Customs of the tagalogs
• Father Juan de Plasencia
• Spanish: Las Costumbres de los Indios
Tagalog de Filipinas
Juan de Plasencia
- Juan del Puerto Carrero is a Spanish Friar
of the Franciscan Order
- He came with the first batch of Franciscan
Missionaries in the Philippines in 1577
• Relacion de las Costumbres de Los
Tagalogs (Customs of the Tagalogs,
1589)
• Described the political, social,
economic, and cultural practices of
the Filipinos before they were
Christianized.
He spent most of his missionary life in the
Philippines, where he founded numerous towns in
Luzon and authored several religious and linguistic
books, most notably the Doctrina Cristiana
(Christian Doctrine), the first book ever printed in
the Philippines.
He is believed to have arrived to the
Philippines in 1578, after a stopover in Mexico. As
soon as he arrived, he joined 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.
During the following years they are also
credited with the foundation of a large number of
towns in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and
Rizal, such as Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban,
Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio(Liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz,
Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo,
Taytay, and Meycauayan.
- As a friar, Juan de Plasencia lived up to his
pledge, leading a lifestyle devoid of any
luxury and in constant contact with the
people he was trying to convert to
Christianity. He was also known to be a
defender of the native population, looking
after the poor, ill, or neglected, and standing
up for their rights on numerous occasions.
- He was also very keen on creating primary
schools, and requested official sanction for
the creation of educational centers where
"Filipinos could not only learn Christian
doctrine, but also reading and writing, and
some arts and crafts, so they would become
after, not only good Christians but also
useful citizens", an initiative that was
approved by Domingo de Salazar, the first
Bishop of the See of Manila (1512–1594).
Works
- He is the author of what is believed to be
the first book printed in the Philippines, the
Doctrina Cristiana, that was not only printed
in Spanish, but also in Tagalog, in both
Latin script and the commonly used
Baybayin script of the natives of the time,
and it even had a version in Chinese.
- Other works attributed to him are the
"Relacion de las Costumbres de Los
Tagalos" (1589), that not only helped
understand and preserve many of the
traditional ways of the local population, but
also provided the first form of Civil Code,
used by local governors to administer
justice.
- A mystical work which he entitled "La
Santina", was an Opus number on prayer
and contemplation entirely done in the
Tagalog language so the natives who did
not know Spanish could also engage in the
spiritual exercises of their teachers.
Customs of the tagalogs
- It was written on the year 1589 during the
Spanish Colonial Period
- A task by Governor Santiago De Vera
- A guide for the Alcalde Mayors in settling
the dispute among native Filipino
- Put an end into the injustice committed
against the ancient Filipinos
- First form of civil code
- Help in understanding and preserving
traditions of ancient Filipinos
- Obtain simple truths regarding their:
social classes inheritance
government slaves
administration of justice dowries
 Social Status; tagalog societies practice the Social Classes
“semi-caste system” Nobles or Maharlikas
SOCIAL STATUS; TAGALOG SOCIETIES PRACTICE - They do not pay taxes
THE “”SEMI-CASTE SYSTEM
Social
- Freeborn
Datus Chieftain
Maharlicas
Aliping Namamahay
Nobles/Freeman
Commoners (offer labor to the upper class
- Must accompany the Datu in
but they are not considered as propert)
Aliping Saguguilir Slaves (offer labor and property of
Maharlicas and Datus; they can be sold)
war, at their own expense, but
divide the spoils.
- Warriors, rich traders, and
craftsmen.

Caste system Cagayan Warrior Cagayan Princess

- A person is considered a member of the
caste into which he or she is born and
remains within that caste until death.
- Once you are born in that specific family,
you will now inherit that social status. And
there is a possibility that it will now your
social status in the end of your life.

The Barangay
- Started out as a single clan comprised of Commoners or Timawa class
parents, children, their extended family - Lower ranking than the
members, and their slaves. Maharlika
- Each barangay was independent, although - Also called Aliping
some entered into alliances. namamahay.
- Alliances are formed through blood compact - Everyday folks, forming the
or sandugo. majority of the population.
- Political system (30-100 families) - They pay taxes and
served the Datu as well
Dato (Datu) as the Maharlikas.
- Governs the barangay and - They live in their own houses and are
captain of wars. lords of their property and gold.
- Obeyed and revered by the - They are allowed to earn
members of the barangay. money but have to
- Create and execute laws. surrender a percentage
With the help of Council of of earnings to their master.
Elders - They cannot be slaves
Nor either parents nor
Visayan Royals children can be sold.
- They cannot be taken away from
their own village and be carried with
the master who is going to dwell to
another village.
 Alipin or Aliping Sagigilid as did the third and fifth; and the
- Could not own anything. second, fourth, and the sixth fell to the
- Usually captives of war or mother.
sentenced criminal. - In this manner if the father were free, all
- Could be bought or sold at those belonged to him were free; if he
will. were a slave all those who belonged to
- Couldn’t enter into a contract him were slaves; and same applied to
or marriage. mother.
- Used in sacrificial - Maharlikas could not, after marriage
ceremonies and could be move from one village to another,
buried alive upon the death without paying a certain fine of gold, as
of their masters, to continue serving arranged among them.
them in the afterlife. - This fine is larger or smaller according to
the inclination of the different villages,
SLAVERY running from one to three taels and
SLAVERY
banquet to the entire barangay.
- Failure to pay the fine might result in a
war between the barangay where the
REASONS TO BE SLAVE REASONS TO BE A FREEMAN
CAPTIVITY OF WAR BRAVERY/GOOD DEADS
INHERITANCE CONDONATION/FORGIVENESS
CRIME PAYMENT (TAEL OR LABOR)

person left and one which he entered.

DEBT MARRIAGE

- This applied equally to men and women

MARRIAGE
- Males give dowry to the family of the
desired bride
DOWRY- thru pieces of gold, property or
land
Divorce is practiced:
GROUNDS:
Adultery Abandonment Cruelty Insanity
Marriage and Children
- Those who are maharlikas on both
father’s and mother’s side continue to be
so forever; if it happens they should be
slaves, it is through marriage.
- If maharlikas (men) had children among
their slaves, the children and their
mothers became free.
- If a slave-woman is pregnant, she is
compelled to give her master half of the
gold tael because of her risk of death,
and for her inability to work during
pregnancy.
- If two persons married, of whom one
was a maharlika and the other a slave,
whether namamahay or sagigilid, the
children were divided; first, whether
male or female belonged to the father,
except that when one married a woman
of another village, the children were
divided equally to two barangays.
Dowries
- Dowries are given by men to women’s
parents.
- If the women’s parents are living, they will
enjoy the use of it. At their death, provided
the dowry has not been consumed, it is
divided like the rest of the estate, equally
among the children.
- If the wife, at the time of her marriage has
neither father, mother, nor grandparents,
she enjoys her dowry.
Dowries and Divorce
- In case of a divorce before the birth of
children, if the wife left the husband to
marry another, all her dowry and an equal
additional amount goes to the husband;
but if she left him, and did not marry
another, the dowry is returned.
- When the husband left his wife, he lost half
of the dowry, and the other half is returned
to him.
- If the husband possessed children at the
time of his divorce, the whole dowry and
fine will be given to the children and held
 for them by their grandparents or other
responsible relatives.
- There are fine stipulated in the
contract, that he who violates it shall
pay a certain sum which varies
according to the practice of the
village and the affluence of the
individual.
Family and social status
FAMILY AND SOCIAL STATUS
Father’s status Mother’s Status
Maharlica
Maharlica
+
+
Maharlica
Slave (if married)
=
=
Maharlica + Slave but she was = Maharlica; Mother will
compelld
Slave + Maharlica = Maharlica (if not married)
Inheritance of social status
- If two persons married, one is Maharlica
and another is a slave, the status of the
children will be divided:
- Father side inheritance: odd number
(1st,3rd,5th child…)
- Mother side inheritance: even number
(2ns.4th,6th child…)
Laws and Punishments
- Investigations made and sentences passed
by the datu must take place in the presence
of those in his barangay.
- If any of the litigants (being sued) felt
himself aggrieved, an arbiter (judge) is
unanimously selected from another village.
- A man of low birth who insulted the
daughter or wife of the Datu will be
condemned to death.
- Witches were killed, and their children and
accomplices becomes slaves of the Datu.
- All other offenses were punished by fines in
gold, which if not paid in promptness,
expose the culprit to serve until the payment
should be made.
Worship of the Tagalogs
- Pandot - a celebration of festival or worship
which is held at the large house of the Datu.
- Sibi - a temporary shed to shelter the people
during worship.
- Sorohile – small lamps to illuminate the sibi
during worship.
- Naagnitos – the act of worshipping that unites
the whole barangay and families.
- At the center of the house, worshippers place
one large lamp adorned with leaves of white
palm wrought into many designs.
- They also bought together many drums, large
and small which they beat successively
during the feast, which usually lasted for four
days.
Children Status
Maharlica
Maharlica and the
Tagalog Gods and Deities
Mother becomes a
Maharlica
pay ½ tael to master
Bathala
- “all powerful”
- Maker of all things
Tala
- Worshipped the moon (Mayari),
especially when it was new,
which they had great rejoicing,
adoring it and bidding its
welcome.
- The Sun was also worshipped
and is being accounted for its
beauty, and it is universally
respected and honored.
- Stars are also adored by some,
specifically Tala – the morning star.
Mapolon
- the god of seasons,
medicine and health.
Dian Masalanta
- goddess of love, conception and
childbirth and the protector of lovers. 
Lacapati
- dentified as the most important
fertility deity. The goddess of
cultivated land.
Balatic
- the Greater Bear
Lic-ha
- images with different shapes, sometimes
worshipped with little importance.
Idianale Magtatangal
- the goddess of labor and good deeds. - shows himself at night to may persons
Tagalog deities are fluid genders, without his head or entrails.
she was also known as a female
deity of animal husbandry, and a
male deity of agriculture. Deity of
craftsmanship.

Ancient Tagalog Counterpart of Hell

Sitan
Osuang
- The guardian of Kasamaan and the
- a flying creature that murders men and eat
keeper of all souls therein. 
their flesh.
- in a 1589 record, Sitan and Bathala is
said to have once waged a war with
each other to determine who should
rule the realms intended for ancestral
souls. 

Mangagauay
- witches who pretends to Mangagayoma
heal the sick. - they made charms out of herbs, stones, and
wood, which infuse the heart with love.
Catolonan
- one of the priestess of the devil. Sonat
- helps someone die.
Manisilat or Mansisilat
- she was tasked to destroy and break every Panatahojan
happy and united family that she could find.  - predicts the future. A seer.

Mancocolam
- The only male agent of Sitan, he
was to emit fire at night and when
there was bad weather, hence he is
referred to as a fire god. Fires caused
during bad weather are associated
with him or Kidlat.
Silangan
- if they saw anyone clothed in white, it will tear
out his liver and eat it. Thus, causing death.
Hocloban
- could change herself into any form
she desired. She can kill or make
people unconscious simply by
greeting them. She could also kill
someone by simply raising her
hand and could heal without any
difficulty as she wished.
Bayoguin
- a cotquean (masculine woman), a man
whose nature inclined toward that of a
woman.
Death
Maca
- place of another life of rest. The
“paradise” or “village of rest”. Those who
go to this place are the just, the valiant,
and those who lived without doing harm,
or who possessed moral virtues.
Casanaan
- place of punishment, grief, and affliction.
Which is also called “place of anguish”.
- No one would go to heaven, where there
only dwelt Bathala.
Vibit – ghost

Tigbalaang – phantoms

Patianac – the lament, which can be heard at

night, of a woman died during childbirth. She and
her child suffered punishment.

Relevance
- Disapproves the claim of some Spaniards that
when they arrived in the Philippines, Filipinos
were still uncivilized and lacking culture.
- Filipinos were already politically and
economically organized.
- Filipinos has a functioning government, tax
system, set of laws, criminal justice system,
indigenous calendar, and long- standing
customs and traditions.
- They had the concept of supreme being called
Bathala, practicd burial customs and believed
in life after death.
- People then were already wearing garments
and gold ornaments, and their houses were
decorated with idols.
- All these lead to the conclusion that prior to the
coming of the Spaniards, Filipinos were
already civilized and maintained a lifestyle that
was on par with or even better than that of
people from other countries in Southeast Asia.