PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES

A. SOCIETY STATUS OF WOMEN

1. MODE OF DRESSING - Women in pre-colonial Philippine society had the right to inherit property, engage in
2. ORNAMENTS trade and industry, and succeed to the chieftainship of the barangay in the absence
3. HOUSES of a male heir
4. SOCIAL CLASSES - Had the exclusive right to name their children
5. STATUS OF WOMEN - Men walked behind them as a sign of respect
6. MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
7. MIXED MARRIAGES, INHERITANCE AND SUCCESSION MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
- Men were in general, monogamous; while their wives are called asawa, while
MODE OF DRESSING concubines are called “friends”
- Male attire was composed of the kanggan (sleeveless jacket) and bahag (loincloth) - In order to win the hand of his lady, the man has to show his patience and dedication
- The color of the kanggan indicates rank – red for the chief, black or blue for the to both the lady and her parents
commoners - Courtship usually begins with paninilbihan
- Men also wear a turban called putong, which also tell the social status/achievement - If the man wins the trust of the parents, he does not immediately marry the woman,
of theindividual wearing it but he has to satisfy several conditions:
- Female attire consisted of baro and camisa (jacket with sleeves) and saya or  Give a dowry or bigay-kaya
patadyong (a long skirt); some women wore a piece of red or white cloth on top of  Pay the panghihimuyat
their skirt called tapis.  Pay the wet nurse bigay-suso
 Pay the parents himaraw
ORNAMENTS  Bribe for the elatives called sambon (among the zambals)
- Men and women wore ornaments to look attractive - Once he had settled all of the above requirements, he brings his parents to meet with
- Both wear kalumbiga, pendants, bracelets, and leglets the bride-to-be’s parents to haggle and make the final arrangements; this is called
- These ornaments were made of gold pamamalae or pamamanhikan or pamumulungan
- Some wore gold fillings between the teeth - The wedding ceremonies vary depending on the status of the couple; but normally,
- Tattoos were also fashionable for some pre-colonial Filipinos; they also exhibit a those from the upper class, a go-between was employed
man’s war record - Weddings are ifficiated by the priestess or babaylan
- Islas del Pintados – term coined by the Spaniards for the Visayanas - Uncooked rice is thrown on the couple after the wedding ceremony
- Muslim Filipinos have similar marriage customs; the first stage was called
HOUSES pananalunguni or bethrotal; it was followed by the consultation with the girl’s
- Built to suit the tropical climate parents, who relays their decision to the village chief, who in turn informed the
- Called bahay kubo, made of wood, bamboo, and nipa palm; it was built on stilts and suitor’s parents of the decision
can be entered through ladders that can be drawn up - Dowry was also settled by the chief (pedsungud). This was of seven kinds:
- Some Filipinos, such as the Kalingas, Mandayas and Bagobos built their houses on 1. Kawasateg, money given to the bride’s close relatives;
treetops 2. Siwaka, brassware given to those who helped arrange the wedding;
- Others, such as the Badjaos, built their houses on boats 3. Enduatuan, brassware or animals for the village chief;
4. Pangatulian, jewelry given to the bride’s mother and aunts;
SOCIAL CLASSES 5. Tatas, blade given to the girl’s uncle;
- The society was made up of three classes: nobles (made up of the datu and their 6. Langkad, money given to the girl’s parents as fine for having bypassed the
families), mahadlika/maharlika (free men) and the alipin (dependents) girl’s elder sister if she had any;
- Members of the nobility were addressed with the title Gat or Lakan among the 7. Lekat, amount of money given to the girl’s attendant
Tagalogs
- Alipin or dependents acquired their status by inheritance, captivity, purchase, failure
to settle debts, or by committing a crime
- There are two kinds of dependents: aliping namamahay and aliping sagigilid
- In the Visayas, dependents were of three kinds: tumataban, tumarampok, and
ayuey
MIXED MARRIAGES, INHERITANCE AND SUCCESSION ECONOMIC LIFE
- Mixed marriages were allowed in pre-colonial society AGRICULTURE
- The status of children were dependent upon the status of the parents - Main source of livelihood
- Often, the status of children in mixed marriages is divided evenly between the - Rice, coconuts, sugar cane, cotton, hemp, bananas, oranges, and may species of fruits
parents and vegetables were grown
- Single children of mixed marriage were half-free and half-dependent - Done in two ways: kaingin system (slash and burns) and tillage
- Legitimate children inherited their parents’ property even without any written will - When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they noted that Cebu and Palawan were
and was divided equally among the children abundant in many agricultural foodstuffs
- Natural children inherited only a third of the inheritance of legitimate children - Agricultural productivity was enhanced by use of irrigation ditches like those found in
- Children of dependent mothers are given freedom and a few things the Ifugao Rice Terraces
- Nearest relatives inherit he property of childless couples - Landholding was either public (less arable land that could be tilled freely by anyone)
- In succession the first son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position; if and private (rich and cultivated lands belonging to nobles and datus)
the first son dies, the second son succeeds their father; in the absence of male heirs, - Some rented land and paid in gold or in kind
it is the eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain - The daily fare consisted of rice and boiled fish, or sometimes pork or venison,
carabao or wild buffalo meat
- Fermented the sap of palm trees and drank it as liquor called tuba

LIVESTOCK
- Pre-colonial Filipinos raised chickens, pigs, goats, carabaos, and small native ponies

FISHING
- Was a thriving industry for those who live in the coast or near rivers and lakes
- Various tools for fishing such as nets, bow and arrow, spear, wicker basket, hooks
and lines, corrals and fish poisons were used
- Pearls fisheries also abound in Sulu

MINING
- Comparatively developed before the coming of the Spaniards
- The ancients mined gold in many parts of the archipelago and were traded
throughout the country and with other countries

LUMBERING AND SHIPBUILDING

- Were flourishing industries
- Filipinos were said to be proficient in building ocean-going vessels
- All kinds of boats or ships were built, which the Spaniards later call banca, balangay,
lapis, caracoa, virey, vinta and prau

WEAVING
- Home industry that was dominated by women
- Using crude wooden looms, textiles such as sinamay from hemp, medrinaque from
banana, cotton, linen, and silk, were woven
TRADE - Islamic influence can be gleaned from the ornamental and decorative art of the
- Was conducted between or among barangays, or even among the islands Lanao Muslims; most represent geometric and plant designs because Islam is
- There was trade too with other countries such as China, Siam, Cambodia, Japan, iconoclastic
Borneo, Sumatra, Java - Ifugao art deals with human and animal representations but not fish plant forms;
- Did not use any currency but conducted trade through barter Ifugao art is funtional
- Sometimes, goods were priced in terms of gold or metal gongs
- Chinese traders noted that Filipinos were very honest in their commercial
transactions

CULTURE
- Philippine pre-colonial culture was basically Malayan in structure and form. They had
written language which was used not just for communication but also for literary
expression. They also had music and dances for almost all occasions and a wide
variety of musical instruments that shows their ingenuity.

LANGUAGES
- There are more than one hundred languages in the Philippines, eight of which are
considered major languages. They are: Tagalog, Iloko, Pangasinan, Pampangan,
Sugbuhanon, Hiligaynon, Samarnon or Samar-Leyte, and Maguindanano

ART
- First glimpse can be seen in primitive tools and weapons that were polished along the
lines of the leaves and petals of flowers
- Can also be seen in beads, amulets, bracelets, and other ornaments made of jade,
red cornelian, and other stones
- Dyed and ornamented their barkcloth with designs of attractive colors
- In the iron age, aside from amulets, bracelets, rings, and headbands, tattoos also
became fashionable; metals and glass also came into use; weaving became a
preoccupation for women; weapons were manufactured with designs on their
handles; pottery with incised designs were made; and carvings made of wood, bone,
ivory or horn were also done not only for the use of living but also of the dead
 Sarimanok
 Gangsa
 Utensils
- The zigzag designs on ancient lime tubes and the ornamental carvings on combs
reflect Negrito influence
- Indonesian influence can be seen in the apparel of the Kalingas, Maranaos, Manobos,
and Bagobos
- Malay influence can be traced to the wood carvings found in utensils, boats, and
wooden shields of the people of Sulu, Mindanao and Mountain Province