ZGE 1106: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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M1: HISTORY M1: UNDERSTANDING SOURCES

What is History? What are Sources?

➔​ History is the study of human beliefs, ➔​ In Understanding History (1950),
desires, practices, and institutions. Gottschalk explains that historians rely on
➔​ In studying Philippine society, history plays various sources to study and write history.
an important role. ➔​ These sources can include artifacts,
➔​ It also examines how Philippine culture inscriptions, coins, official records, private
developed over time, including the impact papers, and more.
of the colonial period that helped shape ➔​ Historians often search museums, archives,
the country’s identity today. Government offices, and even private
collections to find relevant materials.
➔​ The key is to focus on specific people,
places, times, and events to ensure the
sources are meaningful.
➔​ By carefully analyzing these sources,
historians use different methods and
Why study History?
theories to study the past and write history
➔​ Studying the past helps us understand how
in a way that strengthens and spreads a
we became who we are today by exploring
sense of national identity.
the origins of modern institutions, ideas,
values, and challenges.
Primary Sources
➔​ It allows us to view the world from different
➔​ Primary sources are original materials
perspectives, appreciate diverse beliefs
created by people who directly
and cultures, and critically analyze the
experienced or witnessed an event.
present state of society and life.
➔​ These include diaries, letters, eyewitness
accounts, legal and official documents, and
The meaning of History
photographs. They provide firsthand
➔​ In Understanding History: A Primer of
information about the topic being studied.
Historical Method, Louis Gottschalk
explains that the word “history” comes
Examples:
from the Greek word istoia, which means
1.​ Photographs
“learning.”
- It can capture social conditions, historical
➔​ Aristotle used it to describe organized
events, and everyday life and provides a
accounts of natural events, whether or not
visual record of the past.
they followed a timeline.
➔​ Later, the Latin word scientia (science) was
2.​ Old Sketches
used for non-timed accounts, while
- There are drawings, made in the past, that
“history” focused on events in order,
may indicate the conditions of life of
especially about people.
societies during that era.
➔​ Today, history simply means “the past of
mankind.”

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3.​ Old Maps ➔​ These include books, articles, and scholarly

- It may reveal how space and geography journals that interpret or analyze primary
were used to emphasize trade routes, sources to discuss historical topics.
structural build-ups, etc.

M2: MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE AROUND THE

4.​ Cartoons
WORLD
- Some cartoons depict political expression
or propaganda that may show the political
climate of the society during a certain Historical Context
period. ➔​ The Crusades (military campaigns initiated
by Western European Christians to halt
5.​ Material Evidence Muslim expansion, reclaim the Holy Land,
- Material evidence of the prehistoric past and recover territories once held by
such as cave drawings, old syllabaries, and Christianity) helped Europeans discover
ancient writings, may be a source of valuable Asian products, especially spices,
information about the physiological which were traded through the Silk Road or
structure and environmental structure of the Arabian-Italian route. When the
the society in the past. Ottoman Empire took over Constantinople
(now Istanbul) in 1453, Europeans had to
6.​ Oral History or Recordings find new ways to get spices. Portugal, led
- It refers to recordings made by electronic by Prince Henry, found a sea route to the
means that capture accounts from Spice Islands, making trade easier. Inspired
eyewitnesses or participants, which are by this, Spain sought its own share of the
later transcribed and utilized for research spice trade.
purposes.
➔​ After Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand
7.​ Published and Unpublished Primary united Spain in 1469 and defeated the
Documents, Eyewitness accounts, and Moors in 1492, Spain became powerful.
other written sources. They financed Christopher Columbus’
voyages (1492-1502), leading to the
8.​ Statistical tables, graphs, and charts discovery of new lands. Spain later
- It refers to recordings made by electronic supported Magellan’s plan to sail west to
means that capture accounts from reach the East, which Portugal refused to
eyewitnesses or participants, which are fund.
later transcribed for research purposes.
➔​ The Magellan-Elcano expedition left Seville
Secondary Sources in 1519 with about 270 men to find a route to
➔​ Gottschalk defines secondary sources as the Spice Islands. Only three of the five
the accounts of people who were not direct ships (Trinidad, Victoria, Concepcion, and
witnesses to an event. Santiago and San Antonio) reached the
Philippines. For the first few weeks, the
locals traded and some converted to
Christianity. But when Lapu-lapu, the
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chieftain of Mactan, refused to trade, Pigafetta’s account is the longest and

Magellan attacked and was killed. The most detailed, describing the journey,
survivors were later attacked by former challenges, and encounters with locals. His
allies and had to leave. Only two ships work gives important information about the
remained: the Victoria, led by Juan Philippines in the 16th century, including
Sebastian Elcano, and the Trinidad. the culture, economy, and social life of the
people they met. His report also includes
➔​ They reached the Spice Islands, bought maps, glossaries, and descriptions of the
spices, but the Portuguese captured the places they visited.
Trinidad on the way back. On September 7,
1522, Elcano and 17 survivors returned to Summary of the Book
Spain on the Victoria. Antonio Pigafetta, ➔​ March 16, 1521:
Magellan’s assistant, kept a journal, which We sighted an island called Zamal (Samar),
became the main source about the first about 300 leagues from Latroni. Our
encounter between Spaniards and captain-general (Magellan) decided to stop
Filipinos. at a nearby uninhabited island to rest,
gather water, and ensure our safety. We set
About the Author up tents for the sick and slaughtered a pig
➔​ Antonio Pigafetta (c. to provide food for them.
1491-1534) was born in
Vicenza, Italy, and studied ➔​ March 18:
astronomy, geography, and A boat carrying nine men approached us.
cartography. He joined The captain-general welcomed them
Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition in 1519 warmly, offering gifts like red caps, mirrors,
after learning about the spice trade. and ivory in exchange for fish, palm wine,
Pigafetta survived the journey, including the bananas, and coconuts. These generous
Battle of Mactan, and was one of the 18 islanders shared their food with us for four
survivors who returned to Spain in 1522. days.
He reported to King Carlos V about the trip
before going back to Italy. Later, he joined ➔​ Coconuts were very useful and provided
the Knights of St. John and fought against many products like bread, wine, oil, and
the Turks. He died around 1534. vinegar. Palm wine was made from the
sweet liquid of palm trees. Coconuts also
About the Book provided milk, water, and oil, and they could
➔​ Antonio Pigafetta kept a detailed journal of be dried to make bread.
Magellan’s expedition from 1519 to 1522.
After returning to Italy, he tried to get his ➔​ The locals were very friendly and told us
journal published but couldn’t find a their island was called Zuluan (now called
financier. In 1536, a shorter version of his Suluan, and is a small island barangay in
manuscript was published in Venice. The Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines.) They
original journal did not survive, but copies also described other nearby islands. The
in French, Spanish, and Italian exist today. captain-general displayed some of our

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goods, including spices and gold, to ➔​ On Holy Friday, the captain sent his
impress them. He even fired our cannons, interpreter to ask the king for food, assuring
which terrified them. Despite their fear, they him we were friends. The king brought rice,
promised to return soon. fish, and gifts, and the captain gave him
cloth, a cap, knives, and mirrors. They
➔​ The island where we stayed was named shared a meal, exchanged more gifts, and
Humunu (Homonhon), which the captain the captain showed his weapons, which
called "The Watering-place of Good Signs" scared the natives.
because of its clean water. We also saw
signs of gold, white coral, and large fruit ➔​ The king’s island had gold that could be
trees. sifted from the earth. His house and dishes
were made of gold. The king himself wore
➔​ Since there were many islands nearby, our gold earrings, a silk head covering, a
captain named the entire area the gold-handled dagger, and had teeth
Archipelago of San Lazaro since it was decorated with gold. The island was called
discovered on St. Lazarus’ Sunday. Butuan and Calagan (Caraga). Two kings,
Raia Colambu and Raia Siani, bonded by
➔​ March 22: hunting together.
The islanders returned, bringing us
coconuts, sweet oranges, palm wine, and ➔​ March 31 - Easter Sunday Mass: the
even a rooster, suggesting chickens were captain sent the priest, some men, and the
nearby. An older man among them wore interpreter to prepare for Mass and inform
gold earrings, and others were adorned the king of their purpose. The king sent two
with jewelry. pigs as a gift in return. About fifty men,
dressed in their best clothes and carrying
➔​ We stayed on the island for a week, and the weapons but no armor, went ashore, firing
captain visited the sick every day, giving six cannons as a sign of peace. The two
them coconut water, which helped them kings welcomed the captain and joined him
recover. The locals, called caphri at the Mass site near the shore. During the
(heathens), lived naked but covered service, the captain sprinkled the kings with
themselves with soft tree bark cloth. Chiefs musk water, and they knelt and worshipped
wore embroidered cotton, and they painted with the crew. When the Body of Christ was
their bodies and used oils to protect their raised, the ships fired all their cannons, and
skin. the kings knelt and prayed.

➔​ The people were dark, fat, and had long ➔​ After Mass, some of our men took
black hair. Their earrings were so big they communion. A cross, nails, and a crown
could fit an arm through them. They carried were brought in, and we honored them. The
weapons like daggers, spears, and shields captain explained through the interpreter
and used fishing nets and boats similar to that these were symbols from the emperor
ours. and needed to be set up on the island. He
said the cross would guide our ships and

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keep them safe. If the kings' men were ➔​ The islanders were heathens, living naked
captured, showing the cross would free and painted (tattooed). They wore cloth
them. He asked for the cross to be placed made from tree bark and were heavy
on the highest mountain so the people drinkers. The women dressed similarly, had
could see it daily, honor it, and be protected long black hair, and pierced their ears,
from storms and disasters. The kings filling them with gold. They used a fruit
thanked him and agreed. called areca mixed with lime, which stained
their mouths red and was believed to cool
➔​ When asked about their faith, the kings the heart.
explained they worshiped nothing but
looked to the sky, calling their god "Abba." ➔​ The island, Mazaua (Limasawa), had dogs,
The captain was pleased with their answer. swine, goats, fowls, rice, coconuts, bananas,
and gold. It was located at 9 2/3 degrees
➔​ The first king explained that food was latitude and 162 degrees longitude, 25
scarce because he lived on another island leagues from Acquada.
with his family, visiting this island only for
hunting and to meet his brother. ➔​ After spending seven days on Mazaua, we
set sail, passing five islands on our way to
➔​ The captain offered assistance against the Zubu. The journey was remarkable, with
king’s enemies, promising to return with sightings of massive bats the size of eagles
sufficient forces to deal with them. However, and various animals, including doves and
the king said it wasn’t the right time to act. parrots. The distance from Mazaua to
Gatighan was 20 leagues, and from there
➔​ After discussing plans, the captain to Zubu was another 15 leagues.
announced he would set up the cross on
the mountain before dining with the kings. ➔​ On April 7, we arrived at Zubu. The captain
They agreed, and after firing muskets in ordered our ships to get ready for battle
farewell, we departed. and fired cannons to show our strength,
which scared the locals. Soon after, the
➔​ Following dinner, we climbed the mountain captain sent a representative to tell them
with the kings to set up the cross. The that we came in peace. The king of Zubu
captain asked where we could find food, talked about the custom of paying tribute,
and the kings suggested Ceylon, Zubu, and but the captain made it clear that we were
Calaghann, with Zubu being the largest. not subjects of any ruler.

➔​ The first king, Raia Colambu, requested a ➔​ A Moro merchant approached the king of
two-day delay to finish harvesting rice and Zubu, Rajah Humabon, warning him about
other tasks. Meanwhile, the kings indulged us. He claimed we had conquered Malacca,
in food and drink, while we continued our India, and other distant places. However,
work. through our interpreter, the captain made it
clear that we sought peace but were
prepared to defend ourselves if needed.

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➔​ The next day, Rajah Humabon asked what adorned with palm branches for the Rajah
we wanted. Our secretary explained that we Humabon’s baptism. The captain
were not here to ask for tribute but to reassured the king that the cannon fire
create trade and friendship. The king during celebrations was harmless.
suggested a gesture of unity—a drop of the
captain’s blood—and the captain agreed to ➔​ Forty of us, including two armed men
it. (Sandugo/Blood Compact) carrying our royal flag, went ashore. The
captain hugged the king and explained the
➔​ When one of our men died, the captain meaning of the flag. On the platform, the
requested a burial site from the king, who captain thanked God for guiding the king to
graciously agreed. A cross was erected in accept Christianity. He was then named
honor of our faith, and the king promised to Carlos in honor of King Carlos I of Spain.
respect it. Later, another of our comrades
passed away, and the same ceremony was ➔​ Some chiefs resisted the idea of
conducted. conversion, but the captain firmly insisted
they obey the king or face consequences.
➔​ We brought a large quantity of Reluctantly, they agreed to follow their
merchandise ashore and stored it in a king’s lead.
house provided by the king. He took
responsibility for its safekeeping. I was ➔​ The captain shared his intention to return to
amazed by the locals' precision in weighing Spain and come back with greater forces to
and measuring during trade. They help make the king the most powerful in the
exchanged gold for iron and traded rice, region. The king requested men to stay
swine, and goats for other goods. behind and teach his people Christianity.
The captain agreed, asking for two of the
➔​ The houses in Zubu were built on wooden chiefs’ children to accompany him to Spain
stilts, accessible by ladders, with animals to learn our language and customs.
kept beneath them. The waters surrounding
the island were filled with enormous sea ➔​ A large cross was placed in the square. The
snails, said to be capable of killing whales captain urged the people to burn their idols
by consuming their hearts. and honor the cross. The king, along with
500 men, was baptized that day. Although
➔​ Our goods were displayed to the invited to a meal aboard the ship, the king
astonishment of the locals. Gold was traded and his men declined. We fired mortars in
for larger items like iron, while smaller celebration.
goods were bartered for food and livestock.
I remember the exchange rate being ➔​ The queen was deeply moved by religious
approximately one and a half ducats for a images and requested baptism. She was
piece of iron. named Johanna/Juana, while her daughter
was baptized as Catherina. Forty women
➔​ On Saturday, April 14, a platform was were also baptized, and by the end of the
constructed in a consecrated square and day, 800 people had embraced the faith.

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➔​ The queen, a beautiful woman always seen gave them life. Their idols were wooden,
carrying a palm-leaf hat, asked for a small hollow, with tusks and colorful paint. The
statue of the child Jesus to replace her chiefs and villagers obeyed the captain and
idols. The captain graciously granted her brought us food and tribute.
wish.
➔​ Near the island of Mactan was the village
➔​ The king and queen participated in the of Bulaia, which was burned because they
celebrations ashore, with the captain firing refused to obey the king. Mactan’s chief,
mortars in their honor. They referred to one Zula, sent his son with two goats to explain
another as brothers, and soon the entire that he couldn’t send tribute because
island and its neighbors had converted to another chief, Cilapulapu, refused to obey
Christianity. the Spanish king. Zula asked the captain for
help, requesting one boatload of men to
➔​ A nearby hamlet resisted the king’s fight Cilapulapu.
authority, prompting us to burn it down.
These people were heathens, not Muslims, ➔​ The captain, ignoring warnings, sent three
who would have faced harsher punishment. boatloads of men, totaling sixty, including
the Christian king and chiefs. They arrived
➔​ The captain conducted daily Mass and at Mactan before dawn, offering peace if
continued teaching Christianity. The queen, the natives obeyed the Spanish king and
in a grand procession, attended Mass one paid tribute. The natives refused, claiming
day wearing a silk scarf and seated on an they had weapons of their own and dug
embroidered cushion. The captain sprayed traps in preparation for battle.
musk rosewater, which delighted her and
her entourage. ➔​ April 27, 1521: At dawn, forty-nine of us
waded through the water to the shore,
➔​ One day, the captain asked the king why leaving eleven behind to guard the boats.
they hadn’t burned their idols as promised The natives attacked from all sides, and the
after becoming Christians. They explained captain divided us into two groups. We fired
the sacrifices were for a sick man, the muskets and crossbows, but they didn’t
prince’s brother. The captain told them to work against their wooden shields. When
burn the idols, trust in Christ, and baptize the natives saw that our muskets were
the sick man. If he didn’t recover, they could useless, they became more determined
kill him. After baptizing the man and his and charged with arrows, spears, and
family, he immediately spoke and thanked stones.
God. The captain cared for him daily until
he could walk in five days. ➔​ The captain ordered us to burn their
houses to scare them, but it only made
➔​ The man burned his idol in front of them angrier. While we burned their
everyone, and the villagers destroyed many houses, two of our men were killed. The
more along the shore, shouting “Castiglia!” natives attacked us fiercely, and the captain
They promised to destroy all idols if God was hit by a poisoned arrow in his right leg.

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He told us to retreat slowly, but most of us Relevance

panicked and ran, leaving only a few of us ➔​ Pigafetta’s writings greatly helped
with him. preserve the achievements of the
Magellan-Elcano expedition. Without him,
➔​ The natives focused on our bare legs, we would know little about Magellan’s
throwing so many spears and stones that contributions to geography, navigation, and
we couldn’t defend ourselves. Our boats history. The expedition proved the earth is
were too far away to help, and we had to not flat but round, showed there is no
keep retreating while standing in water up boiling water at the Equator, completed the
to our knees. first trip around the world, and confirmed a
western route to the Spice Islands. They
➔​ The natives chased us, throwing spears at also discovered the Pacific Ocean and
us multiple times. They targeted the changed Europe’s understanding of the
captain, knocking off his helmet twice, but world, adding new territories to their maps.
he kept fighting bravely for over an hour
without backing down. ➔​ Pigafetta’s writings also enriched Philippine
history by providing details about the
➔​ One native threw a bamboo spear into the Visayan Islands in the 16th century,
captain’s face, but the captain killed him including its leaders, economy, and the
with his lance. He tried to grab his sword start of Christianity in the Philippines. Key
but was wounded in the arm by another events, such as the first Mass, the
spear. The natives attacked him all at conversion of Rajah Humabon and his wife,
once. and the story of the Sto. Nino, were based
on his account. Pigafetta also described
➔​ The captain was then wounded in the leg by how some Filipinos befriended the
a large sword, causing him to fall. They Spaniards while others resisted, like
attacked him with spears and swords until Lapu-Lapu, who led the first successful
he died. Before falling, he kept checking to resistance against Spanish rule.
make sure we were safely in the boats.
➔​ Other accounts of the expedition exist,
➔​ After the captain died, we retreated to the such as Maximilianus Transylvanus’ De
boats. The Christian king wanted to help but Moluccis Insulis. While it covers the same
was ordered to stay in his boat and watch subject, it is not an eyewitness account but
us fight. When the king learned the captain based on interviews with survivors like
had died, he cried. Elcano, Albo, and Bustamante. This work is
shorter and less detailed than Pigafetta’s.
➔​ The captain was strong, brave, and skilled Francisco Albo, Victoria’s pilot, kept a
in navigating the seas. His bravery saved journal that focused on the expedition’s
many of us. In that battle, eight of our men locations, and Peter Martyr d’Anghiera, an
and four Christians were killed. Only fifteen Italian historian, wrote about Magellan’s
natives died, and many of us were injured. voyage in his “decades,” though it was a
broader account of Spanish explorations.

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Tagala in 1593, the first printed book in the

M3: CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS
Philippines, to help teach Filipinos about
Catholicism. He died in Liliw, Laguna, in
Historical Context
1590.
➔​ During the first century of Spanish rule, few
Spaniards wanted to live outside
About the Report
Intramuros, so the colonial government let
➔​ The original Customs of the Tagalogs is
Filipinos serve as local officials
kept in the Archivo General de Indias
(gobernadorcillos). However, Spanish friars
(A.G.I.) in Seville, Spain, with a copy in the
supervised them to keep them loyal to
Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental (A.F.I.O.)
Spain. Over time, the friars took over many
in Madrid. An English translation was
government duties, such as running
included in Volume VII of The Philippine
elections, collecting taxes, and educating
Islands by Blair and Robertson. Another
the youth, making them the most powerful
English version was later published by the
figures in towns.
Filipiniana Book Guild, focusing on pre
colonial Philippines. The excerpt provided
➔​ Friars in mission areas had to report on
is from this later version.
their work and the local situation. They
wrote about the people they converted, the
Summary of the Report
way of life of the natives, and any
➔​ The Tagalog people were led by datus, who
challenges they faced. Some wrote short
governed and led in war. They were highly
letters, while others made detailed reports.
respected, and offending them was
One example is Relacion de las
punished. Each datu ruled a barangay, a
Costumbres de los Tagalogs (1589) by
small community of 30 to 100 households.
Plasencia, which describes Tagalog
The name barangay likely came from the
customs. Since Plasencia personally
Malay word for "boat" since early settlers
observed and recorded these details, his
arrived this way. Originally, barangays were
work is a primary source for studying
made up of families and their slaves. Many
Tagalog history.
barangays lived close together due to wars,
but they had no single ruler and were
About the Author
connected through family and friendships.
➔​ Fray Juan de Plasencia, also
➔​ Tagalog society had three main classes:
known as Joan de
nobles, commoners, and slaves. Each
Portocarrero, was a
group had specific roles and
Franciscan missionary who
responsibilities.
arrived in the Philippines in
1578. He worked in Southern
Nobles (Maharlica)
Tagalog, helping establish towns in Quezon,
➔​ They were freeborn and did NOT pay taxes.
Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan. Plasencia
➔​ They had to fight in wars with the datu using
wrote Relación de las Costumbres de los
their own money.
Tagalogs in 1589, which described Filipino
➔​ They helped the datu row his boat, build his
life before Christianity. He also wrote
house, and farm his land.
Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Española y
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➔​ In return, the datu gave them food, feasts, areas, were shared. After the Spaniards
and a share of the war spoils. arrived, land ownership changed.
➔​ In some villages, like Pila in Laguna, nobles
paid rice as tribute because a past chief
had bought the land and shared it with his
people.

Commoners (Aliping Namamahay)

➔​ They were free but served a master, who
could be a datu or a noble.
➔​ They lived in their own houses and could
own land and gold.
➔​ They had to give half of their harvest to ➔​ A tael is a unit of weight used for
their master as payment. measuring gold, silver, and other valuable
➔​ They rowed boats for their master when materials.
traveling to other places.
➔​ Their children could inherit their property ➔​ Nobles (maharlicas) had strict rules about
and were not forced into slavery. moving to another barangay or marrying
➔​ If their master’s son moved away, they outside it. They had to pay fines and hold
stayed in their village and continued their banquets to avoid conflicts. During Spanish
duties. rule, datus lost power as people sought
kinder leaders. Legal matters were handled
Slaves (Aliping sa Guiguilir) by the datu, with arbiters or judges settling
➔​ They worked in their master’s house and disputes if needed.
fields.
➔​ Unlike commoners, they could be bought
and sold.
➔​ Some masters gave them a share of the
harvest to encourage hard work.
➔​ War captives and those born as field slaves
were often sold, but household-born slaves
were rarely sold.
➔​ Some people wrongly treated commoners
as slaves, forcing them to work or selling
them.
➔​ Spanish officials were told to check their
status to prevent unfair treatment.
➔​ Land was owned by the barangay, and each
person knew their own property. Outsiders
could not use the land unless they bought
or inherited it. Some lands, like mountain

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➔​ In pre-colonial Tagalog society, dowries ➔​ The festival lasted for four days and
were given by men to the bride’s parents. included the whole barangay participating
➔​ In the Philippine context, a dowry is money, in rituals called nagaanitos, during which
goods, or property given by the groom to the house was considered a temple.
the bride’s parents when they get married.
It is meant to support marriage and provide ➔​ The Tagalogs worshipped Bathala, the
security. "all-powerful" creator. They also
worshipped the sun, moon (especially the
new moon), and stars, including the
morning star (Tala) and the Pleiades
(Mapolon).

➔​ They had many idols (lic-ha) and

sometimes worshipped dead people who
were brave in war or had special qualities,
asking for their protection.

➔​ Dian Masalanta was the idol of lovers and

creation, while Lacapati and Idianale were
gods of agriculture and farming.

➔​ They feared crocodiles (buaya) and offered

food to them to avoid harm. They would
throw food into the water or place it on the
shore when traveling by boat.

➔​ The Tagalogs believe in signs, or auguries,

from things they saw. For example, meeting
a snake, rat, or hearing a certain bird
Worships of the Tagalogs (tigmamanuguin) sing could be seen as a
➔​ The Tagalogs did not have temples for sign of bad luck, causing them to return
worship. Instead, they celebrated their home. If the bird sang differently, it was a
religious festivals, called pandot, in the good omen, and they continued their
large houses of chiefs. journey.
➔​ Temporary sheds were built around the
house to shelter people during the festival. ➔​ They also used divination to check if
The house was divided into three sections, weapons, like daggers or knives, were lucky
like a ship, and decorated with small lamps for their owners.
on the posts and a large lamp in the center.
➔​ They did not have a fixed calendar but
based their time on the moon phases and
changes in nature, like trees flowering or

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fruiting. They divided the year into sun-time harming people to performing supernatural
(summer) and water-time (rainy season). acts.

➔​ To offer sacrifices, they held feasts and Catolonan

presented food to idols. They used fragrant ➔​ The catolonan was a priest or priestess,
perfumes and sang poetic songs to praise either a man or a woman, who held an
the idols, asking for help with things they honorable position, especially among
needed, such as health, safe travels, good people of rank. They led worship and were
harvests, and successful marriages. respected in their community.

➔​ Sometimes, they covered the idol with cloth Mangagauay

and gold rings, worshiping without seeing it. ➔​ These were witches who pretended to heal
The spirit of the devil could sometimes the sick but could also cause illnesses
possess the priest or priestess (catolonan), using their magic. They could even kill
causing them to act in strange ways, such someone by using a live serpent, which was
as speaking arrogantly or having fiery eyes. believed to be the devil or a devil's spirit.

➔​ If the possessed person became Manyisalat

dangerous, they were tied to a tree to ➔​ Similar to mangagauay, the manyisalat
prevent harm, though this rarely happened. could cause lovers to abandon their wives,
making the woman sick as a result. The
➔​ Animals like goats, chickens, and pigs were abandoned woman would suffer bleeding
sacrificed, their meat offered to the idol and and illness due to the magic.
shared among guests at the feast.
Mancocolam
➔​ Other sacrifices included cooking rice in a ➔​ These priests could emit fire from their
jar until the water evaporated, then bodies, but only at night and after wallowing
breaking the jar and offering the rice to the in filth. Their fire could not be put out, and
idol, along with betel nuts, fried food, and anyone living with them while this
fruits. happened could become sick and die.

➔​ Sacrifices were done for personal needs, Hocloban

such as curing sickness, ensuring a safe ➔​ These witches were more powerful than the
sea voyage, a good harvest, victory in war, a mangagauay. They could kill people just by
successful childbirth, or a happy marriage. raising their hand. They could also destroy
For people of higher rank, the celebrations houses and heal those they had cursed
could last up to thirty days. with magic.

➔​ The devil priests in the community were Magtatangal

categorized into different types based on ➔​ They were witches who could tear out a
their roles and abilities. Each type had a person’s liver if they saw them wearing
specific function, ranging from healing and white. They would eat the liver, causing the

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person to die. This was reported to have acted as a coffin, and guarded by a slave.
happened in Calavan when a Spanish Animals, such as goats, deer, or fowls, were
notary was killed. put in the boat, with each pair (male and
female) assigned to an oar, and the slave
Osuang took care of feeding them. If the deceased
➔​ The osuang was a type of sorcerer who was a warrior, a living slave was tied
could supposedly fly and murder people to beneath the body until they died.
eat their flesh. This was mostly found in the
Visayas, and the Tagalogs did not have this ➔​ Relatives mourned the deceased, singing
type of witch. dirges and praising their virtues. This
grieving process involved eating and
Mangangayoma drinking, continuing for several days. The
➔​ These witches made charms out of herbs, Tagalogs believed in an afterlife called
stones, and wood to make people fall in maca, a place of rest for the virtuous, brave,
love. They used these charms to deceive and just individuals. They also believed in
people, though sometimes they really casanaan, a place of punishment for the
worked, with the help of the devil. wicked, where demons called sitan resided.

Sonat ➔​ Additionally, they believed in ghosts (vibit)

➔​ The sonat was a person who helped others and phantoms (tigbalaang). They had a
die and predicted whether their soul would specific belief that if a woman died during
be saved or condemned. This office was childbirth, both she and the child were
highly respected and could only be punished, and her ghost could be heard
performed by people of high standing. lamenting at night, a phenomenon known
as patianac. However, these beliefs have
Pangatahojan been replaced by Christianity, and such
➔​ The pangatahojan was a soothsayer, customs no longer exist among the
someone who predicted the future. This Tagalogs.
office was common throughout the islands.
Relevance
Bayoguin ➔​ Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs is an
➔​ The bayoguin was a man who behaved in important primary source that provides a
ways that were seen as more feminine. This detailed look at Filipino life before Spanish
term referred to a man with a nature that and Christian influences. It is valuable to
leaned toward being like a woman. political scientists for its insights into social
classes, political structures, and legal
Worships of the Tagalogs systems, including the roles of the datu,
➔​ The Tagalogs buried the deceased beside maharlika, and alipin, as well as marriage
their house, with chiefs being placed under and property practices. The document also
a small house or porch. Before burial, there preserves Filipino customs, beliefs, and
was a four-day mourning period, during superstitions, including stories about
which the body was placed in a boat, which

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creatures like the manananggal, aswang,

and hukluban.

➔​ Priests and missionaries found Customs of

the Tagalogs and Doctrina Christiana
helpful in spreading Christianity. Plasencia
emphasized the importance of learning the
local language and culture, and believed
that preaching should be supported by
reading materials to help Filipinos continue
learning. His work also counters claims that
Filipinos were uncivilized before the
Spanish arrived, showing they had an
organized government, tax system, laws, a
justice system, an indigenous calendar, and
beliefs in a supreme being, life after death,
and burial rituals. Filipinos also wore fine
clothes, gold ornaments, and decorated
their homes with idols, proving they were
civilized and advanced compared to other
Southeast Asian societies.

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