BRIEF HISTORY
BRIEF HISTORY
PRE-COLONIAL
The most common coastal boat was the balanghai which is the origin of the barangay.
Barangays were the central social and political units ruled by rajas and datus.
Religions were diverse and polytheistic.
Islam spread out through Mindanao and Sulu, later divided into sultanates based on similar but rival ethnic groups and reached Manila before the Spanish.
PRE-COLONIAL
PRE-COLONIAL
People mostly practice shifting cultivation.
Extensive trades with China.
Antonio Pigafetta noted practices such as cock fighting and tattooing.
Excellence in boat building and navigation.
Literacy, particularly women, in local scripts derived from kawi, the old Javanese script, such as the Tagalog Baybayin.