1. The Pre-Colonial Philippines
LESSON 3:
Prepared by:
Janeth David
Lance Vasquez

2. CONTENTS
Early –
Settlers
Economic
Life
Government
Culture Baybayin
Writing
Systems
Clothing
Social Life Literature
1
2
3 9
8
7
4
5
6

3. EARLY SETTLERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES

4. The Negrito (/nɪˈɡriːtoʊ/)
• Are several diverse ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia and the
Andaman Islands as well as the Aeta, Ati, and about 30 others officially recognized
ethnic groups in the Philippines.
• Negritos include several separate groups, although it seems that they are not closely
related to the Pygmies of Africa, while the other recent studies find evidence for a
close genetic relation between the various Negrito groups.
• The Negritos of the Philippines are comprised of approximately twenty-five widely
scattered ethnolinguistic groups totaling an estimated 15,000 people.
• Assumed to be the original inhabitants of the archipelago.
• Philippine Negritos are descendants of groups of Homo sapiens who migrated into the
Philippines during the Upper Pleistocene from mainland Southeast Asia, and
subsequently developed their phenotypic traits in situ, through processes of
microevolution, some 25,000 years ago. They were hunter-gatherers.

5. Negritos in a fishing boat
(Philippines, 1899)
(An Ati woman of Kalibo, Philippines in 2006)

6. Economic life
• The Negritos way of life are foraging, hunting, fishing, paid labor, backyard hog and
poultry raising, basket weaving, and upland farming. They do this and pass it on to
their younger members of the family or the community, so they will hone their skills in
the fields of farming and hunting.
• Their houses are usually built by using bamboo and the large bark of trees, including
their leaves. To build their tools, they need to sharpen it every day since they can also
use it for hunting. They usually construct small boats whenever they need to look for
fish or to transfer from one place to another, since they live in tribes. Their
distribution of work is divided, in which the men perform most of the tasks to look for
food and to build their wooden shacks. Women are assigned for cooking and weaving.
Children are taught at a very young age on how to capture animals and plant crops.
• In order to survive, they have varied coping strategies which include caroling, mixing
rice with cassava/ other root crops, simple living, bartering, engaging in other
livelihood activities and getting acquaintance with other cultural groups to work with
them in their farms.

7. Warrior from Java in the
Philippines, c. 1590 in Boxer
Codex
Warriors from Siau Island, Sangir
Archipelago in the Philippines, c.
1590 Boxer Codex
Moluccan Warrior in the
Philippines, c. 1590 in Boxer
Codex

8. Indonesians in the Philippines
• The Indonesians in the Philippines consists of expatriates and immigrants from
Indonesia residing in the Philippines, and their descendants. As the two countries are
neighbors, there have been many historical migrations between the islands that today
make up their national territories, and migrants from what is today Indonesia helped
form many historical dynasties in the Philippines.
• Indonesians in the Philippines residing in Mindanao are split between Muslims and
Protestants, while the majority of them settle freely with local Filipinos and adopts
local cultures and customs while maintaining their distinct Indonesian identity at the
same time. Indonesians of Sangirese descent are split between Muslims and
Protestants, while Minahasan or Chinese descent are mostly Protestants.
• The Indonesians are more skilled in terms of fishing, but they are also experts in
hunting and gathering food. They also moved in tribes, although their shelter is
composed of different materials such as stone or pine trees. Kawi is the ancestor of
traditional Indonesian scripts, such as Javanese and Balinese, as well as traditional
Philippine scripts such as Luzon Kavi the ancient scripts of Laguna Copperplate
Inscriptions 822 A.D. and The Baybayin 1500 AD.

9. Indonesian
Descendants

10. The Malays
• The Malays played a significant role pre-Hispanic Philippine History. Malay
involvement in Philippine history goes back to the Classical Era
• Establishment of Rajahnates as well as the Islamic Era, in which various sultanates and
Islamic states were formed in Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago, and around Manila
Islamization of southern Philippines
• Historically, the Malays in the Philippines followed the religious trend of Maritime
Southeast Asia. They followed a mix of Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Paganism.
They introduced cultural influence from the Indian Subcontinent.
• Malay (Filipino: Wikang Malay; Malay: Bahasa Melayu) is spoken by a minority of
Filipinos, particularly in the Palawan, Sulu Archipelago and parts of Mindanao, mostly
in the form of trade and creole languages.

11. Malays from Terangganu in the
Philippines, c. 1590 Boxer Codex
Filipinos of Malay descent

12. THE PRE
COLONIAL
GOVERNMENT

13. • Came from the term “balangay”.
• Filipino's earliest form of government.
• Ruled by a datu or village chief.
• An independent settlement consisting of thirty
to one hundred families usually situated along a
river bank or at the mouth of a river spilling out
to the sea.
• These barangays remained isolated from one
another but if one barangay is at risk, they have
each others back.
Barangay

14. Balangay
• The first wooden boat that was excavated in
Southeast Asia.
• Used for cargo and trading

15. Datu or Rajah
• The chief executive, legislator, and
judge.
• The primary duty of the datu was to
rule and govern his subjects and to
promote their well-being; maintains
orderly and peace.
• Is not an absolute ruler.
• The scope of his authority was
given limits by a traditional body of
customs and procedures.
• A datu usually obtains his position
by inheritance.

16. 1. If the datu passed away, the first son would succeed him.
2. If the first son died without leaving an heir, the second son would
succeed him.
3. In the absence of any male heir, the eldest daughter could become
the chieftain.
4. If a datu died without any heir, the people of the barangay get to
choose the new chieftain on the basis of his wisdom, wealth and
physical strength.
Ways to become the Chieftain
16

17. • Laws are created with the help of the council or former Datus.
• Once these laws were authorized, they will call the town crier,
called “umalohokan”, to travel throughout the barangay to
announce the law.
• The moment the law was disseminated, it is now in effect and
everyone who violate it will have to face the penalties.
• People also pay “buwis” in the form of farm products, this is to pay
tribute to the datu for protecting and leading the village.
• Most of the law is all about legacy, separate, usury, organization,
wrongdoing and discipline, property rights, family relations,
reception, and advances.
Laws

18. The Council or former Datus
Umalohokan

19. The Pre Colonial
Culture
19
• The early Filipinos were composed of
different groups that came from
different parts of Asia.
• This gave birth to a community with a
system of education and varying
religious beliefs.
• Indigenous spiritual traditions were
already practiced by the people in
the Philippines.

20. Indigenous Spiritual
Traditions
• Filipinos are labeled animistic – a belief
that objects, phenomenon, and the
universe itself possesses a soul.
• Early Filipinos worship the nature, they
believed that the world is inhabited by
spirits and supernatural entities.

21. DIWATA Anito Bathala Lalaon
Believed to guard forests Believed to be the
spirits of our ancestors
The supreme God God of Harvest
21
Gods and Goddesses

22. Sidapa Barangaw Idialao
God of Death God of Rainbow God of Farming
22
Gods and Goddesses

23. The Pre Colonial Clothing
Native Commoners Ancient form of Barong Tagalog
Native couple Attire of a young woman

24. The Pre Colonial
Writing System
Baybayin (16th century – 19th century)
Baybay literally means “to spell”
➢ Was noted by the Spanish priest
Pedro Chirino in 1604 and Antonio de
Morga in 1609
➢ Developed from Kawi script of Java,
Bali and Sumatra.
Abugida – Pre-colonial method of Handwriting
➢ Writing with the use of sharp-
pointed tools, leaves, bamboo and
trunk’s skin

25. Baybayin
• Writing system which uses the consonant-
vowel combinations .
• Each character is a consonant ending with the
vowel “A”.
• To produce the sound “E” or “I”, a mark is
placed above the consonant.
• To produce the sound “O” or “U”, a mark is
placed below the consonant.
• The mark is called a kudlit.
• Other vowels are indicated by separate
letters.

26. The Pre Colonial
Literature
• Literature is a collection of ideas from
the various groups that inhabited the
archipelago.
• Composed of varying human interests
• Contains politics and religion.
• A variety of folk speeches, folk songs,
folk narratives, indigenous rituals and
mimetic dances.
• Riddles, proverbs, aphorism, maxims,
ballads, folk lyrics, myths, legends,
fables, tales, and epics were some of
the literary types during the period.

27. Bugtong (Riddles)
• A statement, question, or phrase that
involves reference to images that
symbolizes the characteristics of an
unknown object that is to be guessed.
• A collection of Filipino’s wit, literary
talent, and keen observation of the
surroundings.
Example:
1. Dalawang batong itim, malayo ang
nararating. – Eyes
2. Dumaan ang hari, nagkagatan ang mga
pari. – Zipper
Talinghaga
• The words that were used are figurative
and have a deep meaning.
• Is not represented by the literal
meaning but more on the imaginative
meaning.
• Represented by a figure or
resemblance.
Example:
1. Balat – sibuyas. – sensitive
2. May bulsa sa balat. – kuripot
3. Luha ng buwaya. – Hindi totoo ang
pag-iyak
4. Balat – kalabaw. – Walang hiya

28. Folk songs
• Traditional music
• Reflects the life of the common,
experiences, and love.
• Traditional songs have a strong
connection to nature.
• Repetitive, sonorous, didactic, and
naïve.
Example :
1. Uyayi – lullaby
2. Komintang – war song
3. Kundiman – melancholic love son
4. Harana – serenade
5. Tagay – drinking song
6. Mambayu – Kalinga rice – pounding song
7. Subli – dance ritual song of courtship or
marriage
8. Tagulaylay – songs of the dead
Folk narratives
• Epics and folktales are varied, exotic,
and magical
• They were created to explain the
phenomena of the world long before
science came to be known.
Example:
1. Biag ni Lam-ang
2. The Agyu or Olahing
3. Sandayo
4. Aliguyon or the Hudhod
5. Labaw Donggon

29. Salawikain (proverbs)
• Norms or codes of behavior, community
beliefs, and wisdom – rhyming verse.
• A simple or concrete saying that expresses a
truth based on experience.
• A saying or statement that gives advice or
states truth using simple words.
• Describes a basic rule of conduct – maxim.
• Served as laws or rules on good behavior by
our ancestors.
Example :
1. Hangga't makitid ang kumot,
matutong mamaluktot.
2. Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulog-
tulugan.
Tanaga
• A mono-rhyming heptasyllabic
quatrain with the same rhyme at the
end of each line.
• Expresses life lessons and insights.
Example:
“Alipatong lumapag
Sa lupa, nagkabitak
Sa kahoy, nalugayak
Sa puso, naglagblab”

30. Bulong (chants)
• Associated with witchcrafts and
enchantments.
• This is created to give respect, ask for
permission, excuse or apology for the
unseen spirits or elemental spirits in order
to deliver us from trouble or danger.
Example:
Tabi, tabi po, Ingkong, makikiraan po
lamang.
Bari-bari Apo, umisbo lang ti tao.
(Ilokano)
Mythology
• This is a wide range of material due to the
ethnic mix of the Philippines.
• A narrative of how things began, how the
world began, and how humans and
animals were created.
• Involves supernatural elements wherein
Gods and Goddesses are involved.
Example:
1. How the Moon and the Stars came to
be (Bukidnon – Mindanao)
2. The Gods and Goddesses (Ilocos)
3. Mag – asawang Tubig (Tagalog)

31. Legends
• Stories about people with an
extraordinary ability
• Differs from myth, because it
portrays human hero while
myth portrays a supernatural
being.
• A tale that is passed down
traditionally and is considered
to be false or based on a
superstition.
Example:
1. Bernardo Caprio
2. The Legend of Sleeping Beauty
3. Legend of the Dama de Noche
4. Legend of the Banana Plant
5. Legend of the Firefly

32. References:
Agullo, I. (2013, July 9). Pre colonial-period. Slideshare. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/ialadino/pre-colonialperiod-24057180
Baybayin: Pre-Spanish Philippine writing system. (1999, February 21). Mandirigma. Retrieved from http://mandirigma.org/?p=423
Diana, J. (2014, January 14). Philippine pre – colonial folk songs. Slideshare. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/jemdiana/philippine-pre-colonial-folk-songs
Funtecha, H. (2006, July 28). The pre-colonial government of the Filipinos. Thenewstoday. Retrieved from
https://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/07/28/the.pre.colonial.government.of.the.filipinos
Funtecha, H. (2006, July 28). The pre-colonial government of the Filipinos. Thenewstoday. Retrieved from
https://www.thenewstoday.info/2006/07/28/the.pre.colonial.government.of.the.filipinos.html#:~:text=The%20barangay%20was%20the
%20Filipino's,spilling%20out%20to%20the%20sea
Godinez-Ortega, C. (n.d.). The Literary Forms in Philippine Literature. Seasite. Retrieved from
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/literature/literary_forms_in_philippine_lit.htm
Itsebo. (2011, July 29). Pre colonial philippine literature. Slideshare. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/itsebo/pre-colonial-
philippine-literature
Jabian, J. (2016). Government and Laws of the Early Philippines. Steemit. Retrieved from
https://steemit.com/travel/@juvyjabian/government-and-laws-of-the-early-philippines
Jimenez, G. (2013, June 30). https://www.slideshare.net/ghemjimenez94/barangay-pre-colonial. Slideshare. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/ghemjimenez94/barangay-pre-colonial
Juarez, R. (2015, August 31). Salawikain: Famous Sayings From the Philippines. Owlcation. Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/social-
sciences/examples-of-filipino-proverbs
Lepiten, A. J. (2017, July 4). Philippine Literature and Texts (Pre-colonial Times and Spanish Colonizations). Slideshare. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/AttheaJaneLepiten/philippine-literature-and-texts-precolonial-times-and-spanish-colonizations-77510710
Morrow, P. (2016, January 16). What did pre colonial Filipino looks like. Pilipino - Express. Retrieved from http://www.pilipino-
express.com/history-a-culture/in-other-words/3249-what-did-pre-colonial-filipinos-look-like.html