Module 1 – Lesson 1

Searching for My
Beginnings
Prepared by: Miss Ruby Angela D.O. Peña
ruby.angela01@gmail.com
 10 Reasons Why Life Was Better in Pre-
Colonial Philippines

Women enjoyed equal status with men.

Society was more tolerant in pre-colonial Philippines.
The people enjoyed a higher form of government.
We were self-sufficient.
We had smoother foreign relations.
 10 Reasons Why Life Was Better in Pre-
Colonial Philippines

Our forefathers in the pre-colonial Philippines already

possessed a working judicial and legislative system.
They had the know hot to make advanced weapons.
Several professions already existed.
The literacy rate was high.
We already had an advanced civilization.
10. Women enjoyed equal status with
men

 They were allowed to divorce,

own and inherit property, and
even lead their respective
barangays or territories.
 In matters of family, the women
were for all intents and purposes
the working heads, possessing
the power of the purse and the
sole right to name their children.
9. Society was more tolerant in pre-
colonial Philippines.

 While it could be said that our

modern society is one of the most
tolerant in the world, we owe our
open-mindedness not to the
Americans and certainly not to the
Spanish, but to the pre-colonial
Filipinos.
8. The people enjoyed a higher form of
government.

 The relationship of the ruler to his subjects was

very simple back then: In return for his
protection, the people pay tribute and serve
him both in times of war and peace.
 if the ruler became corrupt or incompetent,
then the people had a right to remove him.
 Although the datus technically came from the
upper classes, he could be removed from his
position by the lower classes if they found him
wanting of his duties.
7. We were self-sufficient.

 In terms of food, our forefathers did

not suffer from any lack thereof.
Blessed with such a resource-rich
country, they had enough for
themselves and their families.
 Forests, rivers, and seas yielded
plentiful supplies of meat, fish, and
other foodstuffs.
6. We had smoother foreign relations.

 We’ve all been taught that before the

Spanish galleon trade, the pre-colonial
Filipinos had already established trading
and diplomatic relations with countries as
far away as the Middle East.
 In lieu of cash, our ancestors exchanged
precious minerals, manufactured goods,
etc. with Arabs, Indians, Chinese, and
several other nationalities.
5. Our forefathers in the pre-colonial
Philippines already possessed a working
judicial and legislative system.

 Although not as advanced (or as

complicated) as our own today, the fact that
our ancestors already possessed a working
judicial and legislative system just goes to show
that they were well-versed in the concept of
justice.
 Life in pre-colonial Philippines was governed by
a set of statutes, both unwritten and written,
and contained provisions with regards to civil
and criminal laws.
4. They had the know-how to make
advanced weapons.

 Our ancestors—far from being the

archetypal spear-carrying, bahag-
wearing tribesmen we picture them
to be—were very proficient in the art
of war.
 They knew how to make fire guns
and cannons, as well as to construct
huge fortresses and body armors.
3. Several professions already existed.

 Asidefrom being farmers, hunters,

weapon-makers, and seafarers, the
pre-colonial Filipinos also dabbled—
and excelled—in several other
professions as well.
 Toname a few, many became
involved in such professions as
mining, textiles, and smithing.
2. The literacy rate was high.

 Using the ancient system of writing called

the baybayin, the pre-colonial Filipinos
educated themselves very well, so much so
that when the Spanish finally arrived, they were
shocked to find out that the Filipinos possessed
a literacy rate higher than that of Madrid!
 However, the high literacy rate also proved to
be a double-edged sword for the Filipinos once
the Spanish arrived.
1. We already had an advanced
civilization.

 Contrary to foreign accounts, our

ancestors were not just some backward,
jungle-living savages. In reality, pre-
colonial Philippines already possessed a
very advanced civilization way before the
coming of the Spanish.
 Ourancestors possessed a complex
working society and a culture replete with
works of arts and literature.
 Puzzle Me No More (Example)

 Look at the boxes below. If your start at the top

right hand square, then spiral clockwise round
the perimeter and finish at the central square,
you spell out the word CLOCKWISE.
I S C
W E L CLOCKWISE
K C O
Puzzle Me No More

 Pre-colonial
inhabitants of the Philippines
have a rich oral _____ of literature.

T O I
R N T TRADITION
A D I
Puzzle Me No More

 One popular form of pre-colonial

literature

E R B S
PROVERBS
VO R P
 Puzzle Me No More

 Filipino proverbs echo the ideals of the Philippines. Though

they have been retold and passed down from one
generation to another, the _____ and lessons they impart to
us still hold true to this day.

V A L
VALUES
S E U
 Puzzle Me No More

 Dr. Damiana Eugenio, a renowned Filipina folklorist, says

there is still no universally accepted definition of the word
_____.

O L K L
FOLKLORE
R E F O
 Puzzle Me No More

 Any bit of knowledge handed down from generation to

generation, which depicts the beliefs and lifestyle of our
ancestors of a chosen ethnic group is rendered _____ to that
group, and is respected as folklore.

Q U
UNIQUE
I E
N U
 PROVERBS

 Brief instructive expressions that suggest a

specific action, behaviour, or judgment.
 Spanish missionaries were found to have
translated such proverbs and other oral
expressions in Spanish in order for their fellow
religious people to learn indigenous languages.
 PROVERBS

 Damiana Eugenio asserted that even the

Spaniards who colonized our country noticed
how proverbs formed part of the native spirit.
 Our proverbs are not only witty expressions;
they are also our cultural treasures.
 PROVERBS

 InFilipino, proverbs are called salawikain.

 They prescribe norms, impart a lesson, or
emphasize traditions and beliefs in a
community.
 FIVE CATEGORIES OF
PROVERBS
1)Proverbs expressing a general attitude towards life
and the laws that govern life.
Example:
Ang kapalaranko di ko man hanapin, dudulog lalapit
kung talagang akin.
The good fortune which is intended for me will come
even without my seeking it.
 SIX CATEGORIES OF PROVERBS

2) Ethical proverbs recommending certain virtues

and condemning certain vices.
Example:
Dai mo pagpaagahan an magigibo mo ngonian.
Do not put off for tomorrow what you can do for
today.
 SIX CATEGORIES OF PROVERBS

3) Proverbs expressing a system of values.

Example:
It takes only a moment to squander what took a
year to save.
 SIX CATEGORIES OF PROVERBS

4) Proverbs expressing general truths and

observations about life and human nature.
Example:
Huli man at magaling, ay naihahabol din.
A good thing is never too late.
 SIX CATEGORIES OF PROVERBS

5) Humorous proverbs
Example:
Kay tagal nanindahan, kabili-bili’y balindang.
After shopping for a long time, he ended up with
a poor purchase.
 Quiz - True or False.

1. Most of the early proverbs in the Philippines are

written in English.
2. Proverbs and other forms of folk literature were
translated by the Spaniards into English.
3. Some proverbs are poetic and figurative in nature.
4. Early Filipinos’ proverbs served as guideposts for
upright living.
 Quiz - True or False.

5. Proverbs may have geographical origins.

6. People can’t react to the meaning of
proverbs quite quickly.
7. Proverbs instruct and prescribe at the same
time.
 Quiz - True or False.

8. Proverbs are less superior to other literary forms

in expressing messages.
9. Proverbs reflect many things about our culture
and identity.
10. Proverbs cannot be preserved.
Developing
Speaking Skills

Word Stress
 NOUN VERB
Combat Combat
Conduct Conduct
Conflict Conflict
Construct Construct
Contact Contact
Content Content
Defect Defect
Desert Desert
Object Object
Listen, repeat and remember the location of the accent.
Apply the right stress on the highlighted syllables.

Accuracy ceremony family memorable

Adolescent comfortable folklorist nationality
Ancestor committee holiday reasonable
Antecedent composite honorable
Attainment confidential innovative
Baptism cooperative intestine
Subject and Verb
Agreement
 The subject and verb in a
sentence must agree in number.

 Number refers to whether the word is singular or

plural.
 If the subject is singular, the verb must be
singular.
 If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
To avoid problems, make sure to know
which word function as the subject.

 Jenny eats the apple.

 Laziness is the sibling of starvation.

 Who, that, which are considered singular or
plural according to the noun directly in front
of them.

 One of my books is missing.

 Those who act tough are really coward.

 Remember:
 Is– Singular, Present tense  Has – Singular, present
 Are – Plural, Present tense
 Have – Plural, present
 Was – Plural, Past tense
 Were – Plural, Past tense  Had – Singular/Plural, past
 This – Singular, near
 These – Plural, near
 That – Singular, far
 Those – Plural, far
Phrases beginning with the words with, together
with, including, as well as, along with, and
addition to are not part of the subject.

 Danny, together with his family, has left the country.