Sixteenth-Century Tagalog and Visayan Cultures

Questions and Answers

What was a purpose of tattooing among Visayan men in sixteenth-century societies?

To symbolize warrior's courage (correct)

To signify social status

As a mark of beauty

For psychological reasons

Why did Visayan men undergo circumcision?

For hygienic purposes (correct)

Cultural rite of passage

For greater sexual pleasure

To signify maturity

What was considered a sign of mourning for ancient Filipinos?

Using amulets in hair

Having short hair (correct)

Wearing red clothing

Tattooing the body

What was a common practice related to teeth in sixteenth-century Visayan culture?

Filing and filling teeth with gold Signup and view all the answers

What did Visayan women think about men who lacked penis pins?

They viewed them as unmanly Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary function of the maharlika class in Tagalog society?

Performing military duties for the datu Signup and view all the answers

Which title was given to the primary wife of a datu in Tagalog society?

Dian Signup and view all the answers

In Visayan society, what was the title of a powerful or paramount datu?

Kaponoan Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the alipin sa gigilid in Tagalog society?

They lived in their master's house and could not marry Signup and view all the answers

What was a common type of jewelry worn by both Tagalog and Visayan men and women?

Hoop gold earrings Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Decorative Dentistry

Sixteenth-century Visayans practiced decorative dentistry by filing their teeth and filling gaps with gold.
Betel nut, or nganga, was commonly used for oral hygiene and teeth staining, regarded as a beauty mark.

Tattooing

Visayan men, referred to as pintados (painted ones), adorned their bodies with tattoos, symbols of a warrior’s bravery.
Only warriors who killed enemies could bear tattoos, with facial tattoos signifying the most courageous.
Women had tattoos on arms and hands for decorative purposes; those lacking tattoos were termed mapuraw (undyed).
Tattooing was not a practice among the Tagalogs.

Skull Molding

Infants' skulls were molded by Visayan families to achieve a “moon-faced” or flat appearance.

Penis Pins and Circumcision

Visayan men used penis pins called tugbuk and rings known as sakra to enhance sexual pleasure for women; absence of these was frowned upon.
Circumcision was customary for hygienic reasons among Visayan men, while Tagalog men did not wear tugbuk but used pellets under the skin.

Hair

Long hair was the norm for both Visayan and Tagalog men, often shoulder- or waist-length, with amulets woven in.
Visayan women had exceptionally long hair, reaching their ankles, styled in large buns.
Short hair among ancient Filipinos symbolized mourning.

Clothing

Men of both communities wore the bahag (g-string); upper-class individuals wore longer bahags that covered their thighs.
Red garments were designated for those who killed enemies, while Visayan men often left their tattoos visible.

Jewelry

Wealth among upper-class Tagalogs and Visayans was displayed through copious amounts of gold and jewelry; gold was referred to as bulawan in Visayan culture.
Both genders donned hoop gold earrings with distended earlobes.

Tagalog society was structured in three classes:
- The maginoo (ruling class) included ginoo (nobles) addressed as Gat (for males) and Dayang (for females).
- A datu ruled a barangay or bayan; his primary wife held the title Dian.
- A paramount datu, or Rajah, oversaw other datus and had a primary wife known as Hara.
The maharlika and timawa classes, below maginoo, consisted of free people; maharlikas engaged in military roles, while timawas were agricultural workers.
At the bottom, the alipin class comprised slaves, with subcategories of alipin namamahay (can own property) and alipin sa gigilid (cannot marry or own property).

Visayan Society Structure

Organized into three classes: datu (ruling), timawa (free people), and oripun (slaves).
Paramount datus held various titles like Kaponoan (Most Sovereign) and Sarripada (His Highness).
The datu had various officials, including Atubang sa Datu (prime minister) and Bilanggo (chief of prisons), and the female title of dayang or bai.
The oripun class's lowest tier was designated as hayohay.
Both Tagalog and Visayan social structures allowed for movement between classes, reflecting a degree of fluidity.

Description

Explore the fascinating cultural practices of sixteenth-century Tagalog and Visayan societies. This quiz covers unique aspects such as decorative dentistry and the significance of tattoos in expressing beauty and warrior status. Test your knowledge of these rich traditions!