Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, 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, and

more. They were refined and civilized; they

possessed a distinct culture that distinguish them

from other race.

Pre-Spanish Period

• Houses were made of light materials

like wood, bamboo and nipa palm. A

ladder was placed to prevent strangers

from intruding when the owner was not

around

House

• Some of them built tree houses to

protect themselves against their

enemies or from being attacked by wild

animals.

Dress• Male clothing

The upper part was a jacket with short

sleeves called “kangan” while the lower

part was a strip of cloth wrapped around

the waist and in between the legs called

“bahag”.

• Female clothing

- they wore “baro or camisa”, a jacket

with leeves. The lower part was called

“saya”.

Government

•The government was called

“barangay”.

•There was no national

government. There were many

independent barangays and datus.

But there was no datu strong

enough to unite the archipelago

into one nation.

•It was headed by a ruler called

datu or raja.

Bathala – supreme being

Idiyanale – god of agriculture

Sidapa – god of death

Agni – god of fire

Balangaw – god of rainbow

Mandarangan – god of war

Lalahon – god of harvest

Siginarugan – god of hell

• They also believed in the immortality of souls and life after

death.

• There were aslo sacred place and sacred trees, which

nobody was allowed to cut down.

• They also worshipped the sun and the moon.

Religious Beliefs

Natives believed in;

• aswang (witch)

• dwende (tiny creatures like humans)

• kapre (tall and apelike creatures smoking cigarettes,

usually found on trees.

• mangkukulam (an old lady capable of harming others

using a doll and a pin)

• tikbalang (half-man and half-horse creature)

• tiyanak (a baby that sucks blood on human.

They also believed in magical power of amulets and

charms such as anting-anting, kulam and the use of

gayuma or love potion.

Superstitious Beliefs

Aswang

Dwende

Kapre

TikbalangTiyanak

Ornaments• The natives wore ornament

made of gold and precious

stones. Women including men

wore armlet, leg lets,

bracelets, gold rings and

earring. Putting tattoos in their

body was practiced.

•To transmit knowledge, it was

acquired through observation,

imitation and practice.

•There was no formal education

during pre-Spanish period.

•Children were taught to read and

write by their parents. It was fair to

say that they were literate.

Education

- cymbals (plantiles)

- nose flutes, bamboo mouth organs (aphiw)

- brass gong (gansa)

- flute (bansic)

- long drum (colibao)

- bamboo harp (subing)

- water whistle (paiyak)

- guitar (bugtot)

- xylophone (agong)

- drum (tugo)

Music

•The most ancient dances could be

traced to the war dance in order to

incite the “warlike” enthusiasm of the

natives.

•They danced primarily to please their

gods, anitos and the spirit who it was

believed, were always jealous of the

action of the natives.

•Their dance could be described as the

pantomimes today.

•They also danced during festivals and

other merry-making occasions.

Dances

Alibata –

ancient

Philippine

alphabet.