CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS
(Las costumbres de los indios Tagalos de Filipinas) JUAN DE PLASCENCIA
I.
Author’s Background Life in the Philippines
Juan de Plasencia
16th
Born in the century to the illustrious family of the Portocarreros in Plasencia, in the Region of Extremadura, Spain. His real name is Joan de Puerto Carrero, del convento de Villanueva de la Serena. He was a Spanish Friar of the Franciscan order. He spent most of his missionary life in the Philippines, where he founded numerous towns in Luzon and authored several religious and linguistic books, most notably, the Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 – translated the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog, Tagalog , the first book ever printed in the Philippines. Juan de Plasencia was born in the early 16th century as Juan Portocarrero in Plasencia, in the region of Extremadura, Spain. He was one of the seven children of Pedro Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish schooner. Said to have been inspired to be a Franciscan because of his upbringing spent during a spiritual and religious resurgence affected by Spain’s Spain’ s Siglo de Oro, a Golden Age when arts and literature flourished in many parts of Spain, among them his native Extremadura. Well reputed as the one who took the leading role in fostering the spread of primary education. Converted natives, taught catechisms, and organized towns and barangays in the Philippines. Promoted the understanding of both the Spanish language among the natives, and the local languages among the missionaries, to facilitate the task of spreading Christianity. Initiated the Reduccion Policy – policy to reduce or resettle natives in central locations. Some of his works aimed to put an end to some injustices being committed against the natives by certain government officials. officials.
Arrival in the Philippines
Came with the first batch of Franciscan missionaries in the Philippines in 1577.
He is believed to have arrived to the Philippines in 1578. As soon as he arrived, he joined forces with another missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa, and they both started preaching around Laguna de Bay and Tayabas, Quezon, in Quezon Province, where he founded several towns as towns as early as two months upon arrival in Manila. During the following years they are also credited with the foundation of a large number of towns in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal, such as Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban, Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan, Lilio(Liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and Meycauayan. Elected as the custos of the friars in May 23, 1584 and held it until 1588. Passed away in Liliw, Laguna in the year 1590.
Literary Works
II.
Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language) Vocabulario Coleccion de Frases Tagala (Collection of Tagalog Phrases) Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 – translated the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog Diccionario Tagalog, 1580 La Santina, 1585 – opus on Prayer and Meditation Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos, 1589 – First Civil Code of the Philippines Philippines Customs of the Tagalogs by Juan de Plasencia
Historical Background
It was written on the year 1589 during the Spanish Colonial Period. After receiving the Lordship’s letter, Plasencia wished to reply immediately; but he postponed his answer in order that he might first thoroughly inform himself in regard to People’s request, and to avoid discussing the conflicting reports of the Indians. Therefore, he collected Indians from different districts – old men, and those of most capacity; and from them he have obtained the simple truth, after weeding out much foolishness, in regard to their government, administration of justice, inheritance, slaves, and dowries. Customs of the Tagalogs is a part (either chapters or subsections) of longer monographs written by the chroniclers of the Spanish expeditions to the Philippines during the early 16th and 17th centuries. They appeared initially in Blair and Robertson’s 55 volumes, The Philippine Islands (1903) and in the Philippine Journal of Sciences (1958). III.
Analysis of the Important Historical Information found in the Document
– the chief who governed the people and were captains in their wars whom they obey and reverence BARANGAY – a family of parents and children, relations and slaves.
DATOS
The Three Castes NOBLES COMMONERS SLAVES
Situation 1: Those who are maharlicas on both the father’s and mother’s side continue to be forever, and if it happens that they should become slaves, it is through marriage. Situation 2: If maharlicas had children among their slaves, their children and their mothers became free.
Situation 5: If two persons married, of whom one was a maharlica and the other a slave (namamahay or sa guiguilir ) the children were divided.
Odd birth order (1st , 3rd , 5th...) – belong to the father. Even birth order (2nd , 4th , 6th...) – belong to the mother. Only child – half free, half slave.
Special Case: When one married woman of another village, the children were afterwards divided equally between the two barangays.
Situation 4: If a free woman had children by a slave they were all free, provided he were not her husband.
Investigations made and sentences passed by the dato must take place in the presence of those his barangay.
They had laws by which they condemned to death a man of low birth who insulted the daughter or wife of a chief; likewise witches, and others of the same class. Dowries are given by men to the women’s parents before marriage. If the parents are both alive, they both enjoy the use of it. Divorce and Dowries Death of Wife or Husband Dowry and Arranged Marriage Worship of the Tagalogs
Situation 3: If maharlicas had children by the slavewoman of another, the slave-woman was compelled when pregnant, to give her master half of a gold tael. In this case, half of the child was free if the father (maharlica) recognized him. If not, the child will become a whole slave.
Maharlicas could not, after marriage, move from one village to another without paying a certain fee in gold (ranging from one to three taels and a banquet to the entire barangay) as arranged among them.
No temples Simbahan – Temple or Place of Adoration. Pandot – or a festival celebrated Sibi Sorihile Nagaanitos
Idols
Bathala Lic-Ha Dian Masalanta (Patron of Lovers and of Generation) Lacapati and Idianale (Patrons of Cultivated Lands and of Husbandry) Tala Seven Little Goats (the Pleiades) Mapolon (change of seasons)
Balatic (greater Bear) Buaya Tigmamanuguin – bird No established division of years, months, and days Catolonan (officiating priest) Offerings and sacrifices Belief on bearingchild
Distinctions among the priests of the Devil 1. Catalonan 2. Manganguay (Witches) 3. Manyisalat 4. Mancocolam 5. Hocloban 6. Silagan 7. Magtatangal 8. Osuang 9. Mangagayoma 10. Sonat 11. Pangatahojan 12. Bayoguuin
Manner of burying the dead of the tagalogs Manner of burying dead of the Aetas or Negrillos Maca Casanaan Sitan Tigbalaang Patianac
IV.
Contribution and Relevance of the document in understanding the ground narrative of Philippine History
The original work itself is a product of observations and judgments. Therefore, it is probable that Juan de Plasencia’s work might contain partiality in presenting his observations and judgments. Pre-conquest society were not swept by the advent of the Spanish regime. It has continued to serve as a basis for historical reconstructions of Tagalog society.
V.
Relevance of the document in the modern time Many of the 16th century beliefs and practices are still present today. If affirms that during the pre-Hispanic period, Filipinos already have government as well as a set of beliefs and practices. Some of our preceptions on Filipino beliefs and practices are somehow on different from Juan de Plasencia’s point of view.
