Luzon

Apayao
The Apayaos, also known as the Isnegs or Isnags, of the Cordillera Administrative Region bury the
deceased person under the kitchen area of their homes.
Benguet
For eight days, the indigenous people from Benguet blindfold the dead and then sit it on a chair that is
placed next to a houses main entrance. The arms and legs are tied together in the sitting position.
A bangil rite is performed by the elders on the eve of the funeral, which is a chanted narration of
the biography of the deceased. During interment, the departed is directed towards heaven by
hitting bamboo sticks together.
Caviteo
In rural areas of Cavite, trees are used as burial places. The dying person chooses the tree
beforehand, thus when he or she becomes terminally ill or is evidently going to die because old age,
a hut is built close to the said tree. The deceased's corpse is then entombed vertically inside the
hollowed-out tree trunk.[5]
Ilocano
Filipinos in the Ilocandia have a rich body of funeral and burial traditions, known as the pompon or
"burial rites".
Wake
A dead man is prepared by his wife for the wake, known in Ilocano as the bagongon.[4] Typically, only
the wife will clothe the corpse, believing that the spirit of the dead man can convey messages through
her. Also important is the placement of the coffin, which should be in the centre of the house and
aligned with the planks of the floorboards. Lighting awooden log in front of the house is also
customary because the smoke is believed to assist the spirit of the dead towards heaven, and it is
also kept alight to repel wicked spirits. The ceremonial attire of female mourners for the vigil is black
clothing, while their heads and shoulders are covered in a black veil called a manto.[8]
Funeral
Windows are closed before the casket exits the house, while care is exercised to prevent the casket
from touching any part of the house. This is to prevent the deceased's spirit from loitering and
bringing misfortune to the household; to some Filipinos, a casket hitting any object during a funeral
means that another person will die soon.[5] After the burial service, family members wash their hair
with a shampoo called gugu to remove the influence of the deceased's spirit. Rice cakes and basi are
offered to attendees after each prayer session.[4] On the ninth night, the family holds a feast after
praying the novena,[4] and does so again after offering prayers on the first death anniversary.
Ilongot
The Ilongot is buried in a sitting position, and if a woman, has her hands tied to her feet, to prevent
her "ghost" from roaming.[5]

Itneg
The Itnegs of Abra have a customary habit of burying their dead under their
houses.[5]
Palaweo
Sketch of an anthropomorphic jar from Maitum in the Saranggani Province of
Mindanao.

One of the ancient customs for burying the dead in the Philippines is through
the use of burial jars known as Manunggul jars. These ancient potteries were found in the Manunggul
Cave on the island of Palawan. A characteristic of the jars for the dead is the presence
of anthropomorphic human figures on the pot covers. These figures embody souls riding a boat for
the dead while seafaring towards their sanctuary in the afterlife. These containers have been dated
from 710 BC to 890 BC. There are also figures of boating people steering paddles,
wearing headbands, jaw-bands, and persons with hands folded across the chest area. The latter is a
method of arranging the remains of the dead.
Other similar anthropomorphic jars were also found at Pinol (also spelled as Piol), Maitum, in
the Saranggani Province of the island of Mindanao. These funeral jars dates back from the Metal
Age.
In addition to these jars, the 1965 archaeological excavations done by Robert Fox at Langen Island
in El Nido, Palawan found out that a cave known as Leta-leta Cave was a burial site that dates to
the Late Neolithic Period.

In Sagada
Hanging coffins at Sagada Province in the Philippines.

In Sagada, Mountain Province, the ancient funeral norm of hanging coffins

from mountain cliffs is still practiced by some minority groups. The purpose
of suspending the casket from the mountain rocks is to bring the deceased
closer to heaven.
In ancient times, coffins were made from carved and hollowed-out wood. They are 'hung' in place
through the use of projecting beams.

Tinguian
For many weeks, the Tinguian people dress the dead body with the best garments, sit it on a chair,
and sometimes put a lit tobacco source between the dead persons lips.

The Visayas

Cebuano
Funeral traditions of the Cebuano people also include nine-day recitation of the rosary, litanies,
novenas, and Latin prayers after the burial, additionally chanting the Pahulayng Dayon or Eternal
Rest (also known as "Gozos for the Dead"). Cebuanos also have superstitious beliefs related to
funerals that include: placing funeral alms or limos into a container, refraining from sweeping the floor
of the deceased's home (wastes are collected by hand instead of being swept by brooms; other
Filipinos also have this superstition[4]), no bathing and no combing of hair on the part of relatives
(other Filipinos too believe in this),[4] placing worn mourning pins into the coffin during interment,
preventing tears from dropping onto the glass plate of the casket (in order for the departed soul to
travel in peace), placing a chick on top of the coffin of an individual who died due to a transgression
(to hasten justice for the dead victim), wearing black or white clothes during the interment (except for
a child who is dressed with a red-colored garment, as a deterrent from seeing the ghost of the dead
relative[5][15]), urging relatives to pass through under the casket before it is loaded onto the funeral
vehicle (to assist the surviving relatives in moving on with their life), marching the dead towards the
church and the cemetery (known as the hatod, or carrying the departed to his destination on foot),
consuming food only at the cemetery after the interment, and passing through smoke while still within
the cemetery or by the gates of the cemetery (to untangle the spirits of the dead from the bodies of
the living).
Ilonggo
Merriment, singing, and poem recitations are components of funerals in Oton, Iloilo. Gambling is also
permitted because gaming contributions help assuage expenses incurred in burying the dead.

Mindanao
B'laan
The B'laan people wrap their dead inside tree bark. The enshrouded corpse is then suspended from
treetops.
Davaoeo
Customs in Davao City include cutting rosaries that are placed within the hands of the departed (to
prevent a series of deaths), placing a chick on the coffin during wakes, preventing teardrops from
reaching coffins (in case of brutal deaths), breaking plates before removing the coffin from any
edifice, making children walk under a hoisted coffin before loading the latter onto the hearse, and
burning dried leaves or paper and applying the smoke to mourners' feet before leaving the burial
ground.[5]

Social Classes
Maginoo - This comprises of the nobility of the early caste system, which mostly refers
to the ruling class of Datus, Rajahs and their families. A datu with power over a large
area held the title Lakan or Rajah. The Datu is a leader, a mediator in disputes, and
was responsible for the welfare of the people within his jurisdiction. Men and women of
this class were generally referred to with the respectful title of Ginoo. Individually, the
terms, Gat, meaning Lord, or Dayang, meaning Lady, preceded by their names. The
title of Datu (Sultanante) can be acquired through blood lineage or if a commoner
showed exceptional skills especially in acts of bravery and heroism.
Timawa The timawa class were free commoners of Luzon and the Visayas who could
own their own land and who did not have to pay a regular tribute to a Maginoo, though
from time to time, be obliged to work on a datus land and help in community projects
and events. They were free to change their allegiance to another datu if they married
into another community or if they decided to move.
Maharlika The Tagalog maharlika rendered military service to the datu at his own
expense and shared with his leader the spoils of war. They generally have the same
rights and responsibilities as a timawa. This class disappeared sometime in the 1630s
when the Spaniards were able to unite diverse kinship groups (Rodriguez, 1998). Alipin
- These were captives of war, those unable to pay their debts, all illegitimate children;
those purchased, and punished criminals.
In the Visayas, an alipin was called oripun. They are divided into two types:
Aliping Namamahay - had his own family, little house and lot, and served the master
during planting and harvesting season or in the construction of houses.
Aliping Sagigilid - those who are living with the master, had no property, and could
not marry without the masters consent. The sagigilid,; however, could buy his freedom
in gold.

Spanish Colonial Caste System in the Philippines

When Spain came to the Philippines they instituted a racial caste system.
Similar to what they instituted in Latin America. The history of racial mixture
in Filipinas (the Philippines) occurred mostly during the Spanish colonial era
from the 16th to 19th century. The same Spanish racial caste system
enforced in Latin America existed in the Philippines, with a few differences.
The indigenous Malay population of the Philippines were referred to as
Indios Term- Definition: Indio- persons of pure Filipino ancestry
Negrito- persons of pure Aeta ancestry
Sangley- person of pure Chinese ancestry
Mestizo de Sangley- person of mixed Chinese and Malay ancestry; also
called chino and/or chino-mestizo
Mestizo de Bombay- person of mixed Indian and Malay ancestry
Mestizo de Espanol- person of mixed Spanish and Malay ancestry
Tornatrs- person of mixed Spanish, Malay, and Chinese ancestry
Filipinos- persons of pure Spanish descent born in the Philippines ("from Las
Filipinas"); also called Insulares ("from the islands") or Criollos (Creoles)
Americanos- persons of pure Spanish descent born in Spanish America
("from the Americas")
Peninsulares- persons of pure Spanish descent born in Spain ("from the
peninsula")
Mulato-50% spanish and 50% black

Morisco-25%black and 75 percent spanish Albino- white pigmented black

Negro-full blooded black person