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The Filipino before the Conquest

MODULE OVERVIEW

There have been many theories and presumed stories to convince historians and the
Filipino people that their version is most accepted the Filipino civilization started. Dr. Otley
Beyer presented the “Dawn Man” version of the first Filipino. He explained that the Homo
Erectus, same as the one found in the Island of Java, lived in the Philippines. Beyer also
presented the “Migration Theory” wherein he explained that the current population of
Filipinos came from Malay and Indonesian decent. The theories sound true and consistent,
but today Filipino historians and archeologists treat these as dismissed theories due to lack
of definite and concrete archeological and historical evidence. This module will also
introduces the Homo Sapiens, known as the modern man of today, came to the Philippines
between 20,000 to 22,000 years ago and settled in a cave in Palawan known as Tabon,
which was discovered in 1962 by Dr. Robert Fox. Thereafter, the three earliest Filipinos
found in Palawan were called the Tabon Man.

Tabon man was the first fossilized human remains of the Stone Age Period. The
Tabon Cave complex reflects Philippine relationships with other Southeast Asian countries.
This could be related to the three traced land bridges: 1) North Luzon to Taiwan to South
China 2) Palawan to Borneo 3) Sulu to Northeast Indonesia. A proof that the Philippines
was once a part of Mainland Asia is with the similarities of their flora and fauna species.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to do the following:

1. Manifest interest in local history and shown concern in promoting and preserving the country’s
historical and cultural heritage.

2. Display the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a group endeavor

3. Effectively communicate using various techniques and genres historical analysis of a particular event
or issue that could help others understand the chosen topics.

LEARNING CONTENTS

Latest Findings on the Oldest Human Remain Found in the Philippines

July 2010 Dr. Armand Mijares of the University of the Philippines formally announced
that the archeological team he led has found and verified through uranium-series dating
(based on measurement of the radioactivity of short-lived daughter isotopes of uranium
formed in samples which initially contained only the parent uranium). Materials suitable for
U-series dating are found in many prehistoric archaeological sites, and include stalagmite

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layers. Based on the said method the oldest human find in the Philippines is estimated to
be 67,000 years ago, far older than the Tabon man. It was called Callao Man because it
was found in Callao Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan province where it was discovered.
However this is still subject to verification and acceptance by the scientific community in the
Philippines and in the world.

Early Philippine Community

One accepted theory by Filipino historians and archeologists is the Core Population
Theory, on which F. Landa Jocano as one of the major exponents. This theory explains
that from Tabon Man, other Homo Sapiens settled in different parts of the country and from
there, pre-historic Filipino population started to grow and expand. This theory defeats the
claims that the Filipino race came from Malay of Malaysian decent.

W. H. Scott and O. D. Corpuz explain the development of Filipino tools through

evolutionary patterns of changes. The Old Stone Age of the Philippines showed that early
Filipinos in Palawan were cave dwellers, food gatherers and hunters. They were able to
manufacture and use flake tools from stones common in the area. Artifact findings in other
parts of the country show the same characteristics of flake tools and uses like those found
in Cagayan, Kalinga and in Pinto Rock Shelter in Nueva Viscaya.

Digging deeper in the Palawan dwellings of early Filipinos, the archeologist found
charcoal fragments, which indicate the use of cooking fires, a concrete evidence of Old
Stone Age in Filipino community life. From Neolithic to Metal Age of the Philippines, dated
from 2710 B.C. to 178 A.D. onwards to the 10 th century, this period presents clear evidence
that pre-historic Filipinos did improve their way and system of survival in the archipelago. In
Duyong cave, a Tabon incised style pot was found, together with stone tools, pendant,
adze and a base for making bronze adze. In the Manunggul cave, Fox discovered the
-7-
popular burial jar known as the manunggul jar, together with the jar were beautiful
ornaments made from jade, agate and shells. W. H. Scott explains, “There is hardly a
major island in the country which has not provided a polished stone adze or two”. He
cited Seminoho Rock Shelter in Cotabato where he found charm boxes and assemblages.

The Metal Age came to the Filipino ancestors according to Scott, and this was
evident in the excavation of bronze wires, spear implements, axe heads, personal
ornaments and iron slag in early Philippine graves. All cited evidences suggest that the
early ancestors discovered how to produce metal materials to improve their way of living
and surviving.

The Neolithic Filipinos mastered the use of metal in agriculture, specifically in rice
planting. The first method of agriculture utilized by Filipinos was kaingin or slash and burn,
which is done by of cutting and burning of forest or woodlands planting crops or pasture for
livestocks in higher grounds; they waited for the rainy season for the seeds to grow. It was
found out that this method can render soils incapable of productive yield for the next
generation. When the ancestors learned the use of metal tools such as iron-pointed sticks
and tools to move piles of soil from the ground for farming application, early Filipinos
improved the way they planted rice and other root crops in plains and even in higher
grounds.

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When the first Spaniards led by Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521, they were
amazed of the Filipino civilization. The barangay was a community of 30-100 families
consisting of their chieftains, whom they called Datu, or Raja. Upon the Spanish arrival in
the Philippines, there were already large barangays in the country, consisting of more than
2000 in population like in Manila, Cebu, Vigan, and Mactan.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Directions: Sequence the information into three parts. When the shapes overlap, explain what
happened during the transition from one step to the next. Give the process a title.

Title:

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LEARNING CONTENTS

The Barangay

When the Filipino ancestors learned to domesticate plants and animals, they started
to settle near bodies of water. This meant sedentary life for early Filipinos and the end of
nomadism, or the way of life where a group of people move from one place to another to
hunt and gather food. Due to the community life near water, the ancestors needed to build
small and large boats, which they called balangay from which the term barangay came
from.

Most of the early settlers of Malayo-Polynesian origin were living in coastal or on

riverside connected to what nature directly provide for living. This is because the principal
sources of protein come from the seas and rivers, most of the time relying on fishing as a
means of livelihood. This people traveled mostly using bancas on rivers and seas.
Moreover, coastal villages are more accessible to traders where an economic activity was
developed. Thus, coastal communities in Manila, Iloilo, Panay, Cebu, Jolo, and Butuan
attained higher cultural level.

Houses and Dwellings

The early Filipino ancestors built their houses to suit the tropical climate in the
country. In today’s time, in the provinces, such ancient houses can still be seen with similar
materials and the way it was built. The ancient houses were made of wood and bamboo
roofed with nipa palm leaves, and in some places cogon. A batalan was found in the
house where jars of water were stored to cool and served as a place for household duties.
Another area of the house is called the silong, a place where rice, firewood and animals
such as fowls and swine were kept. Some early Filipinos opted to build their dwellings on
top of trees like the Bagobos of Mindanao and the Kalingas of northern Luzon. Some of
the ancestors also settled in seashores and made their houses in their boat, like the
Badjaos or sea gypsies of Sulu.

Houses called bahay kubo begun to be abandoned or disappeared as a result of

good or bad family fortunes and due to the ravages of nature and time. This prehistoric
Chapter 2
architecture was perfectly adopted to Philippine climate and can be easily repaired or
rebuilt after the frequent typhoon, flood or earthquake.

Dressing and Ornamentation

The ancient Filipinos have their own attire and their own fashion. The men in the
barangay society wore the kanggan, described as a black or blue collarless, short-sleeved
jacket. They also wore a bahag, a strip of cloth wrapped around their waist and passing
down between the thighs. In addition, a piece of cloth wrapped around their heads called
putong was also used. They also had jewels such as pendant, gold necklaces, gold teeth,
gold armlets that were called kalombigas and gold anklets filled with agates, carnelian and
other gems.

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The women had their own way of dressing themselves as the men. They wore wide-
sleeved jacket called baro or camisa, and in the lower part of their bodies they wore a skirt,
a piece of colored cloth, which they called tapis or saya among the Tagalogs and
patadyong among the Visayans. Women wore jewelry consisted of gold necklace, gold
bracelets, large gold earrings and gold rings and teeth.

In the Visayas, the most tattooed Filipinos settled; they developed a social representation
through body marks of various designs representing animals, flowers and geometric
representations. There were two reasons: first, to enhance their physical features of their
bodies and second, for men to show off their war records because the more enemy a
warrior has killed in battle, the more tattoo was etched in his body. The women were less
tattooed than men. When the Spaniards came to the Visayas and upon seeing such people
they called them pintados or painted people.
ChapterThey
2 called the island as Las Islas Pintados
or island of painted people.

Social Classes

The Filipino society was carved out from a barangay social setup that was able to
develop a form of social class as part of its continuous social development.

The early Filipino social system was divided into three classes. The first was the
noble class or maharlika where leaders of the barangay were called Datu, Gat or Lakan
belong. The datus were measured by the number of their followers. In return for tribute and
labor given by his followers, the datu provided aid in emergencies and settles disputes
among his constituents or with other communities. In the old Muslim societies the datu led
raids in other villages. They may demand revenge or maratabat for the death of a follower
or upon injury to his honor. Support for the datu was especially needed to carry out
governmental affairs in Muslim communities. The second class was called the timawa or
freemen who were born free or former slaves who gained their freedom. The freemen were
the farmers, artisans, warriors, artists, blacksmiths and hunters. The lowest social class in
the society was the slaves. They were called in different names in different places in the
country. The Tagalogs call them as aliping namamahayand aliping sagigilid. The
namamahay had his own property, family, and he could not be sold. They can marry
without the permission of their master. This class served their master during construction of
his house, planting and harvesting crops and rowing his boat. The sagigilid has fewer
privileges; this dependent cannot marry without the permission of his master, has no
property of his own, lives within the master’s house and can be sold any time. The Filipino
dependent can gain his freedom or change to dependent status through marriage to a
higher rank, purchase of freedom and voluntary action by his master.

Marriage Customs

In terms of marriage, the Filipino ancestors followed certain traditions. The parents in
most cases arranged the marriage of their sons and daughters. The bridegroom was
obliged to give a form of dowry, called bigay kaya and this may be in the form of land or
gold and dependents (alipin) given to the parents of his bride. Another form of dowry, the
bigay-suso is when the bridegroom paid the mother’s nocturnal efforts for rearing her child.
It is recognition of the mother’s labors in bringing up her daughter. The groom should also
give the parents of the bride money to reimburse the efforts in feeding her during infancy,

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which was called himaraw. After both parties agreed on the conditions of the marriage, a
pamamalae or pamumulungan will take place to seal the marriage agreement. In the
account of Father Chirino, a Spanish priest, when he arrived in the Philippines in 1590, he
stated these observations:

The more common and more widespread custom is to marry one wife only,
whom Bisayans always do their best to choose from among their very own
tribe (kindred) and very close relations. Tagalogs are not so particular about
this: they are satisfied if the woman is not of inferior rank.

These facts suggest that early Filipino marriage practices emerged from a strong
social organization with a moral foundation handed down from generations. Divorce in
remote cases also happened in early Philippine society, where the ancestors were able to
set rules, if such failure in marriage happened. Divorce was allowed in the following cases;
(1) desertion on the part of the husband; (2) adultery on the part of the wife (3) cruelty; (4)
childlessness, and (5) insanity.

Mixed marriage also occured in Philippine society, where a man and woman from
different class were announced by their parents to be bonded by marriage. The children
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were divided into to two classes, where each of the parents belonged. In terms of
inheritance, the legitimate children of the man from the first wife inherit the family property.
In case of illegitimate children, they have no right on the property of the legitimate family.

Succession of leadership in the barangay also followed rules in early Philippine

society. The first son of the Datu, Gat or Lakan will inherit his father’s throne. In cases when
the Datu had no male son, the eldest daughter takes his position as the chief of the
barangay.

Religion

The early Filipinos were not pagans as explained by Spanish missionaries that came
to the Philippines during its conquest. The ancestors did not have a religion, what they had
was a credible religious foundation.

Our ancestors believed in a supreme creator and god. The Tagalogs called their
god as Bathala Maycapal, which signified as the creator of all. The Visayans with the
same concept called their god as Lauon, the Zambals called their god Alba and Aksi, in
Bicol their god is named Gugurani, and for Ilocanos and Igorots Kabunian. Parts of the
belief were minor gods below Bathala which are considered ancient deities:

Tagbanua god of the Sea- Poko

Zambal god of power and strength- ApoMalyari
Ifugao god of thunder- Kidul
Visayan goddess of Harvest- Lalahon
Visayan god of death – Sidapa
Visayan god of the sea- Maguayen
Ilokano goddess of beauty- Dal-lang
Tagalog goddess of agriculture- Idianale
Tagalog god of birth- DianMasalanta
Tagalog protector of sun and lord of war- Apolake

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Tagalog goddess of wind and rain- Anitun Tabu

Protector of growing crops- Lakambakod
Ancient Tagalog deity of harvest and agricultural fields- Lakampati
Bikolano goddess of moon and protector of women- Haliya

As part of their religious practice, the ancestors have a religious specialistwhom they
called katalona or babaylan, who lead in offering sacrifices called maganito, to their
anitos or diwatas.

The iwatas are spirits that manifest cultural relationship with Hinduism known as
devetas. Anitos especially for people in the north show ancestor worship. Magic, chants
and prayers are often key feature of variations in folk religions. In the Visayan regions there
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is a belief in the existence of witchcraft or barang and mythical creatures such as the
“aswang,” “balay sa dwende” and “bakawa”, despite the existence of Christian and Islamic
faith.

Because of its archipelagic nature, the Philippines shave a very diverse ethnic tales,
superstitions, magical beliefs and creatures. However similarities exist such as the belief in
heaven (Kaluwalhatian, Kalangitan, and Kamurayan), Hell (Impiyerno, Kasamaan) and the
human soul (Kaluluwa).

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

True or False
__________ 1. The writing system of early Filipinos is called alibata.
__________ 2. The kulintang is a metal-stringed instrument shaped like a boat.
__________ 3. The Philippine language stock descended from the Austronesian or Malayo-
Polynesian language.
__________ 4. Among early Filipinos, consumption of meat is allowed during the mourning
period.
__________ 5. The dowry given by a groom to the bride’s family is called bigay-yaman.
__________ 6. In case of failure of marriage, divorce was allowed in early Philippine
society.
__________ 7. The kanggan is a strip of cloth wrapped around the waist passing down
between the thighs.
__________ 8. The pintados were tattoed people from Mindoro.
__________ 9. Paleolithic age is the period when the practice of agriculture started.
__________ 10. The Callao Man was excavated from a cave in Palawan.

SUMMARY

Early Filipinos up to the recent times had practiced a high level of respect for their
dead. Filipino old ways still dominate the way of mourning and burying the dead. When a
person dies either in sickness or in battle, the body of the deceased would be scented with
perfumes from different native ingredients, especially the sap of a plant called buyo or
beetle nut. The corpse is anointed with aromatic ointments that preserve the body from

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decomposition. During mourning sad music was played. The bereaved family hired
professional mourners to chant through singing the achievements and good deeds of the
deceased. There were also distinctions in mourning the dead; a dead man was called
maglahi, a dead woman was called morotal, and a dead datu was called larao. During the
period of mourning, the immediate family and relatives of the departed would go into fasting
and would only eat vegetables. Rattan bands were placed around there necks, arms, and
legs as a sign of mourning. Among the Tagalogs the color of mourning was black, while
among the Visayans was white. In modern Philippine society, dress code during mourning
is still strictly practiced. Wearing of red and other similar brightly-colored clothings is not
allowed during wakes as these colors are associated with happiness.

In case where the chief of the barangay dies, a prohibition was implemented that
called for silence and suspension of all hostilities; warriors should carry their spears
downwards and their daggers hilts reversed. In the burial of the dead, the corpse was
placed in a coffin adorned with jewels and gold. Gold was also placed in the eyes and
mouth of the dead, in some accounts, dependents were fed, then slain and buried together
with his master, in the belief that the dependent would serve him even in the afterlife. Early
Filipinos bury their dead either under the house, placed inside a cave or in cliffs overlooking
the sea.

Philippine culture pays much respect to their departed ones; they believe in life after
death and are expressed thru lengthy and colorful funeral ceremonies and rituals. Wakes
usually last from 3 to 7 days. News is spread by words of mouth to relatives and to the
friends in nearby villages. They keep vigil in the house of the departed and the family is
expected to give food and refreshments to persons and relatives who give sympathy.

Superstitious beliefs about deathChapter

also abound
2 in early Philippine society. When a
black butterfly suddenly flutters around it is believed that a relative may have died. In some
provinces, members of the family are not allowed to go out until all the utensils used in
eating have been washed and put away. If not observed, there is a possibility that a family
member will die. Many Filipinos still adhere to such beleifs until now.

During interment the children related to the dead must be lifted across the coffin
before it is put into the grave, so that the soul of the dead will not visit them. Some believe
that the children should wear red clothes so that the soul of the dead will not bother them.

Barangay Government

The Filipino ancestors were able to develop a form of government, specifically meant
to run the barangay in the aspect of law. The datu played an important role in barangay
society. He implemented laws such as reverence for parents and elderly in the barangay,
respect for God, private property and rights of all his constituents. He led his men to
protect the barangay from its enemies; he has the executive, legislative, judicial power over
the barangay and only he can decide if peace or war will be declared towards another
barangay. He also had his council of advisers to help him in judicial decisions against a
person in trial and in making laws for the people of the barangay to follow. In turn, the
people paid tribute in forms of services and portion of their harvest.

The Laguna Copper Plate Inscriptions dated1280, inspite of the similarities to Javanese
documents, the copper plate had some peculiarities that led scholars to believe that it was

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not from the island of Java. First: the LCI did not mention the king of Java at that time, King
Balitung. It was the custom at that time to always mention the name of the king in official
documents. Second: the language used in the document was not only Sanskrit. It was a
mixture of Sanskrit, Old Javanese, Old Malay and Old Tagalog. And third: the method of
writing was different. At that time in Java the characters were impressed into heated
copper, but the characters on the Laguna plate seemed to have been hammered into cold
copper.

The inscription was a pardon from the Chief of Tondo that erased the debt of a man
named Namwaran. His debt was one kati and eight suwarna, or about 926.4 grams of gold.

The document mentioned a few towns that still exist today: Tundun, which is now Tondo in
Metro Manila and three towns in Bulakan; Pailah or Paila, Puliran or Pulilan, and
Binwangan. A town in Agusan del Norte on Mindanao called Dewata or Diwata also
appears in the text. Diwata is near Butuan, which has been a rich source of ancient
artefacts. A place called Medang was mentioned, too, which is possibly Medan in Sumatra,
Indonesia. Also, the name of Namwaran’s son was given as Bukah, a name that may have
some relation to the town of Gatbuka in Bulakan

REFERENCES

Agoncillo & Alfonso. A Short History of the Filipino People, University of the Philippines
Press, Quezon City, 1968.
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People, Eighth Edition,Garotech Publishing,
Quezon City, 1990.
Corpuz, O.D. The Roots of the Filipino Nation: Vol. II; Aklahi Foundation Inc. Quezon City,
1989.
De la Costa, Horacio, S. J.. Readings in Philippine History, Bookmark Inc. Makati City,
1996.
Juana Polmanka J., Pre-Spanish Philippines, Philippine Graphic Arts, Inc. Caloocan City.
Samuel Tan K., A History of the Philippines, Manila Studies Association Inco. Manila, 1997.

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