CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS (GROUP 2 PT2)

Juan De Plasencia

Spanish friar of the Franciscan Order who was among the first group of Franciscan missionaries to arrive in the Islands on July 2, 1578.

Doctrina Christiana

The first book ever printed in the Philippines. This book contains translations of Christian catechism and hymns from Spanish to Old Tagalog and Baybayin, an indigenous writing script of the Philippines.

Customs of the Tagalog

Customs of the Tagalog is a document that accounts for the journey of Juan de Plasencia during his missionary work in the Philippines. It was written in 1589 during the Spanish Colonial Period which is a part of longer monographs. written by chroniclers of the Spanish expeditions to the Philippines during the 16th and 17th centuries. In this part, Juan wrote about the culture and society of the people in Luzon, thus such a title was written

Barangay

a community of about 30 to 100 houses consisting of a family of parents, children, relations, and slaves ruled over by Datos. The term barangay has roots in the Malay word for "boat" which reflects the migratory origins of these groups

Datos

the chief who governed the people and led his people not only in times of peace, but also in wars.

Nobles (Maharlica), Commoners (aliping namamahay), Slaves (Aliping Saguiguilir)

The Three Castes

Nobles (Maharlica)

free-born individuals who accompanied the dato during wars, offered their services in agricultural labor, and contributed to building the dato's house. In return, the dato did not demand taxes or tributes from them.

Commoners (aliping namamahay)

they are married and serve their master, whether he be a dato or not. They were free individuals who lived in their own homes and had partial control over their cultivated land. They owed part of their labor or harvest from their master in exchange for land or protection but could not be sold as slaves.

Slaves (aliping saguiguilir)

they were servants within their master's household and unlike commoners, they could be sold. They had a chance to buy their freedom through ransom

Maharlica and Slave with a child but not married

If a male maharlica had a child with their own slave, the mother and the children would be freed. This is because a free man could not own his own offspring as slaves. However, if a maharlica fathered a child with another person's slave, the slave's owner was compensated for the risks and loss of labor during the pregnancy. Additionally, the child born between the two was half-free if the father acknowledged and provided for the child. If he did not, the child would remain entirely a slave. On the other hand, if a female maharlica had a child with a slave, the children would be considered as maharlica unless she was married to a slave. This reflected the higher social standing or autonomy of women where her status could free her children as long as marriage to a slave did not impose servitude

Married Maharlica and slave with a child

In marriages between maharlica and slaves (either namamahay or sa guiguilir), the children's status was divided. The first, third, and fifth children belonged to the father while the second, fourth, and sixth belonged to the mother. If the father was free, his children were free and if the father was a slave, his children were slaves. The same rule applied to the mother. This means that those children belong to their father and mother, attaining the same social status as them. If there was only one child, they were considered half-free and half-slave.

Inheritance Practices, Legitimate Child

- received equal shares of their parents' property with slight variations if a dowry was provided for a particular son

Inheritance Practice, Illegitimate Child

- often excluded from inheritance but sometimes they were granted freedom or modest gifts if the father was a dato

Usury and Debt

Debtors who could not pay their loans were often forced into slavery and their children could inherit this debt. This practice perpetuates a cycle of poverty and servitude

Simbahan

temple or place of worship

Sibi

temporary sheds built to shelter people during gatherings

Pandot

celebrations that often lasted for four days filled with music, dance, and rituals involving lamps, drums, and offerings.

Nagaanitos

ritual worship.

BADHALA

Considered the supreme deity and was seen as the all-powerful creator and ruler of everything.

DIAN MASALANTA

The patron of lovers and childbirth. People likely invoked this deity for successful marriages, childbirth, and romantic relationships.

TIGMAMANGUIN

mythical bird whose songs were believed to hold special meanings, which serves as omens for the people

MANYISALAT

sorcerers who manipulated people's affections, particularly men to abandon their wives.

Time

determined by agricultural practices and lunar phases

Seasons

categorized into sun-time and water-time with no formal divisions into weeks or months until the Spanish introduced them

Tagalos (burial practice)

burials were conducted beside the house or in a specially constructed porch for high-ranking individuals. The deceased was placed in a boat with animals and sometimes a slave was sacrificed. The family mourned for the death of their loved ones with dirges and feasts.

Aetas/negrillos (burial practicrd)

deceased were placed upright in a deep hole with a cocoa-nut as a shield. Retaliatory of killing an Indian was performed to avenge the deceased.

Maca (paradise)

a resting place for the just and virtuous. This was a place reserved for the just, brave, and those who lived a virtuous life.

Casanaan (hell)

place of punishment, suffering and torment. It is the destination for those who committed wrongdoings during their life.

Sitan (Demons)

demons who resided in Casanaan and were responsible for afflicting souls and causing suffering in the afterlife.