CHAPTER 3 - THE ASIAN HERITAGE OF THE FILINOS

1. Indian

Southeast Asian studies indicate that the Indian cultural influences filtered into the Philippines viathe Sri
Vijaya and Majapahit Empires, in rather modified form, from the 9
th
to the 16
th
century. It wasintroduced by the Indianized immigrants and traders from Indochina, Siam, Malay Peninsula,
Sumatra, Java, and other islands of the Indonesia. This is confirmed by the oral traditions of the Filipino people
andby the archeological relics excavated at the different places in the archipelago.According to Sulu tradition,
between A.D. 900 and 1200 immigrants from Champa, an Indianizedkingdom in Indochina, established a
trading colony in Sulu. Known as Orang Dampuans (Men of Champa),they were vassals of the Sri Vijaya
Empire. They promoted commerce between Sulu and Champa andtransmitted their indianized culture to the
Buranuns (natives of Sulu).Many years later immigrants from Bandjarmasin, Borneo, setteled in Sulu and
engaged actively inthe rich pearl trade. They were in Orang Bandjar. To win the good will of the Buranuns,
they bought withthem a beautiful princess and offered her as bride to the native ruler.
Indian Influences
Centuries of indirect contact with India’s influences, which came via Southeast Asia, left vivid traceson
Filipino life and civilization. As Dr. Alfred L. Kroeber remarks: “There is no tribe in the Philioppines, nomatter
how primitive and remote, in whose culture today elements of Indian origin cannot be traced.” The Indian
influences were clearly noticeable in the religious beliefs, language, literature, writing,and customs of the
ancient Filipinos. The Pre – Islamic inhabitants of Sulu adored Vedic deities, from India,such as Indra, Agni,
Surya, and Vayu. Bathala, the chief god of the pre – Christian Tagalogs, is identifiedwith the Hindu Indra, “the
chief of the vedic gods”. The name Bathala came from the Sanskrit termBhattara, which means “Great Lord.”
The pagan Mandayas of Mindanao worshipped a trinity deities. The mythology and folk literature of the
Filipino people have a distinct Indian cast. Bantugan,nythological hero of the Maranaos and Lumawig,
legendary savior of Bontok, are identified with Indra of Hindu mythology. Many Filipino popular epics,
including the Darangan of Lanao, and the Lam – am of Ilokandia, the Ibalon of Bicolandia.Many Filipino
fables were of Indian origin. Among them are the Tagalog story of the monkey andthe turtle, the tale of the
race between the deer and the snail, and the Visayan anecdote of the hawk andthe hen. Furthermore, the
hilarious adventures of Juan Tamad, a popular hero in Tagalog folklore, revealtraces of Hindu indluencesMany
Filipino superstitious beliefs came from India. Among them are (1.) a maiden who singsmerrily before a stove
while cooking will marry an old widower; (2.) a comet is a bad omen, for it is aharbinger of famine, war, or
some other calamity; (3.) a pregnant woman who eats twin bananas will givebirth to twins; (4.) when a cat
wipes off its face with paws, a visitor is coming to house; (5.) if a sleepingperson dreams that one of his teeth
falls out, somebody close to him will die.
2. Chinese Influence
Centuries of contact with China inevitably led to the enrichment of Filipino life and culture. Theinfluences of
China were mainly economic and social, for the Chinese came to the Philippines not toconquer or rule the
land, but to seek commercial profit and better life.From Chinese, the Filipinos had learned the manufacture of
gunpowder; the method of placer goldmining; the art of metallurgy; the use of porcelain, gongs, lead, silver,
tin, and other metals; certainoccupations, such as blacksmithing, truck gardening, and goldsmithing. The
Filipino manner of dressing during the early times showed the imprint of China. The sleeved jackets (kangan)
of the pre – Spanish Filipino males, the loose trousers of the Muslim women of Mindanaoand Sulu, and the use
of slippers, bakya (wooden shoes), fans and umbrellas were of Chinese origin.
China improved the culinary art and diet of the Filipinos. Form the Chinese, the Filipinos learned theroasting
of pigs for a delicious meal, the brewing of tea for drinking, and the cooking of such dishes aslumpiya, pansit,
mami and ukoy