CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS

JUAN DE PLASCENCIA

I. Author’s Background • Passed away in Liliw, Laguna in the year 1590.

Juan de Plasencia Literary Works

• Born in the 16th century to the illustrious family of the • Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language)
Portocarreros in Plasencia, in the Region of • Vocabulario
Extremadura, Spain. • Coleccion de Frases Tagala (Collection of Tagalog
• His real name is Joan de Puerto Carrero, del convento Phrases)
de Villanueva de la Serena. • Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 – translated
• He was a Spanish Friar of the Franciscan order. the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog
• He spent most of his missionary life in the Philippines, • Diccionario Tagalog, 1580
where he founded numerous towns in Luzon and • La Santina, 1585 – opus on Prayer and Meditation
authored several religious and linguistic books, most • Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos, 1589 –
notably, the Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana, 1581 – First Civil Code of the Philippines
translated the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog, the first • Customs of the Tagalogs by Juan de Plasencia
book ever printed in the Philippines.
• Juan de Plasencia was born in the early 16th century II. Historical Background
as Juan Portocarrero in Plasencia, in the region of
Extremadura, Spain. He was one of the seven children
of Pedro Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish schooner.
• Said to have been inspired to be a Franciscan because
of his upbringing spent during a spiritual and religious
resurgence affected by Spain’s Siglo de Oro, a Golden
Age when arts and literature flourished in many parts of
Spain, among them his native Extremadura.
• Well reputed as the one who took the leading role in
fostering the spread of primary education.
• Converted natives, taught catechisms, and organized
towns and barangays in the Philippines.
• Promoted the understanding of both the Spanish
language among the natives, and the local languages
among the missionaries, to facilitate the task of
spreading Christianity.
• Initiated the Reduccion Policy – policy to reduce or
resettle natives in central locations. It was written on the year 1589 during the Spanish
Colonial Period. After receiving the Lordship’s letter,
• Some of his works aimed to put an end to some
Plasencia wished to reply immediately; but he postponed
injustices being committed against the natives by
his answer in order that he might first thoroughly inform
certain government officials.
himself in regard to People’s request, and to avoid
discussing the conflicting reports of the Indians. Therefore,
Arrival in the Philippines
he collected Indians from different districts – old men, and
those of most capacity; and from them he have obtained
• Came with the first batch of Franciscan missionaries in
the simple truth, after weeding out much foolishness, in
the Philippines in 1577.
regard to their government, administration of justice,
inheritance, slaves, and dowries.
Life in the Philippines
Customs of the Tagalogs is a part (either chapters or
• He is believed to have arrived to the Philippines in subsections) of longer monographs written by the
1578. As soon as he arrived, he joined forces with chroniclers of the Spanish expeditions to the Philippines
another missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa, and they during the early 16th and 17th centuries. They appeared
both started preaching around Laguna de Bay and initially in Blair and Robertson’s 55 volumes, The Philippine
Tayabas, Quezon, in Quezon Province, where he Islands (1903) and in the Philippine Journal of Sciences
founded several towns as early as two months upon (1958).
arrival in Manila.
• During the following years they are also credited with III. Analysis of the Important Historical Information
the foundation of a large number of towns in the found in the Document
provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal, such as
Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban, Mahjayjay, Nagcarlan, • DATOS – the chief who governed the people and were
Lilio(Liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, captains in their wars whom they obey and reverence
Morong, Antipolo, Taytay, and Meycauayan.
• BARANGAY – a family of parents and children,
• Elected as the custos of the friars in May 23, 1584 and relations and slaves.
held it until 1588.
 The Three Castes Worship of the Tagalogs
• NOBLES
• COMMONERS • No temples
• SLAVES • Simbahan – Temple or Place of Adoration.
• Pandot – or a festival celebrated
Situation 1: • Sibi
Those who are maharlicas on both the father’s and • Sorihile
mother’s side continue to be forever, and if it happens that • Nagaanitos
they should become slaves, it is through marriage.
Situation 2: Idols
If maharlicas had children among their slaves, their
children and their mothers became free. • Bathala
• Lic-Ha
Situation 3: • Dian Masalanta (Patron of Lovers and of Generation)
If maharlicas had children by the slave-woman of • Lacapati and Idianale (Patrons of Cultivated Lands
another, the slave-woman was compelled when pregnant, and of Husbandry)
to give her master half of a gold tael.
• Tala
In this case, half of the child was free if the father
• Seven Little Goats (the Pleiades)
(maharlica) recognized him. If not, the child will become a
whole slave. • Mapolon (change of seasons)
• Balatic (greater Bear)
Situation 4: • Buaya
If a free woman had children by a slave they were all • Tigmamanuguin – bird
free, provided he were not her husband. • No established division of years, months, and days
• Catolonan (officiating priest)
Situation 5: • Offerings and sacrifices
If two persons married, of whom one was a maharlica • Belief on bearingchild
and the other a slave (namamahay or sa guiguilir) the
children were divided. Distinctions among the priests of the Devil

Odd birth order (1st, 3rd, 5th...) 1. Catalonan

– belong to the father. 2. Manganguay (Witches)
Even birth order (2nd, 4th, 6th...) 3. Manyisalat
– belong to the mother. 4. Mancocolam
Only child 5. Hocloban
– half free, half slave. 6. Silagan
7. Magtatangal
• Maharlicas could not, after marriage, move from one 8. Osuang
village to another without paying a certain fee in gold 9. Mangagayoma
(ranging from one to three taels and a banquet to the 10. Sonat
entire barangay) as arranged among them. 11. Pangatahojan
12. Bayoguuin
Special Case:
When one married woman of another village, the • Manner of burying the dead of the tagalogs
children were afterwards divided equally between the two • Manner of burying dead of the Aetas or Negrillos
barangays. • Maca
• Casanaan
• Investigations made and sentences passed by the dato • Sitan
must take place in the presence of those his barangay. • Tigbalaang
• Patianac
They had laws by which they condemned to death a man
of low birth who insulted the daughter or wife of a chief; IV. Contribution and Relevance of the document in
likewise witches, and others of the same class. understanding the ground narrative of Philippine
History
Dowries are given by men to the women’s parents before
marriage. If the parents are both alive, they both enjoy the • The original work itself is a product of observations and
use of it. judgments. Therefore, it is probable that Juan de
Plasencia’s work might contain partiality in presenting
Divorce and Dowries his observations and judgments.
• Pre-conquest society were not swept by the advent of
Death of Wife or Husband the Spanish regime.
• It has continued to serve as a basis for historical
Dowry and Arranged Marriage
reconstructions of Tagalog society.
V. Relevance of the document in the modern time

• Many of the 16th century beliefs and practices are still

present today.
• If affirms that during the pre-Hispanic period, Filipinos
already have government as well as a set of beliefs and
practices.
• Some of our preceptions on Filipino beliefs and
practices are somehow on different from Juan de
Plasencia’s point of view.