PRE-SPANISH

PERIOD
Ancestors' Cultures and Way of Life
PRE SPANISH PERIOD
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Long before the Spaniards and other
foreigners landed or set foot on Philippine
shores, our forefathers already had their
own literature stamped in the history of our
race.
• Our ancient literature shows our customs
and traditions in everyday life as traced in
our folk stories, old plays and short stories.
• Ancient Filipinos were living in scattered
barangays and ruled by different
chieftains. •
• Although, they were living separately,
they were similar in many ways, their
religion, mode of dressing, houses,
marriage practices, and economic
activities.
• In short, they were refined and civilized;
they possessed a distinct culture that
distinguish them from other race.
I. Political Order
A. The Barangay
• Barangay, a term of Malay origin which
means "banca" or "boat".
• A barangay was composed of 25 to 100
families.
• The head or chief was called a datu or
rajah, who wielded vast powers over his
continuants.
B. Social Order
The family was the smallest unit of
society.
Society divided into three classes:
1. Maharlika (which composed of the
Datu and his family)
2. Timawa or freemen
3. Alipin or Slaves
a. Aliping Namamalay
b. Aliping Saguiguilid
C. Religion
Our Early ancestors had their own beliefs
regarding home, the world in general, and
life after death.

The different Gods:

1. Bathala- ruler of heaven and earth.
2. Anito or Spirits of departed ancestors-
considered as their redeemers and
mediators.
3. Priest or babaylan in Visayas- presided
over rituals and ceremonies.
D. Dressing
The Early
Filipinos had
their own style
in dressing.
They also used
ornaments to
enhance their
physical
appearance.
A tattoo was
another popular
body ornament, it
symbolizes beauty
or bravery. For a
man, the tattoo
served as a war
record of number of
man he killed in a
fair fight.
E. Housing
Our ancestors
lived in
permanent
homes almost
similar to kubo
or hut. They
were Made Up
of bamboo,
wood, and palm
leaves.
II. Customs
A. Courtship and Marriage
• Marriage was an aspect of life regarded
seriously by our ancestors. The choice of a
partner was based on the best wishes of
the parents.
• A man must give a dowry to the girl's
family before he may ask for her hand in
marriage. He must also serve in the house
of the girl he wishes to marry.
B. Burial
The Dead often underwent careful
preparation. They were buried in
riverbanks or seashores, and sometimes in
caves. When a datu died, mourning rites
called "larao" were accorded to him by the
people.
III. Filipino Culture
A. Arts and Music
• Our Filipino Ancestors were music lovers.
This can be seen in their instruments such as
kudyapi, kubing, pasing, lantoy, buktot,
kalaking, gansa, tultogan and others.
• They also had Songs for Various Occasions
like the Ayegkha, Bundaka Baleleng, Annoay,
and Palasintahan sa Taniman.
• Examples of native dances are the tinikling,
itik-itik, manglalatik, palu-palo, and singkil.
B. Writings
Our Ancestors had
their own system in
writing.

The alphabets called

as alibata was
composed of 17
letters, 3 vowels, and
14 consonants
D. Livelihood
• Farming was the primary source of
livelihood of the early Filipinos.
• Other Livelihood sources include livestock
raising, handicraft, cloth weaving, pottery,
and basket weaving.
• People living by the seashores and
riverbanks thrived in fishing, our waters
being rich in fish and other marine
resources.
Thank you!