Philippine History: Datu System in Tagalog Society

The Historian's Task in the Philippines

• The historian's task is to unveil the hidden history of the Philippines, which has been neglected or distorted.
• History is a tool to understand the past, judge the present, and shape the future.
• Rizal's goal was to understand the past to build a better future, and he believed that history is essential for national identity.

Recovering the Past

• Focusing solely on the pre-Hispanic era neglects the Spanish colonial period, which is essential to understanding the emergence of the Filipino nation.
• Nationalist history often idealizes the past, but this approach is flawed and does not provide a genuine understanding of Filipino history.
• Historical documents, such as Spanish chronicles, can provide valuable insights into the past, but they must be interpreted critically.
• The historian must look for unintended references and subtle hints in historical documents to uncover the truth.

The Formative Century

• There is a disproportionate amount of research devoted to the Revolutionary and American colonial periods, neglecting the earlier periods of Filipino history.
• A comprehensive history of the Philippines must study the Revolution in all regions of the country, not just in specific areas like Cavite, Malolos, or Luzon.

Method in History

• History is not objective, and historians bring their own biases and prejudices to their work.
• Documents need to be interpreted, and historians must demonstrate how they bridge the gap between the documentation and their conclusions.
• Historical accounts must be supported by evidence, and historians should not rely solely on traditional sources like government documents, memoirs, and letters.
• Other types of documents, such as folk songs and fashion, can provide valuable insights into the past.

Nationalist History

• Writing nationalist history is rooted in a love of country and a desire to build a better future.
• Nationalist history must focus on the experiences, actions, and struggles of the Filipino masses, rather than just the ruling elite or colonial powers.
• Historical accounts should not portray Filipinos as passive victims of oppressive systems, but rather as active participants who have both resisted and adapted to these systems.

Pre-Hispanic Filipino Society

• Datu was the chief of a barangay, which consisted of families and was a self-governing unit.
• The barangay system was based on social class, and the nobles, commoners, and slaves each had their own roles and responsibilities.
• Marriage and child practices were complex, with rules governing the status of children and the distribution of wealth.
• Laws in the barangay system were based on fines and punishments, with the goal of maintaining social order.

Rizal's Nationalist Struggle

• Rizal believed that history was essential to the nationalist struggle, as it provided a way to combat the notion that the Philippines was colonized as an act of charity.
• Rizal's edition of Morga's "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas" was a scholarly work that highlighted the advanced state of pre-Hispanic Filipino society and the destructive effects of colonization.
• Rizal's work was a call to action, urging Filipinos to study their past and work towards a better future.

Legacy of Rizal's Work

• Rizal's work legitimized the struggle for freedom and independence from colonial rule.
• Rizal's emphasis on the importance of history and nationalism continues to inspire Filipinos today.
• Rizal's work serves as a reminder of the need to understand the past in order to build a better future.### Legitimization of the Nationalist Struggle
• History plays a crucial role in Jose Rizal's nationalism as it provides an explanation for the current situation of the Philippines and offers a picture of the country's glorious past destroyed by Spanish intrusion.
• History serves as a weapon to combat the notion that the Philippines was colonized as an act of charity or favor by Spain.
• Rizal, inspired by German historical scholarship, annotated Antonio de Morga's chronicle "Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas" to form the foundation for a new Filipino society.
• Morga's chronicle highlights ancient Filipino customs, which Rizal used to critique and argue about the redemption of the Filipino race from colonialism.

Rizal's Annotation of Morga's "Sucesos"

• Rizal sets aside his work on "Noli Me Tangere" to focus on annotating Morga's chronicle.
• In his preface, Rizal lays down his master plan: to awaken in Filipinos "the consciousness of our past" in order to be able to "dedicate ourselves to studying the future".
• Rizal highlights the advanced state of pre-Hispanic Filipino society and the destructive effects of colonization.
• He lists down accomplishments of pre-Hispanic society, such as:
  • Exporting silk to Japan in the 16th century
  • Filipinos' blacksmith skills, such as Panday Pira's ability to forge cannon before the Spaniards came
  • The vibrant Filipino shipbuilding industry in the 16th century
• He contrasts these accomplishments with their subsequent decline due to exploitation by Spanish colonizers.

Moral Aspect of Filipino Society

• Rizal notes that the moral level of pre-colonial Filipino society was advanced and, in many respects, superior to Christian Europe.
• The concept of "slavery" in the Philippines was different from the degrading aspects of Roman or European slavery, being a familial relationship that showed concern for strict justice.
• Filipina women were held in dignity and maintained their chastity.
• The concept of theft was unknown in pre-Hispanic society, becoming a major evil only with the introduction of Spanish Christian civilization.

The Concept of Pacification

• Pacification, for an encomienda, meant to hand a province over to pillage, cruelty, and personal gain.
• True pacification was a way to make war on or sow enmities between groups of Filipinos.
• Rizal cites the disunion of Filipinos among themselves as a reason for pacification, which allowed them to voluntarily surrender and make alliances with the Spaniards.

Pacto de Sangre or the Blood Compact

• The submission of Filipinos to Spanish rule did not come by means of conquest in the major islands, but rather through agreements, treaties of friendship, and mutual alliances.
• The theme of the Pacto de Sangre or the Blood Compact was a recurring theme in colonization, starting with Magellan and Legazpi's agreements with early Filipino datus.
• Rizal argues that Spain failed to carry out her part of the contract, and therefore, the Filipinos should be released from their obligations.

Rizal on Pre-Hispanic Filipino Culture

• Rizal points out Morga's remarks on the similarities of customs between different linguistic groups, indicating that "the links of friendship were more frequent than the wars and differences".
• Rizal highlights the ancient tradition indicating Sumatra as the common place of origin of the Filipinos, which was lost along with the mythology and genealogies.
• Early Spanish chroniclers commented on Filipinos' musical ability and graceful dances, which were incorporated into Christian religious celebrations.

Rizal on Linkage between Filipinos and Asian Nations

• Rizal points out the existence of a common fable of the monkey and the tortoise, found not only among Filipino ethnolinguistic groups but also in Japan.
• He concludes that it must be the inheritance of an extinct civilization, common to all the races that lived in the region.
• Rizal shows concern for an Asian point of view, asserting Asian rights against European judgments of moral conduct.
• He abhorred Europe's sense of racial superiority, on top of the corrupt Spanish colonialism.