REVIEWER (RITPH)

SPIRITUAL BELIEFS OF THE EARLY FILIPINOS

ARCHIPELAGO LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS (1542) – Name of our country gave by navigator Ruy
Lopez de Villalobos.

Barangay - It comes from the word “balangay” an Austronesian sea-going vessel. Barangays
could be seen as economic, social, cultural, and spiritual institutions.

Catalonan - Barangay spiritual leader in Luzon, particularly in Tagalog areas. This position
was usually obtained by a female, but a male could also serve as one, however he must act
and dress as a female. The position could be passed from one generation to the next.

Babaylan - Is a local spiritual leader in the barangay in Visayas. The Babaylan led the brgy in
all rituals, particularly those involving sacrifices for the local deities and spirits to gain favors
as she was believed to have the power to transcend to spiritual real..

DIWATA – Deities of Visayas

ANITO – Deities of Tagalog

EXCERPT FROM RELATION OF THE WORSHIP OF TAGALOGS, THEIR GODS, AND THEIR
BURIALS AND SUPERTTIONS BY : FRAY JUAN DE PLACENCIA

Fray Juan De Placencia

- One of the first Franciscan missionaries in the Philippines.

- He was responsible for the foundation of various towns in Luzon particularly in Laguna and
Tayabas and the conversion of inhabitants into Catholicism.

- He was known to be the defender of the natives from the Spanish officials.

- He died in Liliw, Laguna in 1950.

MANUGGUL JAR - Manunggul Jar is a Neolithic jar found in Manunggul Cave, Lipuun Point,
Palawan in the early 1960s This is an example of a secondary burial wherein the bones of the
corpse are placed inside. The top portion of the jar contains scroll designs and a boat with
two human figures; one guiding the boat while the other is going to the afterlife. The
Manunggul Jar is one of the most important archaeological artifacts in the Philippines as it
signifies not only prehistoric indigenous burial practices but also the belief in a soul and life
after death of early Filipinos.

DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA - Doctrina Christiana is the first book printed in the Philippines. It
was written in 1593 by Fray Juan de Plasencia. The Doctrina was used by the Spaniards to
aid them in the Christianization of the Philippines.

Primary Source - There are no temples consecrated to the performing of sacrifices, the
adoration of their idols, or the general practice of idolatry.

Simbahan – temple or place of adoration.

Pandot or Worship – a festival they celebrated in the large house of a chief.

Sibi – a temporary shed on each side of the house with a roof that might contain many
people, to protect them from the wet when it rained.

Sorihile – small lamps put on the post of the house.

Nagaanitos – worship practiced by the whole family, united and joined in the worship.

Badhala – among one of their many idols whom they specially worshipped

The title seems to signify “all powerful” or “maker of all things”.

Dian Masalanta – the patron of lovers and of generation.

Balatic – greater bear

Mopolon – change of season

Lacapati & Idianale – patrons of the cultivated lands and of husbandry

Catalonan – officiating priest.

EXCERPT FROM SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS BY: ANTONIO DE MORGA

Antonio De Morga

- Spanish high ranking official in the Phils from 1593 to 1603

- A lawyer by profession, held the position of judge of the Real Audencia.

- With little experience in military combat

- Author of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, one of the most comprehensive accounts of the
16th cent Spanish Colonization of Archipelago

Sucesos - Was published in 1609 when Morga was already in Mexico City. The book covers
the political, economic, social, and cultural life of Filipinos and Spaniards from 1493 to 1603.
This book talks about the ignorance and stubbornness of the non-Christian Filipinos.

EXCERPT FROM RELACION DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS BY: MIGUEL DE LOARCA

Miguel De Loarca

- One of the first Spanish Conquestadores to arrive in the archipelago

- He observed the native cultural traditions before they were fully acculturated to
Christianity.

- He was the first Spaniard to conduct the colony earliest census

- He documented the customs and traditions of early Filipinos.

- He talks about the beliefs of the people from panay or the so – called Pintados

Pintados - Was the term used by the Spaniards to refer to the tattooed settlers of the Visayan
region. The tattoos could symbolize bravery and experience in war among men.

Pitarillas – is an earthen jar used to store food for consumption. However it was also used
by the early Visayans as sacrificial vessels during rituals officiated by the babaylan

Yligueynes - The people of the coast who believe that heaven and earth had no beginning,
and that there were 2 gods:

Captan and Maguayen

They believe that the land and breeze, and the sea breeze were married, and that the land
and breeze forth a reed, which was planted by the God and Captan.
Sicalac (the man) Sicavay (the women). They asked to marry for there were no other people
in the world. And theyre marraid the name of their first son is “Sibo” and “Samar” the second
born, a female.

EXCERPT FROM RELACION DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS BY: PEDRO CHIRINO

Pedro Chirino

- one of the most well- known devoted Jesuit missionaries of the early colonial period

- founder of various towns and parishes across the archipelago

- with a crucial role in recording the ancient Tagalog script baybayin to latin alphabet.

FRANCISCO COLIN, S.J

- One of the most prominent Jesuit missionary and historian of the early colonial period

- He studied the local language which was instrumental in the understanding of early Filipino
culture and society

LABOR EVANGELICA

- Book published by Colins which discusses the customs and traditions of the natives of the
Phils as well as other parts of Southeast Asia such as Sumatra and Moluccas

- The most studied groups in his book are the tagalogs and the Visayans wherein Colin
discussed at length their physical appearance, clothing, marriage, eating pattern, songs and
dances , and even their bathing habits.

CHAPTER 3 EARLY PHIL. SOCIETY AND CULTURE

BARANGAY

- The primary political, economic, and socio cultural institutions in the Phil before the advent
of Spanish Colonization.

- 30 to 100 families are living in a not well- defined, but customarily agreed territory.

- A Brgy can also form an alliance with other brgys to become powerful and prosperous. This
can be achieved through marriage and blood compact.
3 Socio Econ Classes:

1. Maginoo in Tagalog, Kadatoan in Visayan – They are the ruling class or nobility

2. Maharlika in Tagalog, Timawa in Visayan – They are the commoners or freemen. They
formed the majority of the people in the barangay.

3. Slaves – They are not considered as property but a person becomes one through debt
bondage, raids and wars, and punishment for a crime.

DATU - The highest and most powerful person in the brgy. He came from a ruling class
because of wealth, power, and influence were needed to maintain such a position DATU with
the help of elders, and other lesser officials govern the brgy. He is a maker, executor, and
adjucator of laws. He was also responsible in providing protection for the brgy in times of
raids and wars as the leader of the bagani (warriors of the Community.)

FRANCISCO DE SAN ANTONIO

- He is a missionary of the Franciscan order.

- He discussed some parts of Mindanao and even other parts of Southeast Asia.

- He speculates on the origins of the early Filipino people, but none of those were well-
founded.

- The native languages, clothing, ornaments, and physical features of the Filipinos were also
thoroughly tackled in his Cronicas.

Cronicas or Philippine Chronicles – Is a comprehensive study of the early Filipinos as well

as the Japanese and Chinese. However the focus of Chronic as excerpt is the Visayan
marriage custom, ceremonies, and the dowry system.