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An Overview of Pre-Spanish Period

At the end of the semester, the students will be able to

1. gain an overview of the political, social, religious and economic background in pre-
colonial Philippines
2. a better comprehension of the early culture of early Filipinos

A. An Overview of Pre-Spanish period

Long before the coming of the Spaniards, the early Filipinos had already
developed their own unique culture, beliefs, practices and civilization. Some of these
cultures, beliefs and practices can still be observed among the Filipinos at present.

1. Political life

The early Filipinos lived in settlement called barangay headed by chieftain known
as a datu and were independent from the other groups. Alliances among barangays were
common and these were formalized in a ritual called sangduguan. The subjects served
their chieftain during wars, voyages, and paid tributes called buwis.

The judicial process and all trials were held in public. The barangay court decided
the case in favor of the litigant who had presented more proofs than others. Whenever a
case cannot be readily decided upon the barangay court, a trial by ordeal was resorted
to. The trial by ordeal was based on the belief that the Gods protect the innocent and
punished the guilty. The court to find out the guilty persons utilized three ordeals. The
river ordeal, the boiling water ordeal, the candle ordeal.

2. Customs, Ornaments, language, system of writing

In terms of marriage customs, parents usually arranged marriage. Divorce was

resorted to in case of marital troubles. Women occupied a high position in early Philippine
society. Early laws and customs recognized them as the equal of men. They often occupied
prestigious position of the Babaylan. They could even demand that their husbands used
penis pins or penis rings.

It is believed that the natives already wore clothes and personal ornaments. They
wore a bahag, a baro. saya or patadyong They also wore gem-studded bracelets,
necklaces, rings, and gold earrings. The Filipinos from the Visayas Islands were the most
tattooed, which was why early Spanish writers referred to them as Pintados or painted
people. The writers referred to their Islands as Islas del Pintados or Islands of the
Painted People.Tattoos were part of the body ornaments of pre-Hispanic Filipinos, men
and women alike. These were also sported as war “medals.” The more tattoos, the more
impressive was a man’s war record.

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More than a hundred languages and dialects exist in the Philippines.Tagalog,

Ilocano, Pangasinan, Pampangan, Sugbuhanon, Hiligaynon, Samarnon or Waray and
Maguindanao may be considered major languages. Early filipinos had a syllabary made
of seventeen symbols, three vowels and fourteen consonants.

Pre-Spanish Filipinos believed to have their own system of writing called baybayin
or alibata, primarily used by certain inhabitants of Luzon and the Visayas.

Source: https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=images+of+alibata+or+baybayin

3. Pre- Spanish Religious Beliefs and Practices

Before the introduction of Roman Catholicism, the indigenous inhabitants were

animistic because they worshipped nature. They even believed the immortality of the
soul and in life after death. They subscribed to the idea of heaven and hell.

Since they animistic, they also revered idols called anitos. This practice led to
the concept of mariit. Hence,disease or illness was attributed to the whims of the
environmental spirits and the soul-spirits of the dead relatives. Beliefs such as usog
(a child greeted by a stranger will get sick) and lihi are also present. Superstitious
beliefs were also common

They believed in the existence of supernatural beings like aswang, tikbalang

(a man having the head of a horse), kapre (a giant that is smoking tobacco), tiyanak
(monster-like, vampire-esque child), santelmo (fireball), duwende (dwarves and
elves), manananggal (witches who feed on fetus' blood), engkanto (minor spirits),
and diwata (fairies/nymphs) and manoghiwit and many more who could victimize
people. They also believed in efficacy of anting-anting or amulets as well as lumay
or gayuma. These beliefs were carried on up to the present generation of Filipinos,
which has led some foreign authors to describe them as 'Pagano-Christians.'

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4. The Islamization of the Philippines

The Islamization of Southeast Asia was generally accomplished by peaceful means

through Muslim traders, missionaries, and teachers. Serif Kabungsuan was responsible
for the spread of Islam in Mindanao. He led a force of Muslim Samals from Jahore that
conquered the natives of what is now Cotabato and converted them to Islam. He also
married a lady from an an influential family and founded the first sultanate of Mindanao,
with himself as head.

When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines during the first half of the 16th century,
many parts of Luzon, including the large native kingdoms of Manila and Tondo, had
already been Islamized. However, the further spread and influence of Islam were stopped
by Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

Sources:

Fitzpatrick, K. (2013). Religion dnd Spanish Colonialism In The Philippines.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Funtecha, Henry and Padilla Melanie. Study Guide in Philippine History. Iloilo City: UP in
the Visayas, 1999.

Yumpu.com. (n.d.). Philippine History Pre-Colonial Period—Philippine Culture

Yumpu.Com. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/37144493/philippine-history-pre-
colonial-period-philippine-culture-