CONTENT & CONTEXTUAL

Analysis of “Customs of the

Tagalogs” by Juan de Plasencia
 OUTLINE

I. Author’s Background
II. Historical Background of the
Document
III. Content Analysis: Tagalog Customs &
Traditions mentioned in the document
IV. Contextual Analysis
Author’s Background
 Born in the early 16th century as
Juan Portocarrero
 Plasencia, Extremadura, Spain
 One of the seven children of Pedro
Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish
schooner.
Juan de Plasencia
 Spanish friar
 One of the first group of Franciscan
missionaries who arrived in PH
Islands
 Spent most of his missionary life in
the Philippines
 Founded numerous towns in Luzon
 Authored Doctrina Cristiana
(Christian Doctrine), the first book
printed in PH
 Grew up during Siglo de Oro
(Golden Age when arts and
literature flourished in Spain)
 Historical Background
It was written during the 16th century, when the Spaniard’s
expedition were evident, to take account of their journey.
It was due to his missionary work in the Philippines. He wrote
about the culture and society of the people in Luzon. However, it is
not thorough since our customs were new to them so it led to
misconceptions and prejudice against our ancestors.
 Historical Background

Barangay is the only form of governance in the Philippines.

Content Analysis

Datu
(CHIEFTAIN)

Maharlica
(NOBLES)
Caste System
Aliping Namamahay
(Commoners)

Aliping Saguiguilid
(Slaves)
 Content Analysis
DATU (CHIEFSTAIN)

 Chief, Captain of wars, who governed,

obeyed, and reverenced

 Anyone who committed against them, or

spoke but a word to their wives and
children was severely punished
 Content Analysis
DATU (CHIEFSTAIN)

 Ruled over a sometimes as many as

hundred houses, sometimes even less
thirty: Tagalo a barangay
 Content Analysis
MAHARLICA (NOBLES)

 Highest in the Caste System

 Free-born, they do not pay taxes or
tribute to the Datu
 Must accompany Datu in war at their
own expense
 Content Analysis
ALIPING NAMAMAHAY
(COMMONERS)

 Middle part of the Caste System

 They own houses where they live.

 They are lords of their own property and

gold.
 Content Analysis
ALIPING NAMAMAHAY
(COMMONERS)

 Has a master to serve, whether a Datu or

not

 Children inherit their houses, property,

and gold; Cannot be sold
 Content Analysis
ALIPING SAGUIGUILID (SLAVE)

 Lowest part of the Caste System

 They serve their master in his house and

on his cultivated lands

 Can be sold
 Content Analysis
ALIPING SAGUIGUILID (SLAVE)

 Lowest part of the Caste System

 They serve their master in his house and

on his cultivated lands

 Can be sold
 Content Analysis
ALIPING SAGUIGUILID (SLAVE)
A person can be a slave by:
 Captivity in war
 Reason for debt
 By inheritance
 By purchase
 By committing a crime
 Content Analysis
ALIPING SAGUIGUILID (SLAVE)
A slave can be emancipated by:
 Ransoming himself (Not less than 5
Taels); if he gave 10 or more taels, he
may be wholly free
 By paying debt
 By condonation (implied pardon as if it
had not been guilty)
 By bravery
 By marriage
 Content Analysis
ALIPING SAGUIGUILID (SLAVE)
A slave can be emancipated by:
 Ransoming himself (Not less than 5
Taels); if he gave 10 or more taels, he
may be wholly free
 By paying debt
 By condonation (implied pardon as if it
had not been guilty)
 By bravery
 By marriage
 Content Analysis
Marriage between Maharlica &
Aliping Saguiguilid/Aliping
Namamahay
 Children were divided; Father – half (1st,
3rd, 5th) & Mother – half (2nd, 4th, 6th);
 Content Analysis
Administration of Justice

 The chieftain’s executive function includes implementing laws

ensuring order and giving protection to his subject.
 Disputes between individuals were settled by a court made up of the
chieftain and council of elders.
 They condemned no one to slavery, unless he merited the death-
penalty.
 Content Analysis
Administration of Justice

 Witches are killed. Their children and accomplices became slaves of

the chief.
 All other offenses were punished by fines in gold, which, if not paid
with promptness, exposed the culprit to serve, until the payment should
be made, the person aggrieved, to whom the money was to be paid.
 Content Analysis
Inheritance

 Chieftain’s position: First son; if the first son dies, the 2nd son succeeds
their father; in the absence of male heirs, the eldest daughter becomes
the chieftain
 Content Analysis
Religious Traditions

 Bathala – “all powerful” or “make of

all things”
 They worship the Sun and Moon
 They possessed many idols called
Lic-ha, which were images with
different shapes
 Content Analysis
Religious Traditions

 Dian masalanta - who was the

patron of lovers and of generation.
 Content Analysis
Religious Traditions

 Lacapati and Idianale were the patrons of the cultivated lands

and of husbandry.
 Content Analysis
Religious Traditions
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
1. Catalonan or Babaylan – Shamans of the various ethnic
Pinunong Espritwal – communicates with
anitos/diwatas
Memorizes and Sings epic songs – Unity
Healer - Herbs
Content Analysis
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
2. Mangangauay or Witches - deceived by pretending to
heal the sick; maladies by their charms; capable of causing
death
Content Analysis
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
3. Manyisalat - the power of applying such remedies to
lovers that they would abandon and despise their own
wives
4. Mancocolam - duty 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
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
5. Hocolaban - 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
6. Silagan -  creature that tears human flesh through the anus and
eats up the internal organs.
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
7. Magtatanggal - his purpose was to show himself at night to
many persons, without his head or entrails
8. Osuang (Aswang) “sorcerer” -  Exists in Visayas Islands
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
9. Mangangayuma - They made charms for lovers out of herbs,
stones, and wood, which would infuse the heart with love.
10. Sonat (“preacher”) -  It was his office to help one to die, at
which time he predicted the salvation or condemnation of the soul.
 Content Analysis
 Various Priests of the Devil
11. Pangatahojan – a soothsayer, and predicts the future
12. Bayoguin (“cotquean”) -   well-respected men who cross-
dressed and held prominent religious positions
 Contextual Analysis
1. Customs of the Tagalog was able to describe the governing system of the native
Filipinos.
2. The primary account included a detailed description of the caste system within the
barangay consisting of three social classes, their functions and limitations within and
outside of the barangay.
3. The account provided information about the worship of the Tagalogs.
4. The account was able to indicate that the Natives have no established division of years,
months, and days; only the recognition of sun-time and water-time.
5. The Tagalogs also have a manner in adoration, offering, and sacrifice, depicted in the
document.
 Contribution to Philippine
History
 The Customs of the Tagalogs enabled the exploration of the ancient lives of the people
living in central Luzon.
 It has continued to serve as a basis for historical reconstructions of Tagalog society.
 The information provided in the text gave vivid imagery, which allowed for further
analysis of the practices of the ancient Tagalogs and comparisons with other accounts of
succeeding periods and significant events in Philippine History.
 Contribution to Philippine
History
 The account aids in realizing that mastery of the local language and culture led to the
success of Christianity in the Philippines.
 He used his work to inform the Filipinos about the differences and the similarities of
our culture by then and now.
 Juan de Plasencia's work made Filipinos realize how unique the Tagalog culture was
before colonization.
 Relevance
 Contains detailed information on topics such as customs, traditions, religious and
superstitious beliefs.
 It can be inferred that many of the 16th-century beliefs and practices are still present
and observed today, such as the belief in mythical creatures and other superstitions.
 It affirms that during the pre-Hispanic period, Filipinos already have a government and
a set of beliefs and practices.
 The barangay still serves as the smallest unit of government in our country today, which
is also lead by barangay captains equivalent to Datos in the past.
 Disprove the claim of some Spaniards that locals were uncivilized and lacking in
culture, as it provided an elaborate observation on functioning government, tax system,
the criminal justice system, indigenous calendar, and long-standing customs and
tradition such