Early Philippine

Society and Culture

 Early Philippine
Society and Culture

As opposed to colonial perception, early Filipinos already had their

own rich and complex traditions and customs before the coming of
the Spaniards in late 16th century. These cultural patterns varied
throughout the archipelago due to social, geographic, and linguistic
differences.
 Early Philippine
Society and Culture

The barangay was the primary political, economic and sociocultural

institution in the Philippines before Spanish colonization.
 Maginoo

Early Philippine
Timawa
Society and Culture

Alipin

The baranganic society can be divided into three socioeconomic

classes namely: Ruling class (maginoo in Tagalog and kadatoan in
Visayas), Commoners (Maharlika in Tagalog and timawa in Visayas)
Slaves (alipin in Tagalog and oripun in Visayas).
 Early Philippine
Society and Culture

The system of slavery in the Philippines was different from other

societies since the slaves are not properties. One can become a slave
unpaid debts, punishment, and raids. Another characteristic of this
kind of slavery is that there was a high possibility of becoming a
freeman.
 Early Philippine
Society and Culture

Early Filipinos had a highly complex marriage customs as well as

tattooing tradition and body ornamentation.
 Early Philippine
Society and Culture

The betel chew as a staple dainty was not just consumed by the
Filipinos but also by the Chinese and the Spaniards.
 Early Philippine Society and Culture
Various accounts demonstrate different perspectives as exemplified by
the excerpts. The religious (friars) may portray early Filipino customs
as pagan and barbaric while laymen such as Morga and Loarca can be
more objective in their accounts. Nonetheless, one must always be
aware of the biases of the accounts.

➢ Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism and Xenocentrism as

orientations in viewing other cultures.