Readings in the Philippine History

Reviewer

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES

HISTORY

- originated as a derivation of historia, an ancient Greek term for learning through

inquiry (Hoefferle, 2013)
- usually defined as the study of past events
- Merriam Webster Dictionary: chronological record of significant events such as
those affecting a nation or institution, often including an explanation of their
causes.
- American Historical Association: defines history as the never-ending process
whereby people seek to understand the past and its many meanings.
- Aristotle: history is a systematic account of a set of natural phenomena. It is also
an investigative work because people aim to satisfy their thirst for truth.
- (Collingwood, 1976) History attempts to know the actions of human beings that
were accomplished in the past.
- Zeus Salazar (a notable historian and retired professor of the University of the
Philippines): Kasaysayan, the counterpart of history in the mother tongue, is an
essential narrative with to a group of people that is characterized by uniqueness
and identity. This uniqueness, as opined by Salazar, is largely based on their own
language and heritage, hence ―Ang Kasaysayan ay salaysay na may saysay para
sa isang grupo ng tao na may kakanyahan, identidad na nakasandig sa sariling
wika at kalinangan (Sebastian and Rosales, 2008). Through this definition, Salazar
reiterates that the essence of history depends on whose history is being narrated
and who the intended audiences are.
- It is important to note that history is not the past, but rather a glimpse of the past.
The entirety of the past cannot be narrated and included in all of the written
histories for the main reason that not everything which happened in the past were
recorded and/or documented. Therefore, history does not create narration of past
events; rather a recreation of past events based on available materials.
RELEVANCE OF HISTORY

- Collingwood (1976) tells that history is valuable because it teaches people what
they have done and thus what man is. Through history, the present generation
could assess the feats and defeats of the previous generations and can learn not
only from their errors but also from their victories. The following relevance of history
were enumerated by Peter Stearns (1998).
• History contributes to Moral Understanding
• History helps us understand people and societies
• History provides Identity
• History is essential for Good Citizenship

THE REPOSITORIES OF HISTORICAL SOURCES

Philippine Depositories

- National Library of the Philippines (NLP): Holds a wide array of general and
rare collections on Philippine history, includes the ff. units: (1) Filipiniana Division
(2) Microfilm Section. Important documents such as the Historical Data Papers and
the Philippine Revolutionary Records are housed in this library.
- Archives of the UST: rich Spanish-era collections, especially with regards to
education-related records during the Spanish Period.
- National Archives of the Philippines (NAP): rich Spanish-era collection, most
particularly when it comes to gov’t-related records of the Spanish regime.
- Archdiocesan Archives of Manila (Arzobispado, Intramuros): if you wish to
conduct researches on ecclesiastical-related topics. Also contains vast information
on Church affairs. The infamous Retraction Letter of Rizal was also found here.
- Manila Observatory Archives: contains pertinent data regarding the various
weather disturbances and conditions. This is due to the fact that the Observatorio
served as the weather forecasting bureau of the Spanish colonial government.
- UP Main Library (Diliman, Quezon City); Ateneo de Manila University’s Rizal
Library and Historical Collection of the United States Embassy (Loyola
Heights, Quezon City); and the DLSU Libraries (Ermita, Manila): contains
Primary and Secondary sources.
- SIL Philippines (Horseshoe Drive, Quezon City): if you wish to conduct
researches on Ethnic groups, they also offer 2,000 titles relating to the languages
of the Philippines.
 - Archives of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM)
(Quezon City): collection of documents written by CICM missionaries who were
posted in the northern part of Luzon.

Spanish Depositories

- The ff. are the principal Spanish depositories which contain tons of collections
pertaining to the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines:
1. Archivo General de Indias (Seville)
2. ArchivoHistorico Nacional (Madrid)
3. Museo Naval de la Ministerio de Marina (Madrid)
4. Real Academia de la Historia (Madrid)
5. Biblioteca Nacional de Espana (Madrid)
6. Archivo de Ministerio de AsuntosExteriores (Madrid)
- Portal de Archivos Españoles (PARES) by Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte:
Offers free access to digitized copies of documents and other sources that can be
found in Spanish Archives.

Mexican Depository

- Archivo General de la Nacion de Mexico: contains the history of Philippines as

a part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the capital of which was situated in Mexico.
The ties between the two Spanish territories ended when Mexico gained
independence in 1821.

British Depository
- 1762-1764, British occupied Manila. It was through this invasion that some
historical sources written during the Spanish period made its way to the British
Museum.
- Jose Rizal took some time in this facility (British Museum) in an attempt to annotate
the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas of Antonio de Morga.

American Depositories

1. National Archives and Records Service (NARS)

2. Library of Congress (Washington D.C.)
3. Ayer Collection of the Newberry Library (Chicago, Illinois)
 4. Lily Library (Bloomington, Indiana)
5. Harvard University
6. Stanford University
7. University of Michigan
- archive.org and Project Gutenberg offer a wide array of scanned sources which
are available for download.

CLASSIFICATION AND TYPES OF HISTORICAL SOURCES

- Sources are defined as artifacts that have been left by the past. Can either exist
as: (1) relics, (2) remains, or (3) testimonies of witnesses of the past. (Howell
and Prevenier, 2001).
- Historical sources are not only confined to written document but also to artifacts
and ecofacts.

Artifacts

- Collins English Dictionary: something made or given shape by humans such as

a tool or work of art.
- Merriam Webster Dictionary: a simple object showing workmanship or
modification as distinguished from a natural object. Basically, it is an object
remaining from a particular period. Ex: tools and ornaments.

Ecofacts

- Oxford Dictionary: pertains to an excavated piece of evidence consisting natural

remains, as opposed to an object of human workmanship.
- The direct opposite of artifact.
Main Types of Sources

Primary Source

- Louis Gottschalk (1950) in his book Understanding History: the testimony of an

eyewitness, or of a witness by any other senses, or of a mechanical device like the
Dictaphone—that is, of one who or that which was present at the event of which
he or it tells.
- Examples: diaries, audio recordings, artifacts, letters, newspaper articles and
documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death
certificates. Visual sources like works of art, photographs, and videos are
also included in this category.

Secondary Source

- Gottschalk (1950): the testimony of anyone who is not an eyewitness—that is,

one who was not present at the event of which he tells.
- Examples: bibliographies, commentaries, annotations, dictionaries,
encyclopedias, journal articles, magazines, monographs, and textbooks.

The main difference between the two is the presence of the writer, author, or
observer to the event being described.

Unwritten Sources

Archaeological Evidence
- remains such as artifacts and ecofacts.
- includes: tools, ornaments, fixtures, etc.

Oral Evidence

- folk tales, myths, legends, folk songs, and popular rituals

- contains information pertaining to culture of the people who created them. These
pieces of evidence can also give a glimpse of the people’s economic activities at
a given time, especially their socio-political organization and social condition.

Material Evidence

- Includes: photographs, art works, videos, and sound recordings.

16th CENTURY FILIPINOS (1521-1700)

Filipinos were organized into barangays, small communities led by a “datu”.

Social Classes:

➢ Datu: The ruler or chief.

➢ Maharlica: Nobles who assisted the datu.
➢ Aliping Namamahay: Commoners who lived in their own homes but served
the datu.
➢ Aliping Sa Guiguilid: Slaves who worked directly under their master.
Culture:

➢ Filipinos valued bayanihan (cooperation) and utang na loob (debt of

gratitude).
➢ Oral traditions included epics, myths, and legends.
➢ Pre-Hispanic writing system: Baybayin.

Religion:

➢ Worshipped anito (nature spirits) and ancestors.

➢ Rituals were conducted by babaylans (priestesses) or catalonans.

16TH CENTURY FILIPINOS 1521-1700

Juan de Plasencia’s Account

- The author of the Customs of the Tagalogs is Juan de Plasencia, a Franciscan friar
who came from Extremadura, Spain.
- As a religious missionary, he adopted the life of poverty and the life offered for the
purpose of preaching and helping the poor.
- He is among the first batch of missionaries who came to the Philippines in 1578.
- He was assigned to different mission areas in Luzon, particularly in Laguna and
the present-day provinces of Quezon, Bulacan and Rizal.
- He became the custos or superior of the Franciscans in the Philippines from May
23, 1584 until 1588. He later died in Laguna in 1590.
Background of the Document

- Written in Nagcarlan, Laguna and finished on October 21, 1589, Costumbres de

Tagalos (Customs of the Tagalogs) was among the series of accounts written by
various missionaries and colonial officials during the early years of Spanish
occupation in the Philippines. These accounts were attempts to know and describe
their subjects more.

EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM THE DOCUMENT

On Government and Social Organization

- Tagalogs were ruled by chiefs called ‘datos’ (as spelled in the account). Datos
governed and were served as the captains in terms of war. They were obeyed and
revered to the point that whoever speaks bad against their wives and children will
be severely punished.
- Plasencia likened datos as knights of the Spaniards.
- The community lead by datos are called baranggays, which were small
communities composed of 30-100 families.
- Maharlicas (nobles), next to the datos, were required to accompany the dato in
times of war. They also had to pay their own expenses such as food, clothings
armor, and their boat to be used in war.
- Next were the commoners, which Plasencia referred to as Aliping Namamahay.
Although they lived in their own houses while serving their masters, one privilege
they could enjoy was their immunity from being sold to anyone. Moreover, they
could also be inherited by their master‘s son although they could not be brought
with him should the son wish to transfer to another barangay.
- Last level were slaves. Also referred as Aliping Guiguilir/Guiguilid by Plasencia.
They were usually captives in war and enslaved together with their families.

On Marriage

Situation 1: Maharlicas both on paternal and maternal sides could enjoy their status
forever. If they become slaves, it happened because of marriage.

Situation 2: If Maharlicas had children with their slaves, the mother and child would
be considered freemen.
Situation 3: If the Maharalica happens to have a child with another Maharlica’s slave,
the female slave shall give her master half of a gold tael because of her risk of death
and inability to work during pregnancy. The child would be considered half-due to his
father. If the father does not recognize the child or does not support the child, the child
would be considered slave.

Situation 4: If a free woman had children with a slave, the children would be regarded
as freemen, provided that he was not the free woman’s husband.

Situation 5: If a Maharlica and a slave (Namamahay or Guiguilir) married, their

children will be classified according to birth order: odd birth order (1 st, 3rd, 5th, etc.)
would inherit the status of the father, even birth order (2 nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) would inherit
the status of the mother. If the child is only one, he would be considered half-free and
half-slave.

After marriage, the Maharlicas could not move from one barangay to another without
paying a certain amount of fine in gold.

On Loans

- The debtors were condemned to a life of toil because of the excessive interest
added to their debts.
- In order to earn a living, sometimes their debt was sold to other people, so the
debtor had to pay more debt and had to experience an increasingly pitiful state.

On Inheritance

- Legitimate children could inherit equally, but there are some instances that either
of the parents have favorites and they give more to that child.
- A man’s child with another woman can inherit everything if there is no legitimate
child, however, if a man dies without an heir, inheritance would be given to his
parents, grandparents, or closest relatives.

On Inheritance of Adopted Children

- The adopted child could inherit twice the amount paid in his adoption.
On Investigations and Punishments

- Investigations made and sentences passed by the dato, should take place in the
presence of the people of baranggay. The arbiter must be known as fair and just
by rendering rational judgement according to their customs. If the controversy was
between two chiefs, they had to convoke judges as arbiters to avoid war. The same
goes with the disputants came from other baranggays.

On Marriage Dowries
- Dowry is given by the man to the woman’s parents. Failure to provide dowries
would require a certain sum which varied according to the practice of the
baranggays or the individual’s affluence.

On Divorce

- The pre-colonial Filipino practiced divorce, contrary to what the present Filipinos
have.

THE WORSHIP PRACTICES OF THE TAGALOGS, THEIR GODS, THEIR BURIALS

AND SUPERSTITIONS

Worship Practices

- They had no temples, they adore native idols, and practice idolatry in all the
villages or in other parts of the archipelago.
- They had simbahan which meant temple or place of adoration, in reality they
celebrate pandots (festivals) of worship in the large house of the chief. There they
had a tent or what they called sibi.
- Their houses are constructed in a manner that could accommodate many people,
divided into three compartments. They had a large lamp in the middle of the house
called sorihile.

Tagalog Deities

- Badhala (Bathala) was one of their idols who they especially worshipped. The title
seemed to signify “all powerful” or “maker of all things”.
- They also worshipped the sun for its beauty. The moon especially when it’s new
moon. The stars that they do not know by name except for the morning star, which
they call tala.
- They also knew the seven little goats (the Pleiades) and consequently, the change
of seasons, which they called Mapolon and Balatic.
- They possessed many idols called lic-ha which were images with different shapes.
- Dian Masalanta, their idol who was patron of lovers and of generation.
- Lacapati and Idianale were the patrons of the cultivated lands and of husbandry.
- They paid reverence to water lizards which they called buaya or crocodiles due to
fear of being harmed by them.

Superstitious Beliefs

- They return to their houses if ever they meet the following on their way:

1. serpent

2. rat

3. bird called Tigmamanuguin that sings on a tree

4. anyone who sneezed

This is because they considered the incident as an augury that some evil might befall
them if they should continue their journey, especially when the above-mentioned bird
sang. This song had two different forms: one was considered as an evil omen while
the other one was a good omen.

- They also practiced divination to see whether weapons such as a dagger or knife
would be useful and lucky for their possessor whenever occasions would offer.
- Young girls who first had their monthly courses, their eyes were blindfolded for four
days and four nights. In the meantime, their friends and relatives were all invited
to share food and drink. At the end of this period, the catolonan took the young girl
to the water, bathed her and washed her head and removed the bandage from her
eyes. The old men claimed that they did this in order that the girls would bear
children and have fortune in finding husbands whom they liked and who would not
leave them widows in their youth.
- There were also ghosts, which they called vibit and phantoms which they called
tigbalaang.
 - They had another superstition. If there were any woman died in childbirth, it was
believed that she and the child suffered punishment. At night, she could be heard
lamenting. This was called patianac.

Knowledge of Time

- Natives had no division of years, months, and days. These were determined by
the cultivation of soil, their counting by the moons, and the different effect produced
upon the trees when yielding flowers, fruits, and leaves. All this helped the in
making up the year.
- Dry and wet seasons were distinguished as sun-time and water-time.
- The Spaniards had determined the seasons, introduced the months which were
divided into weeks.

Sacrifices and Other Forms of Idolatries

- Offering sacrifice was to proclaim a feast and offer to the devil what they had to
eat. This was done in front of the idol. They praise their idol with poetic songs sung
by the officiating priest, male or female, who is called catolonan. The devil
sometimes liable to enter the catolonan’s body, which would influence the
catalonan that seemed to shoot flames from her eyes.
- Their objects to sacrifice were goats, fowls, and swine, which were flayed,
decapitated, and laid before the idol.
- The reasons for sacrifice and adoration were: the recovery of 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 of childbirth, and a happy
outcome in married life.
- If this took place among people with rank, the festivities lasted thirty days.

Priests of the Devil

First: Catolonan

- Either a man or a woman. Honorable among natives and held ordinarily by people
of rank. This rule was general in all islands.
Second: Mangangauay or Witches

- Pretending to heals the sick.

- Induced maladies by their charms, which in proportion to the strength and efficacy
of the witchcraft, were capable of causing death.
- They could kill if they wish to, they could also prolong life for a year by binding to
the waist a live serpent, which was believed as the devil.
- This office is general throughout the islands.

Third: Manyisalat

- Same as mangangauay.
- Had the power as such to apply remedies to lovers that they would abandon and
despise their own wives and prevent them to have an intercourse with the latter.
- General throughout the islands.

Fourth: Mancocolam

- Duty: Emit fire from itself at night once or often each month. This fire could not be
extinguished except as the priest wallowed in the ordure and filth which fell from
the houses. And he who lived in the house where the priest was wallowing in order
to emit this for from himself fell ill and died.
- General throughout the islands.

Fifth: Hocloban, another kind of witch

- Greater efficacy than a mangangauay.

- They can kill whoever they choose without the use of medicine but just by saluting
or raising their hands.
- They can also heal using their charms.
- They can also destroy houses of some Indian hostile to them, without using any
instrument.
- This was in Catanduanes.

Sixth: Silagan

- Clothed in white, to tear out his liver and eat it, thus causing the victim’s death.
- This was also in Catanduanes.
Seventh: Magtatangal

- Shows himself at night without his head or entrails.

- The devil walked out about and carried or pretended to carry his head to different
places. In the morning he would return to his body and remained alive as before.
- This was in Catanduanes.

Eighth: Osuang
- Sorcerer
- Flew and murder men then ate their flesh.
- Among the Visayas and not from the Tagalogs.

Ninth: Mangangayoma

- Witch who make charms for lover out of herbs, stones, and wood which would
infuse the heart with love.

Tenth: Sonat

- Preacher
- Helps a person die. He could also predict salvation or condemnation of the soul.
- This priest was general in the islands.

Eleventh: Pangatahojan
- Soothsayer and a predictor of the future.
- Also general in all the islands.

Twelfth: Bayoguin

- Signified as cotquean, who was a man whose nature inclined toward that of a
woman.
All the various kinds of infernal ministers were, therefore, as was stated: catolonan, Sonat
(who was a sort of bishop who ordained priestesses and received their reverence, for
they knelt before him as before one who could pardon sins, and expected salvation
through him) mangagauay, manyisalat, mancocolam, hocloban, silagan, magtatangal,
osuang, mangagayoma and pangatahojan.

BELIEF ON DEATH AND OTHER ASSOCIATED RITUALS

Manner of Burrying the Dead

- The deceased was buried beside his house.
- If he were a chief, placed beneath a little house or porch which was constructed
for this purpose.
- Before interring him, they would mourn for 4 days then afterwards, they laid him
on a boat that served as his coffin or bier.
- He would be places beneath the porch where a guard was kept over him by a
slave.
- If the deceased had been a warrior, a living slave was tied beneath his body until
in this wretched way he died.

Aetas/Negrillos (Negritos) Manners of Burying the Dead

- They dug a deep, perpendicular hole and placed the deceased within it, leaving
him upright with head or crown unburied. On top of the deceased, they would put
half a cocoa-nut which was to serve him as a shield.

Infidels

- Said that there was another life of rest which they called maca, just as if we should
say ‘paradise’, or in other words, ‘village of rest’. Those who go to this place are
just, and the valiant, those who lived without doing harm, or who possessed moral
values.
- Also said that in the other life and mortality, there was a place of punishment, grief,
and affliction, called casamaan, which was―a place of anguish; they also
maintained that no one would go to heaven, where there dwelt only Bathala, ―the
maker of all things, who governed from above.
 - There were also other pagans who confessed more clearly to a hell, which they
called, as I have said, casamaan; they said that all the wicked went to that place,
and there dwelt the demons, whom they called sitan.

PRE-HISTORIC AND PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES

Pre-historic

- Period before recorded history, spanning from the earliest known human presence
in the Philippines (approximately 67, 000 years ago)
- NO WRITTEN RECORDS
- INFORMATION COMES FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS (stone tools,
bones, pottery, and remnants of early human habitation)

Pre-colonial period

- The time before the arrival of Spanish in 1521.

- Philippines was divided into numerous independent, self-governing communities
or polities.

Pre-historic Philippines

- Divided from the Pleistocene (at least 1M years ago) to Holocene (10,000 years
ago to the present).

Early People

Callao Man (Homo Luzensis)

- Locally called ‘ubag’

- earliest known species in the Philippines
- fossil remains, including a foot bone, were dated around 67,000 years ago
- their remains was found in the Callao Cave in the island’s northern part, that’s why
they were called callao man
- initially identified as belonging to modern humans in 2010, however, in 2019, they
were placed into a new species due to discovery of more specimen
 - the first bone was discovered by zooarcheologist Philip Piper (Molar and Premolar
Teeth and Third Metatarsal Bone)

Tabon Man

- human remains discovered in the Tabon Caves in Palawan, dating back to about
16,500 years ago.
- discovered by Robert B. Fox, an American anthropologist of the National Museum
of the Philippines, on May 28, 1962. These remains, the fossilized fragments of a
skull of a female and the jawbones of three individuals.
- cave system located in Lipuun Point, Paintian, Quezon, Palawan in the Philippines
- country’s “cradle of civilization”
- site of archaeological importance due to the number of jar burials and prehistoric
human remains found starting from the 1960’s, most notably is The Tabon Man
- The system is part of the Lipuun Point Reservation, protected by the Philippine
government to prevent deforestation and preserve its caves and cultural artifacts.

PRE-HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINES

- Covers the events before the written history of what is now the Philippines.
- The current demarcation between this period and the early history of the
Philippines is April 21, 900
- Equivalent on the Proleptic Gregorian calendar for the date indicated on the
Laguna Copperplate Inscription

Laguna Copperplate Inscription

- The earliest known surviving written record to come from the Philippines

Palios “Stone” Lithos “Stone”

Old Stone Age

The Paleolithic Period

- 3.3M years ago to the end of the Pleistocene, approximately 11,650 years ago
Early Paleolithic (700,000-70,000 B.C.)

- Homo Erectus
- The early human inhabitants of this period used language; praticed gathering food;
controlled fire; and relied on a single tool—the hand axe.

The Paleolithic Period

- Represents nearly all of prehistoric human technological evolution.

Early Middle Paleolithic (70,000 B.C.-43,000 B.C.)

- Homo Neanderthalensis
- Early human inhabitants used language; they buried death and cared for the
injured and elderly; and made specialized tools for scrapping and dagger meat

Late Middle Paleolithic (300,000 A.C.-Present Day)

- Homo Sapiens

Late Paleolithic (30,000 B.C.-10,000 B.C.)

- Farming have not been yet established; the sickle a crescent-shaped tool used to
harvest crops, was developed during this era.

The Paleolithic Period

- Stone Tools
- Hunter-gatherers
- Forage
- Nomadic
- Society/Tribe Group

Hunting: Mostly done by men. They worked together to bring downarge animals.

Art: People painted herds of animals on cave walls.

Gathering: Mostly done by women. The gathered food like wild plants, seeds, fruits, and
nuts.
Fire: People learned to use fire to cook their food.

Tools: Early people learned to make them such as spear for hunting.

The Neolithic Period

- Farming began about 12,009 years ago, and the making of tools for farming and
food preparation like: (sickles, grinding stones, and pottery).
- Tools like the adze were used to build homes and boats.
- Polished stone axe, especially, made it easier to clear forests.

Metal Age

- Time in human history, about 6,000 years ago, when people made important
progress in working with metals like copper, tin, bronze, and iron to create tools
and weapons.
- People in this period also made jewelry and decorative items from precious metals
like gold and silver.
- Development of bronze and iron tools made farming easier and helped increase
trade.
- Trading with places like China and Southeast Asie brought new ideas and
influences, and items like the Manunggul Jar show spiritual beliefs and the growing
complexity of society.

PRECOLONIAL PHILIPPINES (900 A.D.-1521 A.D.)

- There was a thriving exchange of cultures, social structure, economic expansion.

The formation of intricate societies, trade networks, and government structures
show the sophisticated character of precolonial Filipino communities.

Social and Political Structure

- The foundation of pre-colonial Philippine society was the barangays, a small town
governed by a datu or chief.
Social Divisions and Hierarchy

- The social structure of pre-colonial Philippine society was hierarchical, with classes
separated by money, social standing, and kinship.

Class and Description

Nobles: Hold position of authority and power within the barangay.

Freemen: Engaged in various occupations such as farming, trading, and crafts.

Agricultural Workers: Worked in agriculture and supported the community’s
subsistence.

Slaves: Had limited rights and freedoms, considered property of their owners.

Religion and Belief System

- Broad spectrum of indigenous belief system, including a diverse pantheon of

deities and natural spirits. Ethnic groupz reflected their connection to the natural
world and ancestors through specific rituals and customs.

Ancestral Spirit Worship

- Pre-colonial belief emphasized ancestral spirit worship, involving rituals, offerings,

ceremonies to honor and converse with spirits with magical abilities, seeking
protection, and blessings for significant occasions.

Diverse Pantheon of Indigenous Deities

- Native gods, distinct to each ethnic group in the Philippines, were worshipped to
obtain blessings and influence their worldview, social structures, and daily lives.
Early Economic Activities

Agriculture

Swirdden Farming (Kaingin): A primary method for cultivating crops.

Banaue Rice Terraces: Advanced irrigation techniques for rice cultivation in mountainous
areas.

Fishing and Seafaring

- Essential economic activities utilizing techniques like salambao (fishing rafts) and
night fishing.

Trading

- Key trading hub in Southeast Asia.

- Barter Systems facilitated the exchange of goods such as rice, gold, and pottery.

Cultural Achievements

Craftsmanship

Weaving: Creation of colorful garmentsfrom various materials.

Pottery: Intricately designed functional pottery.

Boat Building: Construction of vessels like the balangay.

Language and Literature

Baybayin Script: Preserved oral traditions, poetry, and legal documents, showcasing
intellectual achievements.

Mining and Adornment

- Early mining of gold, silver, cooper, and iron for decorative items and currency.
COMING OF COLONIZATION AND NATIVE REVOLTS

COMING OF COLONIZATION

On March 16, 1521, a Spanish expedition, sailing across the pacific ocean from east to
west, and led by the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan lands on Homonhon Island east of
Samar with three small ships. Magellan calls the place San Lazaro island since March 16
is Saint Lazarus day.

And on the 28th day of March in the same year, he sailed southwest ward then he arrived
at Limasawa, which was ruled by Rajah Kulambo who then became his friend. They also
sealed their friendship through blood compact.

He then sailed to Cebu Island where he meets his new friend, Rajah Humabon, they also
sealed their friendship through blood compact. But unfortunately, on April 27, 1521,
Magellan dies in a battle with Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan, an island near Cebu.

After the death of Magellan, King Charles I sends another explorer, Garcia Jofre de
Loaisa, the Loaisa expedition, the king ordered Loaisa to explore the Asia at East Indies
known as Spice island, Loaisa appointed Sebastian Elcano as their chief pilot who
experienced the Voyage of Magellan. However Loaisa and Elcano failed in the end and
lost their lives.

Alvaro de Saavedra, after a years of the death of Magellan. Well, the true purpose of his
expeditions is to find new lands in the south sea, the pacific ocean and to bring back the
the spice plants, however, on October 31, 1527 they sailed from Guerrero, Mexico and
they cited the Philippines and landed at the small island of the north coast of mindanao ,
the island of Saranggani, after 95 days, Saavedra visited Saranggani thrice and according
to the records of Saavedra from 1527 to 1528, they mentioned Sugbu staying and they
witness that native filipinos at that still practicing the traditional religion of natives filipinos
which is the pag-aanito and also, they witness the human sacrifice in ritual, this makes
Saavedra the first navigator to cross the pacific oceans from america.

And the next expedition is the Villalobos Expedition, King Charles I send Ruy Lopez
Villalobos to explore the Philippines, and he sets sail on the Philippines on 1542 which
he follow the route of Magellans, he anchored at the island of mindanao and spend 18
months at Saranggani and he circumnavigate the island of Leyte and Samar but after that
18 months of building a colony at Mindanao, Villalobos cameback to spain becaude of
the scarcity of the food and was captured by the Portuguese at Moluccas where he died,
Villalobos named the Philippines as Las Islas Filipinas after the King Charle’s I son, Philip
II.

In February 13, 1565, with four ships and 380 men, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in
the Philippines establishing a base at Cebu, and he was the one who started the
colonization in the Philippines. He was the first Governador General in the Philippines.
The Legaspi’s Expedition was most succesful expedition.

NATIVE REVOLTS

Dagami Revolt (1565–1567)

- led by Chief Dagami from Gabi, Leyte, against Spanish colonial rule. Group of 16
men organized by Dagami, started with the assassination of Pedro de Arana on
May 23, 1565. Dagami’s strategic surprise attacks confused Spanish authorities
despite their military power. Betrayal by Rajah Tupas led to Dagami’s capture,
ending the revolt

Lakandula and Sulayman Revolt (1574)

- Tagalog Revolt against Spanish rule due to unfulfilled promises

- Led by Rajah Lakandula and Rajah Sulayman of Tondo and Manila
- Failed due to lack of manpower and Spanish military superiority

Pampanga Revolt (1585)

- Kapampangan leaders revolted against Spanish encomenderos for land rights

- Foiled plot to storm Intramuros led to the execution of rebel leaders

Conspiracy of the Maharlikas (1587–1588)

- Plot by Tagalog and Kapampangan nobility to overthrow Spanish rule

 - Betrayed by Antonio Surabao, leading to the failure of the conspiracy

Revolts Against the Tribute (1589)

- Uprisings in Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur over unjust taxes
- Rebels pacified by Spanish troops, granted pardon, and tax system overhaul

Magalat Revolt (1596)

- Led by Magalat from Cagayan, incited rebellion against Spanish

- Committed atrocities, controlled countryside, besieged Spanish forces

Igorot Revolt (1601)

- Led by Padre Esteban Marin to convert Igorots to Catholicism

- Ordered by Governor-General Francisco de Tello de Guzmán, suppressed by
Captain Aranda

Chinese Revolt of 1603

- Massacre of 30,000 Chinese merchants in Luzon

- Survivors fled to Wawa, Manila residents set fire to areas like Legarda and Binondo

Caquenga’s Revolt (1607)

- Animist priestess Caquenga rebelled against the Catholic church in Cagayan

Valley
- Rebellion quelled by Dominican friar and loyal Malaueg en, followers rebelled,
church burned down

Tamblot Revolt (1621–1622)

- Led by babaylan Tamblot from Bohol against Spanish rule

- Resistance to Catholicism and desire to preserve indigenous beliefs, suppressed
by Don Juan Alcarazo
Bankaw (Bancao) Revolt (1621–1622)

- Religious uprising against Spanish rule led by Bankaw seeking to revive

indigenous beliefs

Itneg Revolt (1625–1627)

- Religious uprising by Miguel Lanab and Alababan from the Itneg tribe against
forced Catholic baptism

Ladia Revolt (1643)

- Led by Pedro Ladia, a Moro Bornean claiming descent from Lakandula, aimed to
stage an uprising in Malolos

Sumuroy Revolt (1649–50)

- Uprising against Spanish colonial rule led by Agustin Sumuroy in response to

forced labor system

Maniago/Pampanga Revolt (1660-1661): Francisco Maniago led Kapampangans

against Spanish exploitation, but the revolt ended after Maniago negotiated with the
governor.

Malong Revolt (1660-1661)* Andres Malong, aiming to become king of Pangasinan,

revolted with support from various towns, but was defeated by Spanish forces.
Almazan Revolt (January 1661): Don Pedro Almazan declared himself king of Ilocos,
leading a revolt against Spanish oppression.

Panay Revolt (1663): Tapar led a religious uprising against Spanish-imposed Christianity,
aiming to establish a religious cult.

Itneg Revolt (1625-1627): Miguel Lanab and Alababan led an uprising against forced
Catholic baptism of the Itneg tribe.

Ladia Revolt (1643): Pedro Ladia, claiming descent from Lakandula, aimed to overthrow
Spanish rule and become king of the Tagalogs.
Agrarian Revolt of 1745: Native landowners in Batangas rebelled against Spanish friars
and Catholic organizations for taking their land.

Dagohoy Rebellion (1744–1825): Francisco Dagohoy led a long revolt in Bohol against
Spanish oppression, using guerilla tactics and building a stronghold.

Silang Revolt (1762–1763): Diego Silang led an uprising against Spanish taxation and
abuses, seeking independence for Ilocos.

Palaris Revolt (1762–1764): Juan Dela Cruz Palaris led a revolt against Spanish tributes
in Binalatongan.
Basi Revolt (1807): Pedro Mateo and Salarogo Ambaristo led a revolt against Spanish
banning of basi (sugarcane wine) production.

Novales Revolt (1823): Andres Novales, frustrated with Spanish treatment of Creoles,
led a revolt with native support.

Palmero Conspiracy (1828): A failed plot to overthrow the Spanish colonial government
led by Palmero.

Pule Revolt (1840–1841): Apolinario de la Cruz (Hermano Pule) led a religious revolt
against Spanish oppression and for religious freedom.

Cavite Mutiny (1872): Filipino soldiers and laborers in Cavite rose up against Spanish
rule, leading to the execution of three priests (Gomez, Burgos, Zamora) and the
repression of the growing nationalist movement.

PROPAGANDISTS, REFORMISTS, AND THE KATIPUNAN PROPAGANDA

MOVEMENT (1872–1892)

Aimed for reforms, equality, and representation under Spanish rule.

Notable figures: The Three Great Lights

1. Jose Rizal: Author of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

2. Marcelo H. del Pilar: Edited “La Solidaridad” newspaper, called for church
reforms.
3. Graciano Lopez Jaena: Delivered speeches and essays advocating for Filipino
rights.

The three joined pre-masonry to gain allies and friends.

Katipunan (KKK): (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangan na Katipunan ng mga Anak
ng Bayan)

- Established in 1892 by Andres Bonifacio to fight for independence from Spain.

- Secret society with revolutionary goals.

Status of KKK members:

1.) Bayani – Superior

2.) Katipon – not allowed to vote
3.) Kawal – not allowed to vote
Factions:
- Magdiwang: Supported Bonifacio.
- Magdalo: Led by Emilio Aguinaldo.

Tejeros Convention (1897): Conflict between factions; Aguinaldo emerged as the leader.

MALOLOS CONSTITUTION AND THE FIRST REPUBLIC – MALOLOS

CONSTITUTION (1899):

- Written by the Malolos Congress at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan.

- First democratic constitution in Asia.

Key features:

- Declared the Philippines as an independent republic.

- Guaranteed civil liberties like freedom of speech and religion.

First Philippine Republic:

- Established on January 23, 1899, with Emilio Aguinaldo as the first president.
- Its downfall: The Philippine-American War began in 1899, leading to American
colonization.