Part I: Pre – Colonial Philippines
Halcon and is divided into 3 ranges: the north-
Chapter 1: The Setting
The Philippines is an archipelago consisting of
more than 7,000 islands and islets stretching
almost a thousand miles from north to south.
The land surface is 114,830 square statute miles
and is criss-crossed with mountains and drained
by small river systems. Volcanic in origin, the
mountain ranges “form the circuit and
watersheds of the Pacific basin of the earth’s
surface.
Mountain Systems
3 Large Ranges in the mountain system of
Luzon:
1. The Caraballo Del Sur – forms the
nucleus of the system, has its highest
peak at the intersection of the
boundaries of Abra, Ilocos Norte, and
Cagayan.
2. The Caraballos Occidentales- divide into
to the Cordillera Norte and Cordillera
Central and traverse the region west of
Cagayan River.
3. The Sierra Madre (also known as Pacific
Coast Range) – This is the longest
continuous range in the Philippines. It
begins at Baler, Quezon, and crosses
Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Cagayan.
*The mountain ranges of eastern and south-
eastern provinces of Luzon extend from the
Caraballo de Baler to San Bernardino Strait in
the South, culminating in Mayon Volcano in
Albay and Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon. The
Zamabales range start at Cape Bolinao and
follows the China Sea coast to the Bataan
Peninsula. The Tagaytay ranges passes through
Cavite and Batangas and with Mt. Makiling,
forms the mountain system of the southern
Tagalog region.
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
*The Mindanao mountain range begins at Mt.
west ending at Calavite Point, a landmark of
Ships passing between Manila Bay and Mindoro
Strait; the east which originates from Lake
Naujan; and the west, which follows the
Mindoro Strait.
*Negros in the Visayas is divided into two by a
range running from north-west to south- east,
with Kanlaon Volcano as the notable peak.
* Panay has a range running from north to
south that separates Antique from Iloilo, Capiz
and Aklan
*Mindanao has 4 distinct ranges: the Surigao
range which follows the contours of the Pacific
Coast; the Butuan range which extends to the
south and forms the watershed of the Agusan
River on the east and Pulangui River on the
west, the central-western ranges of which Mt.
Apo is the highest; and the western range which
begins west of Iligan Bay and ends on the shore
of Basilan Strait.
River Systems
The fluvial system of Luzon is represented by (1)
the Rio Grande de Cagayan and its tributaries,
which drain the Cagayan Valley; (2) the Agno
Grande which drains Benguet and the valleys of
Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Tarlac; (3) the
Abra river system, which receives its tributaries
from the Cordillera and drains Lepanto, Bontoc,
and Abra; and (4) the Rio Grande de Pampanga
and its tributaries, which drain the fertile valleys
of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bulacan
*Mindanao has the largest river system in the
Philippines. The Rio Grande de Mindanao drains
the central basin of Mindanao and receives the
water of two lakes. Agusan, which is second to
the Rio Grande, drains the basins of Surigao.
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
At least ten of the volcanoes are considered
active; the rest are dormant
The most famous volcanoes from north to south
are the following
1. Iraya in Batanes island
2. Taal in Batangas
3. Banahaw in Quezon
4. Mayon in Albay
5. Hibok – Hibok in Camiguin Island
6. Makaturing in Lanao
7. Apo in Davao
Mayon has been the most active volcano. It has
erupted more than 30 times since 1615, while
Taal Volcano (the smallest in the world and
situated in the middle of Taal Lake) has erupted
no less than 30 times. It most destructive
eruption took place on January 30, 1911, which
killed 1,300 persons. The eruption took place in
early dawn of September 28, 1965 buried 6
barrios and led the loss of 300 lives. The
eruption of July 5 and after, 1966 did little
damage of life and property. The last eruption
took place on September 3, 1976.
*The Philippines lies within the Pacific Seismic
Belt. Manila experiences a severe earthquake in
1937 when many buildings in the commercial
district were partly destroyed. The earthquake
of August 2, 1968 was so violent that an
apartment building collapsed, killing hundreds
of people. One of the most destructive
earthquakes in the Philippine History occurred
in June 3, 1863, when Manila Cathedral and
hundreds of government structures and
residential houses collapsed and many people
were killed, including the famous Filipino priest,
Dr. Pedro Pablo Pelaez. By far the most
destructive earthquake occurred in the
Philippines was the one that struck Mindanao
on August 17, 1976. It has the intensity of VIII.
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
Coastline
Philippines have an irregular coastline that
extends about 10, 850 statute miles, twice as
long as that of the continental United States.
Manila Bay, which has an area of a little more
than 700 square miles and a circumference of
120 miles, is one of the finest natural harbours
in the world.
Products and Natural Resources
Rice, the staple food crop of the country, is
produced largely in the Central Plains of Luzon.
In President Ferdinand Marcos administration,
the “miracle rice” was developed.
Other products for export were Copra, Abaca,
Gums, Resins, Rubber, and Sugar. Lumber,
Minerals and Metals have been exported in
large quantities to swell Philippine exports to an
average of about 800,000,000 PHP. Mining,
which is the basic industry, produces more than
700 million pesos worth of minerals. Metallic
minerals such as copper, gold, silver, iron, lead,
zinc, manganese, and chromium are exploited
for their commercial value. While the non-
metallic minerals like salt, coal, clay, asbestos,
sulphur, gravel, limestone, and gypsum are so
far not yet exploited for large scale export.
The Philippine Forest, which covers some
40,000 square miles, produces timber for local
consumption and export.
The People
Filipino belongs to a mixture of races although
basically he is Malay. The Filipino at the coming
of the Spaniards was browned-skinned like his
Malay forbearers. The inter-marriage between
the Filipino and the foreigner, particularly the
white lead to a class known as “mestizo” class
or humorously called “mestizoisie” The obvious
implication that a person spoken of is Spanish-
Filipino but all other breeds are qualified by the
nationality of their parents.
There has been a barrier of feeling that borders
on hostility, between the mestizo and the
native. Mestizo by virtue of his social and
financial status looked down upon the native as
a bor. But the mestizo felt inferiority to the
“pure” Spaniard who considered him so far
below him as not to be taken seriously.
In 1959 a columnist called down a senator by
claiming that the latter was a mestizo, being a
mestizo, could not be expected to defend the
rights of the Filipino People in so far the
question was concerned.
Common Traits
The following are traits that are common to an
average Filipino:
Hospitality – One patent Filipino trait that
immediately commends itself to the foreigner.
The Filipinos shows exceptional kindness in
welcoming guest or strangers.
Close Family Ties – The Filipino family is
generally consists of grandparents, the parents
and the children. The father as the head of the
family but while he rules the mother governs.
She is an educator, financial officer, laundry
woman etc. But over the ruler and the
governess are the grandparents whose opinions
and decision on all important matters are
sought. The “tyranny” of the elders is such that
the Filipino family has remained basically the
same.
Respect for the elders – The Filipino trait that is
remained in the book of unwritten laws. The
particle po shows respect to the older persons.
No other language has carried respect than the
Philippine Language; example: are you talking
to an older man or woman? then used the
second person plural – kayo, inyo, ninyo. It is
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
said that it is a sign of good breeding. Next in
the degree of respect is the using of first person
plural – atin, natin, tayo. Here the speaker and
the person spoken to are lumped together as
one. The peak of respect is achieved by the use
of third person plural – sila, kanila, nila. Unlike
the first two degrees of respect this last shows
detachment, making it appear that the person
spoken to is a faraway person, someone to be
handled and referred to gingerly.
The elders believe and demand that they need
to be obeyed – right or wrong. The elders are
not generally impress by the academic degrees
attained compared to the experience they had.
You only have the knowledge but they have the
wisdom. They would argue that they have
drunk more water than you have. Their decision
must be sought for all important matters that
affect the family it is because what happens to
one member of the family affects the rest.
There is then, collective responsibility for the
family. This collective responsibility is said to be
the cause for the late development of Filipino
Nationalism. Rizal painted this common family
scene during the Spanish regime in his El
Filibusterismo, in the chapter “Cabesang Tales”
Kissing the hands of the elders is a sign of
respect. Since collective responsibility
characterizes the Filipino Family, it follows that
that the better-off member has to take care not
only of his immediate family but also of other
relatives. One may actually trace the root of
corruption and graft to the closeness of family
ties. Right or wrong, the family comes first and
foremost.
Fatalistic – The Filipino is naturally fatalistic. He
believes that whatever happens to him is the
work of fate. This fatalism is best symbolized in
the phrase “Bahala na,” a phrase that defies
translation but which may be rendered loosely
as “come what may” Such fatalism has bred in
the Filipino sense of resignation. It is thus that
he faces disaster or tragedy with resignation. He
appears indifferent in the face of graft and
corruption. He appears impassive in the face of
personal misfortune. Yet this “Bahala na”
attitude prevents him from being a crackpot.
Loyalty – This trait is very strong in the Filipino.
Do him a little favour and he remembers you to
the end of his days. For a Filipino, friendship is
scared and implies mutual help under any
circumstances. A friend is expected to come not
only of a personal friend but also the latter’s
family. A man’s friend is considered a member
of the family and is expected to come to share
its tribulations as well as prosperity and
happiness. It is unthinkable for the Filipino to
betray his friend, and if there be such one, he
becomes a marked man: ostracism is the
lightest punishment that can be meted out to
him. This concept of loyalty to a friend explains
why the Filipino sulks at the thought of not
receiving enough aid from the United States.
The Filipino rightly or wrongly thinks that he
deserves more aids than for example Japan
because the Filipino fought side by side with the
Yankee. This attitude is beyond the
comprehension of the Americans. Americans is
ruthlessly businesslike and will not allow
sentimentalism to stand in the way of fulfilling
his destiny or objective. This “ruthlessness”
does not understand by the Filipino, hence
there has been misunderstanding between the
Filipino and the American with respect to
material aid.
Sensitive – A Filipino is easily piqued when a
foreigner for instance makes a sweeping
generalization that is not flattering to the
Filipinos, no matter how true the observation
may be. It takes tact, skilful diplomacy, or in
more sophisticated language, a great deal of
good public relations, to talk to an earring
Filipino employee or worker, for a good
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
intentioned rebuke by a superior might be
taken as a slight on his character and integrity.
 Manila North High School (Arellano
University) January 1930: A Filipino
brother and sister were sitting beside
each other and the professor said “you
should get into the habit of cleaning
yourselves” the professor probably
meant no harm, but the student
organized a strike. The professor was
then sent back to the United States but
the ring leaders were suspended, there
were no March Graduation exercises
that happen that year.
 University of the Philippines a year or
two before and in 1931: A certain
American lady professor with a Russian
name surname appeared to the
students a sweeping generalization
about Filipinos. The result was the
student furore, which led to the
separation of the professor to the
university. An Australian professor of
English said in convocation that 90% of
the Filipino Students are cheating. The
students and the Filipino professors let
loose barrage of verbal fireworks which
forced the professor to resign.
This Anglo-Saxon frankness is something that
the Filipino seldom appreciates.
Tendency to be Indolent – Rizal explained this
trait as the result of the tropical climate which
makes even the westerner indolent in some
parts of the paradise. But aside from the warm
climate, indolence may be partly explained by
the abundance of nature that is endowed in the
country – a fact that makes a Filipino exert less
effort in the belief that he does not have to
work hard to meet both ends. Then, too,
because of close family ties and personal ties.
Lack of Initiative – The Filipino has a fear of
natural competition. For a Filipino society it is
cooperative not competitive. The experiences
of college and university professors reveal a sad
fact that an average Filipino student needs to
be hammered and whipped into line to make
him work hard. Not only the average student
but also the average business men/women,
they are afraid to compete that they refuses to
invest a large amount of money in his business;
he is the Spanish parlance – segurista (a man
who wants to be sure that he doesn’t lose)
Curious – The Filipino being a childlike is
naturally curious. But his curiosity is tainted
with sympathy. There is certainly is nothing
malicious in his inquiries about one’s health,
about one’s children, about one’s salary and so
forth. Not infrequently is a sophisticated Filipino
embarrassed when asked, casually and with an
air of innocent abandon, where he works and
how much he earns. A woman with a little
Spanish breeding once asked a worker, how
much he earns. The man answered, it was just
enough for me and my wife. The woman repeat
the question and the man metaphorically threw
up his hands and finally give the information
sought. This “poking into one’s pie” is easily
misunderstood by a westerner who is not
accustomed to such kind of inquisitorial
method, invariably suspects the Filipino of
invading the privacy of one’s life. The Filipino is
solicitous and if ever he asks too many
questions about another’s life and mode of
living it is because, as a man of abundant faith
and sympathy, he wants – and is ready – to
offer his unsolicited help.
Jealousy – He does not look with favour on a
man who flits with several men. To him the
sweetheart’s heart is meant only for him. Even
his closest friend cannot kiss his wife with
impunity that it was only a brotherly kiss. A
deviation of this unwritten law oftentimes leads
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
to bloody mess. In the newspaper many are
reported that because of jealousy they were
killed. This may seem bloody enough to a
westerner but to a Filipino in whose veins flows
a Malay “hot” blood, to kill or be killed is an
easy way to avenge his honour.
Individualistic – The Filipino is individualistic in
a different way. One finds a struggling cochero
who cannot put his horse on its feet after
having stumbled on the street. The people who
saw the cochero with apparent unconcern and
would even try to laugh at the cochero who
could not persuade his horse to cooperate
Regionalistic – A Filipino does not think of
national boundaries instead he thinks of
regional oneness. This feeling is an extension of
the closeness of family ties. Invariably, the
Filipino believes that the person known to him
no matter how bad is better than the person
who is unknown to him no matter how good.
Among Filipinos the Tagalogs are the least, if at
all, regionalist.
This strong regionalistic may be traced in the
Spanish period where Spanish administrators
who pursued a policy of “divide and conquer”
Sense of Pakikisama – Simple as term may
appear to the merely learned, this Filipino trait
has not been fully understood, especially in its
connotations. Its original connotations may be
translated loosely as the intensive signification
of camaraderie or spirit of comradeship, the
main elements of which are unselfishness and
good faith. There is, therefore, no element of
deceit, or dishonesty, or subversion of justice,
attached to the term. Thus, the terms mabuting
pakikisama and its opposite masamang
pakikisama really refer to the way of dealing
with its fellowmen; if he is selfish, or incapable
of empathy or if he is helpful and particicpates
cheerfully in any community work.
However, owing mainly to the inroads of
“civilizations” particularly of politics and
materialism, pakikisama has been a term of
debase an attitude that makes an amiable crook
well – liked or least admired. For a person a
“mabuting pakikisama” is when he is dishonest,
or unjust or unprincipled by subverting justice
in order to be in good graces of many naive
people. It is a “masamang pakikisama” if he is
just too honest, doesn’t want to subvert justice
just to please the naive people.
The beautiful trait of pakikisama has been
denuded of its nobility by political imperatives
and the perverted sense of value that have
dominated the character of the Filipino since
the last world war.
Regional Traits
Ilocano or Samtoy – An excursion into the
northern region reveals that the Samtoy has
spilled into the provinces of Abra, Cagayan,
Nueva Vizcaya, northern Nueva Ecija,
Pangasinan, Zambales and Part of Tarlac. The
Ilocos region is hemmed in on one side by
forbidding mountains ranges and the other by
the restless sea, so that the economic
opportunities are limited. The small piece of
land he cultivates is not sufficient to yield
abundant crops. Such a environment could only
produce adventurous industrious, hardy,
patient and frugal people. Economic pressures
forces him to migrate to some greener valleys
either in Mindanao or in Hawaii and continental
United States. There, because of his patience,
industry, frugality, he carves out his fortunes
and most of the time succeeds. He is not one to
stay put in a locality if better opportunities in
some land beckon. It is the reason that one
finds the Samtoy everywhere in the Philippines.
Samtoy frugality is proverbial and compares
favourably with that of the Scot. It has been the
custom of the Filipino to foot the bill if he
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
happens to invite his companions. It would be
difficult for a Samtoy, under the circumstances,
to dig into his pockets to take charge of the
situation. This is because he eans his money the
hard way and he is not nullify his efforts by
being a spendthrift.
Samtoy finds his surroundings not conducive to
humour. He takes life seriously and considers it
an object of struggle. That is why he appears
sluggish and shy and creates impression that he
is getting ready to wrestle with surrounding
forces. He takes time in deliberating and
appears hesitant in his manners. This lumbering
characteristic of the Samtoy is shown not only
in his physical movements but also in their
literature. He is not lyrical type; he is rather, the
epic type. Of all Filipinos the Samtoy is the most
regionalistic.
Tagalog Belt consist of the provinces of Nueva
Ecija, Bulacan, Bataan, and a small part of
Tarlac, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon,
and islands of Marinduque, and Mindoro.
Manila the political capital of the Philippines
and center of cultural and commercial life is the
heart of the region. It is this historical accident
that makes the Tagalog feel superior. He is
neither frugal nor extravagant. His code of
ethics is strict, his pride is fierce. The ties that
bind him to his home is strong that he doesn’t
want to leave his homeland that migrating to
the greener valleys to carve out his fortune. The
result is that among the Filipinos he has
developed the strongest tendency to live with
his parents or in laws after marriage. The
Tagalog enjoys the finer things in life. He is at
once a lover, a born poet, and a musician. The
poetry of the tagalong is lyrical. He is a dreamer
and takes the slightest opportunity to burst out
into a declamation, hence, the sing-song nature
of the Tagalog declamation and the
impassioned balagtasan (poetical joust). It is no
wonder then that the best lyricist is found in
this region. The Tagalogs also excel in music.
The greatest Filipino composers came from this
region.
Bicolano – He is known for his even temper and
religiosity. Kindly like the Visayan, he views life
with studied calmness and seldom shows rough
edges. But, like the Visayan, he knows how to
enjoy life and take its offerings with
philosophical equanimity. He is fond of spicy
food and no food is good to him which is not
liberally sprinkled with spices, particularly red
pepper. However, when a Bicolano is not
enjoying mundane life to the hilt, he is
contemplating it in the church or seminary.
Many Filipino taxi dancers and priest came from
the Bicol Region.
Visayan – He is known for being a happy go
lucky person more interested in the here and
now than in the past or the future. He exceeds
the Tagalog in his love for finer things in life. He
is ready to spend his last peso to enjoy life to his
last drop. It is because he is not compelled by
his environment to work hard. He is also
adventurous and is affected by wanderlust. The
Visayan girl can leave the house without
compunction to follow the gleam of Adventure.
For this reason she is more self-reliant
looked down upon as an aberration – “Moro”
with all the ugly implications. The result was
that he becomes antagonistic to any attempt to
bring him to the Christianity fold, for he
believes that the attempt was made not
because he is loved, but because his conversion
to the Christian way of Life is necessary. Muslim
does not accept such imposition.
One wonders why the Muslim brother has not
been integrated into the Philippine body politic.
The reason was that as a Non-Christian who has
for centuries struggled for his individual
identity, he came to suspect his Christian
brother would betray him, for the Christians
were used by the conquerors in their attempt to
obliterate Muslim culture and Religion.
Consequently the Muslim cast suspicious eyes
on his Christian Brother who, he thinks is
affiliated with Messianic Delusions. There is
nothing more abominable to the Muslim than
to be told to discard hi “Moro” life. Then, too,
the various Philippine governments, from the
Spanish government down to the recent times,
had utterly neglected the Muslim, let alone the
other minorities.

Muslim – He is known as the fiercest lover of

freedom. Adventurous like the Visayan and
Samtoy, he dares the high seas in search of
manly adventure. He is a man of honour who
sticks to his plighted word and will brave
dangers to redeem his vow or promise. He is
easily best friend one can have, and, certainly,
the worst enemy. He is hardy like the Samtoy
and also produced epics. He is proud of his
culture and does not offer meek apologies for it.
Thus when most part of the Philippines were
baptized by Christianity they guarded there land
and fought against the conquistadores. Also,
because of this love of culture the Muslim is

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
 Part I: Pre – Colonial Philippines
Chapter 2: Before the Conquest
Peopling of the Philippines
Up to the early 1970’s it had been assumed that
the Philippines is part of the Mainland China. It
is theorized that during the Pleistocene Age or
Ice Age, the waters surrounding the Philippines
fell about 156 feet below the present levels. As
a result, a vast area of land was exposed and
become a sort of land bridges to Asia. In
February 1976 the theory of land bridges was
disputed by Dr. Fritjof Voss, a German Scientist
who studied the geology of the Philippines. He
said that the Philippines were never part of the
mainland China instead it rose from the bottom
of the sea and continues to rise as the thin
Pacific crush moves below it. As a proof Dr. Voss
points to the fact that when scientific studies
done in 1964-67 on the thickness of the earth’s
crust, it was found that the 35 kilometre thick
crust underneath China does not extend in the
Philippines. Hence, the Philippines is not part of
the Mainland China.
The widely accepted theory about the people of
the Philippines is that the Negritos were the
aborigines of the Philippines, but now it is
severely criticized in the anthropologically
literate quarters.
F. Landa Jocano of the University of the
Philippines, disputes Professor H. Otley Beyer’s
assumption that the Malay migrated to the
Philippines and now constitutes the largest
population of the Philippines. It was also Beyer
who theorized that the present Filipinos have a
Malayan culture. However, Jocano believes that
the fossil evidences of ancient men show that
they come not only in the Philippines but to
New Guinea, Java, Borneo and Australia.
Though there is no way of telling whether it is a
negrito or not, the primary concern is that there
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
were at least a man who lives in the Philippines
21,000 or 22,000 years ago.
The discovery of the Tabon Man at the Tabon
cave in 1962 shows that man came earlier to
the Philippines than to the Malay Peninsula
where according to the old theory Filipinos
came from
Jocano summarized his findings with that:
1. The people of prehistoric island
Southeast Asia belonged to the same
population...it grew out of the
combination of human evolution which
occurred in the island of Southeast Asia
about 1.9 million years ago, as
evidenced by the fossil materials
recovered from the different regions.
2. The core population share a common
cultural orientation that includes both
flake and core implements and their
complex ceramic industries...
3. The configuration of these shared
elements into a common way of life is
what we call the base culture. It
emerges from similar responses people
made to similar geographical
conditions, climate, fauna and flora.
4. None of these ancient men can be
categorized under any of the historically
identified ethnic groups...
5. The explanation of peopling of the
Philippines through a series of waves of
migration as documented by folk
history like Maragtas has to be
considered. The undue credit given to
the Malays as the original settlers of the
region and dominant cultural
transmitter must be corrected...
Introduction of Islam
The foundation of Islam was laid in Malaysia by
the Arabian scholar, Mudum, who arrived in the
Malay Peninsula about the middle of the 14 th
century. He succeeded in establishing in
Malacca a rather tenuous foothold for Islam.
About 1380 he proceeded to Sulu and preached
the doctrines of Mohammed. 1390, Raja
Baginda one of the petty rulers of
Menangkabaw, Sumatra, arrived at Sulu and
promptly converted some of the natives into
Islam. His religious activities were followed by
Abu Bakr, who about 1450 left Palembang for
Sulu. He married Raja Baginda’s daughter,
Paramisuli. After Baginda’s death, Abu Bakr
exercised his powers as sultan and established a
government patterned after the Sultanate of
Arabia. Islam spread rapidly to all parts of Sulu.
In Mindanao, Serif Kabungsuan, who had
meanwhile arrived from Johore with his men,
immediately began laying the foundation of
Islam. He converted many tribes to his religion
and having married to an influential family,
made himself the first sultan of Mindanao.
From then on, Islam spread rapidly to the
Visayas and Luzon. The arrival of the Spaniards
in the second half of 16th century and the
subsequent conquest of Luzon lead the Muslims
to retreat to the south where they maintained
their independence from foreign powers to the
end of the Spanish Regime.
Relations with the Orang Dampuans
Between 900 and 1200 A.D. another groups of
immigrants came to the Philippines from
southern Annam known as Orang Dampuans or
Men from Champa, they established trading
post in Sulu and Southern Annam. The Orang
Dampuans were not politically minded and had
no intention of dominating the people of Sulu,
who were called Buranuns. Their interest lay in
trade. As usually happened, the Orang
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
Dampuans because of their prosperity aroused
the jealousy of the Buranuns, who, in a fit of
anger, massacred some of the Orang
Dampuans. The Orang Dampuans then took
their bloody revenge on Buranuns and having
levelled the enemy’s villages to the ground and
sailed back to their homeland. It was not until
the 13th century that the Orang Dapuans
returned to Sulu to have a peaceful trade with
the native.
Relations with Banjarmasin
The fame of Sulu reached as far as northern
Borneo and soon Banjarmasin and Brunei, two
of the important sub-states of the Empire of Sri
Vijaya, sent traders to Sulu. The latter’s famous
pearl beads drew the interest of the
Banjarmasin merchants and adventurer. Thus,
regular trade relations were established
between the people of Sulu and the men of
Banjar, as the men of Banjarmasin were called.
The Buranuns looked with suspicion the men of
Banjar for they have not forgotten their
experience with the Orang Dampuans . But the
men of Banjar were more diplomatic than their
predecessors, knew how to assuage the
wounded pride of the Buranuns. Realizing the
power of a beautiful woman who can soften the
heart of a hostile ruler, the men of Banjar
bought their beautiful princess to Sulu. She was
offered to the Buranun ruler, who did not need
a second look to decide that the princess was fit
to be his queen. Sulu thus came to be under the
influences of Banjarmasin. With Sulu now under
their thumb, the men of Banjar sent more
adventurers and traders to Sulu until as the
time went on the Buranuns were slowly
pressured into the hinterland leaving the coast
to the wily men of Banjar. Under the latter Sulu
developed into an emporium and trading ships
from Cambodia, China, Java and Sumatra cast
anchor at Sulu ports to savour their wealth and
splendour.
From the union of the Buranun chieftain and
the Banjarmasin princess became the rulers of
Sulu. For many years thereafter, Sulu remained
under the influenced of Banjarmasin.
Relations with China
From the scanty records that came down to the
present, it is known that the Philippines had
some commercial relations with the
neighbouring countries such as China. Trade
Relation started in the 9th century when some
Arab traders who were barred from the Central
China Coast found an alternative route. Goods
from Southeast Asia and the Western World
were carried by the Arab traders to the
Philippines through the southern route.
Philippine goods on the other hand, were
bought by the Arab ships to the Chinese
Mainland through the Port of Canton.
Sung Dynasty (960 – 1127) Chinese goods began
to flow in a continuous stream to the
Philippines. Chinese Colonies were founded in
the coastal towns of archipelago. During the
Ming period (1368-1644), other colonies were
established in the hinterland.
Cambodia and Champa, in Indo-China, trade
their porcelain products for Philippine ware.
Annam, Siam and Tonkin also began to trade
with the Philippines. 20% - 40% of the total
trade with the Southern Philippines was Non-
Chinese. Keen rivalry lasted up to the Javanese
or Madjapahit period (1377-1478).
Chinese regained control of the Philippine trade
when the Ming emperor (Yung Lo) 1402 – 1424
sent a large fleet consisting of more than sixty
vessels to the Philippines under the command
of Admiral Cheng Ho. The fleet visited Lingayen
in Pangasinan, Manila Bay, Mindoro and Sulu.
These visits took place in 1405-06, 1408-10, and
1417. For a short period Chinese Emperor even
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
tried to maintain a kind sovereignty over Luzon
and sent Ko-ch’a-lao to the island as a governor.
In the 15th century when Islam begun to spread
to the southern Philippines, the Indo-China
trade suffer a setback and the Chinese traders
were pressed back by the Muslim thus, they
sought new trading routes to those parts of the
Philippines were Islam were not yet gained a
foothold. Later on, the Chinese were allowed to
trade with the areas under the sway of Islam.
The Ten Bornean Datus
The Malay settlement of Panay in the Visayas is
told in the Maragtas, which is legendary or at
least semi-historical. It appeared that Sultan
Makatunaw was mistreating his subjects, so
that the ten chieftains decided to leave for
unknown parts in search for freedom.
1. Datu Puti
2. Datu Bangkaya
3. Datu Dumalugdog
4. Datu Sumakwel
5. Datu Lubay
6. Datu Paiburong
7. Datu Dumangsil
8. Datu Balensusa
9. Datu Paduhinog
10. Datu Dumangsol
These chieftains secretly sailed in their
balangays without any definite destination.
After sailing the Datus reached Panay which at
the time was inhabited by the Negritos called
Atis, who ruled by their chieftain Marikudo and
his wife Maniwantiwan. Realizing that the Atis
suspected them of evil intention, Datu Puti
(leader of the Bornean Datus ) assured peaceful
intentions. All they wanted he explained was a
land where his men could settle peacefully.
Marikudo, after consulting with the elders,
decided to sell a portion of land to the
newcomers. The purchase price was a gold
salakot and to satisfy feminine vanity, a long
gold necklace for Maniwantiwan. With the
Datus settled in Panay, Datu Puti, Datu
Balensusa, Datu Dumangsil sailed northward to
Luzon, disembarking in the region around Lake
Bonbon (Taal). The fertility of the soil lead Datu
Balensusa and Datu Dumangsil to settle while
Datu Puti returned to Borneo. In the course of
time Dumangsil and Balensusa’s families spread
out in neighbouring regions now known as
Laguna and the Bicol Peninsula. As for the seven
Datus in Panay, they too prospered. They are
divided into 3 Districts:
Hantik (Antique): Datu Sumakwel
Irong – Irong (Iloilo): Datu Paiburong
Aklan (Aklan or Capiz): Datu Bangkaya
For purposes of protection as well as for
maintain close family relations, the Datus
established a political organization known as
the Confederation of Madyaas, whose ranking
chieftain was Datu Sumakwel.
The Alleged Code of Kalantiyaw
It had been alleged that about 1433, the third
chief of Panay, Datu Kalantiyaw, probably the
descendant of Datu Sumakwel issued orders for
the guidance of his people. This called the Code
of Kalantiyaw.
Chinese Influence
The long contacts of the Filipinos with the
Chinese, beginning with the tenth century of
Christian era inevitably led to the Chinese
cultural penetration of the Philippines. Chinese
influences on Filipino life were mainly economic
for the Chinese to come to the island were
“economic” men whose interest lay in profits
rather than in political domination. Except
perhaps for the, short period but the Chinese
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
never had any political designs in the
Philippines.
From the Chinese the ancient Filipinos learned
how to use umbrellas, gongs, lead, and
porcelain, the manufacture of gun powder,
mining methods and metallurgy. Equally
important was the adoption of the Filipinos of
some Chinese customs such as the arrangement
of marriages among children by the parents was
probably of Chinese Origin; also the wearing of
white shirts and dress to show mourning was a
custom that is definitely Chinese.
Indian Influences
Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo De Tavera, in his study of
Sanskrit loan words in Tagalog, classifies this
loanwords into those with signify intellectual
acts, moral conceptions, emotions,
superstitions, names of deities, of planets, of
numerals of high numbers, of botany, of war, of
titles, some animals, instruments of industry,
and names of money.
Indian Influences is also present in the ancient
religious beliefs among Filipinos. Among the
Muslim, Indra Batara was the most
mythological figure, Indra being the Indian King
of Heaven. The other goods which the Muslim
believes in were of Vedic or Indian Origin. It is
therefore probable that the ancient paganism
of the Filipinos, which amounted to demon and
spirit worship came from India through old
Malaysia.
 Some of the ancient customs survived
the inroads of the western imperialism
find their counterparts in India. It may
be inferred that those customs were of
Indian origin. (Page 33 excerpt by Tara
Ali Baig, “Sisters under the skin,” in
Saturday Mirror Magazine, October 2,
1954)
Part I: Pre – Colonial Philippine
Chapter 3: Early Customs and Practices
Clothing:
 Kanggang (male)
-A black or blue collarless jacket with
short sleeves. The color of the jacket
indicated the rank of the wearer. Chief
= Red.
 Bahag (Male)
-Consists of a strip of cloth wrapped
about the waist, passing down between
the thighs.
 Baro/Camisa (Female)
-Jacket with sleeves
 Saya (Female)
-Called Patadyong by the Visayans is a
loose skirt
 Tapis (Female)
-A piece of red or white cloth tied
around the waist
 Putong (Male)
-Piece of cloth wrapped around the
head. The color shows the manliness,
red putong means the wearer killed a
man in war. An embroidered one
means that the wearer killed atleast 7.
Ornaments:
 Kalumbiga – armlets
 Tattoo is considered an ornament, but it
also exhibits a man’s war record.
 Visayans were called Pintados (Painted
Ones); their island called Islas del
Pintados (Island of the Painted People)
Houses:
 Houses were built to suit the tropical
climate; the ancient house was made of
wood, bamboo, and nipa palm.
 Ilongots, Kalingas, Mandayas, anf
Bagobos built their houses on tree tops
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
presumably to prevent their enemy
from surprising them in a raid.
Social classes:
 Nobles
- chiefs and their families; wielded
tremendous influence in the barangay
and enjoyed rights that others don’t;
usually called “Gat or Lakan”
 Freemen/Mahadlika (Tagalog)
- freemen or dependents who earned
their freedom.
 Dependent/Alipin
- May have acquired their low status by
inheritance, captivity, war, failure to
pay debt, purchase, or by committing a
crime.
- Either Namamahay (Had his own
family and served during plant ting and
harvest season) or Sagigilid (had no
property of his own, lived with his
master, and had to even ask for
permission before marriage)
-Among the Visayans, there are 3 kinds:
Tumataban (work when summoned),
Tumarampuk (work for one day), Ayuey
(work for 3 days)
-Gradations among dependents: Full
Dependents, Half Dependents, Quarter
Dependents.
Position of Women
 Equal to men
Marriage Customs
  They have to marry someone within rice to the guest with a
their ranks but it is not strictly shout
followed.  Among Freemen:
 The legitimate wife is called - The same ceremony minus the
“Asawa” while the other women uncooked rice
were called “friends”  Among Dependents:
 Only legitimate children will inherit - they would just ask and then they
 Bigay-kaya — dowry composed of would be married.
land, gold, dependents.  Courtship Among Muslims
 Panghimuyat – money that will also o Panalanguni/ Betrothal –
served as dowry. first stage, a group of
 Bigay-suso — to be given to the wet tribesmen of the groom
nurse who breast fed the girl. paid the girl a visit and will
 Himaraw — another set of money announce the wedding
given to the parents that will serve proposal.
as payment for feeding the girl o Pedsungud - Settlement of
during her infancy. the dowry; 7 Kinds:
 Sambon, bribe among the Zambals  Kawasateg (given to
that the relatives will receive. the relatives)
 Among Nobles:  Siwaka (Brassware
o The groom will hire a go- or few pesos given
between to those who had
o The go-between will fetch helped arranged
the bride the marriage)
o The bride will pretend to be  Enduatuan
bashful, shy (brassware or
o The father will give the money given to the
bride something to village chief)
encourage her to go inside  Pangatulian
o The girl will not sit down, (jewelry given to
she will receive another gift the mother and
o She will not eat or drink, aunts)
and will receive another gift  Tatas (Blade given
o The Bride and Groom will to the uncle)
drink from one cup  Langkad (Fine given
o An old man would to the parents’ for
by-passing the
announce that the
ceremony would begin elder sister.)
 Lekat (Given to the
o Old priestess would put the
girl’s attendant.)
couple’s hand over a plate
o Pegkawing – 3rd stage, party
of uncooked rice, then she
at the chief’s house, is
would threw the uncooked
followed a by 6 days of

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
 festivities. They can only
sleep together at the 7th
day.
Mixed Marriages:
 Mixed marriages equally divide their
children in inheriting their status, in odd
numbers the odd child would be a mix
of their rank.
Inheritance and Succession:
 Legitimate children would inherit the
property of the parents even without a
proper will.
 Partiality with the favorite is possible
(mas mataas kapag favorite)
 Extra money given to a son as a dowry
is not considered an inheritance.
 Things given in advance (except if
stated that it is not) is automatically
part of the inheritance.
 Illegitimate children from dependents
would not receive inheritance but
instead would be given freedom (from
the legitimate children) and to give
anything.
Government:
 The barangay was the unit of the
government, consists of 30-100 families
, derived from the Malay word Balangay
which means ‘’boat’. Each of it is
independent and ruled by a chieftain.
 Members pay tributes (buwis) in the
form of crops. The chief’s relatives
don’t.
 Chieftain exercised all functions of the
government.
 Blood Compact/Sanduguan is a sign of
agreement between barangays, they
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
will drink from the same cup making
them blood brothers.
 Wars are caused by: murders,
kidnapping, maltreatment. Vengeance
was the motive power that drove men
to war.
Laws:
 Either Customary (handed down orally
from generation to generation and
constituted the bulk of the laws of the
barangay) or Written (laws the chieftain
and his elders promulgated from time
to time as necessity arose.
 Laws are made by asking the approval
of the elder, and then an announcer
called umalohokan, with a bell in hand
will call the people and say it.
Judicial Process:
 They would call neutral elders from
other barangays that would act as
arbiters.
 Trials are held publicly and decision
were rendered promptly to avoid
‘justice delayed’.
Trial by order:
 Ordeals: place a stone in a boiling water
then dip your hands, the most scalded
hand is guilty; lighted candles, the first
to die out is guilty; plunge into the river
with lances, one who came out first is
guilty;chew uncooked rice, will be asked
to spit it, one with the thickest saliva is
guilt,
 Bultong – wrestling
 Alaw – combat
Religious beliefs:
 They believe in life after death
  Rituals were based on belief in a deity Divination and Magic Charms:
called “Bathalang Maykapal”
 Pangatauhan – people endowed with
 Bathala – creator of earth, man, and
extraordinary powers to the fortune of
superior to all other deities,
anybody who cared to know
 Idiyanale – god of agriculture
beforehand what the days ahead had in
 Sidapa – god of death
store for him.
 Balangaw – god of rainbow
 Asuwang – European poltergeist,
 Mandarangan – god of other world
change his form from man to dog,
 Agni – fire god
 Mangkukulam – who could injure
 Lalahon – god of harvest
anyman by prickling an image of a man
 Siginarugan – god of hell
 Manggagaway – can bring harm to
 Diyan Masalanta – god of love
anyone he wanted to destroy
 They kept alive the memory of their
 Tiyanak – took pleasure in sucking the
dead relatives by carving idols of stone
blood of the unborn babies.
or ivory which they called likha or
 Tikabalang – change forms to mislead
larawan
travelers at night.
 Anitos – ancient Filipino idols, diwata in
 Anting-anting/agimat – insured a man
Visayan
against weapon of any kind.
 Sacrifices are performed by priestesses
 Gayuma – made anyone loveable
or priests called baylana or katalona
 Odom – made bicolano invisible
and consisted of food, wine, pigs, and
 Wiga (Visaya)/ sagabe (tagalong) –
gold.
could make the possessor of this charm
Burial: walk in a storm or swim in a river
without getting wet.
 Belief in life after death made ancient  Tagahupa (bicol) – was mixed in a drink
Filipinos respectful of their dead and made the unfortunate drinker a
members. sort of vassal to the drinker.
 Mourning rituals: wearing white
shirts/skirts, others went berserk, Economic Life:
wearing rattan bands around their neck,
 Agriculture – main source of livelihood
legs and arms, or my abstaining from
 Pigafetta – chronicler of the Magellan
eating meat and drinking wine.
expedition
 Mourning for women is Morotal.
 Productivity was increased by the use of
Mourning for men is called Maglahi.
irrigation ditches as evidenced by the
 Sipa –relatives of the dead fasted and
world- famous Ifugao Rice Terraces of
limited nutrition to vegetables.
Mountain Province
 Balata – the act of avenging the dead
 Less arable lands along the slope of
 Pasiyam – celebration of the dead after
mountain are considered public
the ninth day.
property, while rich cultivated lands
 Tibawan – staging a play in honor of the
were considered private preserve of the
dead
nobles and the datus.
 Tibaw – the play itself.

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)
  Lumbering and shipbuilding were
flourishing industries
 Pre-colonial Filipinos used barter
system in their business transaction.

Part I: Pre – Colonial Philippine

Chapter 4: Pre – Colonial Culture

Language

The eight considered major languages of the

Philippines:

1. Tagalog
2. Iloko
3. Pangasinan
4. Pampangan
5. Sugbuhanon
6. Hiligaynon
7. Samarnon (Samar-Leyte)
8. Magindanao

These languages are sister-languages whose

lexicon shows that they descended from one
parent stock, the Austronesian or Malayo –
Polynesian.

System of Writing

Father Pedro Chirino: “I found in this language

[Tagalog] four qualities of the four greatest
languages – Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Spanish.
It has the mysticism and difficulties of the
Hebrew, the distinctive terms of the Greek not
only in the common but also in the proper
names, the fullness and elegance of Latin, and
the civility and courtesy of Spanish.

The Filipinos had a syllabary which was

probably of Sanskrit or Arabic provenance.
These syllabary consisted of 17 symbol, where
there are 3 vowels standing for the present five
vowels and fourteen consonants.

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. (C & E Publishing Inc.: Quezon City)