PRE-COLONIAL CULTURE

The ancient Filipinos had a culture that was basically Malayan in structure
and form. They had written languages that traced their origin to the Austronesian
parent-stock and used them not only as media of daily communication, but also as
vehicles for the expression of their literary moods.
Languages- There are more than a hundred languages and dialects in the
Philippines, eight of which may be considered major languages. Among the
Philippine languages, Tagalog and Pampangan show a close affinity to the Malay
language, whether Bahasa Indonesia or that Malaya.
System of Writing- Foreign students of the Philippine languages are
practically unanimous in considering Tagalog the richest among them. The Filipinos
before the arrival of the Spaniards had a syllabary which was probably of Sanskrit of
Arabic provenance.
The ancients wrote on the bark of trees. On leaves and bamboo tubes, using
their knives daggers, pointed sticks or iron as pens and the colored saps of trees as
ink.
Literature- The literature of the early Filipinos may be classified into floating
or oral literature and written literature. In most cases the songs were accompanied
by dancing, so that the song and the dance, together with the drama, developed
almost simultaneously.
The fact that the ancient Tagalog was quite adept in versification is shown not
only in the occasional verses but also in the drama. Filipino folk songs and folk tales
show the collective mood of the people and constitute, together with their sayings,
maxims, and proverbs, the wisdom of the race.
Maranaw literature is largely floating and has been, from time immemorial,
recited or sung as the occasion arose. The ancient literature of the Ilocano
compares favorably with that of the Tagalog who, like him, had many kinds of song
sung on different occasions.
It is obvious that dung-aw is a comparatively late version of the original, for
the word pakomusta is of Spanish origin, that is, from como esta. Although by
nature lyrical, the Filipinos also sustained poetry. The Muslims, another hardy
people, had several darangans or epics, of which the Bantugan, Indarapatra and
Sulayman, and Bidasari are the most notable.
Music and the Dance- The Filipinos are born musicians, for they easily learn
tunes by ear. Many Filipinos who play two or more musical instruments have never
been in music academics, nor have they any knowledge of the musical notations
except what they know by ear.

Among the Negritos of Bataan and Zambales, the favorite musical

instruments were the Jews harp made of bamboo; the bansic made of mountain
cane with four holes; a bamboo violin with abaca strings; and the gangsa, a sort of
guitar.
The Bontok Igorots of northern Luzon had various musical instruments: a
Jews harp of bamboo or brass; a bamboo flute; the abafil, a primitive Malay musical
instrument; and the gangsa, an instrument struck with a skin-covered drumstick.
The Tagbanuas of Palawan also had their musical instruments like the Jews
harp, the drum with sharkskin heads, the bamboo flute, the guitar with abaca
strings and brass gongs. One of their most colorful dances was the macasla,
performed during the macasla festival.
The Ilocanos had many songs to fit different occasions and, like their brothers
in the different regions, possessed many musical instruments. Among these were
the kutibeng, a sort of guitar with five strings, the flute, and the kudyapi.
The Visayans were known to be good folk dancers and musicians. They, too,
possessed musical instruments found in other places in the Philippines, including
drums, timbrel, a violin like instrument with metallic strings, and a sort of flageolet.
Among the Tagalogs, the dance and the music developed almost
simultaneously with the drama, for the drama could not be staged without music
and dancing. The kumintang was a characteristic Batangueo dance and music
which did not find much popular favor outside Batangas province.
Among the Tinguians, the kabaleng was a favorite instrument. It was a nose
flute and used by a young man in serenading his lady love. It should be noted that
the ancient Filipinos had music and dances for all association their social
organization was more well-knit than it is today.
Art- The first glimpse of the artistic sense of the primitive inhabitants of the
Philippines can be had in the remains of their tools and weapons. At first rough,
these tools and weapons were, as ages elapsed, polished and formed along the
lines of leaves and petals of flower.
In the Early Iron Age, the artistic variety of the ancient Filipinos reached its
apogee. Ornaments with different forms and sizes began to appear, burdening the
body not only with rings, bracelets, armlets, strings of beads and handbands but
also with the tattoos of various designs.
There were several influences on Filipino primitive art which are apparent in
the surviving artifacts. The Negrito influence is seen in the zigzag designs on
ancient lime tubes and in the ornamental carvings on combs.

The metal artifacts of Lanao remain today a tribute to the excellent and
creative craftsmanship of the Pre-Spanish artists in the Philippines. The elaborate
arabesque designs, the beautiful pattern and metal in-laid work, the unique but
functional designs of forms.
While Muslim art generally with plat and geometrical designs, Ifugao art deals
generally with animal and human representations. Most of the Ifugao carvings are
utilitarian: utensils such as the wooden bowls, spoons, forks, and smoking pipes are
polished and embellished. Sample of Ifugao art may be had in any curio shop in
Manila and Baguio, but the Ifugao carvings now on sale are greatly commercialized
and do not really represent the profound feeling of the humble artist.