Socio-political Customs PDF

**Socio-political Customs** - According to the account of Juan de Plasencia, our ancestors had chief that they call Datos, which are the ones who are leading the barangays. - The account also suggested that the barangay system came from the people that were in the balanghays or the...

**Socio-political Customs** - According to the account of Juan de Plasencia, our ancestors had chief that they call Datos, which are the ones who are leading the barangays. - The account also suggested that the barangay system came from the people that were in the balanghays or the boats. And, when they settled here in the Philippines they made their captain of the boat as their datos or chieftain. - Also, the barangays consist of parents and children, relations and slaves. - Each barangay was not related to each other, except if there was a pact or agreement that built relationships among the barangays. - He classified the social classes of the barangays into three groups, namely, nobles, commoners, and slaves. The author highlighted the highest of the social classes the Maharlika. - Nobles/Maharlika- They are free born, did not pay tax, and a warrior of the barangay. - Furthermore, the text emphasized the superiority and control of the Dato wherein, when the dato went upon the water whose whom he summoned, rowed for him and if he built a house, they helped him, and had to be fed for it. - Nonetheless, the author continued that equality were present among the people of the barangay even to the children of the slaves - For Juan de Plasencia, there were customs among barangays that when a Maharlika gets married to a slave the first, second, third, and fifth children belonged to the class of their father. While the fourth and sixth children would be like their mother. However, if there is onlyone child he will be half free and half slave. - In addition, there were two types of slaves; the Aliping Namamahay and the Aliping Sagigilid. - Both are owned by their masters but the treatment and tasks given to them are different. - The datos imposed fines to married people of another barangay that comes or moves to their territory. The amount was dependent on the demand of different datos. Failure to pay will lead to war and conflict between the barangay where one originated and the barangay where he went. - This one way to pay respect to each datos present in that time. - However, when the chieftains started to affect their decision through the religious fathers, people started to doubt the leadership and went to different barangays where they think they are served well, for they believe that datos are spiritless and faint- hearted. - Judicial system was also noticeable through the datos and unanimous arbiters of the other tribes. - The first option for the people is to be judged by the dato and the ruling should be done in front of the people. If the plaintiff or the defendant felt prejudiced about the ruling he may seek arbiters from the other tribe to be judged, which are fair and just men. - Same is true when two datos are in dispute of a certain issue. - People of the tribes are against slavery, however, there are situations that call for enslavement. - Children and companions of the witches are considered slaves of the dato, unless the person that they harmed has fully recovered. - One can be also called slave if for the moment he has no means to pay any violations done until he can already pay it. - Further, if he was freed through his relatives he must serve half of his service and if he has not served it that way, he must serve twice of what should have been. And, he would be considered Aliping Namamahay. - To sum up, slavery was just a means of paying the debt that he has failed to fulfill. - The author added that debts are part of the inheritance of the debtors\' children. That if their parents are debtors and they die they should pay the debt through half of the profits of their land until it canbe fulfilled. - Inheritances, are equally divided among legitimate children, except if there is a slight favoritism present in the family. Another exception is if the parents decided that their son would be married to the chieftain\'s daughter, the son would get more than any of their sons. This would be in the form of dowry. - On the other hand, if one has two wives and has children to both wives, the children would divide their mother\'s dowry. - However, if one of his wife is a slave, she would not receive any dowry, thus, no share for her children even if they are legitimate. - The children are bound to free their mother out of slavery and give her something or a slave. - There are situations that the children of the slave could have the inheritance. One is if the father were a chief or it was with unanimous consent. Illegitimate children are given one-third of the inheritance. But, if one has no legitimate children, all will be given to the unmarried wife or Inaasava \'s child. - On the other hand, if he has no children of whatsoever, this will be given to the nearest relatives. - If a married woman, gave birth to a child outside of her marriage the husband can do two things: punish the wife, which was considered dowry, and the child would be considered legitimate, or disregard the wife so that the child would have nothing to inherit. - With regards to adopted children, they inherit double of the payment for their adoption. If the adopted child has children and he died first, his children should not inherit it. This secures him from danger since his money is exposed and he is protected as a child. - The author added that dowries are given by men to women\'s parents. And, they are enjoyed by the parents if they are still living. In case of their death, it is divided among the children equally. - Unless, the father stated that this additional inheritance is only for that son. - If the woman has no parents, she can enjoy it together with his relatives. - If the woman wants to be divorced before giving birth and seeks for another marriage, the dowry should be returned plus an additional amount to the husband. But, if she does not get married to another man, the dowry is returned. - If the one who wants to be divorced is the husband only half would return to him, or if he has children to that woman all of the dowry will go to them through their grandparents or any relatives that would be responsible enough to hold it. - Furthermore, other tribes practice that when the wife dies and they borne no children only half of the dowry will go to the husband. And, if the husband dies half of the dowry will be returned to his relatives. - This was not generally practiced since this was through consideration and discretion of the people. - Half of the dowries are given immediately to the soon-to-be-wife of the son. - If they failed to do it, there are great sum of fines that they shall pay which depends on their fortune. - If the woman disagrees to marry that man and she has no parents anymore, she will return the dowry. And, if her parents are still alive they would pay a fine and return the dowry to the man. - These customs were observed in the natives by the friar-author. For him, these are the things that the datos regulate and if they contradict to these, they are being condemned by the people. **Religious Customs** - Back then, there were no temples or churches, however ceremonies and worships are celebrated in the house of the dato which they call simbahan. The house was quite big since the purpose of it is to house the people of barangay during celebrations. - The sibi was constructed at the sides of the house to protect the people from the rain. - The sorhile are the small lamps on the post of the house and they put a big lamp in the center of the house. Further, the worship of our ancestor is called the nagaanitos. - One of the many idols that they worship is Bathala. - The author believed that the name Bathala signifies \"all powerful\" or \"maker of all things\". - They also worship the sun, moon, stars (Tala constellations which they name Balatik and - Mapulon, Dian Masantala who was patron of lovers and of the generation, Lacapati and Indianale patron of the lands and of husbandry, and crocodiles (Buaya) which they fear from. - Our ancestors are also firm believers of auguries. These can be translated into two: Good Omen and Bad Omen. - They also practice divination to know if the weapon is suitable for the possessor. - Years, Months, and Days are determined through observing the soil, flowers, fruits, and leaves. And, there were only two seasons present which are the sun-time and water-time. - In terms of offering sacrifices, it is through festival that they offer it to the devil what they had to eat. - This was done in front of an idol which they anoint with fragrance perfumes and sung poetic songs led by the priest or Catotolan. - People then respond to favor them with things that they need. - Some idols are covered in a cloth twice so that they could worship the devil without seeing the idol. - Also, the devil could possess the priest that his eyes would shoot flames, have a fearful sight to those beholding, and uttered words of arrogance. - In some places, when one is possessed by the devil he will be tied to a tree, to prevent the devil from destroying him. Most of the offerings are swine, goats, and fowls which are decapitated in front of the idol. - As part of the ceremony they break a jar that contains cooked rice which was also set in front of the idol. - After that these offerings are eaten by the guest of the feast. - They offer sacrifices for several reasons these are the recovery of a sick person, the prosperous voyage of those embarking on the sea, a good harvest in the sowed lands, a propitious result in wars, a successful delivery in childbirth, and a happy outcome in married life. - If this is celebrated by people with ranks in the barangay it would last 30 days. - With regards to the monthly period of girls, their eyes are covered for four days and four nights. - At the end of the period, the priest would take the girl to the river and bath her. - This should bless the girl to bear a child and have successful marriage. - In the religious customs of our natives they have distinguish 12 kinds of devils priest: Catolonan - was either a man or a woman. - This office was an honorable one among the natives, and was held ordinarily by the people of rank, this rule being general in all the islands. - Mangangauay- wishes who deceived by pretending to heal the sick. - These priests even induced maladies by their charms, which in proportion to the strength and efficacy of the witchcraft, are capable of causing death. - Manyisalat- These priests had the power of applying such remedies to lovers that they would abandoned and despise their own wives, and in fact could prevent them from having intercourse with the latter. - Mancocolam- whose duty was to emit fire from himself at night, once a month. - Hocloban- Without the use of medicine, and by simply saluting or raising the hand, they killed whom they chose. - But if they desired to heal those whom they had made ill by their charms, they did so by using other charms. - Silagan- whose office it was if they saw anyone clothed in white, to tear out its liver and eat it, thus causing his death. - Magtatangal- his purpose was to show himself at night to many persons, without his head or entrails. In such wise the devil walled about carried, or pretended to carry, his head to different places: and, in the morning, returned it to his body remaining, as before, alive. - Osuang- equivalent to sorcerer, they say that they have seen him fly, and that he murdered men and ate their flesh. - Mangagayoma- They made charms for lovers out of herbs, stones, andwood which would infuse the heart with love. - Sonat- which is equivalent to preacher. It was his office to help one to die, at which time he predicted the salvation or condemnation of the soul. - It was not lawful for the functions of this office to be fulfilled by others than the people of high standing, on account of the esteem in which it was held. - Pangatahojan-was a soothsayer, and predicted the future. - Bayoguin- signified a cotoquean a man whose nature inclined toward that of a woman. - The author also stated how our ancestors buried the dead. The dead was buried beside his house, or if he is a chief his body would be beneath a little house which they constructed. - They will mourn for 4 days and afterward, laid him on a boat which served as a coffin or bier, placing him beneath the porch, where guard was kept over him by salve. - In place of rowers, various animals were placed two male and female of each species. - The slaves would take care of the animals which they should make sure that it was well fed. If the dead is a warrior, the slave would be tied to his body until it wretched the way he died. - They would sing praises for the deceased for his good qualities, they also accompany this with drinking and eating. - Negritos, however, do not believe in these customs. - They are convinced that there is another life of rest or what they call MACA - They believed that only people that didn\'t do harm would go there and if he possessed moral virtues. - There is also a place called CASANAAN on the other life which was the place of anguish. - According to Negritos, souls in casanaan will face the demon that they call SITAN.