Saint Paul’s Theological Seminary

Iglesia Filipina Independiente

Bugnay, Jordan, Guimaras

Reporter: Sr. Vergin Mae A. Co

PHILIPPINE HISTORY

EARLY CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos had a civilization of their own. The various
aspects of the civilization doubtless came partly from the Malays who settled in the country and
partly from a response to the new environment. For this reason, many of the customs and
practices of the pre-colonial Filipinos are still operative in many parts of the country, in a sense,
advantageous for it offers an observer first-hand materials for the reconstruction of the distant
past.
CLOTHING
FOR MALES: The males attire was composed of upper and lower parts.
Upper: KANGGAN – a black or blue collarless jacket with short sleeves. The color of the
jacket indicated the rank of the wearer. For the CHIEF, wore a red jacket, while those below his
rank wear blue or black depending on their position in the society.
Lower: BAHAG – consisted of strip of a cloth wrapped around the waist, passing down
between the thighs. Such method of dressing naturally left one’s thighs and legs exposed.
Male had a headgear consisting of a piece of cloth, called PUTONG, which was wrapped
around his head. It symbolizes the “manliness”of a man; a red PUTONG for instance, signified
that the wearer had killed a man in war. Bur he who had killed at least seven was privileged to
wear an embroidered putong.
FOR WOMEN: The women dress too was composed of upper and lower parts.
Upper: BARÒ or CAMISA – was a jacket with sleeves.
Lower: SAYA – name called by the Tagalogs
PATADYONG – name called by the Visayans
-Was a loose skirt. A piece of red or white cloth, called TAPIS, was usually
wrapped around the waist.
The woman had no putong, but she wore her hair gracefully knotted at the back of her
head. Men and women and children walked about barefooted.
ORNAMENTS
Kalumbiga, pendants, bracelets, gold rings, earrings, and even leglets are just some of the
ornaments of the early Filipinos that was made of gold, which was abundant in the mines, rivers
and precious stones. But aside from such ornaments, they also put fillings between their teeth
that is made of gold and these fillings does not cover up a decayed tooth but were made to
adorn their teeth.
The Tattoo, was a form of ornament to enhance the beauty of the men and women but it also
exhibits a man’s war record. The more tattoos a man had, the more he was looked up to in
society, for his numerous tattoos were, in a manner of speaking, his war medals.

HOUSES
Built to suit the tropical climate, the ancient house was made of wood, bamboo, and nipa palm.
Among the descendants of the Indonesians, such as the Ilongots and the Kalingas of northern
Luzon and the Mandayas and the Bagobos of Mindanao, the houses were built on tree tops,
presumably to prevent their enemies from surprising them in raid.
On the other hands, the Bajaos, or Sea Gypsies of Sulu, made their houses in their boats, for
they were a sea-roving people whose life depended upon the wealth of the seas.
SOCIAL CLASSES
Philippines Society was divided into three classes:
 The nobles
 The freemen
 The dependents
The Nobles, consisting of the chiefs and their families, wielded tremendous influence in the
barangay and enjoyed rights that were not usually enjoyed by the other member of society. In
the Tagalog region, they usually carried the title of Gat or Lakan Dula or Gat Matian.
The Freemen, were called mahadlika by the tagalogs. They were composed of free men and
likewise of dependents who had earned their freedom.
Occupying the lowest stratum were the dependents, known as Alipin among Tagalogs. A
dependent acquired his low status in the society by inheritance, by captivity in war, by failing to
pay his debts, by purchase or by committing a crime for which he was duly sentenced.
TAGALOG ALIPIN CLASSIFICATION
  Aliping namamahay – had his own family and house and served his master during
planting and harvest seasons, rowed for him, helped in the construction of his house,
and served his visitors.
 Aliping Sagigilid – had no property of his own, lived with the master, and could not even
marry without the master’s consent.
VISAYAS ALIPIN CLASSIFICATION
 Tumataban – worked for his master when summoned to do so
 Tumarampuk – worked one day for his master
 Ayuey – worked three days for his lord.
Gradation among dependents:

 The full dependent was the son or daughter of dependent parents

 The half-dependent was the son or daughter of parents, one of whom was a full
dependent and other a freeman.
 The quarter-dependent was the son or daughter of parents, one of whom was a half-
dependent and the other a freeman.

THE POSITION OF WOMEN

Before the coming of the Spaniards, women enjoyed a unique position in society. Customary
laws gave them the right to be the equal of men, for they could own and inherit property,
engage in trade and industry, and succeed to the chieftainship of a barangay in the absence of a
male heir. Then too, they had the exclusive right to give names to their children. As a sign of
deep respect, the men, when accompanying women, walked behind them.
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
There was a custom, not so strictly followed, in which a man belonging to one class married a
woman of the same class. Thus, a chief married a woman of his rank; a noble tat of his class;
and the dependent that of his status. A man’s wife was his legitimate wife and was called
asawa, while the other women were euphemistically called “friends.” Only the children of the
other women or “friends” were not considered legitimate and, therefore, barred from
inheriting any property from the illegitimate father.
It took patience and a spirit of dedication on the part of man to win the hand of his fair lady. For
the custom of the period, a custom that has persisted to this day in some remote areas
required that he serve the girl’s parents for months and even years. But the man must meet a
several condition, first is the bigay-kaya, consisting of land, gold, or dependents. Next is the
panghimuyat, a payment for the mother’s nocturnal effort in rearing the girl to womanhood.
Another form is called bigay-suso, to be given to the girl’s wet-nurse who fed the bride during
her infancy with milk from her own breast. Also the man will give another sum of money to the
girl’s parents called himaraw, as reimbursement for the amount spent in feeding the girl during
her infancy.
Among the Zambals, there was another “bribe” that the man must give to the girl’s relatives
called sambon.
Pamumulungan or pamamalae is the state of courtship wherein both parents of each side
haggle and make the final arrangements for the marriage ceremony.
The marriage customs of the Muslim were similar to those of the inhabitants of Luzon. In the
first stage of courtship, known as panalanguni, or betrothal, a group of tribesmen of the groom
paid the girl a visit. Once accepted, the second stage was set, it was called pedsungud or
settlement of the dowry. The village chief had a hand in this, for he actually handled the
negotiations with the groom’s parents.
Seven kinds of dowry:
 Kawasateg – consisting of a rather big amount to be given to the close relatives of the
bride.
 Siwaka – consisting of brassware or a few hundred pesos to be given to those who had
helped in arranging the wedding.
 Enduatuan – consisting of brassware or money or animals to be given to the village
chief.
 Pangatulian – consisting of jewelry to be given to the girl’s mother and aunts
 Tatas – consisting of a blade to be given to the girl’s uncle
 Langkad – consisting of a special sum of money to be given to the girl’s parents as a sort
of fine for having bypassed the elder sister of the bride, if she had any
 Lekat – consisting of an amount equivalent to ten or more pesos to be given to the girl’s
attendant.
If the girl’s parents and relatives felt satisfaction of the dowry, the third stage was set. The
ceremony was held at the home of the village chief. The hadji or judge read the so-called
instruction to the couple. The hadji then read the marriage ritual, and holy water was sprinkled
on the couple. The wedding ceremony was followed by six days of festivities. Not until the
seventh night was the groom allowed to spend the night with his bride.
MIXED MARRIAGES
The status of children we’re dependent upon the status of the parent.
-Often, the status of children in mixed marriage is divided evenly between the parent.
-Single children of mixed marriage we’re half-free and dependent.
INHERITANCE AND SUCCESSION
Legitimate children inherited their parent’s property even without any written will and was
divided equally among the children.
In matters of succession, the first son of the barangay chieftain succeeded his father; if the firs
died without leaving an heir, the second son succeeded as the chieftain. In the absence of any
male heir, the eldest daughter became chieftain.
GOVERNMENT
The barangay was the unit of government and consisted of members from 30 to 100 families.
The word barangay derived from the Malay balangay, a boat, which transported then to these
shores.
Each barangay was independent and was ruled by a chieftain. The multiplicity of barangays
implies that there was no national or central government. It was the primary duty of the
chieftain to rule and govern his subjects and to promote their welfare and interests. The chief’s
descendants and other relatives were highly regarded in the barangay and were considered
nobles who were exempted from tributes and services.
A chieftain had wide power, for he exercised all the functions of government. An executive,
legislator and a judge and the supreme commander in time of war.
SANDUGUAN – a treaty of friendship and alliance by a blood compact in which the contracting
parties drew blood from their arms and mixed the blood thus drawn with the wine cup, and
drink it thereby making them “blood-brothers”.
LAWS
Customary Laws – handed down orally from generation and constituted the bulk of the law of
the barangay.
Written Law – were those the children and his elders promulgated from the time as necessity
arose.
Only a few of the written laws among them the so called Code of Kalantiyaw and the Muslim
laws.
HOW THE LAW WAS MADE
When a chieftain of the barangay wanted a law to be enacted to prevent, say, the commission
of serious or minor crimes, he called in the elders of the community and told them what he had
in mind, these elders will approve his plan, for it was to protect society from the incursions of
the bad elements.
JUDICIAL PROCESS
Trials were held publicly and decisions were rendered promptly, thereby avoiding what is now
known as “justice delayed.” The accuser and the accused faced each other with their respective
witnesses. The disputants with more witnesses to his side was adjudged the winner. Naturally,
not a few losers contested the decision. In this case, the chieftain, acting as judge and
executive, enforced his judgment by siding openly with the winner and compelling the defeated
party to respect the judgment of the honorable court.
TRIAL BY ORDEAL
The trial by ordeal was resorted to in order to show that God in His infinite wisdom always took
the side of the innocent.
Among the Ifugaos of Northern Luzon, the ordeal by combat was common. The wrestling ordeal
was called bultong: the vanquished in the wrestling contest was considered the guilty party.
Another ordeal by combat, called alaw, involved a duel: the loser in this combat was adjudged
guilty. In this kind of combat, the loser usually lost his life, in itself considered a just
punishment.
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
Filipinos believed in the immortality of the soul and in life after death. They believed in the
existence of a number of Gods whom the worship and made offerings according to rank.
Bathalang Maykapal Mandarangan
Idinayale Lalahon
Slipada Siginarugan
Balangaw Diyan Masalanta
BURIAL
Belief in the life after death and in the relation between the dead and the living made the
ancient Filipinos respectful of their dead. The deceased relative was placed in the wooden
coffin and buried under the house, complete with cloth, gold, and other valuable things. This
was done in the belief that well-provisioned dead person would be received with alacrity in the
other world, while a poorly provided dead one would be received with indifference, if not with
hostility.
DIVINATION AND MAGIC CHARMS
They interpreted sign in nature like the flight of birds, the barking of the dogs, and singing of
lizards, as good or bad omens depending on the circumstances. They also consulted with the
pangatauhan or soothsayers to tell their fortune. There was also a belief in the existence of the
aswang, mangkukulam, manananggal, tiyanak, and tikbalang.
ECONOMIC LIFE
Any place in the archipelago, creation in the light of common assets was the principle well
spring of vocation among the early Filipinos. The physical condition, impacted additionally
customs, conviction, standards, ceremonies, and social relations. For the most part, the
financial existence of the early Filipinos spun around three natural specialties.
Ocean based societies – for those living along the beach front ranges, the ocean gave practically
sustenance and solution fundamental for survival.
Social Orders – along the plains areas flourishing in the fields had great position in exchange.
Mountain based society – individuals exchange black wood items and valuable metals (gold and
silver) with the wares of the lowlanders or individual of the fields.

PRE-COLONIAL CULTURE
The ancient Filipinos had a culture that was basically Malayan in structure and form. They had
written languages that traced their origin to the Austronesian parent stock and used them not
only as media of daily communication, but also as vehicles for the expression of their literary
moods. The bulk of their literature was folk literature which represented a group heritage and
reflected their daily lives. They had music and dances for almost all occasions and a wide variety
of musical instruments indicative of their ingenuity.

LANGUAGES
Eight major considered languages:

 Tagalog
 Iloko
 Pangasinan
 Pampangan
 Sugbuhanon
 Hiligaynon
 Samarnon or Samar-Leyte
 Magindanao
These languages are sister-languages whose lexicon shows that they are descended from one
parent stock, the Austronesian or Malayo Polynesian language.
 Primitive National Iloko Sugbuhanon English
Austronesian Language
abara abaga Abaga abaga shoulder
agav agaw agaw agaw Snatch

Among the Philippine languages, Tagalog and Pampangan show a close affinity to the Malay
Language, whether Bahasa Indonesia or that of Malaya.
SYSTEM OF WRITING
Father Pedro Chirino, writing at the beginning of the 17th century, said of the Filipinos: “I found
in this language, four qualities of the four greatest language of the world – Hebrew, Greek,
Latin and Spanish. It has the mysticism and difficulties of the Hebrew; the distinctive terms of
the Greek not only in the common but also in the proper names; the fullness and elegance of
Latin; and the civility and courtesy of Spanish.”
The Filipinos before the arrival of the Spaniards had a syllabary which was probably of Sanskrit
or Arabic provenance. The syllabary consisted of seventeen symbols of which three were
vowels standing for the present five vowels, (a) (e,i) (o,u); while the consonant are (ba) (ka) (da)
(ga) (ha) (la) (ma) (na) (nga) (pa) (sa) (ta) (wa) (ya).
LITERATURE
The literature of the Tagalog consisted of sabi (maxim), sawikain (saying), bugtong (riddle),
suliranin and indulanin (street song), talindaw (boat song), diyuna (song of revelry), kumintang
(war song which envolved into a love song), dalit at umbay (dirge), tagumpay, balikungkong,
dupayinin and biliraw (war song), uyayi and hele (lullabies), ihiman (bridal song), tagulaylay
(mournful song), tigpasin (rowing song), tinagod (household song), and kutang-kutang
(couplets usually chanted by the bling).
MUSIC AND THE DANCE
The Filipinos are born musician for they easily learn tunes by ear. Many Filipino who play two or
more musical instruments have never been in music academies nor have they any knowledge of
the musical notations except what they know by ear. This inborn quality they inherited from
their ancestors of pre-Spanish days who were themselves somewhat accomplished musicians.
It should be noted that the ancient Filipinos had music and dances for all occasions and that
because of their frequent associations, their social organization was more well-knit than it is
today. Looking backwards, one may say that during the Spanish empire days, the Filipino social
organization remained substantially as it was before the conquest, but under the impact of
American influenced that same organization has suffered a little loosening of the social ties.
ART
The first glimpse of the artistic sense of the primitive inhabitant of the Philippines can be had in
the remains of their tools and weapons.