Pre-Colonial Life and Culture

HousesNipa Huts made of nipa, bamboo and wood, usually grouped in villages along the river banksTree Houses built on top of trees for protection against enemies, common to the Kalingas and BagobosBoat Houses still use by the Badjaos of Sulu Sea because the sea is their source of living

Nipa Huts

Boat HouseTree House

Clothes and OrnamentsMale AttireKangan a long sleeves jacket without collar. Its color indicated social rank. Red upper classBlue or Black lower classBahag a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and between the legs.Putong head gear or hut

Kangan and PutongBahag

Female AttireBaro o Camisa wide sleeved jacketTapis a piece of cloth wrapped around the waistPatadyong or saya a short loose skirt

Baro and SayaTapis

Men and women were barefootedMen and women wore gold ornaments

TattoosMen tattooed their bodies:To enhance their physical appearanceTo show their war recordThe Visayan were the most tattooed peopleLas Islas de PintadosPintados

Pintados

Social ClassesMaharlika nobles Consist of datus, their families and relativesMen of nobility were calledGat or LakanDayang or Lakambini

Timawas FreemenComposed of born free and emancipated slaves

Alipin slavesLowest classAmong the Tagalogs:Namamahay more of a serf than a slaveSaguiguilid real slaveAmong the Visayans:Tumataban served only when ask toTumarampuk rendered only one day of serviceAyuey rendered three days of service

Causes of SlaveryBirth a baby born to slave parentsGanap na Alipin both of your parents were slavesKalahating Alipin one parent was slave, the other freeMala-Alipin from a parent who was half-slave, and the other is freeCaptivity in warsPurchaseFailure to pay debtsPunishment for Crimes

Women in SocietyWomen were regarded highly in Pre-hispanic timesThey were recognized as equal to SpainCould succeed as rulers of barangayCould engaged in trade and commerceHad executive right of naming their childrenServed as officiated priestess in prehispanic religious rituals:Katalona TagalogBabaylan VisayaBaliana - Bicol

GovernmentNo official government Barangay was the unit of government consisted of 30 to 100 familiesDatu/Raha/Hari/Sultan chieftainas a chieftain had vast powers:Chief Executive implementation of lawsLegislator enactment of laws upon the counsel and advice from village eldersChief JudgeSupreme Commander in times of war

How a Datu obtained his position?Inheritance a son of a datu became a datu after his fathers deathStrength strongest warrior became a datu in case no heir to the positionWisdom wisest man could also become a datuWealth richest man could also be choses as datu

ReligionPaganismPolytheisticBathala the supreme god, creator of heaven and earthSidapa god of deathAgni god of fireIdianale god of agricultureOffered sacrifices to ancestral spirits:Anitos TagalogsDiwatas VisayansBelieved in immortality of soul and life after death.

Islam

Marriage CustomsThree prerequisites to marriage:Giving of dowry called Bigay Kaya which consisted of gold, land or slaves given by the bridegroom to the parents of the bride.Panghihimuyat payment for mothers nocturnal effort in rearing the girl to womanhood.Himaraw reinbursement for the amount spent in feeding the girl to womanhood.Bigay-suso given to wet nurse

Lovers Servitude the groom worked in the brides household for a period of timePamamalae/Pamamanhikan/Pamumulungan/The bridegrooms family asks for the hand of the bride to be.

Burial and Mourning PracticesThree special mourning customs:Laraw mourning for a datuMaglahe mourning for menMorotal mourning for women

Some of the practices:Wore white clothes during mourning periodPasiyam nine consecutive days of prayerTibawan a play in honor of the deadBefore burial the corpse was washed, dressed and embalmed, buried near the house, in a cave, or a high place overlooking the seaFoods, clothes, gold, weapons, and sometimes slaves buried with the dead.

WritingAncient Filipino alphabet originated from IndiaConsisted of 3 vowels and 14 consonants

Materials in early writing:A sharp-pointed piece of iron called SIPOL, was used as pen or sometimes tip of a dagger or knifeAs paper, the early Filipinos used the tree barks, banana leaves and other plant leaves.

LiteratureAncient Filipino both had oral and writted literature:Types of Literature:Sabi or Kasabihan maximSawikain or Salawikain sayingBugtong riddleEpics:Hudhod at Alim IfugaoBiag ni Lam-Ang IlocosBantugan, Indarapatra and Sulayman - Moro

Music and DancesMusical InstrumentsDancesKudyapi Tagalog guitarGangsa Igorot gongKulintang Maranao xylophoneKumintang love danceDadansoy Visayan dance of the Tuba gatherersMahinhin Tagalog courtship dance