Section 2: Customs of the Tagalogs (Juan de Plasencia)

Who wrote Customs of the Tagalogs?

Fray Juan de Plasencia, Franciscan missionary

When was Customs written?

1589

Why was Customs written?

To help Spanish governance and evangelization

Where did Plasencia work?

Tagalog region (Luzon), died in Liliw, Laguna, 1590

When did Plasencia arrive in the Philippines? [NEW]

1578

When did Plasencia die?

1590

Social class led by the datu?

Nobles (Maharlika)—free, tax-exempt, warriors

Social class of commoners?

Aliping Namamahay—owned homes, paid tribute

Social class of slaves?

Aliping Sagigilid—lived with datu, fully dependent

What was a barangay?

30-100 families led by a datu

How did datus govern?

Independent barangays, allied via pacts

How were disputes settled?

Datu judged with elders, used trial by ordeal

Example of trial by ordeal?

Holding hot stone—survivor deemed innocent

Supreme god of Tagalogs?

Bathala

Other spirits worshipped?

Anitos (ancestor spirits)

Who led Tagalog rituals?

Babaylans (priestesses) or katalonas

What offerings were made?

Pigs, rice wine during pandot (feasts)

Beliefs: "What was once not free will become free"?

Free precolonial life, lost to Spanish rule

Beliefs: "Sun and wind" connection?

Sun, moon, stars worshipped as deities

Chieftain in Customs?

Datu ruled each barangay—executive, judicial, military power

Laws in Customs?

Ordeals (hot stone), oaths—test by pain, swear by sun for truth

Religious Practices in Customs?

Bathala, anitos, babaylan-led rituals, burial with valuables

Nature Note: "We destroy the nature we depend on"?

Tagalogs revered nature (trees, rivers), Spain exploited via encomiendas

What was baybayin?

Tagalog syllabic script—3 vowels, 14 consonants

Significance of Customs?

Snapshot of precolonial Tagalog society