Customs of the Tagalogs (1578-1590)
- narrative on established culture of the 3. Aliping Namamahay – Commoners
Tagalogs in Luzon
- was written as an answer to the
request of the monarchy in Spain w/c was to
provide pieces of info. about the government,
administration of justice, slaves, dowries,
worships, burials, superstitions & to rectify prev.
reports about the people’s way of life in the
region.
Fray Joan de Puerto Carrero del Convento de
Villanueva de la Serrana (Juan de Plasencia)
- Franciscan missionary
- grew up during Siglo de Oro (golden
age when arts and literature flourished in many
parts of Spain)
- July 2, 1578 – arrived in Cavite South
- 1581 Caticismo de la Christiana
- Goals: Convert Tagalogs to Christians &
put end to injustices influenced by certain
officials.
Government
Datos – govern & captains in wars whom they
obey and reverenced.
- severe punishment if someone
committed an offense or spoke a word against
them / wives & children
Barangay – tribal gathering (30-100 houses)
- head of barangay = dato
Social Classes
1. Dato – Chieftain
- wore Putong (headdress; signify no. of
people killed), Kanggan (jacket), Bahag (lower
clothing)
- executive, legislative, judicial power
- elders: right hand
2. Maharlica – Nobles
- free born; doesn’t pay taxes
- maharlica + slave = free mom & child
- M + S woman of another = she was
compelled & give her master half of gold tael;
half of children to father (supply child w/ food,
if not = slave)
- free woman + S = all free
- M + S = divided children (1,3,5 – dad;
2,4,6 – mom); if a parent is slave/free, child are
also slave/free; if only 1 child, he is half slave
and half free
- slaves living in their own houses
- free to own properties & gold
4. Aliping Saguiguilir – Slaves
- property of their master; can be sold
- cultivate soil & land
Slavery
People become slave by:
- Captivity in war - Purchase
- Debt - Inheritance
- Committing a crime
Emancipated through:
- Forgiveness - Paying debt
- Condonation - Bravery
- Marriage
Marriage
Dowries – given by men to women’s parents
- unconsumed dowry at death of
parents – equally divided among children &
father must give additional upon the daughter
- woman without parents or relative –
enjoy herself the dowry
Religious Practices
No temples consecrated to the performing of
sacrifices, adoration of idols or general
practice of idolatry
Simbahan – temple/place of adoration
Pandot – “worship”; festival
- celebrated in house of chief
Sibi – temporary shed / roof assembled to
protect people from rain
Sorihile – small lamps on posts
Nagaanitos – 4-day worship: drum beat
Temple – house where festival took place
Badhala - idol worshipped; almighty
- “all powerful” / “maker of all things”
Sun & moon – also worshipped on account of
its beauty
- universally respected and honored by
the heathens
Dian Masalanta – god of lovers
Lacapate & Idiamale – god of cultivated land
Calendar
- No established division of years, months, days
- Relies on cultivation of soil, counted by
moons, diff effect produced upon trees
yielding flowers, fruits & leaves = year Magtatanggal – separates head form lower
- Winter – water time; Summer – sun time body at night; preying on pregnant women
using their tongue
Sacrifice
Silagan – witch in Catanduanes; preys anyone
- offer sacrifice = proclaim a feast & offer to the
dressed in white by tearing out their liver; “the
devil what they had to eat
hated one”
- done in front of the idol w/c they anoint w/
Hocloban – witch; can kill by simply saluting or
fragrant perfumes (musk & civet/gum of storax
raising their hand; but if desired to heal those ill
tree)
by their charms, can be healed using other
Catolonan – officiating priest; sing poetic songs
charms
to praise idols
Mancocolam – witch; emit fire by himself w/c
Participants – responds to the song + their
can’t be extinguished; perform hexes, curses &
wishes/needs
witchcraft
Objects of sacrifice – goats, fowls, swine
Manyisalat – witch; had the power of applying
Periods such remedies to lovers that they would
- young girls who had their 1st mens – abandon & despise their own wives: prevent
blindfolded for 4 days & 4 nights having intercourse to others; woman
- Cantolonan – bath & wash her head & constrained by these means were abandoned
remove bandage in eyes & would bring sickness upon her
- do this in order that girls might bear children & Mangangauy – deceives by pretending to heal
have fortune in finding husbands that wouldn’t the sick; albularyo daw
leave them widows Catolonan – priest; healer, shaman, seer,
community leader
Death
- deceased was buried beside his house,
mourned for 4 days, lay him in boat
(coffin/bier) placed beneath the porch
Maca – “paradise”, “village of rest”
- go here if one lived w/out doing harm
or possess moral virtues
Casanaan – “place of anguish”
Bathala – maker of all things, govern the above
(heaven)
Sitan – demons (hell – wicked place)

Mythical / Pagan Creatures

Vibit – ghosts
Tigbalaang – phantoms; half human & horse
Patianac – woman & child died in childbirth
punished
Bayoguin/Cotquean – man whose nature
inclined toward of that woman
Pangatahojan – soothsayer; predict future
Sonat – witch & preacher; help one die at ws/c
time he predicted the salvation of soul
Mangangayoma – witch who make charms for
lovers out of herbs, stones & wood w/c would
infuse them w/ love
Osuang – equivalent to sorcerer; fly & murder
men & eat their flesh (Visayas)