Early Beginnings

Culture is the sum of all the forms of art, of love,

and of thought, which, in the course or centuries,

have enabled man to be less enslaved.

-Andre Malraux

This chapter gives us a deeper understanding of the Pre-colonial culture

of the early Filipinos and lends credibility to the claim that the Filipinos were

already civilized and not barbaric savages even before the coming of the

colonizers

The Prehistoric Period

The three age system is the division of prehistory first proposed by

Danish archeologist Christian Thoman in 1816. The focus of these stages

is the development of human tools and the achievement in various fields

including human behavior.

Archeological excavation at Tabon cave has established man's long

residence in the archipelago. Further studies of the artifacts recovered have

shown them to be flaked stone tools with a usable sharp edges and then

the parts of the stone chipped from the core. The first stage is the Paleolithic.
This period is characterized as the use of a large stone tool exhibited no
retouching or deliberate sharpening of their edges.
The second stage is the Neolithic. This is characterized by more
polished weapons and tools from stone and flint are being used. Another
characteristic of this stage is the discovery of planting domestication of
animals, ground stone edges, pottery and horticulture. This period laid the
foundation of civilization whereby enough food surplus had to be
accumulated to support specialized craftsmen who devoted much of their
time to the manufacture of tools, pottery, clothing and dwellings.
The last stage is Metal. In the Philippines the time of existence of this
period is approximately between 800-600 BC. Cooper and bronze artifacts
were the earliest metals found in the Philippines particularly in Palawan. These
metal artifacts were in the form of socketed axes, spearhead, arrow head,
knives and needles. The advent of metal baking or technique suggested more
organized communities with division of labor and early trading contacts.
This period is also characterized not only by metal implements but also by
glass beads and gold ornaments.
Pre-colonial Philippines
It is important to underscore here that long before the Spaniards
came to the Philippines, Filipinos had a civilization of their own. This
civilization partly came from the Malay settlers and partly from their
response to the new environment. Many of these customs and traditions,
government and way of life, have come down to the present day, despite
the changes brought about by westernization and modernization and has
impacted the lives of the people. This is why it is possible to know about
our distant past by simply observing some customs and practices that have
resisted change and modernization. Philippine pre-colonial society is both
different and the same as in the present. Some aspects of the pre-colonial
period have survived into our time. The following is a description of the
way of life of pre-colonial Filipinos.

the parts of the stone chipped from the core. The first stage is the Paleolithic.
This period is characterized as the use of a large stone tool exhibited no
retouching or deliberate sharpening of their edges.
The second stage is the Neolithic. This is characterized by more
polished weapons and tools from stone and flint are being used. Another
characteristic of this stage is the discovery of planting domestication of
animals, ground stone edges, pottery and horticulture. This period laid the
foundation of civilization whereby enough food surplus had to be
accumulated to support specialized craftsmen who devoted much of their
time to the manufacture of tools, pottery, clothing and dwellings.
The last stage is Metal. In the Philippines the time of existence of this
period is approximately between 800-600 BC. Cooper and bronze artifacts
were the earliest metals found in the Philippines particularly in Palawan. These
metal artifacts were in the form of socketed axes, spearhead, arrow head,
knives and needles. The advent of metal baking or technique suggested more
organized communities with division of labor and early trading contacts.
This period is also characterized not only by metal implements but also by
glass beads and gold ornaments.
Pre-colonial Philippines
It is important to underscore here that long before the Spaniards
came to the Philippines, Filipinos had a civilization of their own. This
civilization partly came from the Malay settlers and partly from their
response to the new environment. Many of these customs and traditions,
government and way of life, have come down to the present day, despite
the changes brought about by westernization and modernization and has
impacted the lives of the people. This is why it is possible to know about
our distant past by simply observing some customs and practices that have
resisted change and modernization. Philippine pre-colonial society is both
different and the same as in the present. Some aspects of the pre-colonial
period have survived into our time. The following is a description of the
way of life of pre-colonial Filipinos.

Ornaments
Both men and women wore ornaments to look
attractive.
It is aid that both wear kalumbiga, pendants,
bracelets, and leglets which ornaments were made of
gold some wore gold fillings between the teet tattoos
were also fashionable for some pre-colonial Filipinos;
they also exhibit a man's war record.
Some images of pendants, charms and amulets
worn by the early Filipinos.
Tattoed Bontoc men

Dwellings
The early Filipinos built houses to suit the tropical climate. The people
in the plains make dwellings called *bahay kubo*, made of wood, bamboo, and
nipa palm; it was built on stilts and can be entered through ladders that can be
drawn up. Some Filipinos, such as the Kalingas, Mandayas and Bagobos built
their houses on treetops while others, such as the Badjaos, built their houses
on boats. This clearly indicates that early Filipino houses are conditioned by
their locale.
Social Classes
The society is divided into different social classes, in Luzon the highest
class is the *Maginoo*, the social class of the datu, the second is the *Maharlika*
and the *Timawa* who are the tax payers and the Last is the dependents
(*Alipin*). The dependents had two kinds the *Aliping Namamahay* or the
dependent who had his/her own house and will serve the datu or his master
on the day that they agreed and the *Aliping Saguiguilid* or the dependent who
lives in the house of his master and had a limited privileges than the
*Namamahay*. The master of the aliping saguiguilid had a right to sell the alipin
and could we will be ask for consent when the alipin will marry.
In Visayas, the society is divided into three classes, the Maharlika or
the class of the datu and his relatives, the Timawa or the tax payers and the
Dependents (*Alipin*). The Alipin is divided into three groups: the *tumataban*,
they serve their master only in times that they are tasked; the *tumarampok*,
they serve their master few days in a week; and lastly the *Ayuey*, they serve
their master three times a week.

There is a great social mobility in the early society, a timawa could be

a dependent if he can't pay the debt that he had to other people or if he is a
captive in a war. A dependent could be a timawa if a dependent could pay
his debt or his freedom. There is a big difference in the perspective of the
Spaniards in the context of the dependents because the dependents enjoy
rights and privileges that the slaves from different culture. In the early Filipino
society, the social stratification is a means of distributing the tasks in the society
and each class is considered part of the society.

In the society, women enjoyed more rights and considered equal to

the men. They are allowed to inherit properties and position in the barangay.
The head of the religion is a lady priest or the Catalonan in Luzon and
Babaylan in Visayas being the head of the religion, the datu is asking advice
to the Babaylan in times of wars and other important activity in the barangay.
The Babaylans/Catalonan can heal, ask for the bounty harvest and predict
events.

Marriage Customs
Agoncillo also opined that men were in general, monogamous; their
wives are called asawa, while concubines are called "friends". In order to win
the hand of his lady, the man has to show his patience and dedication to both
the lady and her parents through a courtship which usually begins with
paninilbihan.

If the man wins the trust of the parents, he does not immediately
marry the woman, but he has to satisfy several conditions:
* give a dowry or bigay-kaya;
* pay the panghihimuyat which is a payment for the parents for the
sleepless nights taking care of the bride when she was a baby;
* pay the wet nurse bigay-suso;
* pay the parents himaraw,
* bribe for the relatives called sambon (among the Zambals).

Once he had settled all of the above requirements, he brings his parents
to meet with the bride-to-be's parents to haggle and make the final
arrangements; this is called pamamalae or pamamanhikan or pamumulungan
the wedding ceremonies vary depending on the status of the couple; but
normally, those from the upper class, a go-between was employed. Weddings
are officiated by the priestess or babaylan.
Marriage ceremony called the Rice ceremony
Muslim Filipinos have similar marriage customs; the first stage was
called pananalanguni or bethrothal; it was followed by the consultation with
the girl's parents, who relays their decision to the village chief, who in turn
informed the suitor's parents of the decision.
.
The dowry was also settled by the chief (pedsungud). This was
of seven kinds: 1. kawasateg, money given to the bride's close
relatives; 2. siwaka, brassware given to those who helped arrange
the wedding; 3. enduatuan, brassware or animals for the village
chief; 4. pangatulian, jewelry given to the bride's mother and aunts;
5. tatas, blade given to the girl's uncle; 6. langkad, money given to
the girl's parents as fine for having bypassed the girl's elder sister if
she had any; and 7. lekat, amount of money given to the girl's
attendant. Then once everything is settled, the pegkawing, or the
wedding ceremony follows. The wedding ceremony is officiated
by the hadji six days of festivities followed, and only on the seventh
day could the couple sleep together.

Status of Women
Women in pre-colonial Philippine society had the right to inherit property, engage in trade and industry,
and succeed to the chieftainship of the barangay in the absence of a male heir. They have the exclusive
right to name their children and also men walked behind them as a sign of respect. This is a
manifestation that even in the earlier times, the Filipino woman already possessed an esteemed position
in the society.
Government and Politics
The basic political unit in Luzon and Visayas is the baranggay which is composed of 30-100 families. The
baranggay is headed by the datu who does the function of the executive body because he implements
the laws, the legislative because he formulate laws with the help of the council of elders and the
judiciary because he also give judgment in the crimes committed in the baranggay. Each baranggay is
independent to each other however the datus are sometimes create federation in other communities
and make treaties in regards to trading.
There is also an existence of a "just war" if the one party violates treaties or rules of other. The just war
will also result to the expansion of the territory of the baranggay who will win in the battle. The title of
being a datu could be inherited by his male successors but in case he had no male successor, the oldest
female child of the datu could inherit the throne. However the power of the datu is usually based on his
properties and the extent of his territories.
In Mindanao and Sulu, they have a Sultanate which is the federation of the datus under the leadership of
the Sultan. This federation made the political organization more established. The datu and his
community recognize the power of the sultan in return the latter had the responsibility in protecting all
the baranggay under his leadership. As the head of the Sultanate, the sultan is chief of all the aspects of
the community. The tax collected from the community will be use in the needs of the families under his
jurisdiction. The position of the sultan is also inherited by his sons or in case that he had no successor in
his children it could be his brother or his male cousin. The sultanate is essential in organizing the people
in Sulu and Mindanao under one

government, laws and religion and the well established community in

Mindanao and Sulu is the main reason why the Spanish and the Americans
did not succeed in colonizing the region.
There are unwritten and written laws in the baranggay. The written
laws are ratified by the datu and the council of elders and the laws which are
written pertains to the violation of rights of others like murder, rape, theft,
divorce and issue about inheritance. The Umalohocan will announce the new
laws to the community. The written and unwritten laws signifies the organize
society and the importance that the early government gives to the rights of
each person in the community.

Balangay
In every barangay, the chief or datu was the chief executive, the
legislator, and the judge; he was also the supreme commander in times of
war. There were also alliances among barangays and these were formalized in
a ritual called sangduguan or Blood compact.
The conflicts between or among barangays were settled by violence;
those who win by force is always right.

Laws

The laws in Pre colonial Philippines were either customary (handed down from generation to generation
orally) or written (promulgated from time to time as necessity arose).

There were laws that dealt with various subjects such as inheritance, property rights, divorce, usury,
family relations, divorce, adoption, loans, etc. If ever there were those found guilty of crimes were
punished either by fine or by death; some punishments can be considered as torture by modern
standards however, it must be noted that ancients did not believe in endangering society by letting loose
a gang of thieves of recidivists who are incapable of reform.

Trial by Ordeal

In order to determine the innocence of an accused, he is made to go through a number of ordeals which
he must pass examples include dipping one's hand in boiling water, holding a lighted candle that must
not be extinguished, plunging into a river and staying underwater for as long as possible, chewing
uncooked rice and spitting, etc. among the Ifugaos, ordeal by combat was common, i.e. bultong
(wrestling), alaw (duel).
Religious Beliefs

It must be noted that pre-colonial Filipinos believed in the immortality of the soul and in life after death.
They also believed in the existence of a number of gods whom they worship and made offerings to
according to rankie. Bathalang Maykapal (Creator), Idinayale (god of agriculture), Sidapa (god of death),
Balangaw (rainbow god), Mandarangan (war god), Agni (fire god) Lalahon (goddess of harvest),
Siginarugan (god of hell), Diyan Masalanta (goddess of love), etc. They also showed respect for animals
and plants like the crocodile, crow, tigmamanukin; some trees were not also cut

because they were thought to be divine

They believe that diseases were thought to be caused by the temper of

the environmental spirits Filipinos also venerated the dead by keeping alive

their memory by carving idols of stone, gold or ivory called likha or larawan;

food, wine and other things were also shared with the dead.

The early Filipinos also adored idols called anitos or diwatas to whom

they made offerings. Some anitos were considered bad, however, they made

offerings to them too in order to appease them or placate their anger priestesses

such as the babaylan/baylana or katalona acted as mediums to communicate

with these spirits

Burial

There also exists some burial customs in which the dead was placed in

a wooden coffin and buried under the house complete with cloth, gold and

other valuable things

Likewise, upon the death of the person, fires were made under the

house and armed men acted as sentinels to guard the corpse from sorcerers.

There are also professional mourners were hired to accentuate the depth of

mourning

There are times when the relatives of the dead wore rattan bands

around their arms, legs and necks and they abstained from eating meat and

drinking wine. The ancients distinguished mourning for a woman from that

of a man - morotal (for women) and maglahi (for men).

The mourning for a dead chief is called larawy, and this was accompanied
by certain prohibitions like engaging in petty quarrels, wars, carrying daggers

with hilts in the normal position, singing in boats coming from the sea or

river, and wearing loud clothes.

Some ancients fasted and limited their nutrition to vegetables; among

the Tagalogs, this is called sipa. The relatives of the dead who was murdered

would not end their mourning until they have exacted vengeance or balata.

There is also the celebration held on the ninth night after the death of the

person is called pasiyam, in which a play called tibaw is staged to honor the

dead

Divination and Magic Charms

The ancient Filipinos are quite superstitious and put much stock into

auguries, and magic charms. They interpreted signs in nature like the flight of

birds, the barking of dogs, the singing of lizards, and the like, as good or bad

omens depending on the circumstances. They also consulted with the

pangatauhan, or soothsayers, to tell their fortunes there was also a belief in

the existence of the aswang, mangkukulam, manggagaway, tiyarnak, and the

tikbalang amulets and charms were also used by the ancients like the anting-

anting, gayuma, odom or tagabulag, wiga or sagabe, and tagahupa.

These beliefs were not eradicated with the coming of Western

civilization and most of them were practiced behind the backs of the Christian

missionaries the result was a blending of pagan and Christian beliefs that

made Filipino Catholicism unique.

The Economic Life

The reports of Chau Ju-Kua about the early Filipino- Chinese trade

proved that the Filipinos had an active trading and productive harvest. Because

of the abundant products they are able to trade to other islands and countries.

At the end of the nomadic era, the Filipino utilized the resources in their
environment like the river, lake and settles their communities near the water

because the main industry of the early community is farming and fishing.

Since the Philippines is an archipelago, the early Filipinos were able to produce

different kinds of boat like balanghay, paraw, baroto, damlog, karakoa at

bidok (Mactal, 2010). The different boat is one of the evidence of the high

technology that the early Filipino had and these boats are usually narrow that

will fit in the rivers and other water system which are the route for the early

inter-island trade. Aside from farming, other Filipinos are weavers, sculptors

and blacksmiths.

Agriculture is main source of livelihood as rice, coconuts, sugar cane,

cotton, hemp, bananas, oranges, and many species of fruits and vegetables

were grown done in two ways: kaingin system (slash and burn) and tillage.

When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they noted that Cebu and Palawan

were abundant in many agricultural foodstuffs.

* 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.

There were various tools for fishing such as nets, bow and arrow,

spear, wicker basket, hooks and lines, corrals and fish poisons were used.

Weaving

The home industry was dominated by women using crude wooden

looms, textiles such as sinamay from hemp, medrinaque from banana, cotton,

linen, and silk, were woven.

Trade

Trade was conducted between or among barangays, or even among

the islands as there was trade too with other countries such as China, Siam,

Japan, Cambodia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and other islands of old Malaysia
They did not use any currency but conducted trade through barter. Sometimes, goods were priced in
terms of gold or metal gongs Chinese traders noted that Filipinos were very honest in their commercial
transactions.

System of Writing

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Filipinos used a syllabary which was probably of Sanskrit or Arabic
provenance the syllabary consisted of seventeen symbols, of which three were vowels and fourteen
consonants commonly called Alibata.

No one is certain about the direction of writing however Fr. Pedro Chirino's theory is that the ancients
wrote from top to bottom and from left to right.

Antiguos silabarios filipinos

Literature

* Pre-colonial literature may be classified into: floating or oral and

written literature.

Tagalogs have the bugtong (riddle), suliranin and indulanin (street

songs), sabi (maxim), sawikain (saying), talindaw (boat songs), diyuna

(song of revelry), kumintang (war song which evolved into a love

song), dalit and umbay (dirge), tagumpay, balikungkong, dupayinin and hiliraw

(war songs), uyayi and bele (lullabies), ihiman (bridal song), tagulaylay

(mournful song), tigpasin (rowing song), tingad (household song), and

kutang-kutang (couplets usually chanted by the blind).

The dramas developed into different forms such as the pagbati, karagatan,

tagayan, pananapatan, sabalan, and tibaw. There is the karagatan which was a

debate in verse in which a problem is resolved; it developed into the duplo

during the Spanish period and then into the balagtasan in 1924 during the

American period.

The Maranaw literature, inspired by Islam, consisted of tutul (folk

tale), tubad-tubad (short love poems), pananaro-on (sayings and proverbs),

sowa-sowa-i (drama), antoka (riddle or puzzle), and darangan (epic poetry).

Ilocano literature, for its part, has many kinds of songs sung on different

occasions; this include dal-ot (song during baptismal party, wedding, or a

feast), badeng (love song sung in a serenade), and dung-aw (dirge).

Filipinos were fond of composing epic poetry, which is why the

country is unique for having more than twenty epic poems. Examples of this

are Hudhud and Alim (Ifugao), Biag ni Lam-Ang (The Life of Lam-Ang/

Ilocano), Bantugan, Indarapatra at Sulayman, and Bidasari (Moslems).

Music and Dance

Filipinos are naturally fond of both music and dance, and usually,

whenever music is played, it is accompanied by dance. Some examples of

pre-colonial musical instruments include kudyapi (Tagalog), bansic or a cane

with four holes and gangsa or a small guitar (Negritos of Luzon), abafii a

Malay music instrument (Igorots), gongs, Jews harp, bamboo flute, kutibeng

or a guitar with five strings (Ilocano), kalaleng or a nose flute and diwdiw-as

or pan pipe made of seven bamboos reeds.

Tinguians

Tbol wadon keepers Myrna Pula & Mendung Sabal

duing the 2002 Tbol and Manobo music workshop

at the Museo Pambata, Marcia

There are various examples of the native dances, which depict different

events which include Potato Dance, Torture Dance, Duel Dance, Lovers

Dance (Negritos); macasla dance (Tagbanua), kinnotan or ant's dance and the

kinnallogong or hat dance (Ilocano); balitaw and dandansoy (Visayan); balatong,

dalit, hiliraw, kutang-kutang, lulay, indulanin, kumintang, salampati, tagulaylay,

subli, barimbaw, and tagayan (Tagalog). Examples of the native dances, which
depict different events include Potato Dance, Torture Dance, Duel Dance,

Lovers Dance (Negritos); macasla dance (Tagbanua), kinnotan or ant's dance

and the kinnallogong or hat dance (Ilocano); balitaw and dandansoy (Visayan);

balatong, dalit, hiliraw, kutang-kutang, lulay, indulanin, kumintang, salampati,

tagulaylay, subli, barimbaw, and tagayan (Tagalog).

Art

A first glimpse can be seen in primitive tools and weapons that were

polished along the lines of leaves and petals of flowers. They can also be seen

in beads, amulets, bracelets, and other ornaments made of jade, red cornelian,

and other stones dyed and ornamented.

In the Iron Age, aside from armlets, 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

the living but also of the dead.

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.

Islamic influence can be gleaned from the ornamental and decorative

art of the Lanao Muslims; most represent geometric and plant designs because

Islam is iconoclastic Ifugao art deals with human and animal representations

but not fish and plant forms, Ifugao art is functional. (Agoncillo, 2005)
All these and more are a living testament to the richness and substance

of the Filipino culture. It is a culture that speaks of refinement and artistic

value. These again points out to the earlier postulation made that the Philippines

possesses a civilization unique and of its own even before the coming of the

Spaniards.