LERA PEÑALOSA BSA/1B DATE: MARCH 01,2023

THE CUSTOMES OF TAGALOGS

What is the physical nature of the document ?(letter, report, etc.)?What are the major
premises presented about the Tagalog of Luzon?

The physical nature of the document is a written report of Fray Juan de

Plasencia for Spain’s government which shows that the early Filipinos were already
civilized with rich cultures and traditions before the Spanish Colonizers’ arrival. The
term Tagalog is a combination of two words, taga and ilog, which literally means
“people living along the river bank.” The Tagalogs are famous for their so-called
“Bayanihan” spirit, which is interpreted as striving in cooperation with fellow villagers
in doing any heavy manual labor to make the task easier. Filipinos also have their role
and beliefs. It also shows the way of life of the Filipinos. More than 175 ethnolinguistic
nations inhabit the Philippines, where most languages are Austronesian In origin.
Many of these nations converted to Christianity, particularly the lowland- coastal
nations, and adopted foreign cultural elements. Ethnolinguistic nations include the
Ilocano, Ivatan, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Boholano, Cebuano, Hiligaynon,
Waray-Waray, Zamboangueño, Subanon, and more.

What was the author’s main argument? What was he trying to say about the customs
of the Tagalog?

The author argues that the Philippines has a rich culture; however, the
natives’ culture is completely different from theirs. In his accounts, he writes about
customs that were new to him. In addition to this, he uses adjectives that would
describe the culture of Tagalog as exotic to the world. He suggests the differences of
the culture present compared to the western culture. Moreover, he tells the world that
the Philippines had its own culture even before they arrived. There were unwritten
rules in society that were followed to secure peace and order in the villages. Further,
he states how people treat relationships and properties with regard to the unwritten
rules of society. In addition, he tells the world how religious the beliefs in Luzon are.
He recognizes the gods of the people, who are non-existent to them. Also, the author
demonstrates how the people perform their worship differently and distinguishes the
kinds of priests present at that time. He ended his account with a wish that these
customs and beliefs would be forgotten and that Catholicism should prevail in this
society. The last statement shows his disgust to these practice and desires that Luzon
should worship flood and have faith on the bible.
What do you know about the author likes his nationality, occupation, and or position?
Does any of these matter? Why?

Juan de Plasencia was born in the early 16th century as Juan Portocarrero in
Plasencia, in the region of Extremadura, Spain. He was one of the seven children of
Pedro Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish schooner. He was a Spanish friar of the
Franciscan Order. He was among the first group of Franciscan missionaries who
arrived in the Islands on July 2, 1578.He spent most of his missionary life in the
Philippines, where he founded numerous towns in Luzon and authored several
religious and linguistic books, most notably the Doctrina Cristiana (Christian Doctrine),
the first book ever printed in the Philippines. As soon as he arrived, he joined with
another missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa, and they both started preaching around
Laguna de Bay and Tayabas, Quezon, in Quezon Province, where he founded several
towns. He spent most of his time here in the Philippines as a missionary who spreads
the word of God. As years go by, he and his other preachers, because of their untiring
work and service, founded and reached large towns in various provinces. His job as a
Christian missionary has been a way for him to observe and understand the culture
and way of living of the ancient Filipinos. This might lead him to writing historical
masterpieces which includes “ The Customs of Tagalog”. His work gave descriptions
of our ancestors at that time. Most of these are through our culture, which they think
are exotic. This was mostly for the advantage of the Spaniards to exploit our ancestors.
“Customs of the Tagalogs” is written through the eyes and hands of a Spaniard. It is
not surprising how the author did not fully comprehend the socio-political status of the
Luzon. It was then that barangays were the only form of governance in the Philippines.
The author, Juan de Plasencia, cannot help but observe how our ancestors structure
their government and how things are done in the barangays.

What was the authors purpose of writing the document?

The “Customs of the Tagalog” was a document written by Juan De

Plasencia. This document was written as an answer to the request of the monarchy in
Spain which in was to provide pieces of information about the government,
administration of justice, inheritances, slaves, dowries, worship, burials, and
superstition of the “Indians” in the colony. In addition, the document is to rectify
previous reports about the people’s way of life in the region. Also, the obtained
information was given to the chief justice of the Royal Audiencia and 6 th Spanish
Governor-General with the objective of settling the personal affairs between the
colonial authorities and natives. Thus, converting the natives to Christianity.
Furthermore, the account of Juan de Plasencia entitled “Customs of the Tagalogs” was
due to his missionary work in the Philippines. He wrote about the culture and society
of the people in Luzon, thus such title was written. However, it was not thorough since
our customs were new to them so it lead to misconceptions and prejudice of our
ancestors.

What was the important connection of the document to your recognition and
appreciation of the Tagalog customs?

Filipinos’ approach to living a long way from the current day was outside
our ability to understand. Many things have changed with regards to convictions,
culture, and particularly in our approach to everyday life. In addition to this, marriages
also played a vital role in the society, since the wife and husband were bound to the
village where they live. Also, marriage and divorce will dictate the inheritances of their
children. Relationships among maharlika, commoners, and slaves were also. Evident
that time since the author observed rules with regards to the marriage of a slave and
a free man. There were also rules that involve the inheritance and/or the dowry of a
deceased man or woman. Of course, our ancestors also have provisions about
adultery and failed marriages. The society also gave importance to the fiancée of any
man. Dowries were also a tradition back then. The dowry serves as a promise and an
appreciation to the family of the woman. Since custom encompasses the religious
practices of the people, the author has pointed out some of it religious practices of our
ancestors. This record composed by Juan de Plasencia can illuminate us about our
progenitors and makes us more learned with regards to our way of life. The archive
can be utilized to think about our traditions of Tagalog in the current day and customs
of Tagalog that changed far from the past. The report fills in as a mode for us to grasp
how such regulations or convictions exist in the present, which can develop our
enthusiasm for our own way of life and beliefs. Likewise, it can underline the
significance of the way of life that we had before the Spaniards came.