Customs of the Tagalogs

By Juan de Plasencia

OBJECTIVES
 Understand precolonial Tagalog life through Plasencia’s account.
 Explain the historical value of this account.
 Explore the modern-day relevance of these historical insights.

ACTIVITY
What do you know? (Examine the provided image, noting what they see and what they think
about pre-colonial Tagalog life.)

ANALYSIS

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR:

 Juan de Plasencia was a Spanish friar belonging to the Franciscan Order.

 He was among the first group of Franciscan missionaries to arrive in the Philippines
in 1578.
 He was involved in founding numerous towns in provinces like Laguna, Quezon,
Bulacan, and Rizal.

BACKGROUND OF THE DOCUMENT:

 In 1589, Juan de Plasencia authored “Customs of the Tagalogs” (Costumbres de los

Tagalos).
 Detailed the social organization, customs, and laws of the Tagalog people during the
pre-colonial period.
 Written due to request from the king of Spain, so that the colonizers would have a
basis to effectively deal with the native population.
GOVERNMENT:

 The unit of government is called Barangay.

 Consisting of 30-100 people, each barangay was headed by a datu.
 The term “barangay” is believed to originate from the “balangay,” a type of plank
boat, suggesting that early barangays were formed by groups of people who arrived
by sea.
 SOCIAL CLASSES:
1. Datu (Leaders):
 Highest social class, holding political and social power
 Leaders of barangays, responsible for governance and community
management.
 Commanded respect and obedience.
 Made important decisions.
 The 1st son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position; if the 1 st son
dies, the 2nd son succeeds their father; in the absence of male heirs, it is the
eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain.
2. Nobility (Maharlika):
 Middle class, between the datus and commoners.
 Held privileges but also had community responsibilities.
 Free individuals, not slaves.
 Often served as warriors, providing military service to the datus.
 Exempt from paying taxes, but served in war.
 Received spoils of war.
3. Aliping Namamahay (Commoners):
 Had obligations to serve their datu or master.
 Performed tasks like accompanying the datu on journeys or rowing boats.
 Social status was inherited, but they were not enslaved.
4. Aliping sa Guguiguilir (Slaves):
 Lowest social class, living and working directly for their masters.
 Considered property, could be bought, sold, or inherited.
 Performed various tasks, including farming and household work.
 Had limited rights, couldn’t own property or marry without permission.
 Completely dependent on their masters.
 A person becomes slave: by captivity in war, by reason of debt, by inheritance,
by purchase, and by committing a crime.
 Slaves can be emancipated through: by forgiveness, by paying debt, by
condonation, and by bravery (where a slave can possibly become a Datu) or by
marriage.
HOUSES:

 Made of bamboo, wood, and nipa palm

MODE OF DRESSING:

- Male
 Headgear- called putong (symbolizes the number of persons the wearer had killed)
 Upper- a jacket with short sleeves called kanggan.
 Lower-bahag
- Female
 Upper- baro or camisa
 Lower-saya
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.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS:
 They worship many gods and goddesses:
Bathala – supreme god
Agni – god of fire
Balangaw – god of rainbow
Mapolon – god of seasons
Mandarangal – god of war
Dalahon – god of harvest
Dian Masalanta – goddess of love and childbirth
Lacapati -god of fertility and agriculture
Idianale – goddess of labor and good deeds
 Adored idols were called anitos or diwatas
 Offerings were made to appease negative spirits.
 Priestesses (babaylan) acted as mediums to communicate with spirits.
 They also adore the stars, especially the morning sun they called TALA.
 Also believed in sacred animals and trees
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS:
 Pre-colonial Tagalog marriage involved a structured process emphasizing the groom’s
commitment and the bride’s family’s approval.
- Paninilbihan- The man served the women’s family to gain their trust.
- Dowry (Conditions)- The groom was required to fulfill specific conditions,
which included: Bigay-kaya, Panghihimuyot,Himaraw
- Agreement (Paglalayon/Pamumulungan): After the dowry conditions were
met, families held a ceremony to finalize wedding arrangements.
 Rules Regarding Children Born from Different Social Statuses:
- Maharlika (Nobility) and Slave: Children born from a Maharlika father and a
slave mother, along with the mother, gained freedom.
- Slave Woman and Master: A slave woman, upon becoming pregnant by her
master, was required to pay him half a gold tael.
- Free Woman and Slave: Children born from a free woman and a slave were
considered free, as long as they were not married.
- Maharlika and Slave Marriage: Children born from a marriage between a
Maharlika and a slave were divided (likely between the parents’ respective
social groups or families).
- One married woman of another village: Children from this union were divided
equally between the two barangays of the parents.
 Several grounds of divorce are:
1. Adultery
2. Abandonment on the part of the husband
3. Cruelty
4. Insanity
BURIAL:
  Burial practices were based on whether the deceased was a chief or a warrior.
 Chief’s Burial:
- Body placed under a specially built porch.
- Four days of mourning.
- Burial in a boat-coffin/bier.
 Warrior’s Burial:
- A living slave was tied beneath the warrior’s body.
- Extended period of mourning by the family.
 Existence after life:
- Maca – Paradise or village of rest
- Casanaan – Place of punishment
SUPERSTITIONS:
 They are very liable to find auguries in things they witnessed.
In the case of young girls who first had their monthly courses:
 Their eyes were blindfolded four days and four nights;
 In the meantime, the friends and relatives were all invited to partake of food and
drink.
 At the end of this period, the catalonan took the young girl to the water, bathed her
and washed her head, and removed the bandage from her eyes.
12 Priests of the Devil
1. Catalonan: A respected priest or priestess, officiating at ceremonies and sacrifices.
2. Mangagauay: Witches believed to induce illnesses.
3. Manyisalat: Witches who could cause relationship problems.
4. Mancocolam: Individuals believed to emit fire and cause sickness.
5. Hocloban: Witches with powerful abilities to kill or heal with gestures.
6. Silagan: Those who supposedly tore out and ate the livers of those dressed in white.
7. Magtatanggal: Beings believed to separate their torso from their lower body.
8. Osuang: Sorcerers believed to fly and devour people.
9. Mangagayoma: Those who made love charms.
10. Sonat: Priests who aided in death.
11. Pangatahojan Soothsayers who predicted the future.
12. Bayoguin: Individuals that where male that acted like females and where also priest.

CONTRIBUTION & RELEVANCE OF THE DOCUMENT IN UNDERSTANDING THE

PHILIPPINE HISTORY:
 The book showed the culture and life system of the Filipinos before the Spanish
colonization.
 Is considered to be a primary source which shows how civilized the Filipinos are even
before colonization.
 Shows that Filipinos already had a culture on its own before the Spaniards came.
 RELEVANCE OF THE DOCUMENT IN THE PRESENT TIME:
 This document reflects on the historical development of our culture, from its
precolonial origins to its present form, impacted by three colonial influences.
 It provides valuable insights to our original civilization, social hierarchy, governance,
trading practices, religious beliefs, and traditions of the Filipinos.
 It helps us to appreciate the depths and complexity of our own history and culture.

ABSTRACTION

Juan de Plasencia's "Customs of the Tagalogs" is a vital historical document that

unveils the intricate precolonial life of the Tagalog people, showcasing their structured
society with barangay governance under datus, a tiered social hierarchy, and rich cultural
practices encompassing laws, justice, religious beliefs, and customs. This account is crucial
for understanding the Philippines' history before Spanish colonization, emphasizing the
sophistication and complexity of Filipino culture that existed prior to external influences,
and highlighting the importance of preserving historical knowledge for a deeper
appreciation of our cultural identity.

APPLICATION
Easy (Multiple Choice)

1. What was the basic unit of government in pre-colonial Tagalog society?

a) Province b) Kingdom c) Barangay d) Tribe

Answer: c) Barangay

2. What material was commonly used in building Tagalog houses?

a) Stone b) Brick c) Bamboo and nipa palm d) Concrete

Answer: c) Bamboo and nipa palm

3. Who was the supreme god in the pre-colonial Tagalog pantheon?

a) Agni b) Balangaw c) Bathala d) Lacapati

Answer: c) Bathala

4. What headgear did Tagalog men wear, often symbolizing the number of people they
had killed?

a) Salakot b) Putong c) Baro d) Bahag

 Answer: b) Putong

5. What was the pre-colonial Tagalog term for the service a man performed to gain a
woman’s family’s approval before marriage?

a) Bigay-kaya b) Panghihimuyot c) Paninilbihan d) Paglalayon

Answer: c) Paninilbihan

Moderate (Identification)

1. Name the type of boat believed to be the origin of the word “barangay.”
Answer: Balangay
2. What was the name given to the priestesses who acted as mediums to communicate
with spirits?
Answer: Babaylan
3. What was the name of the ceremony that finalized wedding arrangements after the
dowry conditions were met?
Answer: Paglalayon/Pamumulungan
4. Name one of the goddesses worshipped by the pre-colonial Tagalogs (from the
provided text).
Answer: Dian Masalanta
5. What was the name given to sorcerers believed to fly and devour people?
Answer: Osuang

Difficult (Fill in the Blanks)

6. The highest social class in pre-colonial Tagalog society was the _______.
Answer: Datu
7. Aliping ______ were commoners with obligations to their datu.
Answer: Namamahay
8. Aliping Sa Guguilir were considered _______.
Answer: Slaves/Property
9. One of the dowry conditions in pre-colonial Tagalog marriages was _______.
Answer: Bigay-kaya (or Panghihimuyot or Himaraw)
10. The pre-colonial Tagalogs believed in a place of punishment called _______.
Answer: Casanaan
11. The pre-colonial Tagalogs believed that the morning sun, called _______, was sacred.
Answer: Tala
12. Children born from a Maharlika father and a slave mother, along with their mother,
_______. Answer: gained freedom
13. One ground for divorce in pre-colonial Tagalog society was _______.
Answer: Adultery
14. A slave woman who became pregnant by her master was required to pay him
_______. Answer: half a gold tael
15. Children from a marriage between a Maharlika and a slave were often _______.
Answer: divided (between families/social groups)

REFERENCES
Ravago, J. R. (2018, October 16). Juan de Plasencia “Custom of the Tagalogs” [Slide show].
SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/juan-deplasencia-custom-of-the-
tagalogs/119660370
Year of Our Lord. (2022, April 3). Customs of the Tagalogs [Video]. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/P-aJ4oVkr6w?si=ShT9oWp-efflenDh
Juan de Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs. (n.d.). Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/document/522852033/juan-deplasencia-s-customs-of-the-
tagalogs
De Plasencia, J. (1589). Customs of the Tagalogs.

GROUP MEMBERS
1. Saling, Anthony
2. Aquino, Alyssa
3. Balalio, Jillian
4. Solatorio, Sabrinne