CKL116: Study of Philippine History and Society Notes
The Western Concept of "Sibilisasyon"
Etymology: The term "sibilisasyon" is derived from the Latin word civitas, which translates to "city" or "lungsod."
Definition: It refers to a complex type of lifestyle that is a direct result of living in an urban setting or a city (Salazar et al., 2010).
Historical Consequences:
Since the definition was tied to city living, societies that did not possess large physical urban centers were labeled "hindi sibilisado" (uncivilized) or "barbaro" (barbaric).
An example of this is the historical perspective of Romans toward Gemanic groups.
Standard Characteristics and Criteria:
Urbanidad (Urbanity): The presence of massive physical structures such as Pyramids, the Colosseum, or giant temples.
Sistemang Pasulat (Writing System): The existence of written laws, formal philosophy, and documented history.
Eurocentrism and Global Discrimination
Definition of Eurocentrism: Viewing the entire world through a European perspective, treating Europe as the center and the ultimate standard for all things.
Effect on History: Many "World History" books essentially become a "History of Civilizations" (strictly focusing on Greece, Rome, and China), which silences the voices and histories of regions like Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Justification for Colonialism: The concept of "civilization" was used to categorize colonized lands as being inhabited by "savages" or "tribes." This served as a justification for conquest, framed as a "rescue mission" to bring civilization to them.
Contemporary Remnants: Internalized Eurocentrism persists today when urban dwellers look down on indigenous people, referring to them as "taga-bundok" (mountain people) or "lagalag" (vagabonds/nomads).
The Filipino Concept of "Kabihasnan"
Dr. Zeus Salazar's Argument: Salazar insists on the use of "kabihasnan" as a more appropriate and inclusive alternative to the Western term "sibilisasyon."
Etymology of Kabihasnan: The word comes from the root word bihasa, which means skilled, expert, or dalubhasa—someone who is very proficient in a customary task.
Linguistic Structure: The use of the affix ka…an denotes an abstract idea focused on being collective (Reyes, 2002).
Comprehensive Definition: It refers to a way of life and behaviors that are practiced, mastered, and refined by a group of people over the passage of time.
Recognition of Truth: Unlike the Western model, this concept recognizes that varying forms of living exist based on environment and societal needs, and are not limited to the existence of cities and large stone buildings.
Understanding the Absence of "Megastructures" in Ancient Philippines
Nature as the Temple: According to the research of Lorenz Lasco (2014) on indigenous architecture, our ancestors believed the environment was sacred because it was the dwelling place of the anito (spirits). Physical buildings were unnecessary when the entire forest and environment served as the place of worship.
Humane Treatment of Labor: Many "wonders" like the Great Wall of China or the Roman Colosseum were built through the inhumane suffering and blood of slaves. Historically, Filipinos did not practice the extreme subjugation of slaves for the purpose of building massive monuments.
Kalinangan: A Component of Kabihasnan
Kalinangan vs. Kultura:
The Western term "culture" often carries a connotation of being "sophisticated" and has been used to create class distinctions (high culture vs. low culture).
The native term kalinangan carries no such discriminatory spirit; it refers to the various aspects cultivated by a society.
Etymology of Kalinangan: Derived from the root word linang, which literally means to improve or refine; it is most commonly used in the context of agriculture or cultivating the land.
Relationship and Scope:
Kalinangan (Culture): The specific customs or ways of life of individual ethnic groups (e.g., Kalinangang Mangyan, Ivatan, or Tausug).
Kabihasnan: The totality formed when all the kalinangan across the entire archipelago are integrated.
The Austronesian Heritage as a Unifying Link
Origins: The Austronesians are the ancestors of Filipinos who traveled thousands of years ago.
Geographic Reach: They are the source of cultures in Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand, Oceania, and even Madagascar in Africa.
Role in History: The Austronesian connection serves as a deep link that creates similarities between the different cultures within the Philippines despite their apparent differences.
Primary Characteristics of Filipino Kalinangan
I. The Spirit of Bayanihan and Bagani:
Bayanihan in Daily Life: Actively providing help and having spontaneous concern for others, ranging from the traditional lipat-bahay (carrying a hut) to passing a passenger's fare in a modern urban jeepney.
Roots in the "Bagani" Concept: A "Bagani" is one who brings ginhawa (comfort/relief) to their community.
The Ancient Warriors: Bagani were indigenous warriors who fought to protect their barangays and brought home resources or grain to sustain their people. In bayanihan, Filipinos act as bagani for one another.
II. Maritime Excellence (Mahusay na Maritimo):
Geographical Basis: Because the Philippines is an archipelago, seafaring is a fundamental mastery for ethnic groups.
Case of the Badjao (Sea Gypsies): Significant portions of their lives are spent on the sea; families reside in boats and move according to the flow of fish.
Vessel Vocabulary: Evidence of this maritime expertise includes indigenous vessels such as the karakoa, paraw, vinta, and the widely known balangay.
III. Integration of the Physical and Spiritual:
Merging Dimensions: Indigenous Filipino cultures view the physical and spiritual worlds as overlapping. Nature is seen as alive and shared with spiritual elements.
Practices like "Tabi-tabi po": This reflects a formal showing of respect to invisible beings (anito/spirits) before passing through or disposing of anything in nature.
The Pista (Fiesta) Adaptation: While Catholics introduced "saints," Filipinos viewed them as mediators similar to the native anito. The concept of the fiesta was restructured around food and family gathering—a deep Austronesian influence.
Kamalayang Pangkasaysayan: Malay and Kasaysayan
Understanding "Malay": This refers to the mind's ability to have deep awareness or insight.
Internal Dimension (Loob): Awareness that one exists and has an identity.
External Dimension (Labas): Recognition of people, objects, and relationships in the surroundings.
Understanding "Kasaysayan": Per Dr. Zeus Salazar, these are "narratives that carry meaning (saysay) for the group being narrated to."
Kamalayang Pangkasaysayan: This is not merely the memorization of dates, but the internalization of lessons from the past to serve as a guide for actions in the present.
The Crisis of Social Forgetting
The Sickness of Forgetting: F. Sionil Jose notes that a lack of historical consciousness causes present-day crises.
The Cycle of Corruption: Because the public remembers poorly, those who commit crimes against the nation are not held accountable. The cycle follows: Offense Committed Imprisonment Release Re-election into politics.
Santayana's Warning: George Santayana stated, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Collective memory is what allows a society to become a better version of itself.
Deconstructing Prehispanic Records (William Henry Scott)
Source Bias: Much data on ancient Filipinos comes from Spanish historians, whose documents are filled with colonial prejudice.
Translation Issues: American scholars later translated these Spanish documents into English, adding further layers of misinterpretation.
Scott's Findings: In his book Looking for the Prehispanic Filipino, Scott proved that ancient Filipinos were not barbaric; they had organized governments, laws, economies, cultures, and religions before Spanish arrival.
The Barangay: In his work Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society, he describes the 16th-century society.
The word Balangay (Barangay) was first learned by the Spanish in Limasawa.
Antonio Pigafetta noted it as the name for native boats.
Spaniards in Luzon observed that the term also referred to organized communities and adopted it to describe the social structure.
Ancient Social Structure and Settlements
Settlement Sites: Historically found in coastal areas (baybayin), riverbanks, lakesides, and mountains. Water was the primary highway for food, products, and trade.
Political Structure: The Barangay consisted of to families. It was led by a Datu who held political, economic, and judicial powers.
Social Classes Primary Sources: Observations from Fr. Juan de Plasencia.
Tagalog Society:
Maharlika and Timawa: Free people, born free, paid no taxes. They served the Datu in war or as leaders.
Aliping Namamahay: Slaves with their own houses and families. They could not be sold, and their status was inherited by children.
Aliping Saguiguilid: Slaves serving inside the master's house. They could be sold or traded at any time and had no property rights. This status resulted from debt or capture in war.
Visayan Society:
Datu: Highest leaders.
Timawa: Middle class/commoners.
Oripun: Lowest class/slaves.
Maguindanao Society: Characterized by a centralized government. The leader is the Sultan (from a noble line) who holds authority over various Datus.
Ancient Livelihood and Industry
Agriculture: Rice and root crops were staples.
Kaingin: Swidden/slash-and-burn for upland rice.
Bikol System: Used irrigation (Salog) due to vast water resources.
Techniques: Sebod (broadcasting seeds in a nursery) and hagidhid (flooding rice fields).
Natural Calendars: Use of astronomy (stars, wind, plants, bird sounds) to determine farming cycles.
Hunting: Visayans used a balolong (small animal trap). The balatik was a lethal arrow trap for large animals. Dogs were used to drive animals into the bating (net) used by Tagalogs.
Fishing: Use of spears (sibat), two-pronged forks (sikap), and rattan traps (bobo or salahon). They built dams in streams or used tree extracts to stun fish.
Beverages:
Tuba: From coconut sap.
Pangasi: From rice or grain.
Kabarawan: Infused with kabarawan bark.
Intus/Kilang: Sugarcane-based medicine/drink.
Industries:
Boat Building: Used lawaan wood (hardwood up to meters tall). Types: Baroto (canoes) and Balangay.
Pottery (Dihoon): Done by women using the "paddle-and-anvil" method. Tools/Terms: Maninihon (potter), Kalal (clay), Luyang (massaging clay).
Weaving: Used the backstrap loom. Fabrics made from abaca, cotton, pineapple, bark, and silk.
Literacy and Indigenous Literature
Laguna Copperplate Inscription: Discovered in 1986 in the Lumbang River. Dated to CE, it is the oldest document in the Philippines, containing Old Tagalog mixed with Sanskrit, Chinese tradtion, and Javanese.
Baybayin: Padre Chirino noted that almost all Tagalogs were literate in this script. Friars even used Baybayin to publish books in Tagalog.
Indigenous Literature:
Tagalog: Bugtong (riddles), Salawikain (proverbs), Kuwentong-bayan (folktales), Ambahan (poetry), and songs.
Ilocano: Daniw (poetry), Aria (proverbs), Biday (popular lit).
Cordillera (Ifugao, Kalinga): Epics like Hudhud, Alim, Ulalim, and Badiw.
Mindanao: Epics include Darangen (Maranaw), Ulahingan (T’boli, Manobo, Subanon), and Bayok and Tarsila (Maguindanao).
Visaya: Siday (song/poem), Kandu (epic), Balak (poem), Tigmo (riddle), Hurubaton (proverb).
The Miseducation and Pantayong Pananaw
Renato Constantino (1970): In "The Miseducation of the Filipino," he argued that the colonial education system was an instrument of conquest used to replace national identity with foreign narratives.
Pantayong Pananaw (Dr. Zeus Salazar): A movement to dismantle colonial consciousness by centering the discourse within Filipino culture.
Meaning of "Pantayo": Derived from "tayo" (us/inclusive we). It refers to intellectual discourse using the Filipino language to build indigenous knowledge.
Goal: To view history not from the perspective of the colonizer, but as active creators of their own culture and history through cultural decolonization.