Chapter 2 The

Philippines during
Ancient Time (200,000
BC 1300 A.D.
SS101 Philippine History
Objectives:
the students will be familiarized to the Ancient
Philippine and how the first civilization began.
the students will be oriented to their ancestors.
Early Settlers
Around 200,000 and 30,000 yrs ago, during the
Ice Age, the waters fell about 47.5 meters below
its level that formed land bridges.
 Early settlers are small group of hominid, called
the Cagayan Man or homo erectus philippinensis.
They had similar characteristics as the Java Man
of Indonesia and Peking Man of China. Dated to be
200,000 years ago.
 1962, discovery of the Tabon caves of Palawan.
Tabon Man was believed to be on the country for
almost half a million years ago.
25,000 years ago
. The Negritos (Aeta, Ita, Dumagat) came to the
Philippines by crossing the land bridges.
7,000 years ago
The Indones came by boat from southern china
3,000 years ago
Malay came by balangay.
Economic Life
Agriculture. Kaingin and Tillage System. Irrigation
System.
Fishing
Mining
Shipbuilding and logging
Social Life
Classified into Social Classes
The Nobles Maharlika
The Freemen Middle Class
Dependents called Alipin
Maharlika
Feudal warriors of a barangay
Freemen or Middle Class
Also known as malaia malaya
Dependents or Alipin
Aliping Namamahay had his own house and
family and serve his master by planting and
harvesting.
Aliping Sagigilid had no house of its own, he
lived with his master and could not marry without
the latters consent.
Women in Society and
Marriage Customs
The Filipino women, before the arrival of
Spaniards, enjoyed high position in society. As a
custom, women were equal of men in ancient
Filipino Society.
In most cases, marriage must be observe only on
each own classes. Exceptions, when a man for
example show bravery and courage in battle.
A man, could marry as many women as he could
support.
 Courtship during that period was long and
difficult.
A man must served the parents of the girl he
loved for years.
The man was required to give dowry/bigay-kaya to
the family of the girl. (piece of land or gold)
To the parents, the man must give a gift called
panghimuyat.
To the girls wet-nurse, the man must also give a
gift bigay-suso.
The Government
Community called barangay, the basic unit of
government.
Subjects serve their chieftain in times of war, sowing
and planting and even pay tribute for him.
The chieftain exercise the power of executive,
legislative and judiciary.
Alliance is called sanduguan
Council of elders suggest laws and give opinions to the
chieftain.
umalohokan announces to the community the
approval of the law.
Cases are solved by means of an arbiter. Publicly.
Oath may the crocodile devour me if I tell a lie
Witness system
Trial By Ordeal
Dipping of hands on a boiling water
Holding a lighted candle
Plunging in the water with their lances
Chewing uncooked rice.
Clothing and Ornament
Upper/Male Kangan Lower/Male Bahag
 Upper/Female usually naked from the waist up;
for Visayans Tapis
Lower/Female patadyong
Houses
Nipa Hut
Made of Bamboo, Wood and Nipa palm.
Suited for Tropical Climate
Education and System of
Writing
There were no formal schools but children of
school age were taught in their own homes.
Our ancestors possessed a system of writing
called alibata which is a syllabary.
17 symbols, 3 are vowels and 14 are consonants.
Early Literature
Classified into written and oral.
Orals sabi (maxims), bugtong (riddles), talindaw
(boat song), tagumpay (victory songs), uyayi or
hele (cradle songs), ihiman (wedding song),
kumintang (war song) and many others.
Written Epics like Hudhud and Alim, Biag- ni
Lam ang etc.
Kasabihan, salawikain and bugtongs.
Religious Beliefs
Ancient Filipinos believe that the soul is immortal
and reincarnation. Corpse were contained in a jar
called manunggul jar.
They believed in one Supreme Being called
Bathalang Maykapal.
God of Agriculture Idiyanale
God of Death Sidapa
God of Fire Agni
God of Rainbow Balangaw
God of War Mandarangaw
Goddess of Harvest Lalahon
God of Hell Siginarugan
 Soul Spirits are called anito. The memory of dead
relatives was kept alive by carving images made
of gold, stone and ivory. Larawan or likha in
Tagalog, Diwata in Bisaya, Bulol for the Ifugaos.
The offerings were laid down by a woman priest
called baylana, babaylan or katalona.
 Soul Spirits are called anito. The memory of dead
relatives was kept alive by carving images made
of gold, stone and ivory. Larawan or likha in
Tagalog, Diwata in Bisaya, Bulol for the Ifugaos.
The offerings were laid down by a woman priest
called baylana, babaylan or katalona.
Burial Customs
- It is an honor if one dies
a. eaten by a crocodile
b. by an arrow or a spear
c. slain by enemies
Burial Customs
- Burial and Funeral of the Dead
a. armed people surrounds the house
b. they were bonfires and lights around
c. theyre afraid of sorcerers or brujo
d. gold and properties was buried
Burial Customs
- Slave Burying

a.To serve his Lord afterlife

b. based on how the Lord

died

c. Oldest slave of the master

will be chosen
Burial Customs
- Maglahe (death of a close relative)
a. refrained from rice
b. camote and bananas are the alternatives
c. refuse of drinking wine
Burial Customs
d. used of rattan across forearms
e. one year of mourning and weeping
Burial Customs
Morotal
a. no one wears colored dress
b. wears white dress and visits among nearby
barangays
c. after the festive, cause by their victories
they can undress the white cloth and the rattan
Burial Customs
- Larao (burial for datus/lords/leader)
a. no one is allowed to fight, peace is strictly
observed
b. spears should be pointed below
c. weapons such as daggers are worn reversely
d. silence in the whole village
e. forbidden to sing
Burial Customs
f. they build fences and anyone who
trespass it will be punished
g. timagua- informs the villagers of the
leaders death
h. anyone who violates will be charged

note: If the violator is a slaved therefore his master

should pay for the fine. If the slave is a tumarampoc,
he will be an ayuey and serve his Lord after the
payment of the fine.