Social Condition

“The Ancient House was made of wood, bamboo, and nipa palm”.-Antonio De Morga

These are universally set upon stakes arigues (columns) high above the ground.

Above the house is the open batalanes (galleries) used for household duties.

There is little adornment and finery in the house which is called bahandin

IfugaoKalingasIlongotsBagobosBajaos

The Ifugao House or Isket

The male attire was composed of the upper, called kanggan, was a black or blue collarless jacket with short sleeves.

The chief wore a reed jacket, while those below rank wore either blue or black.

The lower part, called bahag, consisted of a strip of cloth wrapped about the waist, passing between the thighs.

Is composed of the upper called baro or camisa, was a jacket with sleeves.

The lower called saya by the tagalogs and patadyong by the visayans, was loose skirt.

A piece of red or white cloth called tapis, was usually wrapped about the waist.

The male had a head gear consisting of a piece of cloth called putong.

A red putong signified that the wearer had killed a man in a war.

The color of the putong shows the “manliness” of a man.

He who had killed at least seven was privileged to wear an embroidered putong.

The woman had no putong but wore her hair gracefully knotted at the back of her hair.

The women as well as the men burdened themselves with such trappings as armlets called kalumbiga, pendants, bracelets, gold rings, armlets and bracelets, but also in the fillings between their teeth.

Tattooing the body with various designs are indications of a bravery- a war medals.

The pintados from Visayas are the most tattoed people.

Philippine Society was divided into three classes: the nobles, the freemen, and the dependents.

The nobles consisting of the chiefs and their families, wielded tremendous influence in the barangay. In the tagalog region, they usually carried the title of Gat or Lakan, as in Lakan Dula or Gat Maitan.

The mahadlika by the tagalogs. They were composed of freemen and likewise of dependents who had earned their freedom.

The alipin or the dependents acquired low status in society by inheritance, by captivity, by failing to pay his debts, by purchase or by committing crime.

The dependents were either aliping namamahay or aliping sagigilid.

The namamahay had his own family and house and served his master during planting and harvest season.

The sagigilid had no property on his own, lived with the master.

Among the Visayans, dependents were of three kinds: the tumataban, the tumarampuk, and the ayuey.

A man’s wife was his legitimate wife was called asawa while the other women were euphemistically called “friends”.

The man before should render services to the girl’s parent for their marriage approval.

The man should give dowry, called bigay kaya, consisting of land, gold, or dependents.

A poor man should give the bride-to-be’s parent a certain amount of money known as panghimuyat.

Another form of bribe called bigay-suso, was to be given to the girl’s wet-nurse who fed the bride during her infancy.

This state of courtship is called pamumulungan or pamamalae.

The dowry was of seven kinds: the kawasateg, siwaka, enduatuan, pangatulian, tatas, langakad, and lekat.

The end…..

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