Filipino Culture and Pre-Colonial History Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on historical terms, artifacts, social structures, clothing, governance, and cultural practices of pre-colonial and historic Philippines.

Ma-i (or Ma-Yi)

An early recorded name for the Philippine archipelago, first documented in Chinese historical sources around 971 CE during the Song Dynasty.

Tutubi Necklace

A 10th-13th century handcrafted gold necklace from Surigao made of 6,000 to 7,000 drops of graduated gold granules flattened to resemble dragonfly tails.

Kandit Sash Finials

10th-13th century gold belt buckles from Surigao featuring a central mandala design that symbolized status and the ruling elite.

Kandit Royal Belt

A 10th-13th century gold sash weighing over one kilogram (1,055.7 grams) handcrafted using a solid loop-in-loop weave technique unique to the ancient Philippines.

Piloncitos

Small cone-shaped gold pellets (0.1mm - 1mm) from the 10th-11th century stamped with the Baybayin character 'Ma', considered the first documented currency in the Philippines.

Panika

Massive penannular gold barter rings used as currency, royal dowry, and heirlooms in pre-colonial Philippine trading networks starting in the 10th century.

Kamagi

Pre-colonial gear beads gold necklaces used as ancient currency in the Philippines from the 10th to 13th centuries.

Liusung

The name used by early Chinese traders and chroniclers for Luzon, derived from the Tagalog word 'lusong', meaning a traditional wooden mortar for pounding rice.

Las Islas de San Lázaro

The name given to the Philippine archipelago by Ferdinand Magellan upon his arrival at Homonhon in March 1521.

Las Islas Felipinas

The name assigned to the archipelago during Ruy López de Villalobos's 1542–1546 expedition, given in honor of Philip of Spain.

Thomasites

A group of American public school teachers who arrived on August 21, 1901, aboard the USAT Thomas to establish a nationwide public education system and expand English instruction.

Austronesian Language Family

The broad language group to which major Philippine languages (such as Tagalog, Cebuano, and Ilocano) belong, connecting Filipino heritage across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Callao Man (Homo luzonensis)

A fossil species (metatarsal foot bone) discovered in Callao Cave, Peñablanca, Cagayan in 2007, dated to approximately 67,000 years ago.

Tabon Man

Human fossil remains (skullcap and jaw fragments) discovered in Tabon Cave, Palawan in 1962, dated to around 47,000 years ago.

Bahay Kubo

A traditional Philippine elevated tropical hut made of lightweight local materials like bamboo, wood, and nipa palm leaves.

Batalan

An elevated platform or extension at the rear of a bahay kubo used for washing, bathing, cleaning food, and storing water jars (tapayan).

Bakte

A cultural harvest dance from Imus, Cavite—named after the reversed form of 'Kabite'—depicting a farmer's daily activities after a bountiful harvest.

Tayaw

A traditional Cordillera dance performed during major community celebrations, weddings, and feasts.

Bendian

A traditional Ibaloi circle dance from Benguet performed in coordinated group patterns to celebrate harvests, victories, and festivities.

Birey

A pre-colonial Philippine wooden boat built to carry 50 to 100 people for travel, fishing, and trade.

Biroco

A large pre-colonial Philippine vessel capable of accommodating over 100 people, used for major long-distance voyages, transport, and warfare.

Karakoa

A large pre-colonial warship with outriggers (up to 25 meters long) built specifically for sea-raiding (pangangayaw).

Bahag

A traditional loincloth worn around the waist and between the legs by pre-colonial men.

Putong

A traditional headcloth or turban worn by pre-colonial men, with specific styles signifying social status, achievements, or warrior identity.

Tapis

A rectangular wrapped cloth worn over the lower body or over another garment by pre-colonial women.

Patadyong

A traditional woven tube-like or wraparound cloth worn around the lower body, particularly common among Visayan and Mindanao women.

Malong

A large, colorful woven tubular garment traditionally worn as a skirt, dress, or blanket by Muslim and Indigenous groups in Mindanao and Sulu.

Datu

The political leader and chief of a pre-colonial barangay who managed laws, trade, land, warfare, and community affairs.

Maharlika

A pre-colonial Tagalog class of free warriors who provided military service to the datu.

Timawa

The class of free citizens in pre-colonial Visayan society who worked as farmers, warriors, or sailors and were not slaves or dependents.

Aliping Namamahay

A category of pre-colonial Tagalog dependents who lived in their own houses and possessed greater independence while rendering required service or labor to a master.

Aliping Sagigilid

A category of pre-colonial Tagalog dependents who resided directly in their master's household and had greater personal obligations.

Babaylan (or Catalonan)

A pre-colonial spiritual practitioner, ritual leader, and traditional healer, roles predominantly held by women in Visayan and Tagalog societies.

Atubang ng Datu

A trusted adviser or assistant to the datu who helped manage community affairs, governance, and dispute resolution.

Daragangan

An honored pre-colonial warrior recognized for exceptional bravery in battle and granted the right to wear a decorative pinayusan scarf.

Paratabgaw

A pre-colonial community teacher and keeper of knowledge responsible for orally passing down practical skills, customs, laws, and traditions.

Barangay

The basic political and social unit of pre-colonial lowland Philippine communities, derived from the word 'balangay' (a type of boat).

Blood Compact (Sandugo)

An ancient ritual where contracting leaders cut their wrists, mixed their blood with wine or liquid, and drank it to solidify treaties, alliances, or friendships.

Bigay-kaya

A pre-colonial Tagalog form of bridewealth or dowry given by the groom's family to the bride's family prior to marriage.

Panghimuyat

A pre-colonial marriage payment made by the groom to the bride's parents as a gesture of gratitude and respect for their sleepless nights and sacrifices in raising her.

Himaraw

A pre-colonial marriage gift given by the groom's parents to the bride's parents to compensate for the care and cost of her upbringing during childhood.

Baybayin

The ancient indigenous syllabic script of the Philippines, originating from Brahmic scripts of India, often incorrectly termed 'alibata'.

Paninilbihan

The pre-colonial custom of courtship requiring a suitor to perform household labor (such as chopping wood or fetching water) for the bride's family prior to marriage.

Bathala

The supreme deity in ancient Tagalog belief, associated with creation, highest power, and the heavens.

Lakapati

The pre-colonial Tagalog hermaphrodite or androgynous deity of fertility, agriculture, and cultivated fields.