Customs of the Tagalogs

by Juan de Plasencia

A. BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

About the Author:
● Fray Juan de Plasencia (real name is Joan de Portocarrero) is one of the seven children of Pedro
Portocarrero.
● He grew up in the region of Extremadura during the Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) of Spain.
● During this period there was an upsurge of men entering religious life with the intention of suiting up for
missionary works in the newly discovered territories.
● Plasencia belonged to the Franciscan order and came together with the first batch of Franciscan
missionaries who arrived in the Philippines on July 2, 1578.
● He and Fray Diego de Oropresa were assigned to do mission work in the Southern Tagalog area.
● Aside from performing sacerdotal and missionary functions, Plasencia also helped in the foundation
and organization of numerous towns in Quezon, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan.
● His continuous interaction with the people he converted to Christianity enabled him to write a book
entitled Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589).
● It vividly describes the political, social, economic and cultural practices of the Filipinos before they were
Christianized.
● His biggest challenge at that time was how to make the articles of faith comprehensible to people who
have never heard of Christ nor the Catholic Church.
● In 1593, he published the book Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Espanola Y Tagala, the first printed book
in the Philippines.
● He used it as reading material for those Filipinos who wanted to deepen their faith in the newly
accepted religion.
● After several years of converting the natives catechism, the and teaching Franciscan Order honored
him with the title "Venerable."
● Plasencia died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590.

B. CONDITIONS OF THE PLACE WHEN THE WORK WAS WRITTEN

● Historical context
○ “Customs of the Tagalogs” is a manuscript written by Fray Juan de Plasencia, a Franciscan friar,
in the late 16th century. It offers insights into the cultural practices, traditions, and social
organization of the Tagalog people in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.
○ The Spanish arrived in 1521 led by Ferdinand Magellan. However, it wasn’t until 1565 that
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu, followed
by the establishment of Mnaila as the capital in 1571. A Spanish explorer named the Philippines
after a Spanish king during his 1542-1546 trip to the islands.
○ Colonial administration: The Philippines became a part of the Spanish East Indies,
administered by the Spanish colonial government from Mexico. The Spanish introduced
Christianity, established churches and missions, and implemented a system of governance
based on Spanish laws and customs.
○ Religious conversion: The Spanish missionaries, particularly the Franciscans, Dominicans,
and Augustinians, played a significant role in converting the indigenous populations to
Christianity The friars often documented local customs, languages, and traditions as part of their
efforts to understand and evangelize native people.
○ Cultural exchange: The encounter between Spanish colonizers and indigenous Filipino
cultures led to a complex process of cultural exchange and adaptation. While the Spanish
imposed their language, religion, and political structures, they also incorporated elements of
Filipino culture into their own practices.
○ The imposition of Spanish rule was met with varying degrees of resistance from indigenous
communities. Some resisted actively, while others adapted to the new order, often blending
indigenous traditions with Spanish customs.
● Geographical location
○ The customs documented by Juan de Plasencia in his manuscript “Customs of the Tagalogs”
were written during the late 16th century. At that time, the Philippines was under Spanish
colonial rule, and the geographic location referred to in the manuscript is the region of Luzon
 Island in the Philippines located in the northern part of the archipelago. Luzon is home to
various ethnic groups, including the Tagalog people. So, when Juan de Plasencia wrote about
the customs of the Tagalogs, he was referring to the geographical location of Luzon during the
16th century, when Spanish colonization and Christianization efforts were underway in the
region.
● Social dynamics
○ During the 16th century when Juan de Plasencia wrote about the customs of the Tagalogs, the
social dynamics of the Philippines, particularly in the region of Luzon where the Tagalog people
resided, were heavily influenced by Spanish colonization and the introduction of Christianity.
● Political influences
○ The Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule, with Spanish authorities establishing
administrative centers in key areas like Manila. The Spanish colonial government implemented
policies to exert control over the indigenous populations, including land distribution, taxation,
and labor practices.
● Cultural influences
○ The encounter between Spanish colonizers and indigenous peoples resulted in a process of
cultural exchange and syncretism. While the Spanish imposed their language, religion, and legal
systems, indigenous cultures also influenced Spanish colonial society, particularly in areas such
as language, cuisine, music, and folklore.
● Economic conditions
○ Spanish colonization brought about significant changes in economic systems and practices. The
Spanish implemented land ownership systems, introduced new crops and agricultural
techniques, and established trade networks. Indigenous populations were often coerced into
providing labor for Spanish-run enterprises such as mines, plantations, and construction
projects.
● In summary, the social dynamics of the Philippines when Juan de Plasencia wrote about the customs of
the Tagalogs were characterized by the imposition of Spanish colonial rule, Christianization efforts,
economic changes, cultural exchange, and both resistance and adaptation by indigenous populations.

C. CONTENT ANALYSIS
● Plasencia, the author of the Customs of Tagalogs was tasked by the King of Spain during the Spanish
colonial period to document the customs and traditions of the natives.
● The account was able to describe the Governing system of native Filipinos at that time, led by a Datu.
● Datu's executive function includes implementing laws, ensuring peace and order in the Barangay, and
giving protection to his subjects.
● This included a detailed description of the Caste System within the Barangay consisting of three social
classes:
- Nobles (Maharlika)
- Commoners (Aliping namamaay)
- Slaves (Aliping Sagigilid)

● In terms of dowries and marriage between individuals of the same and different (Maharlika and Alipin),
social class, rules and customs were also heavily described.
● Plasencia's account also presented rules in terms of dowries in case of divorce.
● Provided a detailed description of the rules and regulations in terms of the division of inheritances.
● Tagalogs have no consecrated temples for the worship of their idols
● The Tagalog also have idols whom they worship, and one of these is "Bathala".
● Priests of devil's such as Catolonan, Manggaguay, Manisalat, Mancocolam, Hocloban, Silaga,
Magtatangal, Mangagayoma, Sonat, Pangstahonan, and Bayoguin.
● Customs of the Tagalog was written to provide a description of the customs and traditions of the
Tagalogs.
● It would be a big advantage to the Spanish Colonizer during the Age of Discovery to have knowledge
about the natives to enhance their superiority over them.
● The content of the customs of the tagalogs are clear and realistic in terms of their idols whom they
worship, datu's, social classes, culture and norms.
● The narration of the author through the circumstances and the people was all judgments and
observations on how they live their life.
D. RELEVANCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS

● The Customs of the Tagalogs enabled the exploration of the ancient lives of the people living in
central Luzon. It, just like any other colonial texts written during the Spanish colonial period, was
intentionally made to provide an exoticized description of the Tagalog natives.
● It has continued to serve as a basis for historical reconstructions of Tagalog society.
● The information provided gave vivid imagery, which allowed for further analysis of the practices
of the ancient Tagalogs and comparisons with other accounts of succeeding periods and
significant events in Philippine History.
● The account aids in realizing that mastery of the local language and culture led to the success
of Christianity in the Philippines.
● Juan de Plasencia’s work made the Filipinos realize how unique the Tagalog culture was before
colonization.
● He used his work to inform the Filipinos about the differences and the similarities of our culture
by then and now.
● Contains detailed information on exciting topics such as customs, traditions, religious and
superstitious beliefs. It primarily depicts the prevailing system of the Filipinos during the pre
hispanic time. It can be inferred that many of the 16th-century beliefs and practices are still
present and observed today.
● It affirms that during the pre Hispanic period, Filipinos already had a government and a set of
beliefs and practices.
● The barangay still serves as the smallest unit of the government in our country today, which is
also led by barangay captains equivalent to Datos in the past.
● Disprove the claim of some Spaniards that locals were uncivilized and lacking in culture, as it
provided an elaborate observation on functioning government, tax system, the criminal justice
system, indigenous calendar, and long-standing customs and tradition such as garments, gold
ornaments, houses, and idols that are comparable to Southeast Asian civilization and culture.