The document provides information about the maharlika class in ancient Philippine society. It was written by Grupo Maharlika, a 5th grade class from St. John's Institute. The maharlika were lower nobility warriors who served datus or chiefs by fighting for them in times of war. In exchange, maharlikas were exempt from paying tribute to their datu but were required to provide military service. They accompanied datus into battle and were given a share of war spoils. The document describes various customs and roles of maharlikas, such as providing their own weapons and answering the summons of their datu for battle.

1. A Glimpse of the Warrior Class
By Grupo Maharlika
Grade 5 – Cream
St. John’s Institute

2. by Ishan Chugani

3. We don’t hear the word maharlika very much
anymore. Its origin goes all the way back to the ancient
language of India called Sanskrit, from the word,
maharddhika, meaning, "a man of wealth, knowledge or
ability."
Today it is generally accepted to mean "nobility or
aristocracy." The venerable Tagalog dictionary of Leo
James English gives us this example: Ang mga harì at
prinsipe ay kabilang sa mga maharlikâ. [Kings and princes
belong to the nobility.]
That’s the modern definition, but back in the days
when there really was a maharlika class in the Philippines,
it was actually a lower class of nobility that served the
datus, or chiefs, in times of war. The maharlikas belong to
the “kings and princes” and not the other way around.
… And this is what our report is all about.

5. By KM Panganiban

6. Among the Tagalogs, there were military leaders
who exhibited thier powers by sheer bravery alone. They
were called bayani or heroes. The rich gave feasts or
celebrations in their honor.
The people would show their appreciation by
crowning their hero with a gold covered carabao horn.
Many of these heroes come from the maharlika or the
class of warriors.

7. By Gabriel Corrales

8. The maharlika were a martial class of
Freemen. Like the timawa, they were free vassals
of their datu who were exempt from taxes and
tribute but were required to provide military
service. The brave and the strong compose the
warrior class.

9. By Audrey Villanueva

10. It was the duty of the maharliks to help the
datu maintain peace and order in the barangay by
defending their territory from other barangays. In
return, the maharlika was exempted from paying
tribute to the datu.
The maharlika may also be occasionally
obliged to work on the lands of the datu and assist
in projects and other events in the community.

11. By Carloz Maravilla

12. In times of war, the maharlika were
obligated to provide and prepare weapons at their
own expense and answer the summons of the
datu, wherever and whenever that might be. They
accompanied their ruler in battles as comrades-atarms and were given a share of the spoils.

13. By Mikaela Trebol

14. Warriors had certain trademarks. Visayan
warriors, for instance, could be recognized by
numerous tattoos all over their body. The warrior
with the most number of tattoos meant that he
was the bravest warrior since he was able to kill
the most number of enemies.
Meanwhile, only the best warrior among
the Tagalogs could wear a red “putong” (a small
cloth on his head).

15. By Pearl Corpuz

16. Maharlika
Timawa

17. The historian William Henry Scott believes
that the class originated from high-status warriors
who married into the maginoo blood or were perhaps
remnants of the nobility class of a conquered line.
Similar high-status warriors in other
Philippine societies like that of the Bagobo and the
Bukidnon did not inherit their positions, but were
acquired through martial prowess.[

18. By Justin Tan

19. Although they were partly related to the
nobility, the maharlikas were technically less free
than the timawas because they could not leave a
datu’s service without first hosting a large public feast
and paying the datu between 6 to 18 pieces of gold – a
large sum in those days.
Trivia: During the Marcos Regime, the former
president recommended to change the name of the
Philippines into “Maharlika”.
… Now we know.

20. Chugani, Ishan
Corpus, Pearl
Corrales, Gabriel
Maravilla, Carloz
Panganiban, KM
Tan, Justin
Trebol, Mikaela
Villanueva, Audrey

21. Sources:
One Country One People 5, 4 th edition
Maharlika and the Ancient Class System by P. Morrow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharlika

22.  Put your answers in a ½
crosswise paper and
don’t forget to write your
name
 each question will be
read twice orally
 you will be given 10
seconds to answer;

24. a. datus
b. warriors
c. traders

25. a. top
b. bottom
c. second

26. a. bayani
b. babaylan
c. bagumbayan

27. a. A silver-coated carabao horn
b. A gold-coated carabao horn
c. Four wives and a carabao

28. a. The most handsome among the warriors
b. The richest among the warriors
c. The one who was able to kill the most
number of enemies

29. a. Red
b. Royal blue
c. Silver and Gold

30. a. A loin cloth
b. A small cloth on one’s head
c. A cape

31. True or False

32. True or False

33. … so we hope that you were listening 
3 points each

34. What ancient language of India is
maharlika (“maharddhika”) derived from?

35. One of the two requirements before a
maharlika can transfer allegiance to
another datu (write just one).

36. Name the student who is in charge of
Grupo Maharlika’s Power Point group
during the presentation (and it wasn’t me).
