Module 1-B

The Culture of the

Early Filipinos
Name: ___________________________________

My learning targets

• Explain the old beliefs and traditions of their influence

in everyday life.

• Compare the past and present beliefs to explain the

changes and what continues up to the present

• Analyze the similarities and differences between the

practices of early Filipinos and of the present.

• Make a conclusion about the contribution of ancient

civilization in organizing a society and Filipino identity.
Literature
Ancient Filipinos had both oral and written literature. The oral literature of the Tagalogs consisted of
bugtong (riddle), sabi (maxim) salawikain (saying), talindaw (boat song), uyayi and hele (lullabies), tagalulay
(mournful song), ihiman ( bridal song), kundiman (a war song evolving into love song), and tigpasin (rowing
song). Many of these songs were accompanied by dancing.
Our ancestors also had plays and drama. The plays were performed in open spaces, in places of wor-
ship, and in houses of the nobles. Staged with accompaniment of music and dance , the play dealt with sub-
ject such as love, war, legends and war heroes. Performed on different occasions, these plays developed into
the pagbati, karagatan, pananapatan, tagayan, sabalab and tibaw.
The early Filipinos also wrote fold epics. The Ifugaos of Northen Luzon had their Hudhud and Alim,
while the Ilocanos had their Biag ni Lam-ang. Some of the most notable Muslim folk epics are the Bantugan,
Indarapatra at Sulayman, and Bidasari.

Uyayi

Tahan na bunsong mahal

Matulog na sa kandungan
Hihintayin ang tatay
Humanap ng kani't ulam.
Sabi
Talindaw
Sagwan, tayo’y sumagwan
Ang buong kaya’y ibigay.
Malakas ang hangin
Baka tayo’y tangayin,
Pagsagwa’y pagbutihin.

• Ang perang nilabas sa gabi ay

madaling mawawaglit.

• Gawing unan ang libro at ang nilala- WEB LINK:

man nito'y papasok sa utak mo.
To further know more about the epics of the pre-colonial Philippines,
you may watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icOow8L3fgA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl05jwyN5bQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8uwktx5IaY
Music and Dance
The early Filipinos love music and dancing. They had
different musical instruments such as the kutibeng and the
kudyapi of the Ilocanos; the bansik and the gangsa of the Ne-
gritos of Bataan and Zambales; the drum with shark skin
head, guitar with abaca strings , brass gongs of the Tagbanua
in Palawan; and the bamboo flute of the Bontoc Igorots.
Our ancestors also had graceful and beautiful dance
such as the balitaw and the dandansoy of the Visayans, the
Kudyapi
kumintang of the Batanguenos; the Potato Dance, the Lover’s
Dance, and the Duel dance of the Negritos; the kinnotan or
the “ant dance” and kinallogong of the Ilocanos. Among the
Tagalogs, music and dance unified into dalit, tagalulay, hili-
raw, kutang-kutang, lulay, indinulan and barimbaw. The
Tagbanuas showcased their dancing ability during the
Macasia Festival
The music and dance of the early Filipinos reflected on
their culture. They served as expressions of the many phases Gangsa

of our lives—courtship, marriage, child rearing, love, planting

and harvesting, religious festivals, victory in war and even in
death.

WEB LINK:

To further enrich your knowledge about pre co-

lonial dances and music, you may refer to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hBJB5uKAMVQ (Balitaw)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=qxASz3jO998 (Lulay)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=oTgaS3pr2Eg (Dandansoy)
Art and Architecture
Our ancestors were very artistic and crea-
tive. These qualities were shown in their weap-
ons and tools in the Old Stone Age. In the New
Stone Age, they made beads, amulets and other
body ornaments made of jade, carnelian and
other stones. During the Bronze Age, implements
and musical instruments were made of bronze.
In the Iron Age, metal and glass were used. The
weapons were made with artistic designs on
their handles. Pottery carved with wood, bones
and ivory was also introduced. The tattoos of our
ancestors also showed their artistic powers.
Our pre-Spanish art was influenced by different groups of people. The Negrito influence can be seen
in the zigzag design on ancient ornamental carvings on combs and weapon handles. The Indonesian influ-
ence is evident in the apparel of the Kalingas of Luzon, Maranaos of Lanao and the Manobos and Bagobos
of Mindanao. Malayan influence can be found in the wood carving utensils, boats and wooden shields from
Sulu and Mindanao. Igot carvings can be found in the geometrical and plan design on the boats and houses
found in Mindanao.
The early Filipinos had knowledge of architecture. Their knowledge reflected on the structure of their
homes like the bahay-kubo or the nipa hut, which is made of light materials like reeds, straw and bamboo.
The nipa hut was built using those materials because of the hot climate. Filipinos had large windows let the
air flow inside freely. A house had only one room where family slept and ate. The lower part of the house is
called the silong, which was used as the shelter for animals and for food storage. Also, the bahay-kubo had
a batalan where everyone bathed and wash things.

Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga Textile Igorot Textile Art Tattoo as a form of art

WEB LINK:

To further know more about the pre-colonial arts and architecture, please watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPJjQJ1UWn4 (Wang Od , The Last Kalinga Tatoo Artist)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUewxTLYirw (Bahay Kubo Design)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGTGp31QD2c (Traditional Kalinga Weapons)

Name:_______________________________________ Date: __________________________

Activity 1. Understanding Citation. Read the sentences in each number Encircle the correct answer inside
the parenthesis.
1. (Juan de Plasencia / Blair and Robertson) was a French priest who recorded the way of the early Filipi-
nos buried their dead.
2. The word “Tagalos” which Plasencia used refers to a major ethnolinguistic group which is known today
as the (Taga-ilog / Tagalogs).
3. According to Plasencia, Tagalogs ( had a / had no) way of burying the dead before the arrival of the
Spaniards in the country.
4. The dead were commonly buried (behind / beside) their homes.
5. If a lead of the community passed away, his remains would be buried (near his house / in a small cus-
tom built grave).
6. If a warrior passed away, a live (slave / pet animal) would be tied underneath his corpse until it also
died.
7. It was the custom of early Filipinos whose relatives died to mourn for a number of days by (singing
songs of grief / dancing in front of the grave).
Activity 2. Then and Now. Complete the diagram by listing some burial beliefs or burial practices of early
Filipinos according to Plasencia’s account. Write each on the first box. Put a check ( ̸ ) in the circle
if this is still observed in the present time and write the proof in the box. If this is no longer
observed at the present time, put an (X) mark inside the circle and explain your answer on the
box.
Activity 3. Knowing Concrete Details. Refer to the description in each number. Write the answer on the
space provided before each number.

___________________________ 1. A type of boat used by early Filipinos.

___________________________ 2. Ancient tradition of fasting or sacrifice for the departed.

___________________________ 3. The color of the garments of the bereaved Tagalogs.

___________________________ 4. The island described in the selection where the customs of the ear-
ly Filipinos were observed
___________________________ 5. The color of mourning according to the Visayans.

Activity 4. Writing My Baybayin. Base from what you have learned from writing the Baybayin, translate the
“Ama Namin” into its Baybayin version.

AMA NAMIN

Ama namin

Sumasalangit ka

Sambahin ang ngalan Mo

Mapasaamin ang kaharian Mo

Sundin ang loob Mo

Dito sa lupa para lang sa langit

Bigyan Mo kami ng aming kakanin sa araw-araw

At patawarin mo ang aming mga sala

Para ng pagpapatawad naming sa nagkakasala sa amin

At h’wag Mo kaming ipahintulot sa tukso

At iadya Mo kami sa lahat ng masama

Amen