Activity no.

03 Customs of the Tagalog

Name: RODNEY M. NUEVA
Bs-Architecture 4-A

Subject: READINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES HISTORY WITH INTEGRATION OF PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION & IP STUDIES
Instructor: JOANA PAULINE EVARDONE

Identify the different customs of the tagalogs from the excerpts of Fray Juan de Plasencia’s account and
identify one urban legend in your place and research about people’s stories related to them. And make a
short narrative if your stories bear a resemblance to the supernatural beliefs documented by Fr.
Plasencia.

Excerpt from Customs of the Tagalogs. Fray Juan de Plasencia.

SOCIAL CLASSES
DATU (CHIEF) - Chief, captain of wars, whom governed, obeyed and reverenced. Also called CHIEFTAIN
who governed as many as a hundred houses called barangay

MAHARLICAS (NOBLES)- Free-born, they do not pay taxes but must accompany him in war

ALIPING NAMAMAHAY (COMMONERS)- Slaves that live in their own houses and lords of their property
and gold.

ALIPING SA GUIGUILIR (SLAVES)- They serve their master in his house and his cultivated lands and can
be sold.

SLAVES
A person becomes slave by:

 By captivity in war
 By reason of debt
 By inheritance
 By purchase
 By committing crime

Slaves can be emancipated through:

 By forgiveness
 By paying debt
 By condonation
  By bravery
 By marriage

MARRIAGE CUSTOM

Men were in general, monogamous; while their wives are called Asawa, Courtship begins with
“Paninilbihan”

Prior to marriage the man requires to give a dowry

 Bigay-kaya (a piece of land or gold)

 Panghihimuyat (a gift for the brides parents)
 Bigay-suso (for brides wet nurse)

WORSHIP OF THE TAGALOGS

Simbahan- a temple or place of adoration, however, they celebrate their festival “pandot” or worship in
the large house of the chief. In there, they constructed a temporary shed on each side of the house, with
a roof called “sibi” in order to protect the assembled people when it rains. On the posts of the house
they set small lamps, called “sorihile”: in the center of the house, they place one large lamp, adorned
with leaves of the white palm, which they beat successively while the feast lasted, which was usually
four days, The whole barangay, or family united and joined in the worship which they call “nagaanitos”.
The house, for the above-mentioned period of time, was called a temple

TAGALOG DIETIES

Bathala- Also known as MAYKAPAL or ABBA, the “maker of all things”-the earth, the sea, the sky and all
the plants. He dwelt in the highest realm of the sky. No one knows where Bathala came from. One day,
he simply appeared (in different versions, heralded by flood, fire, or strong earthquake) and announced
his authority over the world.

Dian masalanta- Patron of lovers and of generation, also known as the Goddess of love, childbirth, and
peace. Her name means “destruction is there” and she is prayed to stop stroms, deluges and
earthquakes. Sacrifices were offered to Dian Masalanta to ensure successful pregnancies.

The Pleiades (Seven little goats)- are a star cluster with eta, Alcyone, as the principal star, situated on
the shoulder of the Bull also known as the seven sisters and messier 45/ M45

Mapolon- the God of seasons

Balatic- which is our greater bear

Tala- known as the Goddess of the morning and evening star in the Philippine mythology Her name
means bright star. Her origin story varies by region; in one, she is the sister of Mayari (the Goddess of the
Moon) and Hanan (the Goddess of the morning) and one three daughters of Bathala (the Supreme God)
by a mortal woman. Tala supported the creation of Tagalog constellations. She also helps ferry men to be
safe at night using her light spheres.
Lacapati- is one of the intriguing deities. Lacapati/Lakapati/Ikapati is the Goddess of fertility, cultivated
land, and benevolent giver of food and prosperity.

Some sources describe lacapati/lakapati/ikapati as androgynous, hermaphrodite, and even a

“transgender” God. Being the kindest among the lesser deities of Bathala, Lacapati was loved and
respected by the people.

Idianale- The goddess of labor and good deeds. Patrons of the cultivated lands and husbandry. They paid
reverence to water-lizards called by them “buaya/crocodiles” for fear of being harmed by them.

12 WITCHES/BABAYLAN

CATOLONAN- was either a man or a woman. This office was an honorable one among the natives, and
was held ordinarily by people of rank, this rule being general in all the islands.

- were the Tagalog equivalent of the Visayan Babaylan and functioned as a healer, shaman, seer
and a community leader.

MANGAGAUAY- a witch or witches who deceived by pretending to heal the sick

These priests even induced maladies by their charms, which in proportion to the strength and efficacy of
witchcraft, are capable of causing death.

MANYISALAT- same as mangagauay. These priests had the power of applying such remedies to lovers
that they would abandon and despise their own wives, and in fact could prevent them from having
intercourse with the latter

- Today we believe Manyisalat may have been considered another malevolent deity by early
Tagalogs. She was the second agent of Sitan, tasked to destroy and break every happy and united family
that she could find.

MANCOCOLAM- whose duty it was to emit fire from himself at night, once or oftener each month. This
fire could not be extinguished; nor could it be thus emitted except as the priest wallowed in the ordure
and filth which falls from the houses; and he who lived in the house where the priest was wallowing in
order to emit this fire from himself, fell ill and died.

-We believe now that Mangkukulam may have been another malevolent deity to ancient
Tagalogs. The only male agent of Sitan, he was to emit fire at night and when there was bad weather.
Like his fellow agents, he could change his form to that of a healer and then induce fire at his victim’s
house. His name remains today as witch

- “witch” Mankukulam is a person employing or using “Kulam” -a form of folk magic

practised in the Philippines. It puts emphasis on the innate power of the self and a secret knowledge of
Magica Baja or low magic. Earth (soil), fire, herbs, spices, candles, oils and kitchenwares and utensils are
often used for rituals, charms, spells and potions.
HOCLOBAN- which is another kind of witch, of greater efficacy than the mangagauay. Without the use of
medicine, and by simply saluting or raising the hand, they killed whom they chose. But if they desired to
heal those whom they had made ill by their charms, they did so by using other charms. Moreover, if they
wished to destroy the house of some Indian hostile to them, they were able to do so without
instruments. This was in Catanduanes, an island off the upper part of Luzon

- Hukluban may have been considered the last agent of Sitan and could change herself into any
form she desired. She could kill someone by simply raising her hand and could heal without any difficulty
as she wished. Her name literally means “crone” or “hag.”

- Today, the Hukloban is also considered a “witch” who could kill anyone simply by pointing a
finger at him and without using any potion. It could destroy a house by merely saying so. The Hukloban
appear as a very old, crooked woman.

SILAGAN- if they saw anyone clothed in white, to tear out his liver and eat it, thus causing his death.
This, like the preceding, was in the island of Catanduanes.

Let no one, moreover, consider this a fable; because, in Caavan, they tore out in this way through the
anus all the intestines of a Spanish notary, who was buried in Calilaya by father Fray Juan de Merida.

MAGTATANGAL- his purpose was to show himself at night to many persons, without his head or entrails.
In such wise the devil walked about and carried, or pretended to carry, his head to different places; and,
in the morning, returned it to his body – remaining, as before, alive.

This seems to me to be a fable, although the natives affirm that they have seen it, because the devil
probably caused them so to believe. This occurred in Catanduanes.

MAGTATANGAL- Today we know this creature as the self-segmenting Manananggal. There are similar
myths of creatures with almost exactly the same features throughout SE Asia.

In Malaysia it is called the Penanggalan (Penanggal).

In Thailand it is called the Krasue,

In Laos it is the Kasu or Phi-Kasu and

In Cambodia it is the Ap.

OSUANG- which is equivalent to” sorcerer;” they say that they have seen him fly, and that he murdered
men and ate their flesh. This was among the Visayas Islands; among the Tagalogs these did not exist.

MANGAGAYOMA- They made charms for lovers out of herbs, stones, and wood, which would infuse the
heart with love. Thus, did they deceive the people, although sometimes, through the intervention of the
devil, they gained their ends. Today the Gayuma is known as a Filipino love spell to help the love lives of
those with lonely or broken hearts

SONAT- which is equivalent to” preacher.” It was his office to help one to die, at which time he predicted
the salvation or condemnation of the soul. It was not lawful for the functions of this office to be fulfilled
by others than people of high standing, on account of the esteem in which it was held. This office was
general through- out the islands. Today we know that a Sonat was essentially like “bishop” who worked
under the Catalonans and Babaylans.
PANGATAHOJAN- was a soothsayer, and predicted the future. This office was general in all the islands.

BAYOGUIN- signified a” cotquean,” a man whose nature inclined toward that of a woman.

GHOST
VIBIT and PHANTHOMS- “TIGBALAANG”

They had another deception- namely, if any woman died in childbirth, she and the child suffered
punishment; and that at night, she could be heard lamenting – this called pantianac.

MANNER OF BURYING
The deceased was buried beside his house, If they were a chief, he was placed beneath a little
house of porch which they constructed for his purpose. Before entering him, they mourned him
for four days, and afterwards, placed him in a boat which served as a coffin or bier.
In place of rowers, various animals were place at the oar by twos - male and female. It was the
slave’s care to see if they were fed. If the deceased is a warrior, a living slave was tied beneath
his body until it is wretched way he died. And for many days, the family of the dead man
bewailed him. Until finally they wearied of it.
The Aetas or Negrillos (Negritos) had also a form of burial, but different.
They dug a deep, perpendicular hole, and placed the decease within it leaving him upright with
head or crown unburied on top of which they put half a coconut which was to serve him as a
shield.
MACA- another life of rest –” PARADISE/ VILLAGE OF REST”
CASANAAN- place of punishment, grief and affliction –” PLACE OF ANGUISH”
THE MYTHICAL STORY OF SARIKAW MONOLITH.
Baranggay Santaigo, Iriga city, Camarines Sur

Locals and
the Indigenous people living the vicinity of the lone standing rock
structure they called SARIKAW which is located at the ridge of
Mt.Asog, Iriga City has the story to tell on how the monolith was
created. They said that a long long time ago the mountain was
inhabited by a Wizard who had a lot of animals in his stewardship.
There was also a legendary hunter and famous in his tribe (buhi)
and his name was SARIKAW. With his fellow hunters, they hunted a
lot and time came when there was scarcity of wild animals to be
hunted in their area. Their tribe was starving so he has to look for food. He was informed that there were
many animals living with a wizard in the remote part of the mountain and other hunters were afraid to
hunt in that area because of the wizard presence. But, brave enough, Sarikaw ignored the warnings and
went to the area of the Wizard. His intention was to kill the wizard by his spear so as he can get all the
animals. But the Wizard saw Sarikaw first and casted a spell towards him that turned him to a big rock
structure. Sarikaw from that time on to the present, He is a monolith rock standing in the mountain
frozen in time. We will never know how long he will be there.
SOURCE: Kgwd. Butch Abonite, of Sangguniang Panlungsd, Lgu Iriga City.