Looking Back: Philippine Society and Culture from the Pre-Colonial to the Colonial Period
Pre-Hispanic Time
Contrary to what had been pictured by the early colonizers, our ancestors had a rich culture made dynamic and richer by their
contacts with the Indians, Chinese, Japanese and Arabs.
However, today, many areas of our culture is slowly dying. "in danger of being wiped out by narrow-mindedness sense of what
constitutes "modern" which has sadly contributed to our apathy towards our rich heritage."
Before the coming of the Spaniards, the natives of this archipelago of 7,107 islands and islets lived in a society "divided into a
hundred different tribes, speaking as many languages, ruled by petty kings or chieftains, constantly warring with each other,
practising the rites of animism, or professing the faith of Islam, There were three classes of people: the maharlika of former
slaves or children of former slaves who were freed by their masters; and the alipin composed of the datu, his wife or wives, his
siblings and his children; the timawa, composed classified into guintubo or aliping namamahay and the hayupay or aliping
saguiguilid.
The aliping namamahay lived in their own houses, owned property and slaves. They paid tribute to the datu and had the chance
to become datu also. The hayupay or aliping saguiguld were natives who were captured in tribal wars and those who were born
to slave parents. They were owned by, served, and lived in their masters' houses. They could not own property.
Their system of government was the barangay ruled by the datu. In bigger barangays or kingdoms, the ruler was called hari,
raha, or lakan. The datu obtained his position by inheritance If he died, however, without a son or daughter, the new datu would
be chosen by the people of the barangay. The one chosen by the people had to be the strongest, richest, and wisest man in the
barangay.
The datu wielded great powers. In time of peace, he was the chief executive, legislator, and judge of the barangay; in time of
war, he was the commander of the barangay warriors. Despite his great powers, however, the datu was not an absolute
ruler. Under the ancient barangay system of government, democracy was observed. The datu, in case of important and delicate
matters, consulted the barangay elders to obtain their approval. Among the cases considered important which the approval of
the elders was needed were declaration of war with an enemy barangay, entering into a political alliance with another barangay,
and the marriage of the barangay lakan and lakambini.
Women were treated as equal of men in pre-historic society. The mother was the treasurer and distributor of the family's
property; they were highly respected and their advice was heeded. They have the right of inheritance and the right to give
names to their children. There were cases, however, when women became slaves of their husbands as soon as the marriage
ceremonies were over.
The Manunggul Jar, a secondary burial Jar where the bones of the dead were placed.
The natives wore clothing but did not wear anything on their feet. Men had artistic tattooes on their bodies. Those who had not
killed anyone in war could not have tattooe. Their main food was rice which they cooked in bamboo or clay pot. They were
clean. They washed their hands before eating and they used banana leaves and coconut shells for their plates and glasses.
Drinking was part of the custom of the natives. They had tuba, lambanog, basi and tapuy They were fond of music and they had
music for every occasion - kundiman, a song with sad melody, pamulinawen, courtship song of the Ilocanos, kumintang, love
song of the Tagalogs, baleleng, love song of the Samals of Tawi-tawi, bayok, traditional love song of the Maranaos and
Maguindanaos; ayegklu, serenade of the Igorots; dalit, mourning song of the Tagalogs; diktir Maranaos' mourning song; tudog,
harvest song of the natives of Agusan; and dad-lot, an Ilocano song about the adventures of Lam-ang.
They had musical instruments which included the kudyapi, kulintang, gangsa, tultogan, kalaleng, and silbay.
They had written and unwritten literary pieces - awit, bugtong, salawikain, tula, and alamat. The Bisayans had ambahan, bikal,
balak, parahaya, and awit.
They had epics like Daragan of the Maranaos narrating the adventures of Bantugan, hero
of Maranao, Ilim and Hudhod of the Ifugaos; and Indarapatra and Sulayman of the natives of
Mindanao.
They lived in houses made of bamboo, nipa and wood, with silong where they kept their rice, bancas and wood as well as their
domesticated animals like goats, pigs and carabaos They had batalan where they kept big water jars and where they did their
bathing and the washing of their dishes. In the evening, they removed the stairs of their houses.
Their houses were built near each other along the seashores or the rivers. The biggest house was that of the datu.
Other ethnic tribes like the Kalingas and the Manobos lived in tree houses to be secured from their enemies. Others like the the
Badjaos lived in house bancas, which they still do until today.
They took a bath everyday and their favourite bathing time was in the afternoon before sundown. They used gogo on their hair
and applied oil after washing it. Both men and women wore jewelry on their hair to enhance their natural beauty. The women
were very clean. Immediately after giving birth, they ran to the nearest river to bathe. Before entering the house, they washed
their feet. For this purpose, a jar of water was always placed at the door of their
houses.
They married among their own class. Men had only one wife but could have several concubines, who lived in the same house
where the legitimate wife lived. The legitimate wife had the sole right to the title ynarba and her children were the only heirs of
the husband. If he had no child with the legitimate wife, he could give his wealth to anyone he chose.
Another custom of the pre-historic Filipinos was for the man to live in the house of the woman he wanted to marry to serve her
family. If the family of the girl did not like him, he would be driven away. If he was acceptable to the family, he would have to
pay the dowry called bigay- kaya, usually in the form of gold, land, slaves or anything of value. He also gave bigay-suso to the
parents of the girl, as payment to the parents of the girl he wanted to marry. Divorce was practised based on the following
grounds: adultery on the part of the wife desertion on the part of the husband; loss o affection; cruelty; insanity, and
childlessness.
To the pre-historic Filipinos, everything had life. Thus, they worshipped the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the trees, and
others. They worshipped the spirits of dead relatives. They believed in the existence of good and bad anitos. With the exception
of the Muslims, they believed in one god, Bathalang Maykapal, who would punish the evil and reward the good.
They believed in life after death, thus when they buried their dead, they also buried their belongings with them. They also
believed in supernaturals like aswang, tiyanak, kulam, and duwende. They also believed in anting-anting, agimat and dreams.
They had priestess, they called babaylan or catalona.
Remnants of a balangay excavated in Butuan ([Link])
The ancient Filipinos had their system of science and arts. They had their own science of counting, weighing and measuring. In
determining time, they referred to the crowing of the cock, the position of the sun, and the hatching of eggs. They had some
knowledge of medicine, used medicinal plants for treatment of illnesses, and could concoct poisons. They also knew the art of
coinage and they had gold coins which they used as a medium of exchange in their business transactions among themselves and
with foreign traders.
They knew how to read and write. They had alphabet known as baybayin, consisted of seventeen letters. Their pen was a sharp-
pointed iron instrument known as sipol which they used in engraving words on bamboo tubes, wooden boards and leaves of
plants. It was the duty of the mothers to teach their children how to read and write, count, use weapon and the art of lubris. In
Panay, there was a native school known as bothoan.
Even before the coming of the Spaniards, they already engaged in domestic and foreign trade. They traded with their
neighboring barangays and islands as well as with foreign countries like China, Japan, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Malacca, Siam,
Vietnam, Cambodia, and India.
Our ancestors' main source of livelihood was agriculture. They also engaged in fishing and husbandry, logging, wine-making, ship
building, weaving and metallurgy. Mining was also a flourishing industry during the pre-Hispanic Philippines.,
Title Slide
Looking Back: Philippine Society and Culture from the Pre-Colonial to the Colonial Period
Pre-Hispanic Time
Slide 1: A Rich and Dynamic Culture
Contrary to colonizers' depictions, our ancestors had a rich culture.
This culture was enriched by interactions with Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabs.
Today, many aspects are dying due to narrow views of what is “modern.”
Slide 2: A Diverse, Tribal Society
The archipelago had hundreds of tribes, speaking different languages.
Society was divided and often at war.
Practiced animism or Islam.
Social classes: Maharlika, Timawa, and Alipin.
Slide 3: The Alipin Class
Aliping Namamahay: lived in own homes, could own property, pay tribute, and rise in rank.
Aliping Saguiguilid: captured or born slaves, lived in master’s house, could not own property.
Slide 4: The Barangay System
Government unit: barangay, led by a datu.
Larger areas were ruled by hari, raha, or lakan.
Datus inherited position but could be chosen based on strength, wealth, and wisdom.
Datu had wide powers but also consulted elders — a form of democracy.
Slide 5: Role of Women
Women were equals to men.
They had inheritance rights, naming rights, and social respect.
But some became slaves to husbands after marriage.
Slide 6: Daily Life and Culture
Used the Manunggul Jar for burial.
Wore clothes but no footwear.
Rice was staple food; cooked in bamboo or clay.
Very clean people, used natural items for hygiene and utensils.
Slide 7: Music and Entertainment
Loved music and drinking (tuba, lambanog, basi, tapuy).
Music for every occasion — kundiman, pamulinawen, kumintang, etc.
Instruments: kudyapi, kulintang, gangsa, and more.
Slide 8: Literature and Epics
Had both written and oral literary forms — awit, bugtong, salawikain, etc.
Epics like: Daragan, Ilim and Hudhod, Indarapatra and Sulayman.
Slide 9: Housing and Community
Houses made from bamboo, nipa, and wood.
Had silong and batalan for storage and hygiene.
Communities built along seashores and rivers.
Tree houses (Kalingas, Manobos); house boats (Badjaos).
Slide 10: Hygiene and Beauty
Bathed daily, especially before sunset.
Used gogo and oils on hair.
Women were extremely clean, even bathed after childbirth.
Wore hair jewelry.
Slide 11: Marriage and Customs
Married within their class.
One wife, but could have concubines.
Only children of the legitimate wife were heirs.
Dowry system: bigay-kaya and bigay-suso.
Divorce allowed for multiple reasons.
Slide 12: Beliefs and Religion
Believed all things had life — mountains, rivers, trees.
Worshipped spirits, Bathala, anitos.
Believed in life after death.
Supernatural beliefs: aswang, tiyanak, kulam, duwende.
Used anting-anting and agimat.
Had priestesses (babaylan or catalona).
Slide 13: Science, Writing, and Education
Had knowledge in counting, weighing, time, and medicine.
Used baybayin alphabet, taught by mothers.
Tools: sipol (engraving tool).
Education in bothoan (Panay).
Slide 14: Trade and Livelihood
Traded domestically and internationally (China, Japan, India, etc.).
Main livelihood: agriculture.
Also did fishing, weaving, metallurgy, mining, and more.
Slide 1: A Rich and Dynamic Culture
Contrary to what had been pictured by the early colonizers, our
ancestors had a rich culture made dynamic and richer by their contacts
with the Indians, Chinese, Japanese and Arabs.
However, today, many areas of our culture is slowly dying. "in danger of
being wiped out by narrow-mindedness sense of what constitutes
"modern" which has sadly contributed to our apathy towards our rich
heritage."
Slide 2: A Diverse, Tribal Society
Before the coming of the Spaniards, the natives of this archipelago of
7,107 islands and islets lived in a society "divided into a hundred
different tribes, speaking as many languages, ruled by petty kings or
chieftains, constantly warring with each other, practising the rites of
animism, or professing the faith of Islam,
There were three classes of people: the maharlika of former slaves or
children of former slaves who were freed by their masters; and the alipin
composed of the datu, his wife or wives, his siblings and his children; the
timawa, composed classified into guintubo or aliping namamahay and the
hayupay or aliping saguiguilid.
Slide 3: The Alipin Class
The aliping namamahay lived in their own houses, owned property and
slaves. They paid tribute to the datu and had the chance to become datu
also.
The hayupay or aliping saguiguld were natives who were captured in
tribal wars and those who were born to slave parents. They were owned
by, served, and lived in their masters' houses. They could not own
property.
Slide 4: The Barangay System
Their system of government was the barangay ruled by the datu. In
bigger barangays or kingdoms, the ruler was called hari, raha, or lakan.
The datu obtained his position by inheritance. If he died, however,
without a son or daughter, the new datu would be chosen by the people
of the barangay. The one chosen by the people had to be the strongest,
richest, and wisest man in the barangay.
The datu wielded great powers. In time of peace, he was the chief
executive, legislator, and judge of the barangay; in time of war, he was
the commander of the barangay warriors.
Despite his great powers, however, the datu was not an absolute ruler.
Under the ancient barangay system of government, democracy was
observed. The datu, in case of important and delicate matters, consulted
the barangay elders to obtain their approval. Among the cases
considered important which the approval of the elders was needed were
declaration of war with an enemy barangay, entering into a political
alliance with another barangay, and the marriage of the barangay lakan
and lakambini.
Slide 5: Role of Women
Women were treated as equal of men in pre-historic society. The mother
was the treasurer and distributor of the family's property; they were
highly respected and their advice was heeded.
They have the right of inheritance and the right to give names to their
children.
There were cases, however, when women became slaves of their
husbands as soon as the marriage ceremonies were over.
Slide 6: Daily Life and Culture
The Manunggul Jar, a secondary burial Jar where the bones of the dead
were placed.
The natives wore clothing but did not wear anything on their feet. Men
had artistic tattooes on their bodies. Those who had not killed anyone in
war could not have tattooe.
Their main food was rice which they cooked in bamboo or clay pot.
They were clean. They washed their hands before eating and they used
banana leaves and coconut shells for their plates and glasses.
Slide 7: Music and Entertainment
Drinking was part of the custom of the natives. They had tuba, lambanog,
basi and tapuy.
They were fond of music and they had music for every occasion -
kundiman, a song with sad melody, pamulinawen, courtship song of the
Ilocanos, kumintang, love song of the Tagalogs, baleleng, love song of the
Samals of Tawi-tawi, bayok, traditional love song of the Maranaos and
Maguindanaos; ayegklu, serenade of the Igorots; dalit, mourning song of
the Tagalogs; diktir Maranaos' mourning song; tudog, harvest song of the
natives of Agusan; and dad-lot, an Ilocano song about the adventures of
Lam-ang.
They had musical instruments which included the kudyapi, kulintang,
gangsa, tultogan, kalaleng, and silbay.
Slide 8: Literature and Epics
They had written and unwritten literary pieces - awit, bugtong,
salawikain, tula, and alamat. The Bisayans had ambahan, bikal, balak,
parahaya, and awit.
They had epics like Daragan of the Maranaos narrating the adventures of
Bantugan, hero of Maranao, Ilim and Hudhod of the Ifugaos; and
Indarapatra and Sulayman of the natives of Mindanao.
Slide 9: Housing and Community
They lived in houses made of bamboo, nipa and wood, with silong where
they kept their rice, bancas and wood as well as their domesticated
animals like goats, pigs and carabaos.
They had batalan where they kept big water jars and where they did their
bathing and the washing of their dishes. In the evening, they removed
the stairs of their houses.
Their houses were built near each other along the seashores or the
rivers. The biggest house was that of the datu.
Other ethnic tribes like the Kalingas and the Manobos lived in tree
houses to be secured from their enemies. Others like the the Badjaos
lived in house bancas, which they still do until today.
Slide 10: Hygiene and Beauty
They took a bath everyday and their favourite bathing time was in the
afternoon before sundown.
They used gogo on their hair and applied oil after washing it. Both men
and women wore jewelry on their hair to enhance their natural beauty.
The women were very clean. Immediately after giving birth, they ran to
the nearest river to bathe. Before entering the house, they washed their
feet.
For this purpose, a jar of water was always placed at the door of their
houses.
Slide 11: Marriage and Customs
They married among their own class. Men had only one wife but could
have several concubines, who lived in the same house where the
legitimate wife lived.
The legitimate wife had the sole right to the title ynarba and her children
were the only heirs of the husband.
If he had no child with the legitimate wife, he could give his wealth to
anyone he chose.
Another custom of the pre-historic Filipinos was for the man to live in the
house of the woman he wanted to marry to serve her family. If the family
of the girl did not like him, he would be driven away.
If he was acceptable to the family, he would have to pay the dowry called
bigay-kaya, usually in the form of gold, land, slaves or anything of value.
He also gave bigay-suso to the parents of the girl, as payment to the
parents of the girl he wanted to marry.
Divorce was practised based on the following grounds: adultery on the
part of the wife, desertion on the part of the husband, loss of affection,
cruelty, insanity, and childlessness.
Slide 12: Beliefs and Religion
To the pre-historic Filipinos, everything had life. Thus, they worshipped
the mountains, the rivers, the lakes, the trees, and others.
They worshipped the spirits of dead relatives. They believed in the
existence of good and bad anitos.
With the exception of the Muslims, they believed in one god, Bathalang
Maykapal, who would punish the evil and reward the good.
They believed in life after death, thus when they buried their dead, they
also buried their belongings with them.
They also believed in supernaturals like aswang, tiyanak, kulam, and
duwende. They also believed in anting-anting, agimat and dreams.
They had priestess, they called babaylan or catalona.
Slide 13: Science, Writing, and Education
The ancient Filipinos had their system of science and arts. They had their
own science of counting, weighing and measuring. In determining time,
they referred to the crowing of the cock, the position of the sun, and the
hatching of eggs.
They had some knowledge of medicine, used medicinal plants for
treatment of illnesses, and could concoct poisons.
They also knew the art of coinage and they had gold coins which they
used as a medium of exchange in their business transactions among
themselves and with foreign traders.
They knew how to read and write. They had alphabet known as baybayin,
consisted of seventeen letters. Their pen was a sharp-pointed iron
instrument known as sipol which they used in engraving words on
bamboo tubes, wooden boards and leaves of plants.
It was the duty of the mothers to teach their children how to read and
write, count, use weapon and the art of lubris. In Panay, there was a
native school known as bothoan.
Slide 14: Trade and Livelihood
Even before the coming of the Spaniards, they already engaged in
domestic and foreign trade.
They traded with their neighboring barangays and islands as well as with
foreign countries like China, Japan, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, Malacca,
Siam, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India.
Our ancestors' main source of livelihood was agriculture.
They also engaged in fishing and husbandry, logging, wine-making, ship
building, weaving and metallurgy.
Mining was also a flourishing industry during the pre-Hispanic
Philippines.