Overview
This lecture explores the core aspects of pre-colonial Philippine society, including its early inhabitants, cultures, belief systems, social structures, clothing, writing, governance, and economic practices.
Early Inhabitants and Peopling
- The first settlers were the Negritos (Aeta, Agta, Ayta), arriving via land bridges around 15,000–30,000 BC.
- Proto-Malays arrived around 2500 BC with knowledge of seafaring, farming, and building.
- Deutero-Malays followed, bringing advanced agriculture, metallurgy, boat-building, and writing.
- By 1000 BC, four main groups developed: tribal forest dwellers, warrior societies, mountain plutocracies, and harbor principalities involved in trade.
Culture and Daily Life
- Early Filipinos formed communities of 50–2,000 people, settling near coasts, rivers, fertile lands, and forests.
- Coastal groups relied on fishing and trade; inland groups practiced shifting agriculture.
- Society was diverse due to waves of migration from various parts of Asia.
Belief Systems and Spirituality
- Pre-colonial Filipinos were mainly animistic, believing in spirits (anito/diwata) that could be good or bad.
- They worshiped nature, ancestors, and specific deities such as Bathala (Tagalog), Laon (Visayan), and others.
- Spiritual leaders included babaylans, shamans, and healers, often highly respected or feared.
Clothing and Personal Adornment
- The Barong Tagalog for men and shorter sleeve dresses for women were common garments.
- Visayan men wore embroidered jackets and used "putong" (cloth headbands).
- Gold jewelry and accessories were popular among both sexes.
Writing and Language
- Almost everyone could read and write using scripts like Baybayin (Alibata), unique to the Philippines.
- Writing used tools on bamboo, leaves, or bark; the script had 17 letters (3 vowels, 14 consonants).
- Muslim communities had their own scripts: kirim (Maranao) and jiwi (Tausug).
Government and Social Structure
- Society was organized into barangays (30–100 families), each led by a datu or chieftain.
- Leadership could be hereditary or based on ability, with datu advised by a council of elders.
- Barangays often formed alliances for protection and mutual aid.
Social Classes
- Social hierarchy included nobility (datu/rajah), freemen (maharlika), serfs (timawa), and slaves (aliping namamahay and aliping sagigilid).
- Slavery could result from debt, crime, inheritance, or capture in war.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Negritos — Earliest known settlers of the Philippines, skilled hunter-gatherers.
- Proto-Malays/Deutero-Malays — Successive waves of migrants with advanced skills.
- Barangay — Basic political and economic unit, ruled by a datu.
- Datu/Rajah — Leader or chieftain of a barangay.
- Babaylan — Spiritual leader or shaman.
- Baybayin (Alibata) — Ancient Philippine script used for writing.
- Maharlika — Class of freemen or nobles.
- Timawa — Serf or commoner who owed service or crops.
- Aliping Namamahay/Sagigilid — Slaves living in separate quarters or in their master's house.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review differences between social classes and political structures.
- Study Baybayin script examples and practice basic words.
- Prepare to discuss the role of animism in pre-colonial belief systems.