Fray Juan De Plasencia's document "Customs of the Tagalogs" provides a detailed account of Tagalog society in the 16th century prior to Spanish colonization. It describes the social hierarchy, which included datus as chiefs and classes of nobles, commoners, and slaves. The document also outlines aspects of daily life like housing, clothing, marriage customs, religious beliefs, and the economy which was based around agriculture, fishing, and hunting. The document serves as an important primary source for understanding Philippine history and culture before European contact.

1. CUSTOMS OF THE
TAGALOGS
By Juan De Plasencia

2. Background of the Author
❑ Known as Fray Joan De Portocarrero, Del Covento De
Villanueva De La Serena
❑ Born to the illustrious family of Portocarrero and
Plasencia in the region of Extremadura, Spain in the
early 16th
century.
❑ He was one of the seven children of Pedro
Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish Schooner.
❑ He grew up during the period known as the Siglo- De
Oro, A golden age when arts and literature flourished
in many parts of Spain, among them his native
Extremadura.

3. Historical Background of the
Document
❑ Written within the context of its situation when he arrived in the Philippines.
Only two months after their arrival in Manila, Juan De Plasencia and other
confrere, Fray Diego Oropresa, were already preaching around Laguna De Bay
Area and as far as Tayabas(the present Quezon Province) converting souls to
the catholic faith).
❑ He also preached and founded these places in the present province of Bulacan
and Rizal.
Referrences: OFM ARCHIVES – PHILIPPINES by Fr. Jose “Long” D. Gutay, OFM
*the Philippine Island, 1493-1898 Volume VII, 1588-1591*( edited and annotated
by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson with historical Introduction
and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne)

4. Content
Analysis
❖ Datu- chief, captain of wars, whom
governed and reverenced.
❖ Social Classes
▪ Nobles of Maharlika-free born, they
do not pay taxes
▪ Commoners of aliping
mamamahay- they live in their own
houses and lord of their property
and gold
▪ Slaves or Aliping Saguiguilid- serve
their master in his house and his
cultivated land and can be sold.
❖ Houses- made of wood, bamboo,
and nipa palm.
❖ Mode of dresses for male
▪ Headgear- called putong (symbolizes the
number of persons the wearer had killed)
▪ Upper- a jacket with short sleeves called
kanggan.
▪ Lower- bahag
❖ Mode of Dresses for female
▪ Upper- baro or camisa
▪ Lower- saya
❖ Ornaments- decorative object or detail that adds
quality or distinction to a person, place or thing.
❖ Goverments- the unit of government is called
barangay rules by a chieftain, and consist of 30 to
100 families together with their relatives and
slaves.
❖ Administration of Justice- The chieftain’s execute
function includes implementing laws, ensuring
order and giving protection to his subject

5. ❖ Inheritance- The 1t son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position; If the 1ST
son
dies, the 2nd
son succeeds their father; in the absence of male heirs, it is the eldes daughter
that becomes chieftain.
❖ Marriage Customs- Men were in general monogamous; while their wives are called asawa.
▪ Courtship begins with paninilbihan.
▪ Prior to marriage the man requires to give a dowry: (1) Bigay-kaya( a piece of land or gold);
(2) panghihimuyat(a gift for the brides parents); (3) bigay-suso (for brides wet nurse)
❖ Religious Beliefs- They worship many 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, and Siginarugan- god of hell.
They also believe in sacred animals and trees.
❖ Economic Life- Agriculture, hunting, and fishing
❖ Language and system of writings
▪ Major languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Pangpangan, Sugbuhanon, Hiligaynon,
Magindanaw and Samarnon *These are originated from the Malayo- Polenisian
language.
▪ System of writings: the alphabets consisted of 3 vowels and 14 consonants called
baybayin.
▪ They use tap of trees as ink and pointed stick as pencil and wrote on large plant leaves,
bark of a tree or bamboo tubes.

6. Content Presentation and
Analysis of the important historical information
found in the document
▪ The contents of the writing of Fray Juan De Plasencia depicts the ancient or
pre-colonial life of the Filipinos before and upon the arrival of Spain as embodied in
Plasencia’s detailed narration oh how was the life of Filipinos during this time.
▪ It just proved that these occurrences beliefs and practices had been existing long
before the arrival of Spaniards. Hence, it is appropriate to debunk the western
depiction of the islands as barbaric, uncivilized , and uncultured when they arrived.
based on Plasencia's observation, the Tagalogs are already highly civilized and have
a sophisticated culture as described in Plasencia's report.
▪ The period of Islamization of the southern part of the country had also
contributed much to the development of cultures and some part of civility in these
places.

7. Relevance of the document to contemporary
times
▪ It serve as the basis of historical reconstruction of Tagalog Society.
▪ Many of the 16th
century beliefs and practices are still present today.
▪ It affirms that during the pre-Hispanic period, Filipinos already have
government as well as a set of beliefs and practices, wherein we can still
observe today.
Contribution of the document in understanding
the grand narrative of Philippine history
The document “custom of the Tagalogs” had contributed much
to the understanding of the culture and heritage of the Filipinos.
In a way that it provided us with significant and meaningful
information to better appreciate and be proud of the cultural
legacy from our ancestors.

8. Individual Reflection / Learning
experience
Customs of the Tagalog written by Fray Plasencia is one of the most
important primary sources of Philippine History. It talks about the everyday
living of our ancient people that gives me knowledge about the past. The
document helped me have a better understanding and appreciate the
Filipino’s social, cultural, and political history because of its rich narrative
detailed information of all aspects of life during the pre-colonial period. It
enlightens me with its comprehensive details that allow me to picture out
the life before and opportunities for better awareness of my country’s past.
It made me feel proud of my forebears because this document proved to us
that Filipinos are born to have own style, beliefs, and ways of governing
people.

9. References:
https://prezi.com/p/vjiz6mscj-2-/customs-of-the-tagalogs-by-juan-de-plasen
cia/?frame=f0a3bb5ff9915ac127babc299d1a3585fe734363
Juan De Plasencia's Customs of the Tagalogs: Discussion and Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUcMRtC8ubQ