CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOG

RELACION DE LAS COSTUMBRES DE LOS

TAGALOGS

By: Fray Juan de Plasencia

Background of
the Author
◊ Born to the illustrious family of Portocarreros in
Plasensia in the region of Extramadura, 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 Extramadura.
◊ Fray Joan de Puerto Carrero, del Convento de Villanueva
de la Serena was his real name.
Arrival in the Philippines
◊Fray Juan de Plasencia came together with
the first batch of Franciscan missionaries in
the Philippines.
◊Arrived at a port in Cavite, a few kilometers
nd
south of Manila on the 2 of July 1578.
Purpose: RELACION DE LAS
COSTUMBRES AND
INSTRUCCION

◊ To put an end to some injustices being

committed against the natives by certain
Government Officials.
◊ “The chronicler, Francis enemies, and so I can hardly express
the sadness I feel any time the news of such incidents reach my
ears or I myself am involved: however, if one is to choose
between enmity is to be preferred. For considering the kind of
persons most of the alcades mayors are nowadays, nothing
indicates that friendship with them will help the missions in
any way. On the contrary, it will destroy them. Because, as I
have observed, you can hardly find one that is not blinded and
moved by greediness, thus destroying his own soul as well as
the lives and possessions of the poor Indians.”
 REFERENCES

◊ OFM ARCHIVES – Philippines by: Fr. Jose “Long” D. Gutay,

OFM
(http://ofmphilarchives.tripod.com/id8.html)
◊ The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 Volume VII, 1588-1591
(Edited and annotated by Emma Helen introduction and
additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne)
Historical
Background of
the Document
Social Classes

Chieftain
(Datu)

Nobles
(Maharlika)

Commoners (Aliping
Namamahay)

Slaves (Aliping
Saguiguilir)
 DATU
◊ Chief,
Captain of
wars, whom
governed,
obeyed and
reverenced.
NOBLES OF
MAHARLIKA

◊ Free-born,
they do not
pay taxes.
COMMONERS
OF ALIPING
NAMAMAHAY
◊ They live in their
own houses and
lords of their
property and
gold.
 SLAVES OR
ALIPING SA
GUIGUILIR
◊ Theyserve 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.
◊ (Lower) bahag.
 MODE OF
DRESSING

◊ Female
◊(Upper) Baro or
Camisa
◊(Lower) Saya
 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
st
◊ The 1 son of the barangay chieftain inherits
his father’s position; if the 1st son dies , the
2nd succeeds their father; in the absence of
male heirs, it is the eldest daughter that
becomes the chieftain.
 Slaves
◊ A person becomes 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.
 MARRIAGE
CUSTOMS
◊ 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 between couples belonging to different
social classes were not common.
 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) Siginarugan, God of hell.
 RELIGIOUS BELIEF
◊ Also believe in sacred animals and trees.

◊During Pre-Colonial times in the

Philippines, our ancestors have a high
respect for nature, spiritual realms and all
beings on Earth.
◊Every part of our nature were respected, it
was believed that it is through nature; we
can gain more strength and even magic,
we can connect to the spirit of our
departed loved ones and we can appease
the deities for protection and blessings.
 Babaylan
◊ The Babaylans are
shamans also known as
Katalonan, Mumbaki and
Bailan among many other
names from ethnic groups
in our land.
 Babaylan
◊ It came from a root word
Baliyan, that means
“Shaman.”
◊ “I Dios egga nittam
nganun!”
◊ GOD IS IN ALL OF US!
 Superstitious Belief
◊ Believe in Aswang, Dwende, Kapre,
Tikbalang, Patyanak/Tiyanak.
◊They also believe in magical power of
amulet and charms such as anting-anting,
kulam and gayuma or love potion.
 Economic Life
◊ Agriculture in the plane lands: planting
rice, corn, banana, coconut, sugar canes
and other kinds of vegetable and fruits.
◊Hunting in high lands.
◊Fishing in river banks and sea.
 Economic Life
◊ Shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining
and lumbering.
◊Domestic trade of different barangays by
boat.
 Economic Life
◊ Foreign trade with countries like Borneo,
China, Japan, Cambodia, Java, and
Thailand.
Language and System of Writing

◊ Major languages: Tagalog, Ilokano,

Pangasinan, Pampangan, Sugbuhanon,
Hiligaynon, Magindanaw and Samarnon
this languages is originated from the
Malayo-Polenisian language.
Language and System of Writing

◊ System of writing: the alphabets consisted

of 3 vowels and 14 consonants called
Baybayi.
◊They used tap of trees as ink and pointed
stick as pencil.
Language and System of Writing

◊ They wrote on large plant leaves, bark of a

tree or bamboo tubes.
 Jurassic sandstone

The Jurassic sandstone

belongs to the Mansalay
formation which forms the
basement of the
southwestern part of
Mindoro Island.
Baybayin Surat Mangyan