Philippine Baybayin was said to be influenced by kavi or kawi of Java which was in turn influenced by Sanskrit of India. Early Filipinos wrote on various materials such as tree bark, leaves, and bamboo slats. Ancient baybayin survives today in the pottery etched by early Filipinos. Among them was the Calatagan Clay plot. Another system of writing used by preclinical Filipinos and this was the Jawi writing which was adopted by the Moros in southern Philippines. Jawi is actually Arabic and its foundation to Southeast Asia was done so that people will be able to read the Qur’an. Jawi was the choice of writing among Tausug and Maguindanao royalty. The earliest written account about the Filipinos appeared in the Chu Fan Chi in 1225. In one of his writings, Chau Ju Kua wrote about the island of Ma-I which was proven to be the island of Mindoro. In describing the natives of the island, he described them as primitive barbarians. In other parts of the Filipinas islands, there are no temples consecrated to the performing of sacrifices, the adoration of their idols, or the general practice of idolatry. Among their many idols was Bathala, whom they especially worshiped. The title seems to signify ‘all powerful’ or ‘maker of all things’. Catalonian was an honorable one among the natives, and was held ordinarily by people of rank, this rule being general in all the islands. Mangagauay or witches, deceives by pretending to heal the sick. These priests even induced maladies by charms, which in proportion to the strength and efficacy of the witchcraft, are capable of causing death. Manyisalat is the same as mangagauay. These priests had the power of applying such remedies to lovers that they would abandon and despise their own wives, and in fact could prevent them from having intercourse with the latter. Mancocolam duty was to emit fire from himself at night, once or oftener each month. This fire could not be extinguished; nor could it be thus emitted except as the priest wallowed in the ordure and filth which fall from the houses; and he who lived in the house where the priest was wallowing in order to emit this fire from himself ill and died. Hacloban, which is another kind of witch, of greater efficacy with the manggagauay. Without the use of medicine, and by simply saluting or raising the hand, they killed whom they choose. Silagan, if they saw anyone clothed in white, to tear out his liver and eat it, thus causing his death. This, like the preceding, was in the island of Catanduanes. Pangatahojan, was a soothsayer, and predicted the future. Bayouguin, signified “cotquean”, a man whose nature inclined toward that of a woman. A person becomes slay by: (1) by captivity to war, (2) by reason of debt, (3) by inheritance, (4) by purchase, and (5) by committing a crime. Slave can be emancipated through: (1) by forgiveness, (2) by paying debt, (3) by condonation, and (4) by bravery

1. The Maharlika Period or Pre-Colonial Period
Allen Marc R. De Jesus
- Philippine Baybayin was said to be influenced by kavi or kawi of Java which was in turn influenced
by Sanskrit of India.
- Early Filipinos wrote on various materials such as tree bark, leaves, and bamboo slats.
- Ancient baybayin survives today in the pottery etched by early Filipinos. Among them was the
Calatagan Clay plot.
- Another system of writing used by preclinical Filipinos and this was the Jawi writing which was
adopted by the Moros in southern Philippines.
- Jawi is actually Arabic and its foundation to Southeast Asia was done so that people will be able to
read the Qur’an.
- Jawi was the choice of writing among Tausug and Maguindanao royalty.
- The earliest written account about the Filipinos appeared in the Chu Fan Chi in 1225. In one of
his writings, Chau Ju Kua wrote about the island of Ma-I which was proven to be the island of
Mindoro.
- In describing the natives of the island, he described them as primitive barbarians.
- In other parts of the Filipinas islands, there are no temples consecrated to the performing of
sacrifices, the adoration of their idols, or the general practice of idolatry.
- Among their many idols was Bathala, whom they especially worshiped. The title seems to signify
‘all powerful’ or ‘maker of all things’.
- Catalonian was an honorable one among the natives, and was held ordinarily by people of rank,
this rule being general in all the islands.
- Mangagauay or witches, deceives by pretending to heal the sick. These priests even induced
maladies by charms, which in proportion to the strength and efficacy of the witchcraft, are capable
of causing death.
- Manyisalat is the same as mangagauay. These priests had the power of applying such remedies to
lovers that they would abandon and despise their own wives, and in fact could prevent them from
having intercourse with the latter.
- Mancocolam duty was to emit fire from himself at night, once or oftener each month. This fire
could not be extinguished; nor could it be thus emitted except as the priest wallowed in the ordure
and filth which fall from the houses; and he who lived in the house where the priest was wallowing
in order to emit this fire from himself ill and died.
- Hacloban, which is another kind of witch, of greater efficacy with the manggagauay. Without the
use of medicine, and by simply saluting or raising the hand, they killed whom they choose.
- Silagan, if they saw anyone clothed in white, to tear out his liver and eat it, thus causing his death.
This, like the preceding, was in the island of Catanduanes.
- Pangatahojan, was a soothsayer, and predicted the future.
- Bayouguin, signified “cotquean”, a man whose nature inclined toward that of a woman.
- A person becomes slay by: (1) by captivity to war, (2) by reason of debt, (3) by inheritance, (4) by
purchase, and (5) by committing a crime.
- Slave can be emancipated through: (1) by forgiveness, (2) by paying debt, (3) by condonation, and
(4) by bravery (where a slave can possibly become a Datu) or by marriage

2. - The unit of government is called barangay ruled by a chieftain known as datu, and consist of 30 to
100 families together with their relatives and slaves
- The chieftain’s executive function includes implementing laws, ensuring order and giving
protection to his subject
- Disputes between individuals were settled by a court made up of the chieftain and council of elders
- The 1st son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position; if the 1st son dies; in the
absence of male heirs it is the eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain
- Men were in general, monogamous; while their wives are called asawa or bana
- 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)
- Marriage between couples belonging to different classes were not common
- Several grounds of divorce are: (1) adultery, (2) abandonment, (3) cruelty, and (4) insanity
- They worship many gods and goddesses: (1) bathala - supreme being; (2) idayanale - god of
agriculture; (3) sidarapa - god of death, (4) agni - god of fire, (5) balangaw - god of rainbow, (6)
mandarangan - god of war; (7) lalahon - god of harvest, and (8) siginarugan - god of hell
- Also believe in sacred animals and trees
- Baybayin is consist of 3 vowels, and 14 consonants
- Muslim Filipinos have similar marriage customs: (1) pananalanguni or bethrothal, (2) consultation
with the girl’s parents, (3) village chief decision, (4) information of the decision
- Seven kinds of muslim dowry: (1) kawasateg - money given to the bride’s close relatibes, (2) siwaka
- brassware given to those who helped arrange the wedding, (3) enduatuan - brassware or animals;
(4) pangatulian - jewelry for the bride’s mother, (5) tatas - blade given to the girl’s uncle, (6)
langkad - money given to the girl’s parents as fine for having bypassed the girl’s elder sister if she
had any; (7) lekat - amount of money given to the girl’s attendant
- Alliances among barangays were common and these were formalized in a ritual called sanduguan
- Umalohokan explains the law to everyone
References:
De Viana, Augusto V., & Picadizo, Ma. Venice M. (2018). Pahiwatig: A Guide for Understanding
Readings in Philippine History. Books Atbp. Publishing Corporation: Mandaluyong City.
https://www.slideshare.net/DanielAlenSaja/precolonial-period-50718098