ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES • HUNTING - the men used bow and arrows
to hunt deer or other animals in the forest.
The early Filipinos primarily engaged in the After the catch, they dividing it among
following economic activities: Agriculture, themselves.
fishing poultry and swine rising, gold ,
mining and trade. • FISHING - was a thriving industry for those
who live in the coast or near rivers and
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES lakes.
Among the early Filipinos had an early METHODS OF FISHING
beginning. The people first used the slash-
and-burn method of planting rice. Later, • HAND LINES
they adopted wet agriculture. Hand line fishing, or hand lining, is
SLASH-AND-BURN METHOD one of the oldest forms of fishing. It is also
one of the simplest forms of fishing
• Also known as the KAINGIN method.
• Using nets and poisoning with special
• It was common in the interior and high leaves and root juices.
coastal areas.
• Slash and burn agriculture is a widely used
method of growing food in which wild or TRADE EXISTED BETWEEN EARLY FILIPINOS
forested land is clear cut and any remaining AND OTHER ASIANS DURING PRE-SPANISH
vegetation burned. PERIOD.
WET AGRICULTURE • Gold and Food are the common
commodities being traded.
• It was practiced in the lowlands.
• Gold is the medium of exchange. The best
• It was similar to what is being done in the kind of gold was the oregeras known as
rural areas today. penica and which was worth five pesos.
Malubai a second class gold worth two
• Rice was planted in areas where dikes
pesos. Jewelry was also another item
were built to collect water.
sought after traders. The best gold jewelry
• During the planting season, the early was called guinogulan which weight about
Filipinos performed certain rituals to ensure twenty-two carats.
a bountiful harvest.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
Other agricultural crops raised aside
FAMILY
from rice: millet, bananas, sweet potato o
camote, areca nuts, oil, cotton, wine and • The smallest but the most significant unit
vinegar, and coconuts. of ancient society.
ABACA was raised and its fibers • The FATHER was the head of the family;
were gathered and made into ropes or the MOTHER managed household affairs.
fabrics. They were accorded complete obedience
and respect by the children.
Hunting and Fishing Two other economic
pursuits during the pre-Spanish times. The early Filipinos had close family
ties.
FOUR SOCIAL CLASSES IN ANCIENT A Filipino could become a slave
FILIPINO SOCIETY: through birth, inability to pay debts,
purchase, punishment for crimes or
• THE CHIEFS
by being held captive in war.
> The DATU or the CHIEF headed a
2 KINDS OF SLAVES:
barangay or community.
1. ALIPING NAMAMAHAY
> Tagalogs called their Datu - LAKAN or
GAT wives were called DAYANG - The Aliping Namamahay enjoyed
DAYANG. certain priviledges such as the right to own
property, and the right to work for any
> Showed highest respect.
master.
> Made important decision.
2. ALIPING SAGUIGUILID
• Nobles
The Aliping Saguiguilid did not enjoy any
His family, relatives and elders belonged to right and freedom.
the maharlika group of nobles.
The woman occupied a high position in
Did not pay taxes. early society. They were regarded as equals
of men and were given the same respect
Travelled with the datu conferred upon the men. The mother of the
family had the honor of naming the
Supervised the rowers of the boat.
children.
• FREEMEN
Also known as the middle class
belonged to the timawa group.
The ordinary people (the masa)
The freeman class known as the
Timawa probably made up the bulk
of the barangay community. They
were free. They could acquire
property, acquire any job they want,
pick their own wives, and acquire an
Alipin. They were however expected
to pay taxes, and support the
Maginoo class. They are the only
class to pay taxes, and hence their
importance in the community.
THE SLAVES
Men who were born free or freed
from slavery composed of lowest
social class because they had no
property and were under the control
of their master.
