Topic 2 Customs of Tagalogs Asia

READINGS IN
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY SOURCE
CUSTOMS OF
THE TAGALOG
by
Juan de Plasencia
BACKGROUND
Biography
of the
Author
JUAN DE PLASENCIA
Born to the illustrious family of
Portocarreros in Plasensia in the region of
Extremadura, Spain in the early 16th
century. He was one of the seven children
of Pedro Portocarrero, a captain of a
Spanish schooner.
Juan De Plasencia grew up during the

period known as the Siglo de Oro, a Golden
Age when arts and literature flourished in
many parts of Spain, among them his native
Extremadura.
Fray Joan de Puerto Carrero, del convento de Villanueva de la
Serena was his real name.
He was a Spanish Friar of the Franciscan order.
He spent most of his missionary life in the Philippines,

where he founded numerous towns in Luzon and authored
several religious and linguistic books , most notably, the
Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 - translated the
Christian Doctrines in Tagalog, the first book ever printed in
the Philippines.
Well reputed as the one who took the leading role in
fostering the spread of primary education.
Converted natives taught catechisms and organized

towns and barangays in the Philippines.
Life in the Philippines
 He is believed to have arrived to the Philippines in 1578. As soon as he
arrived, he joined forces with another missionary, Fray Diego de
Oropesa, and they both started preaching around Laguna de Bay and
Tayabas., Quezon, in Quezon Province, where he founded several
towns as early as two months upon arrival in Manila.
 During the following years they are also credited with foundation of a
large numbers oif town in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal
such as Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban, Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio(Liliw),
Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo, Taytay
and Meycauayan.
 Elected as the custos of the friars May 23, 1584 and held it until 1588.
 Passed away in Liliw, Laguna in the year 1590.

Literary Works
Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language)

Vocabulario
Coleccion de Frases Tagala (Collection of the Tagalog
Phrases)
Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 – translated
the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog
Diccionario Tagalog 1580
La Santina, 1585 – opus on prayer and Meditation
Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos, 1589 –
First Civil Code of the Philippines
CONTEXTUAL
ANALYSIS
Looking back to the early 1500’s, during the time when we were
being colonized by the Spaniards, King of Spain brought and ordered
Juan De Plasencia to come and write about the Philippines. Just like
any other historical writings, Juan De Plasencia’s Customs of the
Tagalog contains the authors own perception and observation about the
country
Being born into an era where literature was still flourishing,

accounts like this were especially important to the people back then.
The record was made to list upon the lifestyle, way of life, culture, and
locale of the Philippines.
This was also done to be able to point out the injustice being given to the
natives, and hopefully to end the inequality being served to them. Juan De
Plasencia pointed out specific facts about the people here in the Philippines
back then
The manuscript contained letter coming from Juan De Plasencia to the

King of Spain while he was in the Philippines. He would often write down
his concerns and suggestions on how it could be solved.
At the time of the 14th century, Christianity was spread through the efforts
of Spain in multiplying the believers of his Majesty Felipe II. This have led
to expeditions made by Dominican priests to sail halfway around the world to
spread the good news
Priests were sent to different islands of the Asian countries as to have
involved the Philippines being one of its countries. Spaniards were zealous with
their purpose of influencing the people even with the difficulty of
communicating.
The manuscript did not only contain information about the culture in the
Philippines, it also has brought up reports sent to Spain to inform the monarch of
the progress of each island that the priests have landed upon. Relations were
established as well as conversion of faith of the so-called Indians and Sangleys
bridged by the priests themselves
This record of history has shown much detail on how the Spaniards have taken
steps to spread Christianity and which natives welcomed these foreign influences
even to the extent of exploitation. It contained certain information for us to
knowledgeable of the past, and how we were brought upon by our ancestors.
CONTENT ANALYSIS
The Customs of the Tagalog written by Fray Juan de
Plasencia is one of the most important primary sources of the
Philippine History. It tackles about the everyday living of
then ancient Filipinos, theirs system of government, their
social statuses, and their customs, traditions, and beliefs. This
document is important for determining how the Spaniards
will govern the Filipinos during the Spanish era. Although it
has lesser value in the modern world right now, it is still
important for us to trace the roots of who we are in the past...
…Early Filipinos were very much alike with the
Malays based on their language. Even before they
came here in the Philippines, they were governed by
a Datu who was like a king. Datus were highly
respected and they have to follow whatever it
commands. Not even the wife or the children of the
Datu were exempted for getting a punishment when
they disobeyed him.
A Datu only governs small groups of people
approximately 100 houses only. The territory of a
Datu is called “barangay” which came from the
word “balangay” (a boat they ride for
transportation). Datus don’t let other Datus conquer
their land and they only treat other Datos as a family,
friend, ally, or an enemy.
There was a caste system being followed in every
barangay during that time. The highest social status
was being a maharlika, second is being a commoner,
and the third is being a slave. The Maharlika or the
nobleman, also called free-born people, don’t pay
taxes but they should accompany the Datu in
everything he does.
Next below it is being a commoner, also known as Aliping
namamahay. They are slaves who serves their masters but has
their own houses and has the right to own a property. The
lowest class is the Aliping saguiguilid. They are those who
were staying inside the houses of their masters and they are the
ones being sold to other people. In that time, debts are the main
reason why there are times that a nobleman becomes a slave.
Sometimes, slaves came from the captives of war.
In order for a slave to be set free, they have to pay a
minimum amount of gold to their masters. Dividing a
property is a pain during those time because of the social
status of their parents. The one who gets the big part of the
property is the one with a higher social status and children
of the maharlikas from the slaves gets the smallest part of
the property. There are times when the Datus becomes a
judge for the two opposing parties so that the judgments will
be fair and just.
DATU
Chief, captain of
wars, whom
governed, obeyed
and reverenced
NOBLES OR MAHARLIKA
Free-born, they do not

pay taxes
COMMONERS OR ALIPING
NAMAMAHAY
They live in their own

houses and lords of their
property and gold
SLAVES OR ALIPING SA
GUIGUILID
They serve their master

in his house and his
cultivated lands and can be
sold
HOUSES
Made of wood,
bamboo and nipa
palm.
MODE OF DRESSING
MALE
Headgear is called “Putong”
(symbolizes the number of
persons the wearer had
killed)
(Upper) a jacket with short
sleeves called “kanggan”
Bahag (lower)
MODE OF DRESSING
FEMALE
baro or camisa
(upper)
Saya (lower)
ORNAMENTS
 A decorative object or
detail that adds quality
or distinction to a
person, place or thing
GOVERNMENT
The unit of government is called

Barangay ruled by a chieftain, and
consist of 30 to 100 families together
with their relatives and slaves.
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
The chieftain’s executive function

includes implementing laws, ensuring
order and giving protection to his
subject
Disputes between individuals were
settled by a court made up of the
chieftain and council of elders
INHERITANCE
The 1st son of the barangay chieftain

inherits his father’s position; if the 1st
son dies, the 2nd son succeeds their
father; in the absence of male heirs, it
is the eldest daughter that becomes
the chieftain.
SLAVES
A person become slave by: (1) by captivity in
war, (2) by reason of debt, (3) by inheritance, (4)
by purchase, and (5) by committing a crime.
Slaves can be emancipated through: (1) by

forgiveness, (2) by paying debt, (3) by
condonation, and (4) by bravery (where a slave
can possibly become a Datu) or by marriage.
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
Men were in general, monogamous; while

their wives are called Asawa.
Courtship begins with Paninilbihan.
Prior to marriage the man requires to give
a dowry: (1) Bigay-kaya (a piece of land or
gold); (2) Panghihimuyat (a gift for the
brides parents); (3) Bigay-suso (for brides
wet nurse).
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
Marriage between couples belonging

to different social classes were not
common.
Several grounds of divorce are: (1)
adultery, (2) abandonment on the part
of the husband, (3) cruelty and (4)
Insanity.
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
They worship many gods and goddesses: (1)
bathala, supreme being; (2) Idayanale, god of
agriculture; (3) Sidarapa, god of death; (4) Agni,
god of fire; (5) Balangaw, god of rainbow; (6)
Mandarangan, god of war; (7) Lalahon, god of
harvest; and (8) Siginaruagn, god of hell.
Also believe in sacred animals and trees

SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS
Believe in Aswang, Duwende, Kapre,

Tikbalang, Patyanak/Tiyanak.
They also believe in magical power of

amulet and charms such as anting-
anting, kulam and gayuma or love potion.
aswan
g
duwen
de
kapre
tikbala
ng
Patyan
ak/
tiyanak
ECONOMIC LIFE
Agriculture in the plane lands: planting of

rice, corn, banana, coconut, sugar canes, and
other kind of vegfetable and fruits.
Fishing in river banks and sea.
Shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining and

lumbering.
ECONOMIC LIFE
Domestic trade of different barangays by

boat.
Hunting in high lands.
Foreign trade with countries like Borneo,

China, Japan, Cambodia< Java, and Thailand.
LANGUAGE AND SYSTEM OF
WRITING
Major languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan,
Pangpanganan, Sugbuhanon, Hiligaynon,
Magindanaw, and Samarnon this language is
originated from the Malayo-Polenisian language.
System of writing: the alphabets consisted of 3

vowels and 14 consonants called “Baybayin”.
LANGUAGE AND SYSTEM OF
WRITING
They used tap of trees as ink and pointed stick
as pencil.
They wrote on large plant leaves, bark of a tree

or bamboo tubes.
When two Datus doesn’t get along with each other they call
other Datus to be the mediator to prevent a war. Punishments
that time were as brutal as being hanged or being put into a
boiling water
CONCLUSION
All these customs were practiced by the Tagalogs or the early Filipinos
even before the Spaniards came into the Philippines. With this kind of fact, it
can be concluded that the early Filipinos have their own style of governing
their people and having a fair judgments system. The manuscript shows that
early Filipinos can still survived for their living even though Spaniards won’t
invade the Philippine island. Based on the manuscript made by Juan de
Plasencia we can also conclude that it is authentic and credible. It is authentic
because it is an eye-witness article and it is credible because it is still practiced
by the people of the Philippines and it should be pass from generation to
generation to keep the bitter-sweet of the past. . In the document of Plasencia,
he also observed the beliefs of the Tagalogs about their a gods, devils, witches,
burials, and their beliefs on afterlife. Although Plasencia only observed this
customs and traditions, he manage to give me a picture of how early Filipinos
think and live by their customs and traditions.
ALLAM, JOHN RALPH M.
GERONA, KEISHA GLEANNE V.PALOMAR, MICHAEL ANDRE
AVILA CHARLZ DAVIEJUAN, AYZZER TRYGVIEQUIAMBAO,
P. JOHN CHRISTIAN G.
L. LAGUITAN, JONATHAN E. QUIZZAGAN, BERNIE R.
BAQUIRAN, FRANCIS LEONARDO, LEVON KAREEN V. RONDA, IAN CHESTER M.
ANGELO F. MALINDAO, LEE L. SAGUIYOD, GUILLER G.
BARTIDO, WINNIE JOY MANSAYON, MOISES I. SICAT, MARK BANTIYAN N.
M. MOJICA, ALFRED JOSHUA R.TORINO, NIGEL RAVEN L.
DALING, RONIE DAVE F. UMAHAG, JERECHO C.
EN
DALIUAG, KYLE WENCESLAO, GEORGE WILSON T.
SHAWNDRIX P.
EVANGELISTA, JERICK
R. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING
FERNANDO, JACOB B. Alright reserved ©
-UMAHAG ‘23

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READINGS IN

Juan De Plasencia grew up during the

He was a Spanish Friar of the Franciscan order.

He spent most of his missionary life in the Philippines,

Converted natives taught catechisms and organized

 Passed away in Liliw, Laguna in the year 1590.

Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language)

Being born into an era where literature was still flourishing,

The manuscript contained letter coming from Juan De Plasencia to the

Free-born, they do not

They live in their own

They serve their master

The unit of government is called

The chieftain’s executive function

The 1st son of the barangay chieftain

Slaves can be emancipated through: (1) by

Men were in general, monogamous; while

Marriage between couples belonging

Also believe in sacred animals and trees

Believe in Aswang, Duwende, Kapre,

They also believe in magical power of

Agriculture in the plane lands: planting of

Fishing in river banks and sea.

Shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining and

Domestic trade of different barangays by

Hunting in high lands.

Foreign trade with countries like Borneo,

System of writing: the alphabets consisted of 3

They wrote on large plant leaves, bark of a tree

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