Customs of the

Tagalogs
by FRAY JUAN DE PLASENCIA
 Fray
Juan de
Plasencia
 SOURCE
De Plasencia, Juan.
1906. “Customs of the
Tagalogs” in Emma
Helen Blair and James
Alexander Robertson.
The Philippine Islands:
1493-1898. Cleveland,
OH: The Arthur H.
Clark Company.
 BACKGROUND OF THE
AUTHOR
He was born in the early 16th century to
the illustrious family in the region of
Extremadura, Spain.
His real name is Joan de Puerto Carrero,
del convento de Villanueva de la Serena
He came with the first batch of
FRANCISCAN missionaries to the
Philippines in July 2, 1578.
 BACKGROUND OF THE
AUTHOR
He started preaching in the Tagalog region
specifically in Laguna, Quezon, Bulacan,
and Rizal areas together with Franciscan
Fray Diego de Oropesa.
He was one of those who initiated the
Reduccion Policy, a policy to resettle
natives in central locations.
 BACKGROUND OF THE
AUTHOR
His works include
1) Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language);

2) Coleccion de frases tagala (Collection of

Tagalog Phrases);

3) Diccionario Tagalog ( Tagalog Dictionary); and

4) Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Española y

Tagala which became the first printed book in the
Philippines in 1593.
REDUCCION
 BACKGROUND OF THE
AUTHOR
His experiences with the natives he converted to
Christianity influenced him to write the book
entitled RELACION DE LAS COSTUMBRES DE
LOS TAGALOGS ( Customs of the Tagalogs)
in 1589. This book describes in details the cultural,
economic, social, and political practices of the
Filipino natives before the Spaniards arrived.

He died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 Before the colonization by the Spaniards, the
Filipinos particularly the Tagalog, already had
customs and beliefs that they followed and were
accustomed to. These customs and beliefs showed
how systematized and civilized their way of living
was making it difficult for the Spanish colonial
government to administer the natives.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 Also, some of the Spaniards did not want to live
outside Intramuros. For this reason, Filipino natives
were allowed to be gobernadorcillos. But friars were
assigned to monitor those gobernadorcillos. As part
of their monitoring, they performed administrative
functions such as collection of taxes, implementation
of the Royal orders to the localities, and other civic
duties. Thus, friars played significant roles in the
pueblo.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 Among their administrative duties, friars were
requested to make reports informing their
superiors on their experiences in their assigned
localities. Fray Juan de Plasencia also received this
request.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 To fulfill this request, Fray Plasencia thoroughly
informed himself by observing and talking to people
from different localities; by experiencing those
practices with the natives; and by compiling all those
information about the political and socio-cultural
activities of the people in the Tagalog region.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CUSTOMS OF
THE TAGALOGS

 CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS

The Customs

The Worship

(Check your notes on the Highlights of the

Customs of the Tagalogs)
READINGS
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE
DOCUMENT IN

UNDERSTANDING THE
GRAND NARRATIVE IN
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND NARRATIVE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

 
The writing of Fray Plasencia
presents the way of life, political
and socio-cultural practices, and
political stratifications of the
early Filipino people specifically
in the Tagalog region.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND NARRATIVE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

  It discusses the idea of a tribal

gathering known as barangay
and social classes during the
early Filipino communities. It
tackles the privileges and
responsibilities of the datos, the
maharlicas, the commoners,
and the slaves.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND NARRATIVE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

 
Because of Fray Plasencia’s
accounts, unwritten
traditions, customs of
worship, laws, religious
practices, and superstitious
beliefs were preserved.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND NARRATIVE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

 
It is considered as an
important piece of literature
giving us a glimpse of our
ancestors’ beliefs on
mancocolam, osuang,
mangagayoma, patianac, and
other superstitious beliefs of
the Filipino people.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND NARRATIVE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

  This account proved that Filipinos had their

own culture before the Spaniards came ---as
reiterated by Fray Plasencia that Filipinos
had systematized politically and economically
their social structure. Early Filipinos had
their structured political system, laws and
punishments, and system of taxation. Also,
Filipinos had a religion before Christianity
was introduced by the Spaniards. They had
their concepts of the supreme being, manner
of burying the dead, and life after death.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING
THE GRAND NARRATIVE IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

  The account of Fray Plasencia serves

as an inspiration to the missionaries
not only during the Spanish
colonization period but also at the
present time. Missionaries
acknowledge the importance of
knowing the culture and mastering the
language of their assigned areas in
spreading the Christianity.