌led‌‌by‌‌a‌‌chieftain‌‌or‌‌datu.‌‌Similarly,‌‌the‌‌‌balangay’s‌‌counterpart‌‌in‌‌the‌‌land,‌‌the‌‌
barangay,‌‌also‌‌consisted‌‌of‌‌related‌‌families‌‌headed‌‌by‌‌the‌‌datu.‌ ‌
‌
Unlike‌ ‌the‌ ‌barangays‌ ‌of‌ ‌today,‌ ‌these‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌settlements‌ ‌were‌ ‌independent‌‌from‌‌one‌‌
another.‌ ‌They‌ ‌were‌ ‌not‌ ‌under‌ ‌the‌ ‌control‌ ‌or‌ ‌authority‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌larger‌ ‌political‌ ‌organization.‌‌
There‌‌was‌‌no‌‌central‌‌government‌‌that‌‌dictated‌‌how‌‌barangays‌‌should‌‌be‌‌governed.‌ ‌
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Fig.‌‌1.‌‌‌A‌‌precolonial‌‌Philippine‌‌map‌‌showing‌‌polities‌‌and‌‌sultanates‌‌(circa‌‌1500‌‌CE)‌ ‌
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Aside‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌barangay,‌ ‌more‌ ‌complex‌ ‌political‌ ‌institutions‌ ‌were‌ ‌also‌ ‌present‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌
precolonial‌ ‌Philippines.‌ ‌These‌ ‌included‌ ‌the‌ ‌Sultanates‌ ‌of‌ ‌Sulu‌ ‌and‌ ‌Maguindanao‌ ‌in‌‌
Mindanao.‌‌Monarchs‌‌headed‌‌these‌‌‌sultanates‌‌called‌‌the‌‌sultans,‌‌who‌‌had‌‌power‌‌over‌‌vast‌‌
areas‌‌of‌‌land.‌‌ ‌
‌
Early‌S
‌ ettlements‌ ‌
Most‌ ‌settlements‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌Philippines‌ ‌could‌ ‌be‌ ‌found‌ ‌near‌ ‌coastal‌ ‌areas,‌ ‌along‌‌
rivers,‌ ‌and‌ ‌in‌ ‌well-watered‌ ‌inland‌ ‌plains‌ ‌where‌ ‌agriculture‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌ ‌primary‌ ‌source‌ ‌of‌‌
livelihood.‌ ‌Rice‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌ ‌main‌ ‌crop,‌ ‌together‌ ‌with‌ ‌some‌ ‌fruits‌ ‌and‌ ‌vegetables.‌ ‌They‌ ‌also‌‌
depended‌‌on‌‌fishing‌‌and‌‌raising‌‌livestock.‌ ‌
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Ordinary‌‌houses‌‌in‌‌the‌‌barangays‌‌were‌‌usually‌‌made‌‌out‌‌of‌‌wood,‌‌bamboo,‌‌and‌‌nipa‌‌palm.‌‌
Each‌ ‌house‌ ‌was‌ ‌separate‌ ‌and‌ ‌was‌ ‌not‌ ‌built‌ ‌adjoining‌ ‌another.‌ ‌Meanwhile,‌ ‌the‌ ‌chieftains‌‌
had‌ ‌larger‌ ‌homes.‌ ‌Precolonial‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌believed‌ ‌in‌ ‌spirits‌ ‌and‌ ‌deities‌ ‌that‌ ‌represent‌‌
elements‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌natural‌ ‌world,‌ ‌thus‌ ‌their‌ ‌high‌ ‌regard‌ ‌for‌ ‌nature.‌ ‌They‌ ‌also‌ ‌had‌ ‌very‌‌high‌‌
respect‌‌for‌‌their‌‌ancestors.‌‌Spiritual‌‌leaders‌‌dispensed‌‌curative‌‌waters‌‌and‌‌made‌‌amulets.‌‌ ‌
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Figs.‌‌2‌‌and‌‌3.‌‌‌A‌‌depiction‌‌of‌‌precolonial‌‌native‌‌nobles‌‌(left)‌‌and‌‌dependents‌‌or‌‌slaves‌‌(right)‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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The‌ ‌barangays‌ ‌were‌ ‌independent‌ ‌from‌ ‌one‌ ‌another.‌ ‌The‌ ‌geographical‌ ‌separation‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
settlements‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌islands‌ ‌paved‌ ‌the‌ ‌way‌ ‌for‌ ‌various‌ ‌languages‌ ‌or‌ ‌dialects‌ ‌to‌ ‌develop.‌‌
These‌‌languages‌‌were‌‌all‌‌part‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Malayo-Indonesian‌‌family‌‌of‌‌languages.‌‌ ‌
‌
Socially‌ ‌differentiated,‌ ‌members‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌barangay‌ ‌were‌ ‌composed‌‌of‌‌nobles,‌‌freemen,‌‌and‌‌
dependents.‌ ‌The‌ ‌nobles‌ ‌or‌ ‌maginoo‌ ‌consisted‌ ‌of‌ ‌community‌ ‌leaders‌ ‌and‌ ‌their‌ ‌family‌‌
members.‌‌They‌‌held‌‌tremendous‌‌power‌‌and‌‌enjoyed‌‌rights‌‌not‌‌given‌‌to‌‌ordinary‌‌members‌‌
of‌‌the‌‌community.‌‌ ‌
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Next‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌nobles‌ ‌were‌ ‌the‌ ‌freemen‌ ‌or‌ ‌maharlika‌,‌ ‌as‌ ‌called‌‌by‌‌the‌‌Tagalogs.‌‌They‌‌were‌‌
composed‌‌of‌‌freemen‌‌and‌‌some‌‌dependents‌‌who‌‌had‌‌earned‌‌their‌‌freedom.‌‌At‌‌the‌‌lowest‌‌
level‌ ‌were‌ ‌the‌ ‌dependents‌ ‌or‌ ‌alipin‌ ‌among‌ ‌the‌ ‌Tagalogs.‌ ‌The‌ ‌dependents‌ ‌were‌ ‌either‌‌
aliping‌ ‌namamahay‌ ‌who‌ ‌had‌ ‌their‌ ‌own‌ ‌houses‌ ‌or‌ ‌aliping‌ ‌sagigilid‌ ‌who‌ ‌lived‌ ‌with‌ ‌their‌‌
master.‌ ‌
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Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
How‌‌will‌‌you‌‌describe‌‌the‌‌condition‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌society‌‌before‌‌
‌
the‌‌arrival‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Spaniards?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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Inter-Baranganic‌R
‌ elations‌ ‌
Relations‌‌between‌‌the‌‌barangays‌‌were‌‌conducted‌‌to‌‌build‌‌alliances‌‌and‌‌negotiate‌‌influence.‌‌
These‌‌were‌‌established‌‌mainly‌‌through‌‌‌trade‌.‌‌While‌‌most‌‌communities‌‌were‌‌self-sufficient,‌‌
products‌‌were‌‌exchanged‌‌throughout‌‌the‌‌islands.‌‌Trading‌‌occurred‌‌between‌‌barangays‌‌and‌‌
other‌ ‌settlements‌ ‌beyond‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌archipelago.‌ ‌Precolonial‌ ‌Filipinos‌‌had‌‌trading‌‌ties‌‌
with‌ ‌Chinese‌ ‌and‌ ‌Indians‌ ‌long‌ ‌before‌ ‌the‌ ‌Spanish‌ ‌colonizers‌ ‌came.‌ ‌It‌ ‌is‌ ‌evidenced‌ ‌by‌‌
pottery‌‌unearthed‌‌in‌‌archeological‌‌sites‌‌throughout‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Considered‌ ‌the‌ ‌oldest‌ ‌document‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines,‌ ‌the‌ ‌Laguna‌ ‌Copperplate‌‌
Inscription‌ ‌(LCI)‌ ‌dated‌ ‌922‌ ‌CE‌ ‌(10th‌ ‌century)‌ ‌can‌ ‌explain‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌political‌‌
structure‌ ‌in‌ ‌terms‌ ‌of‌ ‌political‌ ‌hierarchy,‌ ‌networks,‌ ‌debt,‌ ‌and‌ ‌slavery.‌ ‌According‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌‌
copperplate,‌ ‌Tondo‌ ‌in‌ ‌Manila‌ ‌was‌ ‌already‌ ‌an‌ ‌organized‌ ‌polity‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌10th‌‌century.‌‌It‌‌was‌‌
ruled‌‌by‌‌Rajah‌‌Lakandula‌‌(Lakan‌‌Dula),‌‌and‌‌it‌‌was‌‌a‌‌flourishing‌‌settlement‌‌on‌‌the‌‌northern‌‌
bank‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Pasig‌ ‌River.‌ ‌Tondo‌ ‌already‌ ‌had‌ ‌established‌ ‌connections‌ ‌with‌ ‌China,‌ ‌Japan,‌‌
Borneo,‌‌Siam,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌Malay‌‌peninsula‌‌even‌‌before‌‌the‌‌Spanish‌‌trade‌‌center‌‌was‌‌relocated‌‌
to‌‌Manila.‌ ‌
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‌

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Fig.‌‌4.‌T
‌ he‌‌Laguna‌‌Copperplate‌‌Inscription‌‌(circa‌‌900‌‌CE)‌‌housed‌‌in‌‌the‌ ‌
National‌‌Museum‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌Laguna‌ ‌Copperplate‌ ‌Inscription‌ ‌also‌ ‌mentioned‌ ‌that‌ ‌a‌ ‌political‌ ‌link‌ ‌and‌ ‌network‌‌
existed‌ ‌among‌ ‌the‌ ‌10th-century‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌polities.‌ ‌These‌ ‌were‌ ‌the‌ ‌polities‌ ‌of‌‌
Pailah‌,‌‌‌Puliran‌,‌‌and‌‌‌Binwangan‌‌that‌‌are‌‌all‌‌theorized‌‌to‌‌be‌‌in‌‌present-day‌‌Bulacan:‌‌Paila‌‌in‌‌
Norzagaray,‌ ‌Puliran‌ ‌in‌ ‌Pulilan,‌ ‌and‌‌Binwangan‌‌in‌‌Obando.‌‌However,‌‌other‌‌sources‌‌contest‌‌
that‌‌Paila‌‌and‌‌Puliran‌‌are‌‌located‌‌somewhere‌‌in‌‌present-day‌‌Laguna.‌ ‌

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Aside‌‌from‌‌trading,‌‌alliances‌‌were‌‌also‌‌strengthened‌‌through‌‌‌marriages‌‌between‌‌the‌‌ruling‌‌
families‌‌and‌‌the‌‌holding‌‌of‌‌feasts‌‌for‌‌allies.‌‌Datus‌‌also‌‌used‌‌these‌‌means‌‌to‌‌negotiate‌‌power‌‌
and‌‌influence‌‌among‌‌themselves.‌‌Thus,‌‌some‌‌datus‌‌held‌‌more‌‌power‌‌than‌‌others.‌‌ ‌
‌
Some‌ ‌datus‌ ‌sealed‌ ‌their‌ ‌alliance‌ ‌through‌ ‌a‌ ‌blood‌ ‌compact‌ ‌ritual‌ ‌called‌ ‌sanduguan‌.‌ ‌In‌ ‌a‌‌
sanduguan‌,‌‌contracting‌‌parties‌‌drew‌‌blood‌‌from‌‌their‌‌arms‌‌and‌‌poured‌‌it‌‌in‌‌a‌‌cup‌‌with‌‌wine‌‌
to‌‌share‌‌between‌‌them.‌‌Precolonial‌‌Filipinos‌‌considered‌‌the‌‌blood‌‌compact‌‌as‌‌binding.‌ ‌
‌
Wars‌b
‌ etween‌B
‌ arangays‌ ‌
Disagreements‌ ‌and‌ ‌conflicts‌ ‌were‌ ‌inevitable‌ ‌in‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌barangays.‌ ‌Wars‌ ‌usually‌‌
occurred‌‌because‌‌of‌‌three‌‌main‌‌reasons:‌‌(1)‌‌when‌‌a‌‌man‌‌from‌‌one‌‌barangay‌‌was‌‌murdered‌‌
for‌ ‌no‌ ‌reason‌ ‌in‌ ‌another‌ ‌barangay,‌ ‌(2)‌ ‌kidnapping‌ ‌of‌ ‌wives‌ ‌of‌ ‌men‌ ‌belonging‌ ‌to‌ ‌another‌‌
barangay,‌‌and‌‌(3)‌‌maltreatment‌‌of‌‌men‌‌from‌‌one‌‌barangay‌‌by‌‌men‌‌from‌‌another.‌‌
‌
There‌‌was‌‌very‌‌little‌‌to‌‌no‌‌attempt‌‌for‌‌reconciliation‌‌of‌‌conflicts‌‌during‌‌those‌‌times.‌‌People‌‌
believed‌‌that‌‌the‌‌resolution‌‌of‌‌conflict‌‌was‌‌brought‌‌about‌‌by‌‌force;‌‌thus,‌‌wars‌‌occurred.‌ ‌
‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
Why‌ ‌was‌ ‌it‌ ‌inevitable‌ ‌for‌ ‌barangays‌ ‌to‌ ‌interact‌ ‌even‌ ‌though‌ ‌they‌‌
‌
lived‌‌independently?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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The‌‌Chieftain‌‌or‌‌Datu‌ ‌
Each‌ ‌barangay‌ ‌was‌‌ruled‌‌by‌‌a‌‌‌chieftain‌‌or‌‌‌datu‌.‌‌The‌‌word‌‌‌datu‌‌is‌‌derived‌‌from‌‌the‌‌Malay‌‌
words‌ ‌dato‌ ‌and‌ ‌datuk,‌ ‌which‌ ‌are‌ ‌titles‌ ‌used‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌‌royalties.‌‌‌Datu‌‌was‌‌mainly‌‌used‌‌in‌‌the‌‌
Visayas‌‌and‌‌Mindanao‌‌regions,‌‌while‌‌the‌‌titles‌‌‌lakan‌‌and‌‌‌apo‌‌were‌‌used‌‌as‌‌counterparts‌‌in‌‌
Northern‌‌and‌‌Central‌‌Luzon.‌‌Today,‌‌‌datu‌‌‌is‌‌still‌‌being‌‌used‌‌for‌‌native‌‌royalties‌‌in‌‌Mindanao‌‌
along‌‌with‌‌the‌‌titles‌s‌ ultan‌‌‌and‌r‌ ajah‌.‌ ‌

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The‌ ‌position‌ ‌of‌ ‌datu‌ ‌was‌ ‌formerly‌ ‌passed‌ ‌on‌ ‌through‌ ‌inheritance‌ ‌when‌‌the‌‌barangay‌‌still‌‌
had‌ ‌simpler‌ ‌social‌ ‌organization.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌as‌ ‌social‌ ‌hierarchy‌ ‌became‌ ‌more‌‌differentiated‌‌
and‌‌conflicts‌‌with‌‌other‌‌tribes‌‌occurred,‌‌changes‌‌were‌‌made‌‌concerning‌‌the‌‌choice‌‌of‌‌datu.‌‌
People‌‌started‌‌to‌‌look‌‌for‌‌leaders‌‌who‌‌were‌‌skillful,‌‌effective,‌‌and‌‌cunning.‌‌By‌‌the‌‌1500s,‌‌the‌‌
choice‌‌of‌‌datus‌‌was‌‌made‌‌based‌‌on‌‌qualifications‌‌rather‌‌than‌‌inheritance.‌‌ ‌
‌

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

‌
‌
‌

Fig.‌‌5.‌‌‌A‌‌monument‌‌of‌‌Datu‌‌Lapu-Lapu‌‌in‌‌Mactan,‌‌Cebu‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌datu‌ ‌had‌ ‌extensive‌ ‌control‌‌over‌‌the‌‌social‌‌and‌‌economic‌‌life‌‌of‌‌the‌‌community.‌‌It‌‌was‌‌
his‌‌primary‌‌responsibility‌‌to‌‌govern‌‌his‌‌subjects‌‌and‌‌to‌‌promote‌‌their‌‌welfare‌‌and‌‌interests.‌‌
In‌ ‌return,‌ ‌the‌ ‌subjects‌ ‌helped‌ ‌the‌ ‌datu‌ ‌cultivate‌ ‌the‌ ‌land‌ ‌and‌ ‌build‌ ‌his‌ ‌house.‌ ‌They‌ ‌also‌‌
served‌ ‌him‌ ‌in‌ ‌times‌ ‌of‌ ‌war‌ ‌and‌ ‌accompanied‌ ‌him‌ ‌during‌ ‌voyages.‌ ‌The‌ ‌subjects‌ ‌also‌‌paid‌‌
tributes,‌ ‌called‌ ‌buwis‌,‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌form‌ ‌of‌ ‌crops.‌ ‌The‌ ‌family‌ ‌members‌ ‌and‌ ‌descendants‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
datu‌‌were‌‌exempted‌‌from‌‌paying‌‌tributes‌‌and‌‌rendering‌‌services.‌ ‌
‌
‌

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Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
How‌‌important‌‌were‌‌chieftains‌‌or‌‌datus‌‌i‌n‌‌precolonial‌‌barangays?‌ ‌
‌

______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
Executive‌a
‌ nd‌L
‌ egislative‌P
‌ owers‌ ‌
The‌ ‌chieftain‌ ‌possessed‌ ‌extensive‌ ‌executive‌ ‌and‌ ‌legislative‌ ‌powers.‌ ‌Laws‌ ‌were‌ ‌either‌‌
customary‌ ‌or‌ ‌written.‌ ‌Customary‌ ‌laws‌ ‌were‌ ‌unwritten‌ ‌and‌ ‌orally‌ ‌passed‌ ‌on‌ ‌from‌ ‌one‌‌
generation‌‌to‌‌another.‌‌These‌‌constituted‌‌most‌‌of‌‌the‌‌laws‌‌of‌‌the‌‌barangay.‌‌The‌‌written‌‌laws‌‌
were‌ ‌made‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌datu‌‌‌from‌‌time‌‌to‌‌time‌‌and,‌‌if‌‌necessary,‌‌with‌‌the‌‌help‌‌of‌‌his‌‌council‌‌of‌‌
elders.‌‌ ‌
‌
The‌‌datu‌‌called‌‌for‌‌the‌‌council‌‌of‌‌elders‌‌of‌‌the‌‌barangay‌‌whenever‌‌he‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌enact‌‌new‌‌
laws.‌ ‌He‌ ‌would‌ ‌consult‌ ‌with‌ ‌and‌ ‌ask‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌opinion‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌council.‌ ‌The‌ ‌datu‌ ‌made‌ ‌the‌‌
necessary‌ ‌rules‌ ‌and‌ ‌regulations‌ ‌that‌ ‌were‌ ‌immediately‌ ‌approved‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌‌council‌‌of‌‌elders.‌‌
The‌ ‌subjects‌ ‌would‌ ‌be‌ ‌notified‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌new‌ ‌laws‌ ‌through‌ ‌a‌ ‌public‌ ‌announcer‌ ‌called‌ ‌the‌‌
umalohokan‌.‌ ‌
‌
Table‌‌1.‌‌‌Major‌‌and‌‌minor‌‌crimes‌‌in‌‌precolonial‌‌barangays‌ ‌

Major‌‌crimes‌ ‌ Minor‌‌crimes‌ ‌

● murder‌ ‌ ● cheating‌ ‌
● stealing‌ ‌ ● adultery‌ ‌
● rape‌ ‌ ● petty‌‌theft‌ ‌
● incest‌ ‌ ● violation‌‌of‌‌an‌‌oath‌ ‌
● insult‌ ‌ ● disturbance‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌peace‌ ‌of‌‌
● trespassing‌ ‌ the‌‌night‌ ‌
● witchcraft‌ ‌ ● destroying‌ ‌properties‌ ‌owned‌‌
● irreligious‌‌acts‌ ‌ by‌‌the‌‌datu‌ ‌
‌

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Laws‌‌covered‌‌various‌‌aspects‌‌of‌‌people’s‌‌lives‌‌such‌‌as‌‌family‌‌relations,‌‌partnership,‌‌divorce,‌‌
adoption,‌ ‌property‌ ‌rights,‌ ‌inheritance,‌ ‌loans,‌ ‌robbery,‌ ‌and‌ ‌crime‌ ‌and‌ ‌punishment.‌ ‌A‌‌
habitual‌ ‌offender‌ ‌was‌ ‌punished‌ ‌more‌ ‌heavily‌ ‌compared‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌first-time‌ ‌offender.‌ ‌Anyone‌‌
who‌‌violated‌‌the‌‌laws‌‌was‌‌arrested‌‌and‌‌brought‌‌before‌‌the‌‌d
‌ atu‌‌to‌‌be‌‌judged‌‌accordingly.‌ ‌
‌
Judicial‌P
‌ ower‌ ‌
Completing‌‌the‌‌functions‌‌of‌‌the‌‌precolonial‌‌Filipino‌‌government,‌‌the‌‌datu‌‌also‌‌served‌‌as‌‌the‌‌
judge‌.‌‌Trials‌‌were‌‌publicly‌‌held‌‌and‌‌were‌‌efficiently‌‌conducted‌‌without‌‌delay.‌‌Along‌‌with‌‌the‌‌
datu,‌ ‌the‌ ‌council‌ ‌of‌ ‌elders‌ ‌was‌ ‌also‌ ‌involved‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌jury.‌ ‌Conflicts‌ ‌between‌ ‌different‌‌
barangays‌‌‌were‌‌resolved‌‌by‌‌arbitration,‌‌where‌‌a‌‌board‌‌was‌‌composed‌‌of‌‌elders‌‌from‌‌other‌‌
neutral‌‌barangays‌.‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌datu‌ ‌listened‌ ‌to‌ ‌both‌ ‌the‌ ‌accuser‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌accused‌ ‌as‌ ‌they‌‌faced‌‌each‌‌other‌‌together‌‌
with‌ ‌their‌ ‌witnesses.‌ ‌Simultaneously,‌ ‌the‌ ‌council‌ ‌of‌ ‌elders‌ ‌took‌ ‌mental‌ ‌notes‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
testimonies.‌ ‌The‌ ‌disputant‌ ‌with‌ ‌more‌ ‌witnesses‌ ‌by‌ ‌his‌ ‌side‌ ‌was‌ ‌considered‌ ‌the‌ ‌winner.‌‌
From‌‌there,‌‌the‌‌losing‌‌side‌‌had‌‌no‌‌other‌‌choice‌‌but‌‌to‌‌listen‌‌to‌‌the‌‌judgement‌‌of‌‌the‌‌datu,‌‌
acting‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌judge‌ ‌and‌‌executive.‌‌Common‌‌punishments‌‌were‌‌sanctioned‌‌by‌‌a‌‌small‌‌fine,‌‌
by‌‌whipping,‌‌by‌‌exposure‌‌to‌‌the‌‌ants,‌‌by‌‌swimming‌‌for‌‌certain‌‌hours,‌‌by‌‌cutting‌‌the‌‌fingers‌‌
of‌‌one‌‌hand,‌‌and‌‌in‌‌some‌‌instances,‌‌by‌‌death.‌ ‌
‌
‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌agree‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌amount‌ ‌of‌ ‌power‌ ‌the‌ ‌chieftains‌ ‌or‌ ‌datus‌‌
‌
held‌‌back‌‌then?‌‌Why‌‌or‌‌why‌‌not?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
‌
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In‌‌Philippine‌‌Context‌ ‌
‌

Datus,‌‌Rajahs,‌‌and‌‌Sultans:‌‌How‌‌Wealthy‌‌and‌‌Powerful‌‌Were‌‌the‌‌
pre-colonial‌‌Filipino‌‌Nobility?‌‌‌ ‌
Mario‌‌Alvaro‌‌Limos,‌‌“Datus,‌‌Rajahs,‌‌and‌‌Sultans:‌‌How‌‌Wealthy‌‌
and‌‌Powerful‌‌Were‌‌the‌‌pre-colonial‌‌Filipino‌‌Nobility?”‌E
‌ squire‌‌
Magazine‌,‌‌21‌‌January‌‌2019,‌‌
https://www.esquiremag.ph/the-good-life/pursuits/datus-rajahs-‌
and-sultans-how-wealthy-and-powerful-were-the-precolonial-fili‌
pino-nobility-a1957-20190121-lfrm‌,‌‌last‌‌accessed‌‌on‌‌19‌‌May‌‌
2021.‌ ‌

‌
Datus,‌‌Rajahs,‌‌and‌‌Sultans:‌‌How‌‌Wealthy‌‌and‌‌Powerful‌‌Were‌‌the‌‌
pre-colonial‌‌Filipino‌‌Nobility?‌ ‌
(An‌‌excerpt)‌ ‌
‌
When‌ ‌17th-century‌ ‌Spanish‌ ‌missionary‌ ‌Francisco‌ ‌Colin‌ ‌came‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines,‌ ‌he‌‌
mentioned‌ ‌that‌ ‌“there‌ ‌are‌ ‌no‌ ‌kings‌ ‌or‌ ‌rulers‌ ‌worthy‌ ‌of‌ ‌mention”‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌islands.‌ ‌He‌‌
made‌ ‌a‌ ‌common‌ ‌mistake‌ ‌among‌ ‌European‌ ‌observers‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌time‌ ‌in‌ ‌searching‌ ‌for‌‌
evidence‌‌of‌‌early‌‌wealth‌‌and‌‌power‌‌in‌‌authoritative‌‌law‌‌codes,‌‌centralized‌‌government,‌‌
and‌‌temple‌‌complexes,‌‌which‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌then‌‌lacked.‌ ‌
‌
They‌ ‌were‌ ‌surprised,‌ ‌however,‌ ‌when‌ ‌they‌ ‌discovered‌ ‌that‌ ‌Filipinos,‌ ‌commoners‌ ‌and‌‌
nobility‌‌alike,‌‌wore‌‌gold‌‌jewelry‌‌or‌‌clothing‌‌as‌‌everyday‌‌accessories.‌ ‌
‌
Historian‌ ‌William‌ ‌Henry‌ ‌Scott‌ ‌describes‌ ‌the‌ ‌regality‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌certain‌ ‌Datu‌ ‌Iberein‌ ‌and‌ ‌his‌‌
entourage‌‌in‌‌1543.‌‌Upon‌‌seeing‌‌a‌‌Spanish‌‌vessel‌‌anchored‌‌off‌‌the‌‌coast‌‌of‌‌Samar,‌‌the‌‌
datu‌‌wearing‌‌golden‌‌earrings‌‌and‌‌chains‌‌rowed‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Spanish‌‌boat.‌‌His‌‌oarsmen‌‌wore‌‌
gold‌‌necklaces.‌ ‌
‌
Iberein‌ ‌is‌ ‌merely‌ ‌an‌ ‌example‌ ‌of‌ ‌some‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌wealthy‌ ‌and‌ ‌influential‌ ‌rulers‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippines‌ ‌in‌ ‌pre-colonial‌ ‌times.‌ ‌Among‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌wealthy‌ ‌and‌ ‌powerful‌ ‌were‌ ‌Rajah‌‌

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Sulayman‌ ‌and‌ Lakan‌ ‌Dula‌ ‌of‌ ‌Manila‌ ‌(circa‌ ‌1570),‌ ‌and‌ ‌Sultan‌ ‌Kudarat‌ ‌of‌‌
Maguindanao‌‌(circa‌‌1619‌‌to‌‌1671).‌ ‌

‌
‌

‌Wrap-Up‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
● The‌‌precolonial‌‌Filipinos‌‌lived‌‌in‌‌kinship-based‌‌communities‌‌known‌‌as‌‌the‌‌‌barangay.‌‌
It‌ ‌consisted‌ ‌of‌ ‌30‌ ‌to‌ ‌100‌ ‌families.‌ ‌The‌ ‌word‌ ‌barangay‌ ‌came‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌Malay‌ ‌word‌‌
balangay,‌ ‌a‌ ‌boat‌ ‌commonly‌ ‌used‌ ‌for‌ ‌transportation‌ ‌and‌ ‌trading‌ ‌in‌ ‌precolonial‌‌
Southeast‌‌Asia.‌ ‌
● Precolonial‌ ‌society‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌barangay‌ ‌was‌ ‌divided‌ ‌into‌ ‌nobles‌ ‌(m
‌ aginoo‌),‌ ‌freemen‌‌
(‌maharlika‌),‌‌and‌‌dependents‌‌(a
‌ lipin‌).‌ ‌
● The‌‌barangays‌‌‌formed‌‌alliances‌‌with‌‌one‌‌another‌‌through‌‌‌trade‌,‌‌‌intermarriages‌,‌‌
and‌ ‌feasting‌.‌ ‌These‌ ‌alliances‌ ‌also‌ ‌involved‌ ‌negotiating‌ ‌political‌ ‌power‌ ‌between‌‌
datus.‌‌ ‌
● The‌ ‌Laguna‌ ‌Copperplate‌ ‌Inscription‌ ‌(LCI)‌,‌ ‌the‌ ‌oldest‌ ‌document‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippines,‌ ‌mentioned‌ ‌that‌ ‌a‌ ‌political‌ ‌link‌ ‌and‌ ‌network‌ ‌existed‌ ‌among‌ ‌the‌‌
10th-century‌‌precolonial‌‌Philippine‌‌politics.‌ ‌
● A‌ ‌chieftain‌ ‌or‌ ‌datu‌ ‌ruled‌ ‌each‌ ‌barangay.‌ ‌The‌ ‌word‌ ‌datu‌ ‌is‌ ‌derived‌ ‌from‌‌the‌‌Malay‌‌
words‌ ‌dato‌ ‌and‌ ‌datuk‌,‌ ‌which‌ ‌are‌ ‌titles‌ ‌used‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌‌royalties.‌‌Other‌‌names‌‌used‌‌to‌‌
pertain‌‌to‌‌the‌‌datu‌‌w
‌ ere‌l‌akan‌,‌a
‌ po‌,‌s‌ ultan‌,‌‌and‌r‌ ajah‌.‌ ‌
● The‌ ‌datu‌‌had‌‌extensive‌‌control‌‌over‌‌the‌‌social‌‌and‌‌economic‌‌life‌‌of‌‌the‌‌community.‌‌
He‌ ‌exercised‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌functions‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌government:‌ ‌executive,‌ ‌legislative‌,‌ ‌and‌‌
judicial‌.‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

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Try‌‌This!‌ ‌
A. Identification.‌‌‌Write‌‌the‌‌correct‌‌answer‌‌on‌‌the‌‌provided‌‌space‌‌before‌‌each‌‌number.‌‌ ‌
‌

________________‌ 1. It‌ ‌is‌ ‌an‌ ‌ancient‌ ‌boat‌ ‌commonly‌ ‌used‌ ‌for‌ ‌transportation‌ ‌and‌‌
trading‌‌in‌‌precolonial‌‌Southeast‌‌Asia.‌ ‌

________________‌ 2. They‌‌served‌‌as‌‌the‌‌jury‌‌during‌‌trials‌‌in‌‌precolonial‌‌barangays.‌

________________‌ 3. The‌‌early‌‌Filipinos‌‌relied‌‌greatly‌‌on‌‌this‌‌economic‌‌activity‌‌for‌
their‌‌everyday‌‌living.‌ ‌

________________‌ 4. This‌‌is‌‌known‌‌as‌‌a‌‌blood‌‌compact‌‌ritual‌‌that‌‌was‌‌done‌‌to‌‌seal‌‌
friendship‌‌and‌‌alliance‌‌between‌‌the‌‌barangays.‌ ‌

________________‌ 5. It‌‌is‌‌the‌‌social‌‌class‌‌consisting‌‌of‌‌freemen‌‌and‌‌some‌‌
dependents‌‌who‌‌had‌‌earned‌‌their‌‌freedom.‌ ‌

‌
B. Modified‌ ‌True‌ ‌or‌ ‌False.‌ ‌Write‌ ‌true‌ ‌if‌ ‌the‌ ‌statement‌ ‌is‌ ‌correct.‌ ‌Otherwise,‌ ‌correct‌ ‌the‌‌
statement‌‌by‌‌replacing‌‌the‌‌underlined‌‌word‌‌or‌‌phrase‌‌to‌‌make‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌true.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 1. Together‌‌with‌‌some‌‌fruits‌‌and‌‌vegetables,‌r‌ ice‌‌‌was‌‌the‌‌main‌‌

crop‌‌of‌‌the‌‌precolonial‌‌Filipinos.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 2. Trials‌‌were‌p
‌ rivately‌‌‌held‌‌and‌‌were‌‌efficiently‌‌conducted‌‌
without‌‌delay.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 3. The‌ ‌social‌‌separation‌‌of‌‌the‌‌settlements‌‌and‌‌the‌‌islands‌‌paved‌‌

the‌‌way‌‌for‌‌various‌‌languages‌‌or‌‌dialects‌‌to‌‌develop.‌ ‌

________________‌ 4. The‌‌datu‌‌w
‌ ould‌‌call‌‌for‌‌the‌c‌ ouncil‌‌of‌‌elders‌‌‌of‌‌the‌‌barangay‌‌
whenever‌‌he‌‌wanted‌‌to‌‌enact‌‌new‌‌laws.‌ ‌ ‌

________________‌ 5. The‌‌Tagalog‌‌word‌b
‌ arangay‌‌‌came‌‌from‌a
‌ n‌‌Indonesian‌‌‌word.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 6. The‌‌datu‌‌exercised‌a
‌ ll‌‌‌the‌‌functions‌‌of‌‌the‌‌government.‌ ‌

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________________‌ 7. During‌‌trials,‌ ‌the‌‌disputant‌‌with‌‌more‌j‌ury‌‌members‌b

‌ y‌‌his‌‌side‌‌
was‌‌considered‌‌the‌‌winner.‌ ‌

________________‌ 8. The‌ ‌aliping‌ ‌namamahay‌ ‌lived‌ ‌with‌ ‌his‌ ‌master‌ ‌and‌ ‌had‌ ‌no‌‌
property‌‌of‌‌his‌‌own.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 9. The‌ ‌datu‌ ‌served‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌legislator‌ ‌and‌ ‌oversaw‌ ‌the‌ ‌judicial‌‌
process.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 10. Datu‌ ‌is‌ ‌still‌ ‌being‌ ‌used‌ ‌today‌ ‌for‌ ‌native‌ ‌royalties‌ ‌in‌ ‌Mindanao‌‌
along‌‌with‌‌the‌‌titles‌s‌ ultan‌‌‌and‌r‌ ajah‌.‌ ‌
‌

Challenge‌‌Yourself‌ ‌
Answer‌‌the‌‌following‌‌questions‌‌briefly.‌‌ ‌
‌

1. Some‌‌Filipino‌‌historians‌‌and‌‌nationalists‌‌see‌‌the‌‌precolonial‌‌period‌‌before‌‌1521‌‌as‌‌a‌‌
“Golden‌‌Age.”‌‌Do‌‌you‌‌agree‌‌or‌‌disagree?‌‌Explain‌‌your‌‌answer.‌ ‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌

2. Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌think‌ ‌the‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌barangay‌ ‌system‌ ‌is‌ ‌applicable‌ ‌to‌ ‌modern-day‌‌
Philippine‌‌politics?‌‌Why‌‌or‌‌why‌‌not?‌ ‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
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‌
Suggested‌‌Rubric‌‌for‌‌Grading‌ ‌
‌

The‌ ‌rubric‌ ‌below‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌suggested‌ ‌one.‌ ‌Your‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌may‌ ‌modify‌ ‌it‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌needs.‌‌
Consult‌‌your‌‌teacher‌‌for‌‌the‌‌final‌‌rubric.‌‌ ‌
‌
‌

Performance‌‌Levels‌ ‌

1‌ ‌ 2‌ ‌ 3‌ ‌ Suggested‌‌
Criteria‌ ‌ Score‌ ‌
Beginning‌‌ Proficient‌ ‌ Advanced‌‌ Weight‌ ‌
Proficiency‌ ‌ Proficiency‌ ‌

The‌‌answers‌‌are‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌are‌‌clear‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌are‌‌

Content‌‌ ‌
unclear‌‌and‌‌
insufficient;‌‌there‌‌are‌‌
major‌‌flaws‌‌in‌‌the‌‌
argumentation.‌ ‌
‌
but‌‌barely‌‌sufficient;‌‌ clear‌‌and‌‌sufficient;‌ ‌
there‌‌are‌‌minor‌‌flaws‌‌ the‌‌argumentation‌‌is‌‌ ×‌‌3‌ ‌
in‌‌the‌‌argumentation.‌ ‌ excellent.‌ ‌

The‌‌answers‌‌do‌‌not‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌flow‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌flow‌‌

Organization‌ ‌ ‌
flow‌‌logically,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌ logically,‌‌but‌‌the‌‌parts‌‌ logically,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌
×‌‌2‌ ‌
parts‌‌are‌‌not‌‌clearly‌‌ are‌‌not‌‌clearly‌‌ parts‌‌are‌‌clearly‌‌
structured.‌‌ ‌ structured.‌‌ ‌ structured.‌ ‌

There‌‌are‌‌many‌‌major‌‌ There‌‌are‌‌minor‌‌ There‌‌are‌‌virtually‌‌

Mechanics‌‌and‌ ‌ ‌
errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌ errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌ no‌‌errors‌‌in‌‌
Language‌‌Use‌ ‌
construction,‌‌ construction,‌‌ sentence‌‌
×‌‌1‌ ‌
grammar,‌‌or‌‌spelling.‌‌ ‌ grammar,‌‌or‌‌spelling.‌‌ ‌ construction,‌‌
grammar,‌‌or‌‌
spelling.‌‌ ‌

Total‌‌Possible‌‌Score‌ ‌ 18‌ ‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

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Reflect‌‌on‌‌This‌ ‌
Answer‌‌the‌‌following‌‌question‌‌briefly.‌ ‌
‌
What‌ ‌lesson(s)‌ ‌can‌ ‌modern-day‌ ‌leaders‌ ‌learn‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌ ‌precolonial‌ ‌government‌ ‌and‌‌
governance‌‌structures?‌
‌
______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

______________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

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‌

Bibliography‌ ‌
Agoncillo,‌‌Teodoro‌‌A.‌‌‌History‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Filipino‌‌People.‌‌8th‌‌ed.‌‌Quezon‌‌City:‌‌Garotech‌‌Publishing,‌‌
1990.‌ ‌
‌
Alejado,‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌T.‌ ‌and‌ ‌Aquino,‌ ‌Belinda‌ ‌A.‌ ‌Age‌ ‌of‌ ‌Discovery:‌ ‌Impact‌ ‌on‌ ‌Philippine‌‌Culture‌‌and‌ ‌
Society‌.‌‌2nd‌‌ed.‌‌Manoa:‌‌Hawaii‌‌Correctional‌‌Industries,‌‌1993.‌ ‌
‌
Dela‌‌Costa‌‌S.J.,‌‌Horacio.‌R
‌ eadings‌‌in‌‌Philippine‌‌History.‌M
‌ etro‌‌Manila:‌‌Bookmark,‌‌Inc.,‌‌1992.‌ ‌
‌
Encyclopædia‌ ‌Britannica.‌ ‌“Barangay.”‌ ‌Accessed‌ ‌January‌ ‌4,‌ ‌2021.‌‌
https://www.britannica.com/topic/barangay‌.‌‌ ‌
‌
“Pre-colonial‌ ‌Manila.”‌ ‌(n.d.).‌ ‌Presidential‌ ‌Museum‌ ‌and‌ ‌Library.‌ ‌Accessed‌ ‌May‌ ‌19,‌ ‌2021.‌‌
http://malacanang.gov.ph/75832-precolonial-manila/‌.‌ ‌
‌

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5.1.‌T
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‌ overnment‌i‌ n‌P
‌ recolonial‌P
‌ hilippines‌ ‌ 19‌
‌