• Refers to the ancient writing system used by ethnic people during

pre-colonial period.
• Philippines’ indigenous scripts are collectively called “suyat”.
• There were at least 16 various writing systems used in pre-colonial
Philippines.
• Prior to the Spanish colonization in the 16th century until the
Independence era in the 21st century, various enthno-linguistic
groups used these scripts with many different mediums.
Baybayin is just one of the
many different types of writing
systems present around the
Philippines prior to our colonization. It
was said to be of widespread use
among coastal groups such as the
Tagalog, Bisaya, Iloko, Pangasinan,
Bikol, and Pampanga around the 16th
century. One theory is that “Baybayin”
got its name from the word “baybay,”
or seashore in Tagalog.
By the end of colonialism, only two places left in the
Philippines have preserved their ancient syllabic scripts:
Mindoro, where the Hanunó'o-Mangyan and the Buhid-
Mangyan simply call their scripts “Surat Mangyan,” and
Palawan, where the Tagbanua and Pala’wan groups
share a writing system they simply call “surat” — a word
meaning “writing” or also known as
Tagbanua/Apurahuano.
 Hanunoo, also rendered
Hanunó'o, is one of the
scripts indigenous to the
Philippines and is used
by the Mangyan peoples
of southern Mindoro to
write the Hanunó'o
language.
The Buhid script is used to
write the Buhid language,
spoken by about 8,000
people in the Mindoro
region of the Philippines.
It is an indigenous
abugida script of Brahmic
origin.
The Tagbanwa (also known as
Apurahuano) script is one of
the Brahmic scripts
indigenous to the Philippines.
It is used to write the
Tagbanwa language, which is
spoken by approximately
8,000 people living in
scattered communities
throughout the Palawan
region.
Kulitan (Spanish: cúlitan), also
known as súlat Kapampángan and
pamagkulit, is one of the various
indigenous suyat writing systems
in the Philippines. It was used for
writing Kapampangan, a language
mainly spoken in Central Luzon,
until it was gradually replaced by
the Latin alphabet.
The Badlit script is an abugida
descended from the ancient
Brahmi script of India that was
used to write Bisayan/Visayan
languages, which are mainly
spoken in the Visayas region of the
Philippines, including Cebuano
(Binisaya) and Hiligaynon.
Maritime transport in the
Philippines includes boat houses,
boat-making, and maritime
traditions. These structures,
traditionally made of wood chosen
by elders and craftsfolks, were
used as the main vehicles of the
people, connecting one island to
another, where the seas and rivers
became the people's roads.
A type of lashed-lug boat built by joining
planks edge-to-edge using pins, dowels,
and fiber lashings. They are found
throughout the Philippines and were used
largely as trading ships up until the colonial
era. The oldest known balangay are
the Butuan boats, which have been
carbon-dated to 320 AD and were
recovered from several sites in Butuan,
Agusan del Norte. Balangay were the first
wooden watercraft excavated
in Southeast Asia. Balangay are celebrated
annually in the Balanghai Festival of
Butuan City.
These are large outrigger warships from
the Philippines. They were used by
native Filipinos, notably the
Kapampangans and the Visayans, during
seasonal sea raids. Karakoa were
distinct from other traditional Philippine
sailing vessels in that they were
equipped with platforms for transporting
warriors and for fighting at sea. During
peacetime, they were also used as
trading ships. Large karakoa, which
could carry hundreds of rowers and
warriors, were known as joangas (also
spelled Juangas) by the Spanish.
Paraw (also spelled parao) are
various double outrigger sail boats in
the Philippines. It is a general term
(similar to the term bangka) and thus
can refer to a range of ship types,
from small fishing canoes to large
merchant lashed-lug plank boats
(balangay or baloto) with two
outriggers (katig) propelled by sails
(usually a large crab-claw
sail opposite a smaller
triangular foresail)
The vinta is a traditional outrigger
boat from the Philippine island
of Mindanao. The boats are made
by Sama-Bajau, Tausug and Yakan
peoples living in the Sul
Archipelago,[2] Zamboanga peninsula, and
southern Mindanao. Vinta are
characterized by their colorful rectangular
lug sails (bukay) and
bifurcated prows and sterns, which
resemble the gaping mouth of a crocodile.
Vinta are used as fishing vessels, cargo
ships, and houseboats. Smaller
undecorated versions of the vinta used for
fishing are known as tondaan.
Metal Crafts
Metalwork is the art of crafting things with metal. There
are many different types of metalwork like cutlery,
ironware, copperware, cast iron, and inlay. This
category differs from the rest because the materials
used are not like those used for other crafts.
Types of Metal Crafts

• METALWORKING (METALSMITH) • ARMORER

• ENAMELING • GUNSMITH
• BLACKSMITHING • FLETCHING
• FARRIER • CLOCKMAKING
• TINWARE – TINSMITH • SILVERSMITH
• WEAPONSMITH – SWORD
MAKING
Metal Crafts
Metal works are generally inlay in
silver and gold or black. Brass is much
used for the common things, such as
bowls and trays, ladders, weapons,
gongs, and other musical
instruments.
Metal Crafts
A Maranao kubing jaw harp
handle made from horn and
brass with an S-shaped naga
design and a fish
Metal Crafts

Golden garuda ornament from

Palawan
Metal Crafts

Indigenous armor from Sulu,

made of metal, carabao horn,
and silver
Jewelries, also known as ornaments, accessories, or embellishments, are important
material culture for many ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. They are
markers of identity, culture and traditions of each group. They are used as personal
adornment, embellishment for clothes, bags, baskets, and scabbards, and are
sometimesas offeringin rituals.
Discovered and existed since the 16th century, jewelry making has been a common
skill of the early Filipinos since it was adopted from the Asian neighbors. A
common source of livelihood in the past, this is typically a home-based industry that
includes the production of precious metal jewelries which are made of gold and silver,
and the production of nonmetal jewelries such as pearls and precious stones.
Prior to the Spanish colonization, the Filipino upperclass society, warriors,
common people and slaves wore gold even to their grave. Of course the intricacy
depends on their social status but imagine how rich the Philippines was then. It was
part of their everyday clothes. This was proven through the Boxer Codex
manuscript in gold leaf.
Batek / tinali. Armband. Beads and strings on Used to cover the lower arm of Itnegwomen,
sheathed rice stalk. Itneg/ Tinguian | Abra. the batek is only taken off when the strings are to be
replaced and during mourning
 Ivory earplugs are one of the highly prized
Pamarang/ sampad.Ear plug / ear disc.
personal ornaments by the Bagobo of Mindanao
Ivory and beads. Bagobo | Davao. in the southern Philippines.
 Usually worn suspended on the chest of the
Sipattal.Necklace. Mother-of-pearl, glass
Isneg, it is also used as gift to the parents of the
beads, and threads. Isneg. woman as bride price.
Batling. Male earrings. Hornbill beak, nautilus Worn suspended from the upper earlobe, these
shell / mother-of-pearl, and brass. Bugkalot / earrings symbolize masculine prestige and
Ilongot | Kakidungan, Nueva Vizcaya. headhunting prowess.
 Worn by brides of the upper social class during their
Kuku-gananis. Finger ornaments. Brass
wedding ceremonies, these ornaments are placed on
and gold. Yakan | Basilan. their left thumb, middle and smallest fingers.
Belt. Brass. T’boli | Lake Sebu, South Brass articles of the T’boli such as this belt were
produced from smelting and forging broken gongs
Cotabato. and other pieces of metal.
Subang.Earplug. Bark and commercial Women wear earrings made of barks of
cloth. Negrito | Palanan, Isabela. certain trees that serve as fragrance.
 Kunseras. Charm bracelet. Assorted medicinal Both men and women wear charms, necklaces,
plants, plastic tube, and oil. Negrito | Nueva Valencia, bracelets, armlets, and leglets for their medicinal
Guimaras. value and deterrence of bad spirits.
Patena. Breast plate. Silver. Mandaya | A distinctive piece of ornament worn
Davao Oriental. by women
Necklace for a Rajah. Brass, beads, and Necklace for a Rajah or nobility
cotton. Maguindanao | Cotabato.
Pamarang or “look at me” earrings. Wood with Personal adornment to complement the traditional
designs inlaid in silver or brass. | Mindanao. attire during performances and special occasions, as
well as indicate status in the community.
Patan-aw or “look at me” earrings. One of the ancient gold ornaments crafted
by Filipinos from 700-1200 years ago