Lecture 6: Philippine Precolonial Societies (cont.)

Junker (2000)

• “Hereditary chiefs (datu) controlled the agricultural productivity of lower ranked farmers (alipin) though restrictive land tenure and debt-bondage, they mobilized surplus for elite use through formalized tribute systems, and they amassed wealth through sponsorship of luxury good craftsmen through interisland trading and raiding activities.”

Breakdown of the Key Points:

• Hereditary Chiefs (Datu) – These were the ruling elites who inherited their status and controlled resources, including land and people.

• Lower-Ranked Farmers (Alipin) – These were individuals of lower social status who worked the land. The term alipin does not always mean "slave" in the modern sense, but it refers to people bound to serve the datu in various ways.

• Restrictive Land Tenure and Debt-Bondage – The datu maintained control over agricultural productivity by restricting access to land. Farmers often worked under conditions of debt-bondage (utang na loob or inherited debts), which kept them dependent on the ruling elite.

• Tribute Systems – The datu collected surplus agricultural production from the farmers through formalized tribute systems (e.g., buwis or tax payments). This ensured that wealth flowed upward to the elite class.

• Luxury Goods and Trade – The datu further increased their wealth by sponsoring skilled artisans who produced luxury goods. They then engaged in interisland trade and even raiding expeditions (e.g., for slaves or valuable commodities) to accumulate more wealth.

This description highlights how power was centralized under the datu in early Philippine societies. Their wealth and influence were maintained through a combination of land control, economic dependence, tribute collection, and strategic trading/raiding activities. This system allowed the elite to amass resources while ensuring the continued labor and subordination of the lower classes.

Maritime Raiding / Pangangayaw

• Warfare was a means of projecting power as well as protecting or expanding economic interests:

  • Maritime raiding provided more tribute mobilization and interisland trade and disrupted the coastal trading of competing trade centers

  • Because of abundant land and low population densities, territorial expansion was less important then the seizure of sources.

  • Resources included slaves, agricultural stores, metal weapons, and elite paraphernalia

Bersales (2021)

• “Visayan communities shared a fluid social structure, and an animist belief system permeated in a loose network of alliances that traded as well as carried out active warfare, both on land and sea.”

Precolonial Class Divisions

• Datu

  • Hereditary ruler

  • The main political authority

  • Controller of resources

• Timawa

  • Freemen / warrior class

• Alipin / Uripon

  • Some had property rights, thereby giving them the means to pay tribute (buwis)

Pre-Colonial Philippine Polities

• Loose alliances / political division among chiefdoms

• Dominant elite class

  • Inheritance of status

  • Elites supported by warriors / subservient commoners

  • Controlled trade and commerce

  • Dispensed of patronage through feasting and prestige goods

• All land was public domain under the datu’s control (not ownership)

• Significant role of women

  • Encarnacion Alzona (1895-2001) - First Filipino PhD in History National Scientist (1985)

The Status of Women during Pre-Colonial Era (Alzona 1934)

• She was treated as an equal by her husband

• She could retain her maiden name

• She could share the honors of the husband

• She could freely dispose of the property that she had brought into the marriage

• She was consulted by the husband about his affairs

• A husband could not enter into agreements without her knowledge or approval

• A wife had the right to divorce her husband in case of non-support and maltreatment

• She could assume the headship of the barangay

Women of Status in Pre-Colonial Societies

• Babaylan

  • The punong babaylan presided over rituals—healing, childbirth, burial, harvest, etc.

  • Apprentices were called alabay

  • Communed with umalagad (ancestor spirits)

  • katalonan (Tagalog babaylan) could be a male transgender

• BInukot

  • Mga prinsesang magaganda na itinatago sa mundo

  • Hindi pwede maarawan kaya nakataklob lagi

  • Binubuhat sa duyan para di masugatan ang paa

  • High ranking

  • Mahihina ang paa dahil lagi lang nasa loob ng bahay

  • Nakakalabas lang pag may okasyon tulad ng sakalan

  • Arranged marriange

  • Hindi nakapag-aral

  • Pinakamagaling na mananayaw at mang-aawit sa lugar nila

  • Mga naging biktima noong World War II

  • Kapatid lang ang nakikita, kahit asawa hinde

Ang Huling Prinsesa

• Binanog - Indigenous dance na ginagaya ang galaw ng agila

• Pangayo - Dowry na binibigay pag kinakasal

• Sugidanon

  • Mahabang kwento tungkol sa kanilang mga ninuno

  • Umaabot ng 136 hours ang haba o dalawang buwan

  • Memoryado ng mga binukot

Some Cultural Traits of Precolonial Societies (descendant of Austronesian migrants)

• Body adornment

• Strong kinship bonds

  • kinship extends to the chief (datu)

• Strong ties to land (and the sea)

• Feasting

  • Usually followed victory in battle or bountiful harvests

• “Obsessions”

  • Heavy drinking

  • Cock fighting

  • Betel nut chewing

The Austronesian Realm

• The Philippines was not isolated—it was part of a massive Austronesian cultural and trade network.

  • The Yakan of Basilan share linguistic and cultural similarities with Malays and Indonesians.

  • The Samoans and Polynesians—descendants of Austronesians—retained many similar traditions like tattooing, seafaring, and oral storytelling.

  • The Micronesians, however, did not become part of the major trade networks, staying isolated.

  This Austronesian connection explains why Filipino culture shares similarities with Malaysians, Indonesians, and Pacific Islanders—from language to customs.