Discovering The Pre-Colonial Period In The Philippines PDF

Discovering The Pre-Colonial Period in the Philippines Presented By: Kizia Gonzales & Sora Vasquez Introduction The advanced culture and technology of early Filipinos were significantly shaped by various waves of migration. The Negritos, or prehistoric aboriginal people, arrived between...

Discovering The Pre-Colonial Period in the Philippines Presented By: Kizia Gonzales & Sora Vasquez Introduction The advanced culture and technology of early Filipinos were significantly shaped by various waves of migration. The Negritos, or prehistoric aboriginal people, arrived between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago, and were skilled hunters and gatherers. By around 2500 BC, the Proto-Malays, also known as Austronesian-speaking people, introduced knowledge of seafaring, farming, and fire-making. Later the Austronesian migrations introduced advance boat building and metallurgy. By the 15th century, pre-colonial Filipinos had developed advance mining, agriculture, fishing, and pottery industries, reflecting rich cultural ties with Asia.  Economy and Trade During the pre-colonial period in the Craftsmanship, including weaving textiles Philippines, the economy was primarily based from cotton and abaca, pottery making, and on agriculture, with rice as the staple crop. metalworking, was vital to both daily life and Communities also grew root crops, fruits, and trade. The Filipinos engaged in extensive trade practiced kaingin (slash-and-burn) farming in networks with neighboring regions like China upland areas. Fishing and hunting were and Southeast Asia, exchanging local products essential, especially in coastal and forested like rice, textiles, and pottery for luxury goods. regions, providing additional food sources. This vibrant trade enriched pre-colonial Filipino society and brought in foreign influences.  Over a thousand years ago, early Filipinos were diverse groups from Asia, forming their own communities, education systems, and religious beliefs. They lived in various areas, such as seashores, streams, rivers, forests, fertile land, and caves. In water areas, they gathered fish, shells, and pearls, using boats and crafts for transportation. Land-based communities cultivated land and planted crops like rice, bananas, and crops. After harvesting, they moved to areas with less grass, fine soil, and abundant trees, indicating the Philippines' rich resources for a prosperous lifestyle. Culture Pre-colonial Philippines' indigenous spiritual traditions were animistic, based on the belief that the world is inhabited by spirits and supernatural entities, both good and bad. They respected these entities through nature worship and believed their daily lives were connected to these beliefs.  Culture The Tagalog people worshipped a range of deities and spirits, including Bathala (the supreme god), Laon (god of agriculture), Ikasi (prosperity), Gugurang (natural phenomena), and Kabunian (sky). They also honored specific gods for particular needs, such as Idialao for farming and Sidapa for death. Worship extended to natural elements like the moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and animals, reflecting their animistic beliefs. Animistic practices varied among ethnic groups, with respected figures such as babaylans (shamans), healers, and elders playing key roles. In the Visayas, beliefs in witchcraft and mythical creatures like aswang were also prominent. Clothing During the pre-colonial period in the Philippines, clothing varied significantly across the archipelago, reflecting the diverse cultures and climates of the region. In the Tagalog and Visayan areas, women typically wore the baro’t saya; a blouse paired with a wrap-around skirt; while men donned a simple untucked shirt known as the baro, often complemented by a loincloth called the bahag. In the mountainous regions, such as among the Igorot people, men wore practical g-strings and women wrapped themselves in decorated woven skirts. In Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, the Tausug and Maranao people favored the versatile malong, a tube-like garment, and ornate headpieces, while the Bajau and Sama, known for their seafaring lifestyle, wore brightly colored garments with geometric patterns. Across all groups, clothing was crafted from locally sourced materials like cotton, silk, and woven fibers, and often featured intricate designs and adornments, reflecting both practical needs and cultural identity. Writing System Baybayin is a pre-colonial Philippine writing system that was widely used throughout the islands before the arrival of the Spaniards. The term Baybayin comes from the Tagalog word, baybay, which means to “spell”. Some have attributed it to the name Alibata, but this name is incorrect. Baybayin consists of three vowels (a, e/i, o/u) and 14 consonants (B, K, D, G, H, L, M, N, NG, P, S, T, W and Y). Social Class Before Spanish colonization, the Philippine archipelago had a semicommunal and semislave social system in many parts, and a feudal system in Mindanao and Sulu, where Islam had roots. The Aetas had primitive communal organization. The barangay was the typical community, a basic political and economic unit independent of similar ones, with a few to hundreds of people and a small territory, headed by a chieftain called the rajah or datu. Social Class The pre-colonial social hierarchy in the Philippines was structured with several distinct classes. At the top were the petty nobility, who owned land privately and held significant influence. The maharlikas were another upper class, possessing enough land to support themselves and often providing special services to the rulers. Timawas were commoners with some degree of freedom and access to land, but they were still subject to the authority of the local datu or rajah. Serfs and slaves, sometimes referred to as alipin, worked without a share of the harvest and their status was often inherited or acquired through debt, crime, tribute, or capture in conflicts between barangays. This complex social system reflected a range of statuses and roles within each community.  Status of Women In pre-colonial Philippines, women enjoyed significant social status and rights. They could hold leadershiproles, such as babaylans (spiritual leaders) and even datu (chiefs) in some cases. Women could own and inherit property, engage in trade, and had the autonomy to choose their spouses, divorce, and remarry. Their roles were integral to both the spiritual and economic life of their communities, reflecting a society with a high degree of gender complementarity and respect for women.  Marriage Customs In pre-colonial Philippines, marriage customs were rich with tradition and reflected the social values of the time. Courtship often involved the practice of "paninilbihan," where the suitor would serve the woman's family to prove his worthiness and dedication. This period of service demonstrated his ability to provide and was a crucial part of winning the family's approval. Additionally, a dowry known as "bigay-kaya" was given by the groom's family to the bride's family, symbolizing goodwill and the groom's capacity to support his future wife. The marriage ceremony itself was typically a communal event, with rituals overseen by a babaylan (spiritual leader), and was often marked by feasting and celebration, signifying the union of not just two individuals but also their families and communities.  Pre- Colonial House The Bahay Kubo, also known as the Nipa Hut, has been a traditional dwelling for the indigenous people of the Philippines since the pre-Hispanic era. This iconic structure remains strongly associated with Filipino culture today. Designed to endure the tropical climate of the Philippines, the Bahay Kubo features elevated floors to protect against flooding and pests, and a thatched roof made of nipa palm or cogon grass that provides insulation and ventilation. Its simple, functional design reflects both the practical needs and cultural values of Filipino communities throughout history. REFERENCES https://hapihumanist.org/2022/08/18/baybayin- legacy/#:~:text=BaybayinisapreDHispanic,thearrivaloftheSpaniards https://mandirigma.org/?p=423 https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/pre-colonialperiod-24134000/24134000 https://youtu.be/E4sUFMkt0Fs?si=znY- A9jOyLXX3CJ1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0xDZTQX6mmalFLmtUoCMZMl- 5M_D4VvpWASzqpQ1tjzoVhcqIgZI5oMwA_aem_DGDleonCDoZg0Qnscl2n4w https://www.somapilipinas.org/community https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/precolonial-period-50718098/50718098 https://pilipino-express.com/history-a-culture/in-other-words/3249-what-did-pre- colonial-filipinos-look-like.html Thank You for listening! Additional Information Why did the Spaniards burned the Filipino Culture?