In Partial Fullfillment of the Course Requirement

in
SocSci. 211 Readings in Philippine History

PLASENCIA’S ACCOUNT ON THE CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS

AMOYAN, FELIPE GLENN C.

ALTAR, GLAIZA B.
BSIT – 2A

MS. ALEXIS OLIVER CARAGA

Subject Instructor
 PLASENCIA’S ACCOUNT ON THE CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to attain the follow:

1. Examine the context and perspective of the book of Plasencia;

2. determine the significance of Plasecia’s account to Philippines history; and
3. demonstrate critical and analytical skills after studying the book of
Plasecia.

INTRODUCTION

We are who we are today because of past events and experiences, in the same
manner, the achievements and struggles of our ancestors at the hands of the colonizers
shaped the Filipinos, our culture, beliefs, values and the country as a whole, into what it is
today.

This lesson will tackle yet another primary source of historical information with
regards to the Filipinos and the Philippines. This will allow us to look into our colonizer’s
perspective and views about our country and our people during their time. Furthermore, this
will help us understand our history and how the Philippines came to be the country that it is
at the present day.

REVIEW / PRE-ASSESSMENT

Based on the previous topic, answer the question below:

What are some of Pigafetta ’ s observations about the Philippines and the Filipinos
during his time?

a. Filipinos were amazed by the European weapons and artillery.

b. Filipinos wore too little clothing compared to Spaniards.
c. The abundance of natural resources like spices, gold and other precious minerals.
d. Others

RELACION DE LAS COSTUMBRES DE LOS TAGALOS

- a historical document written in the late 16th century. The document is a

compilation of observations and descriptions of the customs and traditions of the Tagalog
people during that time.
 (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589 ) • vividly described the political, social,
economic and cultural practices of the Filipinos before they were Christiniazed.

EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK

 SOCIAL CLASSES

DATU/MAGINOO - They are the ones who governed and

served as captains during wars

MAHARLICA – The Freemen who did not pay tax or tribute

to the datu, but must accompany him in at war, at their own
expense .

ALIPING NAMAMAHAY - They live in their own houses and

are entitled to own property and land.

ALIPING SA GUIGUILIR - They serve their master in his house

and on his cultivated land and may be sold off

 MODE OF DRESSIING

MALE – putong (headgear); kanggan,

bahag

FEMALE – baro / camisa; saya

 ORNAMENTS - Decorative object or detail that adds quality
or distinction

 GOVERNMENT

o BARANGAY – unit of government that is

ruled by a chieftain / datu and consists of
30 - 100 houses / families including their
relatives and slaves

 Religion

o GODS AND GODDESSES

 BATHALA – supreme being

 IDAYANALE – god of agriculture
 SIDARAPA- god of death
 AGNI - god of fire
 BALANGAW - god of rainbow
 MANDARANGAN - god of war
 LALAHON - god of harvest
 SIGINARUGAN - god of hell

 INHERITANCE

o The first son of the barangay chieftain

inherits his father’s position; second son
succeeds if first son dies; eldest daughter
succeeds in the absence of male heir.

 MARRIAGE CUSTOMS

o PANINILBIHAN - means 'to serve', this

however, does not mean than one has to
do the other's bidding. Paninilbihan is
where the pursuer (usually the man),
offers to do certain household chores.

o DOWRY - is a payment, such as property

 or money, paid by the bride's family to the
groom or his family at the time of marriage.

 GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE

o ADULTERY - is extramarital sex that is

considered objectionable on social,
religious, moral, or legal grounds.

o ABANDONMENT - is a feeling of
disconnectedness, rejection, and
neediness.

o CRUELTY - is typically manifested as a

pattern of abusive behavior toward an
intimate partner in a dating or
family relationship.

o INSANITY - unsoundness of mind or lack

of the ability to understand that prevents
one from having the mental capacity
required by law to enter into a particular
relationship, status, or transaction or that
releases one from criminal or civil
responsibility.
 SLAVES - is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their
labor. Slavery typically involves compulsory work with the slave's location of work and
residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavement is the
placement of a person into slavery.

o WAYS ON HOW A PERSON BECOMES A SLAVE

 CAPTIVITY IN WAR - one who, while engaged in combat under orders

of their government, is captured by the armed forces of the enemy.

 DEBT - is an obligation that requires one party, the debtor, to pay money
borrowed or otherwise withheld from another party, the creditor. Debt may
be owed by sovereign state or country, local government, company, or an
individual.

 INHERITANCE - is the practice of receiving private property, titles,

debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of
an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have
changed over time.

 PURCHASE - involves the acquisition of goods or services in exchange

for a payment of some kind. The payment is usually in cash or credit.

 CRIME - is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The

term crime does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and
universally accepted definition, though statutory definitions have been
provided for certain purposes.

o WAYS A SLAVE CAN BE EMANCIPATED

 FORGIVENESS - willfully putting aside feelings of resentment toward

someone who has committed a wrong, been unfair or hurtful, or otherwise
harmed you in some way.

 PAYING DEBT - the act of paying back money that you have borrowed.

 CONDONATION - is a defense argument sometimes made when an

accuser has previously forgiven or chosen to ignore an act about which
they are now legally complaining. In some legal jurisdictions, and for
certain behaviors, it may prevent the accuser from prevailing.
  BRAVERY - the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral
strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty.

 MARRIAGE - the state of being united to a person as spouse in a legal,

consensual, and contractual relationship recognized and sanctioned by and
dissolvable only by law.

ASSESSMENT

 Ask the Class:

- Compared to pre-colonial times, would you say our current living situation is
better or worse? Why do you say so?

“Current living condition is better than pre-colonial times because we

now live in a world where we have access to technological advancements that
our ancestors didn’t have, but at the same time in some aspects, it can be
observed that our live’s are not any better than those of pre-colonial Filipinos,
although we are technically free from foreign colonizers, their influence over
us is undeniable. Aside from that, Filipinos still live differently depending on
social and financial status. Modern-day slavery is still present.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (JUAN DE PLASENCIA)

o Born in Plasencia, Extremadura, Spain, in the early 16th

century as Juan Portocarrero.
o He was one of Pedro Portocarrero ' s seven children, the
captain of a Spanish schooner.
o a Franciscan friar from Spain
o He spent most of his missionary life in the Philippines,
where he built many cities in Luzon
o Wrote various theological and linguistic works, including
the Doctrina Cristiana, the Philippines ' first book ever
printed.
o Grew up during the Siglo de Oro, a Golden Age in
which the arts and literature flourished across Spain.
o The "Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos "
is another work ascribed to him
o Taught Cathechism and converted natives.
BACKGROUND OF HIS TIME

After a stay in Mexico, he is thought to have landed in the Philippines in 1578.

He teamed up with another missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa, and began preaching
in Laguna de Bay and Tayabas, Quezon, in Quezon Province, where he built numerous
settlements as soon as he arrived.

As a friar, Juan de Plasencia lived up to his pledge, leading a lifestyle devoid of

any luxury and in constant contact with the people he was trying to convert to
Christianity. He was also known to be a defender of the native population, looking after
the poor, ill, or neglected, and standing up for their rights on numerous occasions.

ABOUT THE BOOK

 Quick facts about the Book

o The original Tagalog Customs document is presently housed at Seville,

Spain ' s Archivo General de Indias (A.G.I.).
o The Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental (A.F.I.O.) in Madrid, Spain, has a
duplicate copy.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BOOK

o In terms of Philippine history, this Relacion is unique, not to mention its

impact on the country ' s early legal system.
o One of the lessons that can be learned from "Relacion de las Costumbres
de Los Tagalos by Juan de Plasencia " is the importance of understanding
and preserving one ' s cultural heritage
o Another lesson that can be gleaned from the document is the importance
of cultural exchange and understanding between different people,

WHO IS FR. JUAN DE PLASENCIA TO YOU?

“To many Filipinos, Juan de Plasencia represents a complex figure in our

history. He was a Spanish Franciscan missionary who played a role in the Spanish
colonization of the Philippines. His efforts in evangelization and documentation of
indigenous cultures have left a lasting impact on our understanding of our history
and heritage.
Some view him as a key figure in preserving indigenous customs and
languages, while others see his actions in the context of a larger colonial history that
significantly impacted our cultural identity. His legacy continues to be debated and
interpreted in different ways within the rich tapestry of our nation's history.”

HOW RELIABLE DO YOU THINK PLASENCIA ' S ACCOUNT IS?

 “Juan de Plasencia's accounts are valuable in understanding the historical
context of the Philippines during his time, particularly concerning the indigenous
cultures and traditions. However, like many historical documents from the colonial
period, his perspectives might be influenced by his own cultural background,
religious beliefs, and the purpose of his mission, which was tied to the goals of the
Spanish colonization.

While his records provide insights into the customs, languages, and ways of
life of the indigenous people, it's important to consider potential biases or limitations.
Plasencia's accounts might reflect a certain viewpoint or might have been shaped by
the intentions of the Spanish colonial administration. Therefore, while they are
informative, they might not provide a completely neutral or comprehensive view of
the cultures he documented.”

CONCLUSION

The Relacion de las Costumbres de los Tagalos is a very important source of

information. We can conclude that it is reliable and trustworthy because Plasencia
wrote his observations based on first-hand experience. To the present day, this book
is still one of the most trusted sources of historical information, especially about the
lives and customs of the Filipino people during the reign of Spain in our country.

EVALUATION

Direction: Identify what is ask by the following statement. Write your answer in a
sheet of paper.

1. Juan de Plasencia was born in Plasencia, Extremadura, Spain, in the early 16th
century as __________ 2. He grew up during the __________, a Golden Age in
which the arts and literature flourishe across Spain.
3. _____________ is Plasencia's most important work which is a compilation of
observations and descriptions of the customs and traditions of the Tagalog people
4. What type of historical source is Juan de Plasencia's book mentioned in item
number 3?
5. This social class include the nobility or freemen who are the people who were not
required to pay tax or tribute.
6. They are the slaves and servants who serve their masters and are not allowed to
own property.
7. The unit of government consisting of 30 - 100 houses is called a
____________and is ruled by a chieftain or datu.
8-10. Give at leats 3 ways on how a person becomes a slave.
11-12. Give at least 2 ways a slave can be emancipated.
13. The first book printed in the Philippines.
14. Prior to marriage, the man is required to give a _____ to the woman's family.
15-16 Give at least 2 grounds for divorce as mentioned in the presentation.
17. Give at least one god or goddess worshipped by pre-hispanic Filipinos.
18. They are the ones who governed and served as captains during wars.
19. What year did Juan de Plasencia land in the Philippines?
 20. They are the commoners who live in their own houses and are entitled to own
property and land.

Answer’s Key

1. Juan de Portocarrero
2. Siglo de Oro
3. Relacion de las Constumbres de los Tagalos
4. Primary Source
5. Maharlica
6. Aliping Saguiguilir
7. Barangay
8-10. Captivity in War; Debt; Inheritance; Purchase; Crime
11-12 Forgiveness; Paying Debt; Condonation; Bravery; Marriage
13. Doctrina Cristiana
14. Dowry
15-16 Adultery; Abandonment; Cruelty; Insanity
17. Bathala; Idayanale; Sidarapa; Agni; Balangaw; Mandarangan; Lalahon;
Siginarugan
18. Datu
19. 1578
20. Aliping Namamahay

REFERENCES

◊ A Module in Philippine History 2021 preliminary Copy, ESSU – Main

◊ Jose Gutay "Life and Works of Fray Juan de Plasencia"
◊ Pardo de Tavera, Trinidad Hermenegildo: Las costumbres de los Tagalos
en Filipinas según el Padre Plasencia , 1892
◊ The Boxer Codex , 1950
◊ Wikipedia
◊ Other publications