PLASENCIA TERMS AND DEFINITION

Datu / Chief

Head of a barangay

Barangay

A tribal gathering of people from less than 30 to 100 houses

Alcaldes-mayor

Spanish authorities

Aliping Namamahay (Timawa)

Commoners

Maharlica (Free-born)

Nobles / Masters

Aliping sa Guiguilir

Slaves

Dowry (Bigay-kaya)

In the Philippines, gifts from the groom to the bride’s parents

Inaasava

An unmarried woman / illegitimate wife with children

Tingues

Mountain ridges (owned in common)

Tael

Currency

Ganta

Unit of capacity (specifically used for rice in this document)

Simbahan

A temple or place of adoration and worship

Pandot / Nagaanitos

Worship

Lic-ha (Likha)

Idols / worshipped deities

Sibi

A temporary shed for protection against the rain

Sorihile

Small lamps

Buyo

A small fruit wrapped in a leaf with some lime

Augury

Omen

Maca

“Paradise” / “Village of rest”

Casanaan

“Place of anguish”

Vibit

Ghosts

Tigbalaang

Phantoms

Sitan

Demons in Casanaan

Maginoo (Highest Class)

Datus, their families, noble warriors
Held political power and economic privileges
Wore embroidered robes and gold jewelry

Maharlika (Free Citizens)

Warriors who served the datu
Did not pay tribute but were required to fight in wars or raids
Could own land but had less influence than Maginoo

Timawa (Commoners)

Farmers, fishermen, artisans
Paid tribute and performed communal labor
Fewer privileges than the maharlika

Aliping Namamahay

Partial freedom, had their own house, could not be sold
Higher status
Has partial freedom
Lives in their own house
Can serve sometimes
Cannot be sold

Aliping Saguiguilir

No freedom, lived in the master’s house, could be sold
Lower status
Has no freedom
Lives in their master's house
Fully bound to serve
Can be sold

If the father is a Maharlika and the mother is a slave

Both the mother and children will be free

If the father is a Maharlika and the mother is a slave from another Maharlika

The mother has to pay half a gold tael to her master

If the father recognizes the child as his

The child is half free. otherwise, the child is a slave

If both father and mother are slaves

The child is free only if the parents are not married

1st, 3rd, and 5th child

Belongs to the father

2nd, 4th, and 6th child

Belongs to the mother

If the parent is free

All their assigned children are free

If there are an odd number of children

The odd child is half-free, half-slave

They cannot move to another barangay

Unless they pay 1-3 gold taels and hold a banquet for the barangay

A war between two barangays may erupt

If the fine is not paid

If they marry a person from another barangay

Their children will be divided equally between both barangays

If a person involved in a lawsuit feels wronged

They can call an arbiter from another barangay to mediate

A plaintiff must invite others to drink

As a symbol of peace and reconciliation

If a poor person insults a rich person

The poor person may face the death penalty

After execution

If the person has children, they become slaves

The datu must compensate the injured party

With gold or possessions

Witches (Commoners/Slaves)

Two options: be killed or enslaved

Datu needs to compensate the injured with gold or possession

If a friend or relative paid the fine

The accused worked for them instead of the master

Commoner/slave labor as punishment

The maharlika may take half of their land and all their produce
The maharlika provides food and clothing until the debt is paid

Loophole

The maharlika may claim the alipin’s children since they provided food and clothing
Leads to additional unforeseen fines for alipins

If a debtor is unable to pay fines

They receive double fines and may be trapped into slavery, along with their family

Bigay-kaya

The groom must give a dowry to the bride’s family

Himaraw

Extra payment or service given to the bride’s parents as a sign of respect

Datus and Maginoos

Could have multiple wives, but only the first wife was the highest-ranking

If the wife was at fault

The dowry was returned to the husband

If the husband was at fault

The wife kept the dowry

Permitted Reasons for Divorce

Adultery,

Infertility,

Constant mistreatment in the marriage,
Mutual agreement to separate

Father

Head of the family

Responsible for decisions

Including marriages and financial matters

Sons

Typically inherited property and leadership roles

Daughters

Could also inherit property

Women

Expected to manage the household and care for children

Namamahay children

Could be accused as saguiguilir to be enslaved and sold

Illegal enslavement

Occurred despite the rights of namamahays

Judicial corruption

If namamahay parents opposed, they were also accused as saguiguilir without declaration, leading to ignored injustice

Dowry

Gifts for marriage, given by men to the woman’s parents

Dowry division

Equally among children upon parents’ death

Widowed wife

Enjoys the dowry if she has no other relatives

Unmarried women

Cannot own property in land or dowry

Dowry for Sons

Fathers give dowry: Half given immediately, even as children
Other half given before marriage

If woman remarries

She must return double the dowry

If woman leaves but does not remarry

The dowry is returned to her

If man leaves with no children

Half of the dowry is returned to him

If man leaves with children

The dowry and a fine are given to the children

If wife dies childless

Wife’s parents return half of the dowry to the widowed husband

If husband dies

Half of the dowry is returned to his relatives

Acts of piety

Returning half of the dowry after spouse’s death

Marriage contract violations

Lead to fines based on village practices and wealth

Heaviest fines

For unwilling sons or daughters to marry

If parents are dead

Dowry they received must be returned

If parents are alive

They are responsible for paying the fine

No temples

No temples consecrated for sacrifices, adoration, or idolatry

Pandot

Festival of worship

Sibi

Shelter for assembled people
Divided into 3 compartments

Sorihile

Decorated with white palm leaves

Drums

Beat successively during celebrations

Festival duration

Usually lasted 4 days

Temple

House where the festival is held

Nagaanitos

Whole barangay or family united in worship

Bathala

"All-powerful," "maker of all things"

Sun and Moon

Considered deities

Tala

Morning Star

Seven Little Goats

The Pleiades

Balatic

Greater Bear (Orion)

Mapolon

Change of seasons

Dian Masalanta

Patron of lovers

Lakapati & Idianale

Patrons of cultivated lands and husbandry

Buaya

Crocodiles revered out of fear of harm

Omen beliefs

Encounters with serpents, rats, the bird Tigmamanuguin, or sneezing considered bad luck

Tigmamanuguin

Song had good and bad omens

Divination

Used to predict weapon effectiveness and luck

Time division

No established years, months, or days