Customs of the tagalogs

By Juan De Plasencia, O.S.F

The article of Juan De Plasencia enumerates the
different
customs that was observed during his stay in the
philippine society.
their social classes, government, and such.
Social classes

Datos

Maharlika

Alipping
namamahay

Alipping saguiguilar
Government
The unit of government is called “barangay” , ruled by a
cheiftain. may consist 30-100 alog with their slaves and
relatives.
Religious Beliefes & Superstitions
• Filipinos worshipped many gods ad goddeses
• the house of the cheiftain is where the worship or celebration occurs,
considers as the “simbahan” or temple of the aforementioned
activities

• beliefe in mythical creatures (Filipino mythology)

• use of charms(anting-anting) and magic (gayuma or kulam)
• omens; ex. the tigmamanuguin -- has two different forms
Economic Life
• Agriculture
• Fishieries
• Domestic and Foreign trade
• Hunting in the highlands
Manner of burying the dead
• Datos - placed beneath a small house and be mourned for 4 days
then placed on a boat(serves as the coffin). guards would watch over
along with a slave.

• Warrior - a living slave would be tied beneath the deceased. the greif
of family and relatives are accompanied with eating and drinking.
• Maca - paradise or village of rest
• Casanaan - a place of anguish; Sitan - the
demons that dwelt there
• Vibit - ghosts
• Tigbalaang - Phantoms
• Patianic - the death of any woman from
childbirth, she and the child suffered
punishment; believed that at night she could be
heard lamenting
Administration of justice and Consequences
• Investigations made and sentences passed by the dato must take
place in the presence of those his barangay.

• Disputes between individuals were settled by a court made up of the

chieftain and council of elders

• they will condem a man of low birth who insults the daughter or wife
of a chief; likewise witches and others of the same class. the children
or young ones will become slaves for the datos
Inheritance
• The 1st son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position; if
the 1st son dies, the 2nd son succeeds their father; in the absence of
male heirs, it is the eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain.
Marriage

• 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: (1) Bigay- kaya (a piece of land or gold);
(2) Panghihimuyat (a gift for the brides parents); (3) Bigay-suso (for
brides wet nurse). Marriage between couples belonging to defferent
social classes were not common. Several grounds of divorce are: (1)
Adultery, (2) Abandonment on the part of the husband, and(3)
Cruelty.
• there are many variation on which it is dependent on the social
classes of the individuals.

• example:

• those who are maharlicas on both the fathers' and mothers' side
continues to be nobles forever, and if ti happens that they should
become slaves, it is through marriage.

• if maharlicas had children among their slaves, the children and their
mothers becomes free.
References used
• https://www.slideshare.net/rey_john_rey/juan-de-plasencia-custom-
of-the-tagalogs
• https://prezi.com/9i5yehdidr1t/customs-of-the-tagalogs/