Topic II:

Plasencia, Customs Of The Tagalogs

Content & Context Analysis in RIPH
(Readings in Philippine History)

Presented to:
Elena C. Bernabe, MPM, DM-CAR
(Instructor)

Presented by:
Elaiza Jellene M. Ladipe
BSN-1- Queen of Angels

October , 2023
I. Summary of the Topic

Custom of Tagalog was one of his writings that tackles everyday living of the
ancient Filipinos, their social status, customs, traditions and beliefs of the tagalog. It
also provided the first form of Civil Code used by local governors to administer
justice. What Plasencia is trying to say about the customs of Tagalog is that there is no
equal rights or treatment for the slaves. The powerful ones treated the smaller ones or
the slaves harshly. The author, Juan de Placencia was, not a native Tagalog but a
Spanish friar who first arrived in the Philippines in 1577 and given a tasked by the
king of spain to record and document the customs and traditions of the people in the
Philippines based on, his own observation and judgments and wrote the custom of
tagalog to put an end to some injustices being committed against the native by certain
government officials. Custom of Tagalog was one of his writings that tackles
everyday living of the ancient Filipinos, their social status, customs, traditions and
beliefs of the tagalog. It also provided the first form of Civil Code used by local
governors to administer justice. In the text, to avoid discussing the conflicting reports
of the natives through a knowledgeable monitoring to attain truthfulness. This topic is
important for determining how the Spaniards will govern the Filipinos during the
Spanish era. Although it has lesser value in the modern world right now, it is still
important for us to trace the roots of who we are in the past.

II. Content Analysis & Context Analysis

 Born to the illustrious family of Portocarreros in Plasensia in the region of Extremadura,

Spain in the early 16th century. He was one of the seven children of Pedro Portocarrero, a
captain of a Spanish schooner. Juan de Plasencia grew up during the period known as the
Siglo de Oro, a Golden Age when arts and literature flourished in many parts of Spain,
among them his native Extremadura. Fray Joan de Puerto Carrero, del convento de
Villanueva de la Serena. Was his real name. ARRIVAL IN THE PHILIPPINES Fray
Juan de Plasencia came together with the first batch of Franciscan missionaries in the
Philippines. Arrived at a port in Cavite, a few kilometers south of Manila on the 2nd of
July 1578.
 The tribal gathering in Tagalog is called the barangay. Natives inferred that the reason for
giving themselves this name arose from the boat as they reached this land.
 The primary account included a detailed description of the caste system within the
barangay consisting of three social classes: nobles (Maharlika), commoners (Aliping
Namamaay), and slaves (Aliping Sagigilid), as well as their functions and limitations
within and outside of the barangay.
 In terms of dowries and marriage between individuals of the same and different
(Maharlika and Alipin), social class, rules and customs were also heavily described.
 The primary source thoroughly discussed the division of children between spouses or two
different barangays (if the couple came from different barangays).
 Laws, sentences, and punishment for individuals at-fault within the barangay were also
presented and between two barangays, like in birth and marriage.
 The account provided information about the worship of the Tagalogs. They use drums to
beat the feast, and during this time, the barangay or family unite to worship, which they
call "nagaanitos."
 The Tagalogs also have a series of idols whom they worship for particular settings.
 Bathala means "all-powerful," or "maker of all things," which they worship the most.
 The form of burial of the Aetas or Negritos (Negritos) was also stated.
 Discussed the idea of Life after the Rest of the native Tagalogs.
 Maca – or Paradise for who just, valiant, morally upright, and virtuous
 Casanaan – or Place of punishment, grief, and affliction. A place of anguish for
the wicked with the devil called Sitan.
 Plasencia's account is mainly descriptive since it was supposed to illustrate the daily lives
of the Tagalogs.
 The original work itself is a product of observations and judgments. Therefore, it is
probable that Juan de Plasencia's work might contain partiality in presenting his
observations and assessments.

III. Evidences
 Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Commoners Figure 4.
Chieftain (Datu) Nobles (Maharlika) (Aliping Namamahay) Slaves (Aliping
Saguiguilir)

Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Figure 8.

Balangay Marriage customs Religious belief Superstitious beliefs

Figure 9. Figure 10. Figure 11.

Economic Life Language and System Padre Juan de
of Writing Plasencia

IV. Conclusion

The Customs of the Tagalogs'' mainly focuses on the government, administration

of justice, slaves, inheritance and dowries. Juan de Plasencia mentioned in his
account that every Barangay, a tribal gathering consists of 30-100 families together
with their slaves, have their own Dato, at the top of the social status, who governed
the people and was the captain in their wars, followed by the Maharlikas, commoners
and slaves. Plasencia described how children were divided between the married
Maharlika and slaves (Namamahay or Sa Guiguilid). Plasencia also noted the dowry
system that was practiced by the native Tagalogs—dowries were given by the men to
the women’s parents before marriage. Moreover, Plansencia mentioned the worships
of the tagalogs noting that the Filipinos have no temples but they have what they call
Simbahan which means “a place of adoration” because this is where they gather
when they wish to do a feast, called Pandot or Worship. He also mentioned that
Filipinos worship idols and one of them is what they call Bathala which signifies “all
powerful” or “maker of all things”. They also worship the sun, the moon and even the
stars. They have idols such as LIC-HA, Dian Masalanta (the patron of lovers),
Lacapati and Indianale (patrons of cultivated lands), they also paid reverence to
Buayas. He commented that Filipinos are very liable to find auguries in things they
witnessed and also practiced divination. In addition, the manner of burying also
differs based on the status of the deceased as what Plasencia described. They also
have distinctions among the priests of the devils such as: Catolonan, Sonat,
Mangaguay, Manyisalat, Mancocolam, Hocloban, Silagan, Magtatangal, Osuan,
Mangagayoma, Pangatahojan. Filipinos also believe in ghosts which they call Vibit,
Tikbalang and Patianac. However, he noted here that such beliefs were already
erased through the teaching of the holy gospel.