Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Customs of The Tagalogs
Customs of The Tagalogs
I. Author’s Background
Life in the Philippines
Juan de Plasencia
He is believed to have arrived to the
Born in the 16th century to the illustrious Philippines in 1578. As soon as he arrived, he
family of the Portocarreros in Plasencia, in the joined forces with another missionary, Fray
Region of Extremadura, Spain. Diego de Oropesa, and they both started
His real name is Joan de Puerto Carrero, del preaching around Laguna de Bay and
convento de Villanueva de la Serena. Tayabas, Quezon, in Quezon Province,
He was a Spanish Friar of the Franciscan where he founded several towns as early as
order. two months upon arrival in Manila.
He spent most of his missionary life in the During the following years they are also
Philippines, where he founded numerous credited with the foundation of a large
towns in Luzon and authored several number of towns in the provinces of Bulacan,
religious and linguistic books, most notably, Laguna and Rizal, such as Tayabas, Caliraya,
the Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 – Lucban, Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio(Liliw),
translated the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog, Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan,
the first book ever printed in the Philippines. Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and Meycauayan.
Juan de Plasencia was born in the early 16th Elected as the custos of the friars in May 23,
century as Juan Portocarrero in Plasencia, in 1584 and held it until 1588.
the region of Extremadura, Spain. He was Passed away in Liliw, Laguna in the year
one of the seven children of Pedro 1590.
Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish schooner.
Said to have been inspired to be a Franciscan Literary Works
because of his upbringing spent during a
spiritual and religious resurgence affected by Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language)
Spain’s Siglo de Oro, a Golden Age when arts Vocabulario
and literature flourished in many parts of Coleccion de Frases Tagala (Collection of
Spain, among them his native Extremadura. Tagalog Phrases)
Well reputed as the one who took the leading Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 –
role in fostering the spread of primary translated the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog
education. Diccionario Tagalog, 1580
Converted natives, taught catechisms, and La Santina, 1585 – opus on Prayer and
organized towns and barangays in the Meditation
Philippines. Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos, 1589
Promoted the understanding of both the – First Civil Code of the Philippines
Spanish language among the natives, and the Customs of the Tagalogs by Juan de Plasencia
local languages among the missionaries, to
facilitate the task of spreading Christianity. II. Historical Background
Initiated the Reduccion Policy – policy to
reduce or resettle natives in central locations.
Some of his works aimed to put an end to
some injustices being committed against the
natives by certain government officials.
1. Catalonan
2. Manganguay (Witches)
3. Manyisalat
4. Mancocolam
5. Hocloban
6. Silagan
7. Magtatangal
8. Osuang
9. Mangagayoma
10. Sonat
11. Pangatahojan
12. Bayoguuin