THE WAY OF LIFE OF THE PHILIPPINES BEFORE COLONIZATION

ARTS AND LITERATURE

Language in the Philippines is rich, in a hundred of languages, eight (8) is considered to

be major language and this are Tagalog (National language), Iloko, Pangasinan, Pampangan,

Sugbuhanon, Hiligaynon, Samarnon/ Samar-Leyte, and Magindanao. Sanskrit or Arabic

provenance syllabary was present before the arrival of the Spaniards, this consisted of

seventeen symbols which three vowels were standing for the present five vowels and fourteen

consonants. Ancient Filipinos wrote on bark of trees, leaves, and bamboo tubes using their

knives and dagger and colored saps of trees for their ink, however, these manuscripts were

destroyed by the Spaniards due to the belief that they were made by the devil.

Early Filipinos literature may be classified into oral literature and written literature.

Tagalog literature is consisted of sabi (maxim), sawi- kain (saying), bugtong (riddle), suliranin

and indulanin (street songs), talindáw (boat songs), diyuna (song of revelry), kumintáng (war

song which evolved into a love song), dalit and umbay (dirge), tagu:npáy, balikungkong,

dupayinin and hili- raw (war songs), uyayi and hele (lullabies), ihiman (bridal song), tagulaylay

(mournful song), tigpasin (rowing song), tingád (household song), and kutang-kutang (couplets

usually chanted by the blind). The majority of the time, the songs were accompanied by

dancing, which allowed the music, the dance, and the drama to develop virtually

simultaneously. The verses were recited at various times. Some songs and lines are no longer in

existence, however, some that have survived to the present day contain Spanish influences. The

kundiman in question, is very common in Batangas and has no Spanish influence. The inborn

quality of Filipinos when it comes to music where incomparable, Filipinos who played two or
more instruments had never entered proper academic training or lessons, they only know by

ear. Instruments present and used during those times were the timbal (percussion instrument),

kudyapi (small guitar), Jew’s harp (bamboo harp), bansic (violin), gangsa (guitar), abafii (flute),

kutibeng (guitar). Dances were also categorized into different modes such as Torture, Duel, and

Lover’s. One of the most colorful dances was the mascala. Different ethnic groups have their

own unique song and dance which carried over until this day.

The primitive inhabitants of the Philippines showed signs of artistic improvement in the

form of beads, amulets, bracelets, and other body ornaments made of green jade, red

cornelian, and other materials. The Bronze Age saw the development of social arts such as

dancing and music. The Early Iron Age saw an increase in the artistic variety of the ancient

Filipinos, with ornaments, metal and glass, woven tiles, weapons, pottery, and embroidered

garments. These garments are still worn today in some parts of the Philippines. Filipino

primitive art was influenced by Negrito, Indonesian, Malayan, and Islam, with Muslim art being

graceful and rhythmical. The Ifugao wood carver had a special preference for human and

animal representations due to his polytheism and aversion to plant and fish forms due to his

religious beliefs.

Philippine folk tales, epics, poems, and chants existed in most ethnolinguistic groups and

were passed from generation to generation through word of mouth. Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of

Lam-ang) of the Ilocanos narrates the adventures of epic hero, Lam-ang. Other epics known to

most Filipinos are the Ibalon of Bikol, Darangan a Muslim epic, the Kudaman of Palawan, the

Alim of the Ifugao, Bantugan of the Maranao, the Hinilawod of Panay, and the Tuwaang of

Manobos. Pre-colonial literary pieces transferred in traditional narratives, speeches, and songs
include Tigmo in Cebuano, Bugtong in Tagalog, patototdon in Bicol, and paktakon in Ilonggo.

Some examples of myths are: The creation (igorot-luzon), How the world was made(visayan's-

bisaya), Origin(bagobo-mindanao). Some examples of folktales are: “Bata Mama and Bata Bahi

(Bukidnon)”, “Pilandok and Bombola(Maranao),” “The Adventures of the Monkey and the

Tortoise,” and “Big Belly and the Bully of the Forest (Manuvu).”