Customs of the Tagalogs

Background of the Author

JUAN DE PLASENCIA

- Spanish friar of the Franciscan Order

1. Birth and Family Background

1. Birth and Family Background

Fray Juan was born to the illustrious family of the Portocarreros in Plasencia in the region of
Extremadura, Spain in the early 16th century

Juan de Plasencia grew up during the period known as the Siglo de Oro, a Golden Age when arts and
literature flourished in many parts of Spain.

2. Arrival in the Philippines

Fray Juan de Plasencia came together with the first batch of Franciscan missionaries in the

Philippines

The ship with Fray Juan on board, arrived at a port in Cavite on July 2, 1578.

3. Various Assignments in the Philippines

Only two months after his arrival, he joined forces with another missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa

Both were already preaching around Laguna de Bay area and as far as Tayabas (present day Quezon
Province) converting souls to the Catholic fold

His untiring work and missionary zeal pushed him further in the foundation and organization of several
towns not only in Laguna and Tayabas

During the following years, they are also credited with the foundation of a large number of towns in the
provinces of

Bulacan and Rizal such as: Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban, Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio, Pila, Santa Cruz,
Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and Meycauayan

His life was characterized by zeal, prayer, and dedicated service

He was also known to be: a defender of the native population, looking after the poor, ill, or neglected,
and standing up for their rights on numerous occasions.
He was also very keen on creating primary schools, and requested official permission for the

creation of educational centers

An initiative that was approved by Domingo de Salazar, the first Bishop of Manila

4. Notable Contributions to the Mission

Fray Juan de Oliver, Fray Juan de Plasencia, Fray Miguel de Talavera, Fray Diego de Asuncion, and Fray
Geronimo Mont

wrote a grammar and dictionary of the native language translated the Christian doctrine into both
Tagalog and Bicolano.

5. Literary Works

Juan de Plasencia wrote a number of books designed primarily to promote the understanding of both
the Spanish language among the natives, and the local languages among the missionaries, to facilitate
the task of spreading Christianity.

"Arte de la lengua tagala"

"Declaracion de toda la doctrina Cristiana"

"Vocabulario”

He is the author of the first book printed in the Philippines, the Doctrina Cristiana

Printed in: Spanish, Tagalog, Latin Script, Baybayin Script of the natives of that time, Chinese

Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos (1589) helped understand and preserve many of the
traditional ways of the local population provided the first form of Civil Code used by local governors to
administer justice

A mystical work which he entitled La Santina was an Opus number on prayer and contemplation entirely
done in the Tagalog language

6. Death

Juan de Plasencia died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590.

Histoical Backgond of the Document

Manila in 1578

By the numbers

57 years after Magellan’s Expedition

35 years after Ruy López de Villalobos named Las Islas Filipinas (after Philip II of Spain) to

the islands of Samar and Leyte

Arrival of the Spanish

Compact of friendship made between Martin de Goiti, master-of-camp of the Spanish fleet, and the

Raja Sulayman (1570)

Compact broken by misunderstanding

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi treated the Rajas and their relatives with deference. He gave them privileges
such as exemption to the tribute.

The first missionaries who attempted to convert the natives were the Augustinians who came with the
Legazpi expedition

Much needed assistance was supplied with the arrival of the Franciscans (Plasencia was one of them)
in 1678

Knowing that they should take into account the geographical and cultural contexts of the natives which
was much different with Europeans, friar missionaries studied the culture of the natives

Fray Juan de Plasencia addressed this letter to his superiors in the order to help plan evangelization
of the natives

It is considered as his most important work, being quoted, cited and even sometimes copied in its
entirely by many later contemporary historians and writers

The original text can be found in General Archive of the Indies (Archivo General de Indias), Seville
This letter made an impact to the early legal system of the country, preserving the formerly unwritten
customs, traditions and beliefs of the natives, and gave the Philippines its first Civil Code, used by the
alcaldes-mayores in their administration of justice.

Franciscans were known for defending Filipino’s rights and tradition

When the Dominican Bishop Domingo Salazar called a council to address the issue of the emancipation
of the Filipino slaves, the Franciscan superiors (Palencia was one of them) were present to support him

The report described the government of the Tagalog, their administration of justice, slavery, inheritance,
social system, and marriages

It also explained the relation between the different social classes and the origin of each

Stating three ways of how a man may become a slave: birth, debt, and captivity in war. It tells, as well, of
the king and of the duties he rendered to his subjects

Analysis of Impotant Data

ANALYSIS:

1. Community

2. Property

3. Adoration

4. 12 Priests of the Devil

5. Superstition

6. Burying the Dead

Community

Status/Caste System

A leader of a certain tribe along the Visayas and Mindanao region is called a datu

Even before the Spaniards came, it is prevalent that there is some sort of governance among the
different groups wherein there are certain rules or laws that one needs to follow

Datu – the chiefs of the village; they governed the people as captains even in wars, were obeyed, and
revered; any subject who committed any offense against them, or spoke to their wives and children,
were severely punished.

Barangay – tribal gathering ruled by chiefs

30 - 100 houses

Barangays also have some sort of diplomacy. All barangays were equal in terms of status.

There are three status/castes within a barangay:

Maharlica, Aliping Namamahay, Aliping Saguiguilid.

Maharlica are those who are born free

Aliping Namamahay are those who serve their masters however, they can have their own properties

Aliping saguiguilid are those considered to be slaves who serve their masters or can be sold off

Maharlica (nobles)

● People who are born free

● Do not need to pay taxes

● Must accompany the datos in war

Aliping Namamahay (commoners)

● They have their own properties but has to serve their own masters

● Children belonging to this caste inherit the status of their parents

● Cannot be treated as a slave nor can be sold off.

Aliping saguiguilid(slaves)

● They serve their master in their houses and lands

● Can be sold off

● The master can reward his/her slaves by giving them a portion of the harvest so that the slaves would
be faithful to him/her

A Maharlica would keep their status for a lifetime however, this can be taken if he/she marries a slave.
In this case, the kids would be divided and they would inherit the status of their mother or father.

Property

The land area was divided among the whole barangay, especially the irrigated portions.

No one from a different barangay could cultivate land unless they inherit or buy the land

The lands on the tingues, or mountain ridges, are not divided but owned by the barangay as a whole.
At the time of rice harvest, any individual (regardless of their barangay) that starts to clear any land area
may sow in it.

Fisheries of chiefs had established limits, and sections of the rivers for markets

Unless you were a member of the chief’s barangay, you had to pay for the privilege of fishing or selling
in the chiefs’ fisheries

In the case of a divorce, if the wife would leave her husband for the sake of marrying another man, all
her belongings plus a certain amount would be given to her former husband however, if she chooses to
leave and do not have any plans to marry, then all of her dowry will be returned to her.

In the case of an adoption, the children would receive double the value of how much they were bought
to be adopted

Investigations and sentences for the accused shall be presented and read in front of the tribe

Adoration

There were no temples or sacred places in which Filipinos would worship

The word simbahan means a place to worship which is constructed at a large house of the chief where
people of the tribe go to celebrate festivals (aka pandot or worship) they beat large and small drums
successively during the feast which usually lasted 4 days

nagaanitos - worship; (anito - soul or spirit of ancestors)

sibi - a temporary shed, made on each side of the chief’s house, for the assembled people
Badhala, one of their many idols, was the “all powerful”, or “maker of all things” for the Tagalogs

They worshipped the sun, the moon, and some, even the stars or a particular dead man with special
capability that fought bravely or protected them in their time of need

sun - almost universally respected and honored because of its beauty;

moon - they would rejoice, especially when new

stars - they did not name them except for the morning star, which they called Tala

“Seven little goats” - the Pleiades; a star cluster

Balatic - the Greater Bear constellation

Mapolon - the change of seasons

lic-ha - idols; images with different shapes;

Dian masalanta - an idol; patron of lovers and generation

Lacapati and Idianale - idols; patrons of the cultivated lands and husbandry;

buaya - crocodiles; were respected by the Tagalogs due to their fear of being harmed by them; they
offered a portion of what they carried in their boats to them

12 Priests of the Devil

Catolonan

● Priest from a people of rank

● Officiates the offering sacrifice for a feast and the food to be eaten being

offered to the devil

Mangagauay

● They pretend to heal the sick in order to deceive others

Manyisalat

● They can cast remedies to couples for them to abandon one another

Mancocolam

● Can emit fire from himself which cannot be extinguished

Hocloban

● Much more powerful than a mangagauay in which they can kill anyone

without the use of any medicine. They can also heal those who are ill.
Silagan

● They would tear out and eat the liver of those they saw were wearing white

Magtatangal

● They would go out at night without their heads and put it back into their

bodies before the sun rise

Osuang

● Tribesmen reported that they saw the “osuang” who can fly and murdered

a man and ate his flesh.

Mangagayoma

● They would seduce their partners with charms and other accessories so

they can deceive them.

Sonat

● This devil helped people to die. They can also know if the soul they helped

to die can either be saved or not.

Pangatahojan

● They can predict the future.

Bayoguin

● These are men who are in the nature of a woman.

Superstition

They find omens in events they witness (i.e. when someone sneezed, met on their way a rat or serpent,
or the Tigmamanuguin bird sang they would go home in fear that evil would befall them if they
continued their journey)

The Tigmamanuguin bird’s (a blue bird as large as a turtle-dove) song had two forms: a good omen, and
a bad omen

Burying the Dead

In burying the dead, the corpse would be placed beside its house and be mourned at for 4 days.

It will then be laid on a boat which serves as a coffin which is guarded by a slave.

The grief of the relatives of the deceased is followed by eating and drinking.
Contribution & Relevance in Understanding

The Philippines is a civilized country even before the Spanish occupation. It is not true that the country
does not practice any religious activity.

These traditions built the country's distinct identity from other countries.

The country possess a social hierarchy that is why a sense of authority was established.

It strengthens the culture of Filipinos because it signifies that even before these occupations the country
has this distinct culture and belief system of its own. The country is not solely dependent on other
nations and it can actually stood up on its own.

Relevance of the Document

The relevance of the document in the present time is that we still use/believe in some of this norms.

It informed us that the Natives (Filipinos) in some degree had classifications way back as to where you
belong in the society.

In today’s time, we still use “barangays” pertaining to the smallest division or unit of a city.

It also shows that even before the Spanish came, we had a system in which we could trade with other
countries and be independent.