Pre-Colonial Philippines (Pre-1500s)

May 10, 2018 cagayan valley

• (Date) – Technical Report from Archeo Team

• (Place) (near Rizal, Kalinga Province) – 709,000 ya (777-631)

• A 2018 archaeological report revealed a 709,000-year-old site in (place) with butchered animal remains and stone tools, suggesting early hominins engaged in systematic butchery

indonesians

Taller, lighter-skinned groups who arrived by boat and introduced early agriculture

malays

The most advanced group, bringing metal tools, pottery, and barangay settlements.

Taong Cagayan / Luzon

(250,000 ya)

• Stone tools

• Remains of butchered animals

• Homo erectus

• Fossilized remains and stone tools found in (place) suggest that early hominins lived in the area as far back as 250,000 years ago, predating modern Homo sapiens.

Taong Callao

(66,000 ya)

• Third metatarsal bone

• Homo luzonensis

• A fossilized metatarsal bone found in Callao Cave, Cagayan, identified as Homo luzonensis, was dated to around 66,000 years ago, making it the oldest confirmed human fossil in the Philippines.

Pilanduk Cave dwellers

(September 2022 Report)

• between 20,000 to 25,000 years ago

• Shell midden sites → Specialized deer hunting & mollusk foraging

• Archaeologists in 2022 uncovered fossilized remains and tools in (place) Cave, Palawan, indicating human habitation between 20,000 to 25,000 years ago

Taong Tabon (1960)

22,000-23,000 ya

• Bumbunan, jawbone, teeth

• Homo sapiens sapiens

• Discovered in 1960 inside the (place) Caves in Palawan, the remains of (name) Woman date back 22,000 to 23,000 years ago, marking one of the earliest human fossils in the Philippines.

austro

latin “auster”, meaning “south” or “southern wind”

nesian

greek “nesos”, meaning “island”

Peter Bellwood

• Out of Taiwan Model

• is a specific hypothesis proposed by Peter Bellwood, which suggests that Austronesians originated in Taiwan and migrated southward around 4,000–5,000 years ago due to population growth, agriculture, and maritime advancements.

Wilhelm Solheim

• proposed the Nusantao Maritime Trading and Communication Network (NMTCN) as an alternative to the Out of Taiwan Model.

• suggested that Austronesians developed through trade and interaction in maritime Southeast Asia (Nusantara region).

• instead of a single migration, Austronesian culture and languages spread through trade networks across the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Pacific, rather than large-scale migration.

nusantao

• island and people

• people of the south

Arnold Azurin

• “Voyagers” ≠ “Migrants”

• challenged the idea of Austronesians being “migrants” and instead called them “free maritime voyagers.”

• argued that Austronesians were not just passive migrants moving from one place to another but were skilled navigators and traders who actively explored, settled, and exchanged cultures.

• This perspective shifts the focus from migration to deliberate exploration, trade, and cultural diffusion across the Austronesian world.

Zeus Salazar

• Kabihasnan/Kalinangan ≠ Sibilisasyon

• arguing that Filipino and Austronesian societies should not be judged by Western standards of civilization.

• promotes a Filipino-centric historical perspective, recognizing that societies can be advanced in their own ways without conforming to Western definitions of civilization

kabihasnan and kalinangan

• refer to indigenous cultural and societal development, shaped by local traditions, values, and ways of life.

Felipe Landa Jocano

• Core Population-Base Culture Thesis

• which focuses on the development of Austronesian culture within Southeast Asia rather than from Taiwan.

• were already present in the Philippines and nearby regions before external migrations occurred.

• Dunya Melayu: This refers to the broader Malay world or Austronesian cultural zone that includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and parts of the Pacific.

barangay

Organization of communities into units of ______

ecological principle

Primacy of ___ ___ in the operation of economy and society

Inter-ethnic relations

__ ___ based on ecological differentiation of settlements

Egalitarianism

____ in the utilization of land and natural resources

Consensus

___ or collective leadership and shared responsibility in political administration

distribution of roles / function

Logical ____ _____ to different social classes

Cultural unity

__ ___ of communities

cultural tradition

Admirable and rich ___ ___

family

basic unit of political

barangay / balangay

( ____ – Austronesian seagoing vessel)

• an independent unit ruled by a chieftain

• multiplicity

• no national or central government

Executive

• Firm,

• “charisma,”

• law enforcer

Legislative

• Wise,

• “orang dunung”

Judicial

• Fair,

• “tarong”

Defense

• Strength,

• valor,

• “datu bagani”

Diplomatic

• Good negotiator,

• “sangduguan,”

• “kasi-kasi”

Economic

• “orang besar”

• Paternalism = compassionate leadership

rumah bicara

• “house speaker”

• konseho ng nakatatanda

konseho ng nakatatanda

• Consultative body to the datu

• Judicial and legislative body

• someone worth of emulation

• nakakaalala sa mga nangayri noon

laws (adat)

• nakasanayan

• customary laws

• Life

• Respect (elders, authorities, women, spirits)

• Honesty & strict compliance

• Family relations

orang bisar

ritwal sa pagpili ng datu

upland

• adaptation ng sistema ng tao sa kapaligiran

• sa-raya, ilaya, sa-laya

• simple horticulture hunting small and large games

• caves as nature’s natural dwelling tree houses

down stream

• mas malakas ang pwersa ng kalikasan sakanila but also generous sa atural resources

• sa-ilud, sa-laud, sa-laut

• wetland agriculture fish and seafood

• bahay sa tiyakad bahay sa bangka

lowland / upstream

• mas mataas ang effort na kailangan or standard

• ili, vanua, vayan

• irrigated agriculture domesticated plants and animals

• bahay kubo

earth colors

pattern ng tela natin

terrain/hagdan

symbolism of socio-culture

rice farming

Lacked micronutrients.

Protein AcquisitionSkilled blacksmithing (panday sa puthaw), with a high level of craftsmanship.

Methods of obtaining protein sources.

ironworks

Skilled blacksmithing (panday sa puthaw), with a high level of craftsmanship.

pandai

A term used to describe high-quality craftsmanship.

woodworks

• Expert carpentry

• (panday sa anloagui), referring to master carpenters.

shipbuilding

• Construction of traditional boats like balangay, baroto, and

• caracoa (warships).

pottery

• Rough and unrefined; did not reach the level of

• panday (master craftsmanship).

goldworks

• Skilled goldsmithing (panday sa bulawan), possibly influenced by Chinese trade.

• The Philippines was rich in gold and was even called the "Land of Gold."

habul weaving

• (panday sa habul)

• Connected to binucot (women who were sheltered like princesses).

binucot

• Had a higher social status and wore lighter-colored fabrics.

• Fabrics were woven for bagani (warriors) to wear in battle.

gapas weaving

• (panday sa gapas)

• Used for making soft fabrics.

spirited drinks

• Drinks like tuba (coconut wine) and basi (fermented sugarcane wine).

• Filipinos were known for drinking and holding feasts (nagpipiging).

• Drinking gatherings allowed people to freely express their thoughts.

domestic trade

• Fishing and Hunting (pangangayam, pangangaso).

• People within the community did not hunt, but outsiders from other settlements did.

• Trained animals were used as hunting guides.

Shell-Midden Cities

Specific areas were assigned for waste disposal (mainly shells from seafood consumption).

1280 AD - Tuan Mashaika

• Not Arabic but Austronesian.

• Establishment of a Muslim family/community in Sulu.

• Converted to Islam with the purpose of trade.

• His presence led to the existence of a Muslim family in Sulu.

• There was no forceful conversion, only an effort to uphold the Muslim way of life.

• The Philippines had an open culture, which facilitated the adoption of Islamic practices.
  

1380 AD - Karimal Makdum/Mudum

• Preaching of doctrines (Sulu)

• An Arab preacher who first established an Islamic foothold in Malacca before arriving in Sulu.

• Preached Islamic doctrines, slowly clarifying previously adopted practices.

• Both a trader and a missionary.

1390 AD - Rajah Baguinda

• Pag-Islam / conversion (Sulu)

• Came from Sumatra, Indonesia.

• Brought a blend of Austronesian, Indianized, and Islamic cultures.

• No complete cultural transmission, but elements were retained and reinforced.

• Formal conversion rituals included circumcision.

• At birth, Islamic prayers were whispered into the newborn's ears, followed by the cutting of their hair.

1450 AD - Abu Bakr

• Married Paramisuli Establishment of Sultanate of Sulu

• An Arab who came from Palembang, Indonesia, before settling in Sulu.

• Married Paramisuli and established the first Sultanate of Sulu.

• Incorporated Islam into governance.

• Popularized Islam in the Mindanao region.

1475 AD - Serif Kabungsuan

• Conversion of communities in Maguindanao

• Spread to Visayas and Luzon

• An Arab who resided in Malaysia before coming to Mindanao.

• Attracted large numbers of converts.

• Conversion remained peaceful and preserved traditional village beliefs.

• Traders and missionaries communicated using the universal language of trade and love.

1570 AD - Rajah Sulayman

Muslim ruler of Manila.

sulu and northern borneo

maguindanao

maranao

three active sultanates

kalinangan/kabihasnan

deeply anchored on the ecological principle

clothing

• adaptive to the particular environment

• earth colors → modifications an indication of inter-cultural encounters

ornaments

• Teeth filling – Believed to ward off evil spirits.

• Skull-moulding – Foreheads were flattened as a beauty standard; those without it were teased.

• Tattoos – Served as records of war achievements and heroism.

animism

• Belief that all things have spirits.

• Supreme being: "Bathala" or "Poong Maykapal," with multiple deities.

dualistic system

• good vs. bad

• kaluluwa, good visà-vis bad elements

immortality of the soul

concept of aftelifw or kabilang buhay

anituism

images of ancestors and spirits, cult of the dead

writing system

• Baybayin – Similar to other Austronesian scripts.

• Most documents were written on perishable materials, making historical evidence scarce.

Social Stratification Schemed

• differentiated but egalitarian (meaning may different roles sila or statuses, pero may sense of fairness pa rin in some aspects)

• Prestige-based status system. (ung status mo sa society is nakabase sa achievements, skills or influence mo rather being born into a high ranking family. so inshort, di counted ang pagiging nepo baby mo here)

• Social mobility was possible through acquired status. (makakapag move up ka lang sa isang society by proving yourself like thru leadership, bravery, skilled in craft of trade)

indianization

The spread of Indian culture, religion (Hinduism & Buddhism), language (Sanskrit), and political ideas to other regions, especially in Southeast Asia.

sinicization

The process of adopting Chinese culture, traditions, language, and government systems.

islamization

The spread of Islam to different regions, mainly through trade, migration, and missionary work.

women in society

• May own and inherit property

• Engages in trade and industry

• Succeed to Datuship

• Exclusive right to name children

marriage customs

• "Bigay-kaya" (bride price) was different from the dowry system

• the groom’s family had to make an offering to the bride’s family.

Artifacts of sexual practices

Symbols of power and autonomy, such as tugbuk (genital piercings) and vaginal caps, emphasized female control in intimate relationships.

tarsila/sarsila

a to give narrative on how islam got into the Philippines