CUSTOMS OF TAGALOGS
BY: JUAN DE PLASENCIA
Fray Juan was born to the illustrations family of the
Portocarreros in Plasencia in the region of
Extremadura, Spain in the early 16th century.
He grew up during the period known as the Siglo de
Oro, a Golden Age when arts and literature flourished
in many parts of spain.
Arrival in the Philippines
He came together with the first batch of the Franciscan
missionaries in the Philippines.
The ship with Fray Juan on board, arrived at airport in
Cavite on July 2, 1578.
Life in the Philippines
He joined forces with another missionary, Fray Diego de
Oropesa, and they both started preaching around
Laguna de bay and tayabas , Quezon province where he
founded several towns.
During the following years they are also credited with the
foundation of a large number of towns in provinces of
Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal, such as Tayabas, Caliraya,
Lucban, Majayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio(liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz,
Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and
Meycauyan.
As a Friar, Juan de Plasencia lived up to his pledge, leading a
lifestyle devoid of any luxury and in constant contact with
the people he was trying to convert to Christianity. He was
also known to be a defender of the native population, looking
after the poor, ill, or neglected, and standing up for their
rights on numerous occasions.
He was also very keen on creating primary schools, and
requested official sanction for the creation of educational
centers where “Filpinos could not only lean Christian
doctrine, but also reading and writing, and some arts and
crafts, so they would become after, not only good
Christians but also useful citizens”, an initiative that was
approved by Domiggo de Salazar, the first Bishop of the
See of Manila (1512-1594).
In the language more common on these Islands, I have
written some works like “Arte de la lengua tagala” and
“Declaracion de toda la doctrina Cristiana” and now I
am writing the “Vocabulario”. These are very necessary
for all the minister if they would only be printed. It would
be particularly favorable if your majesty would send me a
“cedula” so they could be sent for printing in Mexico.
Written works
He wrote a number of books designed primarily to promote
the understanding of both the Spanish language among the
natives, and the local languages among the missionaries, to
facilitate the tasks of spreading Christianity. He acknowledge
at an early stage the need of mastering the language of the
natives in order to facilitate evangelization, and in a letter to
the King of Spain, dated June, 1585, he mentioned some of
his works to that affect:
He is the author of what is believed to be the first book printed in the
Philippines, the “Doctrina Cristiana,” that was not only printed in Spanish,
but also in Tagalog, in both Latin script and the commonly used Baybayin
script of the natives of the time, and it even had a version in Chinese.
Other works attributed to him are the “Relacion de las Costumbres de Los
Tagalogs” (1589)”, that not only helped understand and preserve many of
the traditional ways of the local population, but also provided the first
form of Civil Code, used by local governors to administer justice .
A mystical work which he entitled “ La Santina”, was an Opus number on
prayer and contemplation entirely done in Tagalog language so the natives
who did not know Spanish could also engage in the spiritual exercise of
their teachers.
A mystical work which he entitled “ La Santina”, was an
Opus number on prayer and contemplation entirely done
in Tagalog language so the natives who did not know
Spanish could also engage in the spiritual exercise of their
teachers
Three Customs of Tagalogs
Government
Social Life
Worship
SOCIAL CLASSES
Chieftain
(datu)
Nobles(Maharlika)
Commoners(Aliping namamahay)
Slaves(Aliping Sagguiguilir)
CHIEFTAIN/DATU
Chief, captain of wars, whom governed,
obeyed and reverenced
NOBLES/MAHARLIKA
Free born, they do not pay taxes
COMMONERS/ALIPING NAMAMAHAY
They live in their own houses and lords
of their property and gold
SLAVES /ALIPING SA GUIGUILAR
They serve their master in his house
and his cultivated lands and can be sold.
HOUSES
Made of wood, bamboo,
and nipa palm
Mode of dressing
Headgear is called Putong(symbolizes the
Number of persons the wearer had killed)
(Upper) a jacket with short sleeves called
kanggan
(Lower) bahag
FEMALE
(Upper) Baro or Camisa
(lower) Saya
ORNAMENTS
A decorative object or detail that
adds quality or distinction
to a person, place or thing.
GOVERNMENT
The government was called “Baranggay” ruled by the
chieftain, and consist of 30 to 100 families together with
their relatives and slaves.
ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE
The cheiftain’s executive function includes implementing
laws, ensuring order and giving protection to his subject.
Disputes between individuals were settled by a court made
up of the chieftain and council of elders,
INHERITANCE
The 1st son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s
position; if the 1st son died the 2nd son succeeds his father; in
the absence of male heirs, it is the eldest daughter that
becomes the chieftain.
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
Men were in general, monogamous, while their wives are called Asawa.
Courtship begins with paninilbihan.
Prior to marriage the man requires to give dowry: 1 bigay kaya(a
piece of land or gold); 2. Panghihimuyat( a gift for the brides parents);
3. Bigay-suso( for brides wet nurse).
Marriage between couples belonging to different social classes were
not common.
Several grounds of divorce are; 1. Adultery, 2. Abandonment on the
part of the husband. 3. Cruelty 4. Insanity
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
They worship many gods and goddesses:
1. bathala, supreme being
2. Idayanale, god of agriculture
3. Sidarapa, god of death
4. Agni, god of fire
5. Balangaw, god of rainbow
6. Mandarangan, god of war
7. Lalahon, god of harvest
8. Siginarugan, god of hell
SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS
Believe in Aswang, Dwende, Kapre, Tiyanak, Tikbalang,
Patyanak.
They also believe in magical power pf amulet and charms such
as Anting-anting, kulam and gayuma or love potion
ECONOMIC LIFE
Agriculture in the plane lands: planting of rice, corn, banana, coconut, sugar
canes and other kinds of vegetable and fruits.
Hunting in high lands
Fishing in river banks and sea.
Shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining and lumbering.
Domestic trade of different barangays by boat.
Foreign trade with countries like Borneo, China, Japan,
Cambodia, Java and Thailand.
LANGUAGE AND SYSTEM OF WRITING
Major Languages:
Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Pampangan, Sugbuhanon,
Hiligaynon, Magindanaw, and Samarnon this language is
originated from the Malayo-Polenesian language.
System of writing; the alphabets consisted of 3 vowels and
14 consonants called Baybayi.
They used tap of tress as ink and pointed stick as a pencil.
They wrote on large plant leaves, bark of a tree or bamboo
tubes
REFERENCES
Blair, E. H. (2004). The Philippine Islands, 1493 –
1898, V7, 1588 – 1951. Retrieved from
[Link]
[Link]
Mapano, S. (2015). Accustomed Othering in Colonial
Writing A Review of “Customs of the Tagalogs” (two
relations) by Juan de Plasencia From The Philippine
Islands 1493-1898. Retrieved from
[Link]
stomed-othering-in-colonial-writing
REFLECTION
Our reflection for Juan de Plasencia Customs of the Tagalogs
is; although we don’t know if his work is biased or
not( because he is a spaniard). It made a great contribution of
knowing who we are, filipino’s in the past and where we came
from. These document gave us our own identity that we
filipino’s even before the spanish times have our own customs
and traditions that up until now we are incorporating in the
modern world. In addition this document also shows not only
about the early filipino’s but how the Sapniards see our
ancient customs and traditions in a negative and inferior way
LEADER: Ruphil May P. Burata
MEMBERS:
Basas, Mary Angel M.
Batallones, Michael Jhon B.
Berdugo, Ma. Josephine A.
Berganio, Rheajean P.
Bustamante , Liza Mae S.
Caberoy, Rennalie P.
Caniban, Jason L.
Demafelis, Katherine V.
Dimaisip, May Anne
Dordas, Renna D.
Echalar, Jerre Mae S.
Sumagaysay, Helen Joy
