II.

PHILIPPINES IN ANCIENT TIMES

Evidences, both material (economic, social, and political structures) and non-material (language,
literature, arts, and belief system) demonstrate that the ancient Filipinos were a productive and
creative people.

1. EARLY SETTLERS

Negritos
Austronesians
Malays

The “Dawn Man” and the “Migration Theory”. The cave-man, “dawn-Man” type who was similar
to the Java Man, Peking Man, and other Asian homo Sapiens of 250,000 years ago – this is the
theory of H. Otley Beyer. The aboriginal pygmy group, or the Negritos, who came between 25,000
and 30,000 years ago. The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of
the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West
is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on Homonhon Island, southeast of Samar on March 16, 1521.
Prior to Magellans arrival, there were Negrito tribes who roamed the isles but they were later
supplanted by Austronesians. These groups then stratified into: hunter-gatherer tribes, warrior-
societies, petty plutocracies and maritime oriented harbor principalities which eventually grew into
kingdoms, rajahnates, principalities, confederations and sultanates.

2. ECONOMIC LIFE

Early Filipinos primarily engaged in the following economic activities: farming, fishing, poultry
and swine raising, gold mining and trade. Agricultural activities among early Filipinos had an early
beginning. The people first used the slash-and-burn method of planting rice. Later, they adopted
wet agriculture. The slash-and-burn method was common in the interior and high coastal areas
while wet agriculture was practiced in the lowlands. During the planting season, the early Filipinos
performed certain rituals to ensure a bountiful harvest. Work in the fields also followed the changes
in season. The methods used in wet agriculture are similar to what is being done in the rural
areas today. Other crops being raised aside from rice were millet, bananas, sweet potato or camote,
areca nuts, oil, cotton, wine and vinegar and coconuts. Abaca was raised and its fibers
were gathered and made into ropes or fabrics.

3. SOCIAL LIFE

The family was, as it still is today, the smallest but the most significant unit of ancient society. The
father and mother were accorded complete obedience and respect by the children. The Father was
the head of the family while the mother managed household affairs. The early Filipinos had
close family ties. There were four social classes in ancient Filipino society: the chiefs, nobles,
freemen and the slaves. The datu or the chief headed a barangay or community. His family,
relatives and elders belonged to the maginooc lass group of nobles. The freemen or middle class
belong to the timawa or maharlika group. Men who were born free or were freed from slavery
composed the lowest social class because they had no property and were under control of their
master. A Filipino could become a slave through birth, in ability o pay debts, purchase, punishment
for crimes or by being held captive in war. Slaves were of two kinds: aliping namamahay and
aliping saguiguilid. The aliping namamahay enjoyed certain privileges such asthe right to own
property, and the right to work for any master. the aliping saguiguilid did not enjoy any right and
freedom at all. Women occupied a high position in early society. They were regarded as equals of
men and were given the same respect conferred upon the men. The mother of the family had the
honor of naming the children.

3.1. Women’s Position in Society

The role of women in the Philippines is explained based on the context of Filipino
culture, standards, and mindsets. The Philippines is described to be a nation of strong women, who
directly and indirectly run the family unit, businesses, government agencies and
haciendas. Although they generally define themselves in the milieu of a masculine dominated
post-colonial Asian Catholic society, Filipino women live in a culture that is focused on the
community, with the family as the main unit of society. It is in this framework of Philippine
hierarchical structure, class differences, religious justifications, and living in a globally developing
nation wherein Filipino women struggle for respect. Compared to other parts of Southeast Asia,
women in Philippine society have always enjoyed a greater share of legal equality. Some pre-
colonial social structures of the Philippines gave equal importance to maternal and paternal
lineage. This bilateral kinship system accorded Philippine women enormous power within a clan.
They were entitled to property, engage in a trade and could exercise their right to divorce her
husband. They could also become village chiefs in the absence of a male heir. Before the arrival
of the Spaniards, Filipino women could also achieve status as medicine women or high-priestesses
and astrologers.

3.2. Marriage Custom

Traditional marriage customs in the Philippines and Filipino wedding practices pertain to the
characteristics of marriage and wedding traditions established and where Filipino communities
exist. Kasalan is the Filipino word for "wedding", while its root word
Kasal means "marriage". The present-day character of marriages and weddings in the Philippines
were primarily influenced by the permutation of native, Christian, Catholic, Protestant, Spanish,
and American models. A typical ancient traditional Filipino wedding, during pre-colonial times,
is held for three days and was officiated by a babaylan, a tribal priest or priestess. The house of
the babaylan was the ceremonial center for the nuptial. On the first day, the couple was brought to
the priest's home, where the babaylan blesses them, while their hands are joined over a container
of uncooked rice. On the third day, the priest would prick their chests to draw a small amount
of blood, which will be placed on a container to be mixed with water. After announcing their love
for each other for three times, they were fed by the priest with cooked rice coming from a single
container. Afterwards, they were to drink the water that was mixed with their blood. The priest
proclaimed that they are officially wed after their necks and hands were bound by a cord or,
sometimes, once their long hairs had been entwined together. In lieu of the babaylan, the datu or a
wise elder may also officiate a pre-colonial Filipino wedding. After the ceremony, weh weh weh
weh weh a series of gift-exchanging rituals was also done to counter the negative responses of the
bride: if asked to enter her new home, if she refuses to go up the stairs of the dwelling, if she denies
to participate in the marriage banquet, or even to go into her new bedroom, a room she would be
sharing with her spouse. Spanish colonialism brought changes to these marriage rituals because of
the teachings and conversion efforts of Spanish missionaries, which occurred as early as the 18th
century. As a result, the majority of current-day Filipino weddings became predominantly
Christian or Catholic in character, which is also because of the mostly Catholic population,
although indigenous traditions still exist today in other regions of the Philippines. Parts of Filipino
wedding ceremonies have become faith-centered and God-centered, which also highlights the
concept that the joining of two individuals is a "life long commitment" of loving and caring. In
general, the marriage itself does not only signify the union of two persons, but also the fusion of
two families, and the unification two clans.

3.3. Mixed Marriages

Mixed marriages- or marriages between a man and a woman from different social classes such as
a freeman with a slave-were rare. If it happened, the children of the couple were equally divided
among the parents in terms of social status. For example, a marriage between a father who was a
freeman to a mother who was a slave would result in the following division; the eldest, the third,
the fifth, and so on, whether male or female went to the mother. All the children belonging thus
became freemen and those belonging to the mother became slaves. If there was only one child, he
became half free and half slave. Among the ancient Filipinos- Pinoy -the legitimate children or the
children of a man by his first wife automatically inherited the property of their parents even without
a written agreement to that effect. The property was equally divided among the children although
either parent could exercise some partiality in giving a favorite son or daughter an extra jewel or a
few pieces of gold. Unless expressly stated by the parents as outside the portion to be inherited,
any property given in advance to a son or daughter was considered a part of the inheritance of the
recipient. When there were no legitimate children, the natural children or children by the second
or third marriage inherited the entire father’s property. When there were no heirs, the property was
given to the couple’s nearest relatives. As for succession, the first son of the king or of the village
chieftain succeeded his father. If the first son died without leaving an heir, the second son
succeeded as king or chieftain. If there was no male heir, the eldest daughter became the chieftain.

4. THE GOVERNMENT

The unit of government was the barangay. the barangay varied in population from 30-100 families.
The early barangays were independent of each other. The head was called datu and was the chief
executive, legislator, judge and military commander. He made laws, enforced them and judged all
cases and trials brought by the villagers. However, he had a council of elders who assisted him in
his administration. A person could become a datu through inheritance, wealth, wisdom and
bravery. The Philippines was divided into hundreds of independent barangays. For mutual
protection and cooperation, several barangays formed a confederation. The confederation of
Madya-as under Datu Sumakwel was formed in Panay during the 13th century. The barangay had
both oral and written laws. Oral laws were the customs and traditions which were handed down
through generations.

4.1. How a Law was Made by Datu?

The early Filipino named Lubluban, the great granddaughter of the first Filipino man and woman,
was the legendary law-giver. The written laws were promulgated by the datu and council of elders.
A town crier called umalohokan announced the laws to the people. A law was
made by Datu and it will examine by the “Elders”. The “Elders” are the group of people who are
the senior of the datu which are also his advisers; they examine the law presented by datu and
evaluate the law if it is considerable, possible or fair enough to become an official law.

4.2. Deciding Cases

The contents of ancient laws involved family relations, property rights, domestic affairs,
Inheritance, marriage conflicts, murder and business problems. Punishment for serious crimes was
death, slavery or heavy fines. Minor crimes were punished through with exposure to ants, long
hours of swimming, whipping or fines.

4.3. The Trial of Ordeal

The datu acted as the judge in the barangay. He conducted the trial in full view of his constituents.
He conferred judgment on crimes conducted within his barangay. In a civil case, the chief tried to
have the case settled amicably. When no amicable settlement was reached by parties concerned,
the parties involved were sworn to obey the judgment of the chief. The parties concerned presented
as many witnesses as they could in order to bolster their defense. When a witness was called to the
witness stand, he took an oath that he would tell the truth by repeating the following words: "May
lightning strike me if I am telling a lie. May the heavens or the sun fall upon me if I will tell a lie."
The early Filipinos considered swearing as a sacred act. If an accused person refused to accept the
verdict of guilt upon him, the chief could use force to make him obey the law. If one was accused
of committing a serious crime, the accused was subjected to trial by ordeal. It was assumed that if
a person was guilty, he would not be able to pass the ordeal that would have be given to him. If
some persons were suspected of stealing, they were brought to the deepest part of the river and
required to jump. Whoever came out first was considered the guilty one. The elders believed that
the gods punished those who were guilty and absolved the innocent ones.

5. CULTURE

Cultures in the ancient times were different than ours today. Because, nowadays there are so much
innovations in terms of clothing, houses, burial customs, education, music, dance and arts because
of the influence of western and southern cultures and during the times of colonization as of today.

5.1. Clothing

Filipinos, even in ancient times were very particular about their manner of dressing. Their clothes
were made of cotton, silk and plant fibers. The men's clothing consisted of a collarless, short-
sleeved jacket called cangan and a strip of cloth wrapped around the waist and between the legs
called bahag. Women's clothing consisted of a blouse with big sleeves called baro and a loose skirt
called saya or patadyong. A tapis or a piece of colored cloth was wrapped around the waist. The
men also wore a headdress called putong or turban while the women knotted their hair at the back
of their heads. They usually wore a salakot or a wide-brimmed hat when walking under the sun or
rain. To further enhance their personal appearance, women adorned themselves with various types
of jewelry such as rings, earrings, bracelets, armlets and necklaces made of gold, silver, agates,
pearls, beads and other precious stones. Tattooing the body was popular among the Filipino men.
To them, it was a symbol of beauty and bravery. A tattoo is a painting on the human body. A man
who killed an enemy tattooed his body to show his bravery. The more men he killed in battle, the
more tattoos he had on his body. the tattoos were different shapes and colors. They could
be geometric or circular or be of various objects such as birds, flowers, trees, animals or fruits.

5.2. Ornaments

Flake Stone (Taliptip na Bato)-The flake stone was a tool used by ancient Filipinos from the Stone
Age up to the Early Metal Age. It was used for cutting, slicing and grating. Daras na Bato-It is
small, grounded and smoothened.-It is also made out of a smooth stone type. The cross section is
shaped like a rectangle or a trapezoid. It is believed to be used for carving wood. Pamukpok sa
telang balat ng kahoy-It is a tool made of stone and is used to make cloth out of wood.
It was made by the ancient Filipinos in Palawan from a stone and was used to stroke the woodunt
il it became almost like thread. Body ornamentation is an ancient tradition in the society of
the early Filipinos. The ornaments are made of stone, metal, crystal, or conch. Four types of
ornaments made of stone and crystal with were found together with the bones of the early Filipinos.
Some other areas where such ornaments were found are Kwebang Bato ng Sorsogonand Kwebang
Manunggul, Leta-Leta and Ngipet Duldug in the island of Palawan. These oranaments are
made out of jade, onyx, agate and jasper. The old ornaments are evidence of the network of the
ancient Filipinos to the other neighboring countries in Asia.Shells (Kabibe)

5.3 The Houses

The ancient house was built of bamboo, wood, and nipa palm. This kind of house was (and is)
suited to the tropical climate of the country. The house was set on stakes called haligi, which were
made of bamboo.

6. EDUCATION AND SYSTEMS OF WRITING

The education of pre-Spanish time in the Philippines was informal and unstructured. The fathers
taught their sons how to look for food and other means of livelihood. The mothers taught their
girls to do the household chores. This education basically prepared their children to became good
husband and wives. Our ancestors possessed a system of writing or alphabet called syllabary,
baybayin, or alibata where every letter is pronounced as syllable. The alibata was composed of 17
symbols representing the letters of the alphabet. Among these seventeen symbols were three
vowels and fourteen consonants.

7. EARLY LITERATURE

ORAL LITERATURE
Riddle(Bugtong)- Central to the riddle is the talinghaga or metaphor. one’s power of observation
and wit are put to the test.
Proverb (Salawikain) – express norms or codes of behavior, community beliefs or they instill
values by offering nuggets of wisdom in short, rhyming verse.
Chant (Bulong)- Used in witchcraft or enchantment.
Sayings (Kasabihan)- Often used in teasing or to comment on a person’s actuations.
Ambahan - indigenous form of poetry that is attributed to the Hanunuo-Mangyan ethnic group in
Mindoro; length is indefinite
Tanaga -contains lessons or teachings and practical philosophies used by the elders to give
reminders for the youth. -It has a structure composed of four verses and seven syllables in one
stanza.
FOLK SONGS-express the hopes and aspirations, the lifestyle, the traditions of courtship of a
tribe.
The following of are the different forms:
Uyayi or Hele - a lullaby for putting a child to sleep
Soliranin- a song for travelers
Talindaw– seafarers song
Kumintang- a war song
Maluway- a song for collective labor
Kundiman- a melancholic love song
Dalit- a song-ritual usually sung to the rhythm of dance
Panambitan - a courtship song
Pamanhikan- a song-ritual of the would-be bridegroom to his would-be bride as he asks permission
to marry her
Subli- dance-ritual song of courtship and marriage
Dung-aw- a dirge or a wake song
Bagbagto- a song ritual for harvest

8. THE ARTS

The ancient Filipinos had attained a high artistic level through pottery, jewelry, and wood carving.
Pottery, Jewelry, Wood Carvings, the ancient Filipinos had expressed paintings through tattoos
and cave carvings. Tattoos- The pintados(painted ones), inhabitants of the Visayan islands as
described by the first Spaniards to set eyes upon them, would use sharp metal instruments
previously heated over fire. Silup- The tattooing imitated the upper garment worn by the men of
north Kalinga.
The women of south Kalinga painted their faces a bright red. Petroglyphs- the Angono Petroglyphs
is the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. There are 127 human and animal figures
engraved on the rock wall dating back to 3000 B.C.

9. BURIAL

It’s not easy to be a slave in the ancient Philippines. When a warrior died, for example, a slave was
traditionally tied and buried beneath his body. If one was killed violently or if someone from the
ruling class died (say, a datu), human sacrifices were almost always required.
Father Juan de Plasencia, an early missionary who authored “Relacion de las Costumbres de Los
Tagalos” in 1589, provided us with a vivid portrait of an ancient burial:

“Before interring him (the chief), they mourned him for four days; and afterward laid him on a
boat which serve as a coffin or bier…..If the deceased had been a warrior, a living slave was tied
beneath his body until in this wretched way he died.”

Sometimes, as a last resort, an alipin was sacrificed in the hope that the ancestor spirits would take
the slave instead of the dying datu. The slave could be an atubang or a personal attendant who had
accompanied the datu all his life. The prize of his loyalty was often to die in the same manner as
his master. So, if the datu died of drowning, the slave would also be killed by drowning. This is
because of onong or the belief that those who belonged to the departed must suffer the same
fate.Slaves from foreign lands could also be sacrificed. In fact, an itatanun expedition had the
intention of taking captives from other communities. After being intoxicated, these captives would
then be killed in the most brutal ways. Pioneer missionary Martin de Rada reported one case in
Butuan wherein the slave was bound to a cross before being tortured by bamboo spikes, hit with
a spear, and finally thrown into the river.

They believed that the dying datu was being attacked by the spirits of men he once defeated, and
the only way to satisfy the ancestors was to kill a slave.
 III. EARLY CONTACTS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES (900 - 1400 A.D.)

- The Philippines had already trade and cultural exchanges with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
- The seemingly scattered island groups of people actively engaged in trade and in commerce with
their neighbors.
- The Philippines had already trade and cultural exchanges
- Ancient Filipinos were expert seafarers and boat builders. Those were used to travel far and wide
to trade with nearby Southeast and East Asian neighbors.
- The Philippines had outside trade contacts, and along these, varied cultural exchanges took place.

EARLY TRADE ROUTES AND CONTACTS

- Filipino historians and archeologists believe the Filipino-Chinese trade contacts began around
the 9th century during the Tang Dynasty (618-906 A.D.)
- They site as evidence the Tang stone wares that were found in the Babuyan Islands, along the
coasts of Ilocos, Pangasinan, Mindoro, Batangas, Manila, Bohol, Cebu, Jolo, Cagayan de Oro.

Arab Trade Routes in Southeast Asia

- Between 900 and 1200 A.D., a group of people called Orang Dampuan from Southern Annam
(Vietnam), established trading posts in Sulu.
- A flourishing trade developed between Champa (Annamese Kngdom) and the people of Sulu
who were called Buranun. This trade proved favorable to the Orang Dampuans.
- In a fit of jealousy, the Buranuns massacred some Orang Dampuans causing the others to fell and
return to Champa. It was not until the 13th century that they would return to Sulu to trade
peacefully once more.

Arab Trade Routes in Southeast Asia

The famous pearl trade of Sulu also attracted another group of people known as the Banjar of
nearby Borneo. Regular trade relations ensued between Sulu and Banjarmassin. The Buranuns,
who had not yet forgotten their tragic experience with the Orang Dampuans, were also suspicious
of the Banjars. But the traders of Banjarmassin, aware of the fate of the Orang Dampuans, were
more diplomatic. Instead of antagonizing the Buranuns, they brought their beautiful princess to
Sulu and offered her as a bride to the Buranun prince, who eventually married here.
The famous pearl trade of Sulu also attracted another group of people.
Arab traders relocated to the Malay Peninsula where they sought an alternative route starting from
Malacca and passing through Borneo and the Philippines to reach Taiwan
They continued to carry Southeast Asian goods to the Western world using this southern route.
They also carried Philippines goods on board Arab ships to the Chinese mainland through Canton
So keen was the competition that the Arab ships carried non- Chinese goods amounting to 20-40%
of the total cargo. This lasted up to the Javanese or Madjapahit period (1337-1478)

Arab Traders
The Chinese trade in the Philippines greatly improved during the Ming dynasty (1368-1650)
During this time Emperor Yung-lo sent a fleet of vessels to the Philippines, under the command
of Admiral Cheng Ho, to visit Lingayen, Manila Bay, Mindoro, and Sulu in 1405-1406, 1408-
1410, and 1417. - The Chinese Emperor even tried to impose its suzerainty over Luzon by sending
Ko Ch'a-lao as governor. Emperor Yung-lo's death, however, out an send to this ambitions plan.

Chinese traders completed with the Arabs

Sung porcelain
Chao Jukua's Chu fan-chi (1225)
8th century : type of currency in the form of barter rings
12th century : gold coins (piloncitos)

Economic and Cultural Exchanges

Influenced indigenous lifestyle, customs and religious beliefs

Language, system of writing
Cultural
Exchanges
Chinese words adopted in Tagalog
umbrellas, porcelains, gongs, the manufacture of gun powder, mentallurgy, and mining methods
arrange marriage
wearing white clothing, instead of black (for mourning the death of family)
Chinese
Malays
Hindu
Sanskrit
( Sanskrit variations in Visayan and Maguindanaoan language )
Agama- religion
Baginda- emperor
Sutra- silk
Indians of India
Sample of Sanskrit
Sample of Sanskrit
Indra Batara - Lord of the Universe
Idiyanale - God of Agriculture
Agni - God of Fire
Padmapani - figurine of the Hindu Goddess
Cord and Veil - Philippine Catholic wedding
Laguna Copperplate discovered in Pagsanjan, Laguna river delta (1986)
Myths
Islam spread outside of Arabia in two stages:
Islam was brought to the rest of the Middle East, North Africa, Spain, & Central Asia
Muslim missionaries travelled to India, China & Southeast Asia
Islam was introduced by Tuan Masha'ika.

The Coming of Islam

Rajah Baginda arrived from Sumatra (1480)
Abu Bakr succeeded in establishing government similar to sultanate of Arabia
Serif Kabungsuan - first sultan of Maguindanao
Rajah Baginda arrived from Sumatra (1480)

Koran (Qur'an) - The holy book of the Muslims. It is written in Arabic.

- is considered the word of the Supreme Creator, Allah.

Teachings Of Islam
The teachings of the Koran are the following:
1. There is only one God, Allah, the creator of everything.
2. Allah is a just and merciful God and his desire that all should repent of their sins, purify
themselves so they could enter Paradise after death.
3. Life in this world is only temporary and one's good deeds, as well as bad deeds, are listed by an
angel for final judgement on the last day of entire humanity.
4. It forbids any human or animal representation in their art. Only geometric patterns are allowed.
5. Eating pork, drinking wine, gambling and other vices are forbidden in Orthodox Islam.
6. Forbids loans and usury.
7. Muslims are duty-bound to help needy people.
8. Doing all grave sins deserve serious punishment.
9. Every Muslims must have goodness expressed in faith in God and virtues.
10. Followers of Allah has to observe the ff. rituals or obligations.

The teachings of the Koran are the following:

Shahada - declaration of faith in the oneness of God.
Mecca - praying facing the east
Salah - praying five times a day
Sawm - fasting
Zakat - giving alms
Hadjj - one-time pilgrimage to Mecca
Fasting - observed during the Ramadan
Ramadan - held at the 9th month of Muslim calendar.

Rituals or Obligations
Unlike the barangays of the non-Muslim ancient Filipinos which smaller in size and very much
decentralized, the Sultanate governed a much larger territory through centralized network of
officials with the Sultan at the top.

The Sultanate
SULTAN RUMA BICHARA
Other officials
Waiir- minister/datu
Maja Rajah- customs chief
Rajah Laut- chief of the seas
Qadi- chief interpreter of the muslim adats (traditions), law and muslim court (the Shariah)