MD2:L2: CUSTOMS OF THE
TAGALOG
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
2nd Sem l BSPH101
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
INTRAMUROS
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Walled City
Served as the seat of government and political power during
Spanish Colonial Period
Center of religion, education, and economy
The standard way of life in Intramuros became the standard way
of life throughout the Philippines.
GOBERNADORCILLO
A position intended only for the Spaniards but was then allowed
for the Filipinos.
Heads the pueblo (town or village)
FRIARS
Given a role to supervise and monitor the activities of Filipino
Governadorcillo
Friars ended up performing duties that colonial officials should
have been doing act at the local level.
Supervised election of the local executives
Helped in the collection of taxes.
Directly involved in educating the youth
Performed civic activities.
Required to inform their superior of the happenings in their
respective areas.
Prepared reports on the numbers of native they converted,
people’s way of life, socio-economic status and problems
encountered.
Friars became the most knowledgeable and influential figure in
the pueblo.
SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
Antonio de Morga
Provides information about the state of the Philippines in the latter
part of the 16th century.
RELACION DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS 1604
Fr. Pedro Chirino S.J.
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HISTORIA GENERAL 1751
Fr. Juan Delgado S.J.
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LABOR EVANGELICA 1663
Fr. Francisco Colin S.J.
HISTORIA NATURAL DEL SITIO, FERTILIDAD Y CALIDAD DE LAS
ISLAS E INDIOS DE BISAYA 1668
Fr. Francisco Ignacio Alcina S.J.
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A.
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F.
G.
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J.
K.
L.
M.
RELACION DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS 1582
Miguel de Loarca
Described the Filipinos’ way of life in the Western Visayas area.
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RELACION DE LAS COSTUMBRES DE LOS TAGALOGS
Fr. Juan de Plasencia
RELACION DE LAS COSTUMBRES DE LOS TAGALOGS
A primary source that contains numerous information that
historians could use in reconstructing the political and sociocultural history of the Tagalogs region.
Described the political, social, economic and cultural practices of
the Filipinos before they were Christianized.
FR. JUAN DE PLASENCIA
Joan de Portocarrero
Franciscan missionary assigned in the Southern Tagalog era.
N.
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Helped in the foundation and organization of numerous towns in
Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan.
He had continuous interaction with the people he converted to
Christianity.
Catechism, administered sacraments, and baptized new converts.
Died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590
DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA EN LENGUA ESPAÑOLA Y TAGALA
First printed book in the Philippines in 1593 written by Plasencia.
Printed in Spanish, Tagalog, Latin, Baybayin and Chinese.
CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS
Original document was kept in the Archivo General de Indiasin
Seville, Spain.
Duplicate copy is in the Archivo Francisco Ibero – Oriental in
Madrid, Spain.
English versions:
 Blair and Robertson’s The Philippine Islands Volume II
 Filipiniana Book Guild 2nd series.
EXCERPTS: CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS
Datu
Barangay
Castes: Nobles, Commoners, Slaves
Laws on Marriage, Dowries
Laws on Offenses
Laws on Death Penalty
Pandot
Temple or Simbahan
Idols
Augury or omens
Concepts of time and season
Offerings and sacrifices
Priest of the Devils:
1. Catolonan
2. Mangagauay
3. Manyisalat
4. Mancocolam
5. Hocloban
6. Silagan
7. Magtatangal
8. Osuang
9. Mangagayoma
10. Sonat
11. Pangatahojan
12. Bayoguin
Burying the dead
Maca
Casanaan
Sitan
Vibit
Tigbalaang
Patianac
RELEVANCE
A primary source about the way of life of the Filipinos before
Spanish and Christian influence
Contributes with political science as it contains info about
social classes, political stratifications, and legal systems of the Tagalog
region.
Tackles property rights, marriage rituals burial practices, and
justice practices
Popularized unwritten customs, traditions, religious and
superstitious beliefs.
Source of our knowledge about manananggal, aswang,
hukluban and gayuma.
Helped and inspired priests and missionaries to become effective
evangelizers:
1. Master the local language.
2. Study the culture.
3.
Should be accompanied by reading materials that contain
the elements of faith.
Disproved the claim that Filipinos are uncivilized and lack culture
before the Spaniards arrived.
Torres, J.V. (2018). BATIS: Sources in Philippine History. Quezon
City: C&E Publishing, Inc.
The Project Gutenberg EBook of the Islands, 1493-1898, Volume
XXXIII, Customs of the Tagalogs, by Juan de Plasencia O.S.F.
TRIVIA ON NAMES:
NAMES OF PEOPLE 1:
In pre-colonial times people had one name. The names were
deprived from physical traits, unique habits, great or stupid exploits,
tribal standing, or reflective of their clans.
NAMES OF PEOPLE 2:
In 1849 a degree by Governor Claveria created the catalogo
alfabetico de apellidos that became the basis for distributing Spanish
surnames among its colonial subjects,