JUAN DE PLASENCIA

❖ Spanish Franciscan priest

❖ arrived in the Philippines in 1578
❖ hejoined forces with another missionary, Fray
Diego de Oropesa, and they both started preaching
around Laguna de Bay and Tayabas, Quezon, in
Quezon Province, where he founded several towns.
❖ Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban, Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan,
Lilio(Liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Pangil,
Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and
Meycauayan
  Purpose:
1. A response to the request of the
 Nagcarlan, Laguna King of Spain
 October 1589 2. Rectify the previous reports

 Document: about the people’s way of life in

-convent in Manila the region
-Pardo de Tavera  Collection of data: chose people
from different districts (old men
-Madrid
& those with capacity)
-June 15, 1892
 Physical nature: a
narrative
 Content: political, judicial, laws on slavery, properties and
inheritance, marriage and dowries
 A.k.a. “codigo civil y codigo penal consuetudinarios de los
Filipinos”
-first civil and penal code of the Philippines
• Balangay
• 30-100 families
• Independent & self-governing
• Had allies
• Governed by the datos
-captain during wars
-head of the jury
-protect the people
-obeyed and revered
1. NOBLES- free-born (Maharlicas)
-they did not pay tax or tribute but must accompany him in a war, at their own
expense
-Pila de la Laguna: 100 gantas of rice
2. COMMONERS- Aliping Namamahay.
-serve their master
-accompany the master in going beyond their island (rowed for him)
-lived in their own houses and are lord of their own property and gold
-children inherit the property and enjoy the rank of their fathers
-cannot be made slaves or be sold
3. SLAVES- Aliping Sauiguilir/guiguilid

-serve their master in his house and on his cultivated lands and may be sold
-granted a portion of their harvests (masters’ decision)
-prisoners of war (can ransom themselves; 5 taels) & become namamahay
-different guiding principles in each class
-strictly and rigid
-punishments
His work is a primary source because he personally witnessed
the events and his accounts contained his observations and
judgements on the Customs of the Tagalogs.
This text tackles about everyday living of the ancient Filipinos,
their social status, customs, and traditions of the tagalog. It is
also provided the first form of civil code in the early times,