Department of Education

Senior High School Department

Bayugan City Division
MT. CARMEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND

GOVERNANCE

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

First Semester S.Y. 2021-2022

MODULE 5

Day & Most Essential Learner's Tasks / Responsibility Output to

Time Learning be
Competency Submitted
on Friday
10:30 AM - *Analyze the BREAK TIME Outputs:
11:00 AM evolution of (Preparation of modules, learning activity sheets, ACTIVIT
Philippine notebooks, etc.) Y 2 TASK
11:00 AM - politics and Tas Answer the PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY, write 3&
12:00 NN governance k your answers in your notebook LEARNE
1: R’S
1

Tas Answer the ACTIVITY 1 , write your answers in ACTIVIT

Page

k your notebook Y SHEET

2: ONLY
 12:00 NN - LUNCH BREAK TASK 4
1:00 PM
3:00 - 5:00 Tas Answer the ACTIVITY 2, write your answers on
PM k a sheet of paper
3:
Tas Answer the LEARNERS ACTIVITY SHEET,
k 4: Write your answer on a sheet of paper
(Intermediate paper)

WEEKLY HOME LEARNING PLAN

YEAR LEVEL : Grade 11

TRACK : GAS
LEARNING AREA : Philippine Politics and Governance
MODE OF DELIVERY : Distance Learning Modality
GENERAL INSTRUCTION : Read and understand the concepts discussed on Module 5 in a self-
paced manner.
REQUIREMENT : Notebook

__
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE
Lesson 5 POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT: Pre-Colonial
Politics

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

There are two misconceptions about Philippine politics that must be corrected as
cited by Pawilen, et. al.. First, that there was no politics in the Philippines prior to
colonization period. By definition of politics, whenever a group is formed and leaders are
chosen, there is already a play of power even without the group being aware of such
concept. Additionally, there are accounts or records that prove the existence of politics in the
Philippines prior to colonization period.

[Sidebar Title]
“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or
flowcharts. It is about one life influencing
another”. – John C. Maxwell
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 The second misconception is that every issue or problem we have in politics and
governance was caused by colonization. This is not true since a lot of political issues and
concerns we have to this day can be traced back even before colonization.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN?

Content Standard:
 The learners demonstrate an understanding of the historical
background of Philippine democratic politics, the executive, the
legislative, the judiciary, and decentralization and local governance.

Performance Standard:
 The learners explain the roles of different political institutions.

Objectives:
After the lesson, the learners should be able to:
1. discuss the Pre-Colonial Government of the Philippines; and
2. differentiate the Pre-Colonial Government to our Present Government.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

Give your idea or insights about the question given below.

 What do you think will happen to the Philippine Government if it didn't develop
through time?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

PRE-SPANISH PERIOD

The Social Stratification

The pre-spanish Filipinos were organized into small political units known as the
barangay (a Malay word for boat that came to be used to denote a communal settlement). The
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barangay is a microstate consisting of 30 to 100 families. Kinship groups were led by a datu
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(chief), and within the barangay there were broad social divisions consisting of nobles,
 freemen, and dependent and landless agricultural workers and slaves (Dep’t. of Political
Science, MSU-IIT).

The social stratification in the Pre Colonial Philippines defines the functions of each
individual in the society. The highest class is the Maharlika or the ruling class composed of
the datu and his family and relatives. They are exempted in paying taxes and enjoy the
abundance wealth in the Barangay. The second class is the Timawa or the free people; they
are the tax payers and the group which control the trading. And the last class is the Alipin
or the workers. There are two kinds of Alipin; the Namamahay or the dependents who had
their own house and will just serve their masters in the number of days that they agreed on.
And the Aliping Saguiguilid or the dependents that live in the house of their master, they
can be sold and they need to ask permission to their master before they could marry.

The social class of the person is inherited, however, social mobility is allowed. A
person could become an alipin if he or she could not pay for his/her debt, or he or she is a
captive during just war but as long as he/she could pay his or her obligations they could be
a timawa. Intermarriage between different social classes is also allowed and then the social
class of their child depends on their social class.

The Datu

The Barangay is composed of 30 to 100 families under the jurisdiction of a Datu who
has the Executive, Legislative and Judical power. The Datu is also the most intelligent and
richest member of the Barangay, his position is inherited and can be pass to the eldest son of
the Datu or if the Datu does not have a son, the position will be passed to his eldest brother
or member of the family. And in case that nobody will inherit the throne then they need to
open the position to the other members of the barangay and those who are interested need
to pass the series of challenges that will test their wisdom, courage and determination.

1. The Legislative Duties

In the duties in line with legislation, the Datu is assisted by the Maginoo or the
Council of Elders for they have the wisdom in formulating a law that is appropriate to the
culture and traditions of the people in the Barangay. After the formulation of the law, the
Umalohocan or the town crier will go to the different parts of the Barangay and announce
the law to the people. The laws during the Pre Colonial Era have two types the Written and
Unwritten code, however, there is no evidence yet that there is unwritten code, the
Kalantiaw Code which is considered in the previous history book as the written code did not
pass the internal validity in historical criticism. The following are the reasons why the
scholarly Historians de banc the Kalantiaw Code as the first written code in the Philippines:

The document of the Kalantiaw Code is part of the Maragtas Code which explains
the connection of the people in Brunei and the people in the Philippines. This also narrates
the migration of the 10 Bornean Datus who were chosen to settle in the island of Panay
because they did not want to abide the harsh law of their chief in Brunei so they purchased
the island of Panay from the group of the Ati with the golden Hat and the long golden
necklace that could reach the floor as paymernt. Later on the other Datus chose to find their
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new place and Datu kalantiaw was left in the island of Panay. However, the document of
Maragtas was part of the documents that Carlos Maria Pavon sold to the government and
 since during those time there was an urgency to write the history of the Philippines they
accepted the documents without testing the internal and external validity.

The document of Kalantiaw Code did not pass the internal validity because it
contains words about the epidemic which did not happen on the time the code was said to
be written.

The code contains harsh law which did not fit the humane society of the Philippines
during the Pre Colonial Era.

2. The Executive Duties

In line with its executive duties, the Datu sees to it that the laws formulated by the
Datu with the Council of Elders are followed by the members of the Barangay. Those who
will violate the laws will need to face the punishment implemented by the Datu. He could
also imposed the taxes and tributes for the funds of the Barangay and in return he needs to
protect his barangay from invasion and in case the member of his barangay would like to
borrow land from him, then his land is open for everybody in the Barangay.

3. The Judicial Duties

In the Judicial duties, the Datu will judge the innocence or the guilt of the suspect. In
attesting the innocence and guilt, the early Philippine Society is using the trial by Ordeal.
The following are the process in line with the trial by Ordeal:

1. The suspects are asked to dip their hands in the boiling water and the first who
will take away their hands is the one who is guilty.

2. The suspects are asked to go under the sea and the first person who will surface
out of the water is the one who is guilty.

3. The suspects are asked to lick a hot metal and the person who had the deepest
wound in their tongue is the one who is guilty.

The trial by ordeal is done because they believe that the innocent is protected by
gods and they will not be harmed by the different trials. The "just war" or the war to expand
the territory of each barangay is rampant so to avoid being annexed by the other Barangay,
they strengthen their armies headed by the Datus or they had the confederation of different
Barangay or ask protection from the strongest barangay and in return they pay tributes. The
powerful datu is the leader of the confederation and need to maintain its power to avoid
being captive by the other barangay.

Form of Government

As explained above, the form of government in the Pre Colonial society in Luzon and
Visayas is the confederation of the independent states or barangay. Their union is limited
only in the context of protection against the invasion of the other barangay and if the
barangay which they are affiliated weakens then they will look for other barangay

Political Culture
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 The members of the lower social classes are submissive to the upper class and the
succession of leadership is done thru inheritance and if ever there is no male member of the
Maharlika class who could inherit the position of the Datu, then the position is open for the
male commoners who would pass different challenges to test the courage wisdom and
strength. They also believe that the Datu had the intervention coming from the gods so their
power is considered as absolute.

Sultanate

In the Mindanao area, their government was influenced by the Islamic religion. The
sultanate is composed of 100 or more than families and the head of the government is the
Sultan who had the legislative, executive and judicial functions. The jurisdiction of the
Sultan is the places which the sound of the gong could be heard so the big gong means that
the Sultanate is big. The position of the Sultan could be inherited by the eldest son of the
Sultan or in case there is no male successor the eldest member of the family. Raja Muda is
the group of people who had the opportunity to succeed the Sultan in his position.

Since the Sultan had a huge powers and responsibilities and to assist is the council of
advisers known as the Ruma Bichara composed of the Sultan, the relatives of the sultan and
the richest and influencial family in the barangay known as the panglima.

The Sultan also had the responsibility to protect the Islamic religion and ensure the
unity of the islands under the jurisdiction of the sultanate. The laws implemented by the
Sultan are in line with the religion and the decision in the cases also base on the religion.

1. The Pre Colonial Government in Luzon and Visayas is Baranganic while in

Mindanao and some part of Manila is Sultanate.

2. The Datu is the head of the government with executive, legislative and judicial
power.

3 The social stratification define the function of the members of the society.

4. The confederation of the barangay existed because of the concept of “just war".

5. The Sultanate is headed by the sultan who had an executive, legislative and
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judicial power.
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6. The Pre Colonial government had written and unwritten laws which guide the
leaders and members of the society.
 SPANISH PERIOD

Politics and Religion under the Spanish Rule

Under Spanish colonial rule, the church and the state were not separated. Due to the
dearth of competent Spaniards to serve as administrators of the colonial government, there
were many areas that were under the effective control of parish priests. More than three
centuries of political interference by the church into political affairs had developed a
political culture with strong religious undertones. Hence, in the Philippines, it is difficult to
draw the line between the political realm and the religious realm. Religious leaders do not
hesitate to use the pulpit in preaching political matters while political leaders compete for
the favors of the church especially during time of crisis and during elections (Dep’t. of
Political Science, MSU-IIT).

During the colonial period, the areas and the groups in the Philippines that the
Spaniards were able to occupy and influence have experienced a radical change in politics
and governance. Indigenous political systems in hispanized areas were removed and
replaced by the colonial form of government for easier management. Hispanized areas in the
Philippines became tied to the government in Spain with the king as head, followed by the
viceroy in Latin America. Communities were arranged according to the reduccion policy that
centralized settlements around colonial institutions, such as the church and municipal halls.
The governor general became the head of the colony; followed by the alcaldes and
corregimientos, gobernadorcillos, and cabeza de barangays ( Pawilen, et. al.).

ACTIVITY 1
Cut pictures from magazines or newspapers or download and print
from the internet, and make a collage that represents either the pre-
colonial political system or the Philippine politics at present. Present your
collage in your facebook account and tag your corresponding teacher in
this subject.
ACTIVITY 2

1. Using the Venn Diagram below, compare and contrast the political
system and governance of the people in the Archipelago before and
during the Spanish colonization. Label the Venn Diagram accordingly.
Write four (4) items in each aspect. Write your diagram in a separate sheet
of paper.
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 2.What two aspects of both systems can be continued or revived for today’s political
system and governance? Justify your answer in not more than 5 sentences.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

LEARNERS’ ACTIVITY SHEET #5

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Answer the following question. Encircle the letter of the correct
answer.

1. What is a "maharlika?"
A. It is the lowest social class in pre-colonial Philippines.
B. It is considered as the middle class since they are free men.
C. It is the highest social class in pre-colonial Philippines.
D. These are the advisers of the babaylan.
2. What is a "timawa?
A. It is the lowest social class in pre-colonial Philippines
B. It is considered as the middle class since they are free men.
C. It is the highest social class in pre-colonial Philippines.
D. These are the advisers of the babaylan.
3. What is an "alipin?"
A. It is the lowest social class in pre-colonial Philippines.
B. It is considered as the middle class since they are free men.
C. It is the highest social class in pre-colonial Philippines.
D. These are the advisers of the babaylan.
4. Which is NOT TRUE about the aliping namamahay?
A. This kind of alipin can marry anytime he/she wants.
B. This kind of alipin has his/her own property
C. This kind of alipin became one due to debts.
D. This kind of alipin can be sold to anyone who can afford to buy him/her.
5. Which is TRUE about the aliping saguiguilid?
A. This kind of alipin cannot marry without permission from his/her master.
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B. This kind of alipin have his/her own property.

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C. This kind of alipin is a result of the marriage of two aliping namamahays.

 D. This kind of alipin cannot be sold to anyone.
6. Which is NOT TRUE about the Pre-colonial concept of the barangay?
A. It is the political unit in pre-colonial Philippines.
B. It is composed of 30-100 families.
C. It is considered as a sovereign state.
D. It is only part of a larger whole which is the province.
7. Does the "Philippines" already exist during the pre-colonial period?
A. Yes, because the islands already exist at that time.
B. No, because each barangay is considered an independent state from each
other.
C. Yes, because each barangay is already aware that they belong to one
archipelago.
D. No, because the Spaniards have not come yet.
8. How do you call the confederation of barangays in Mindanao?
A. Islam
B. Federation
C. Kumpulan
D. Sultanate
9. Which is TRUE about the datu's power?
A. The datu's only duty is to become the supreme commander at war.
B. The datu's duty involves the executive, legislative, and judicial powers.
C. The datu's sole duty is to become a religious leader.
D. The datu's duty is to become the persecutor of foreigners.
10. Why did the other Historians de banc the Kalantiaw Code?
A. It contains some concept which is not part of its period.
B. It does not pass the internal criticism of historical documents.
C. It does not pass the external criticism of historical documents.
D. All of the above.
11. Why the barangay do need to have confederation with other barangay
A. To spread the Islam religion.
B. To avoid the invasion of other barangay.
C. To spread the Paganism.
D. To develop the free trade.
12. What is the function of the Islam religion to the Sultanate?
A. It became the basis of their relationship to the other island.
B. It became the basis of the laws of the Sultanate.
C. It became the basis of their literature.
D. None of the above.
13. Why do the early Filipinos practice the trial by ordeal?
A. To test the innocence and guilt of the suspect.
B. To test their faith in God.
C. To test the loyalty of the people.
D. To test the courage of the people.
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14. Why do the Filipinos treat the power of the datu absolute?
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A. Because the datu is powerful.

B. Because the datu is talented.
 C. Because the position of the datu is anointed by gods.
D. Because the datu is brave.
15. Why does early barangay practiced the just war?
A. To gain more wealth.
B. To extend the territory.
C. To gain more alipin.
D. All of the above.

II. IDENTIFICATION. Identify the term being describe in the following statements.
Write the answer after the number.

1. The most powerful family in the sultanate. __________________________________

2. The alipin who cannot marry without the consent of his or her master.
__________________________________
3. The town crier who announce the new law in the barangay.
__________________________________
4. The alipin who had their own properties. __________________________________
5. The tax payers in the barangay. __________________________________
6. The union of two or more than barangay. __________________________________
7. The ruling class inside the barangay. __________________________________
8. The council of elders who assist the datu in making law.
__________________________________
9. The basis of the rules in the sultanate. __________________________________
10. The documents where the Kalantiaw Code was included.
__________________________________

REFERENCES

Francisco, P. & Francisco, V. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance for Senior High
School. Mindshappers Co., Inc., Intamuros, Manila.

Department of Political Science. “A Course Guide in Philippine Politics and Governance”.

Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

Pawilen, R.A. and Pawilen, R.M. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance. Rex Book Store,
Inc., Sampaloc, Manila.
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