Burial Jars

• Burial Jars were the most impressive of the

ancient Philippine potteries.
• A clear sign that people paid tribute to the dead;
owing their belief in life after death
• Most of them were found in Cagayan Valley, Albay,
and Palawan Caves as well in the coastal areas of
Batanes, Samar, Masbate, Palawan, Sorsogon,
South Cotabato, and Sta. Ana Manila
Early Social Organization
• Barangay- areas along near the coasts and
rivers were already organized socially.
- Coined from the boat, barangay
- small, consisting of 30 households and its
residents are usually not more than 500 who
were generally related by blood.
- Manila and Cebu however had a population of
2, 500
- Confederation of barangays were formed.
 The Datu as Chieftain
- Wielded great powers; was more of an
administrative officer than an absolute monarch
and was bound by customs, traditions and laws.
- He was the chief executive, legislator and judge of
the barangay in time of peace; commander of the
warriors of the barangay in time of war.
- To be a datu, one had to demonstrate superior
skills in combat and traits like wisdom, strength,
courage and valor; however, it was hereditary in
some barangays.
 Social Classes
MAHARLIKA
• Majority of the
members of datu’s household
members of the barangay keeping order within the
• Helps the datu and the barangay by ensuring that
maharlika in promoting the laws and customs, as well as
welfare of the barangay by religious beliefs were
engaging in productive observed by the people.
activities like cultivating
lands, engaging in various
crafts and industries,
participating in trade and
other similar activities.

timawa
 Dependants/Alipin
- debt peons serving individuals and families.

1. Birth
2. Captivity in war
3. Purchase
4. Failure to pay debts
5. Penalty for crimes committed
 Types of Alipin
• resided in their own
homes and could own
property
• could marry even without
permission of their master
could not be sold by the latter
namamahay
saguiguilid
• had no property and stayed
at the house of their master
• Had to seek the permission
of his master when he
wanted to get married
• Could be sold anytime by
his master
the
and
 Dependants/Alipin
The alipins were not totally useless for
they performed household chores so that
others could concentrate on farming and
other similar preoccupations.
Law Making and Judicial System

laws were considered very important in

the maintenance of order and stability in
the ancient barangays
 Two Types of Laws
oral
• transmitted orally from
consisted of customs which
generation to generation people had to abide by
• Written laws, however, were
promulgated by the datu in
coordination of elders called
“maginoos”. Once promulgated, these laws
were announced to the people of barangay
by the umalahokan or town-crier.

written
 Conflicts existed in pre-Spanish
Philippine Society.
Trials were witnessed by the people of the barangay, where the
accuser and the accused pleaded their own case.

Witnesses for both sides took an oath stating that they are going
to tell the truth and willing to suffer the consequence of their
willful utterance of false testimonies either by being hit by
lightning or eaten by crocodiles.
 Trial by Ordeal
- when the barangay court find it difficult to determine who
the guilty party was
-this is done to prove that God protected the innocent and
punished the guilty.

The River Ordeal

- suspects are required to plunge into the river. The one who
first floats into the surface of the river is declared the guilty
party.

Boiling Water Ordeal

- suspects are required to place a stone in a hollow container
with boiling water and were ordered to dip their hands into the
container to get the store. The one who refused to follow the
order is pronounced as the culprit.
 Candle Ordeal
– in this mode of trial by ordeal suspects are given lighted
candles of the same length and thickness. The one whose candles
dies out is declared the perpetrator of the crime.

Chewing of uncooked Rice Ordeal

-suspects are made to chew uncooked rice and are ordered to spit
their saliva. In this ordeal, the suspect whose saliva comes out
to be the thickest is deemed guilty.
 Life in the

Early Filipino
Settlements
 Food and Agriculture
• Planting of root crops e.g. taro and yam
• Rice became the staple food; was already
consumed by 4500 or 5000 B.C.
• Rice Terraces were said to be constructed as
early as 1000 B.C.
• Planting and farming methods were greatly
improved when stone tools were introduced e.g.
axe
• Slash-and-burn and Kaingin System- mode of
farming
 Crafts and industries
• Skillful in pottery
• Weaving was also practiced as early as
2000 B.C., integral part of their lives
especially during the Waiting Period
in between planting and harvest
• Wood Carving
• Boat building became a necessary
skill
 Early arts and music
• 500 A.D. – musical instruments like bamboo
flute, bamboo guitar, and kettle gongs were
already present
• Able to produce indigenous songs for the
different stages of life, as well as for
various activities such as planting, hunting,
and fishing.
• Body painting and tattoo to enhance their
bodily beauty and to show war record.
 Marriage and divorce
• Practiced marriage within their social class/rank
• Prior to marriage, the groom was required to give
a DOWRY or bigay kaya to the family of his wife-
to-be
• Divorced was also practiced
1. Disertion on the part of the husband
2. Adultery on the part of the wife
3. Cruelty
4. Loss of affection
5. Insanity
6. childlessness
 Interactions with

Great Traditions of
Asia
 hindus
• Indochina, Sumatra, Java, and Malay
• Sanskrit Language
HINDU TAGALOG
AMA AMA
GANDA GANDA
INA INA
MAHARDDLIKA MAHARLIKA
BHATTARA BATHALA
HARI HARI
SAKSI SAKSI
 Chinese
• Even before Spanish Era, trading already
happened
CHINESE TAGALOG
SU-SI SUSI
LAU-LANG KUYA
A-CHI ATE
BUNG-TAI BANTAY
PIN-TO PINTO
CHE-NA TONA
KAU-TING GUNTING
 JAPANESE
• Not as evident as others
• Manufacturing of arnis and tools
• Artificial breeding of ducks and fishes;
most significant contribution to Philippine
Agriculture
• Tanning of our skin
Introduction of islam and the sultanate
• 13th century- Arab merchants from Bughdad
arrived in the Sulu Archipelago
• Conversion of the people in Sulu and
Maguindanao started after a few years after
the arrival of RAJAH BAGINDA, a prince from
Sumatra
• Before Spanish era, Islam was already
extending its influence