Early Filipino Culture

What is Material Culture?

• Non-physical aspects like behaviors, ideas, language, values, and beliefs.

• Physical objects, resources, and spaces created or used by people.

Early Filipinos practiced ________, worshipping many gods, goddesses, and nature spirits like anito and diwata.

• animism

• monotheism

• atheism

• polytheism

Which region believed in Bathala, a powerful god who created the world and mankind?

• Luzon

• Visayas

• Mindanao

Answer explanation

Particularly the Tagalogs believed in Bathala

How did Islam spread from Mindanao to Luzon in the late 14th century?

• Through trading with Arab and Malay merchants

• Through warfare and colonization of the Arabs

All of the following shows how women were respected and had rights in early Filipino society; EXCEPT:

• • Women served as spiritual leaders called Babaylan in Visayas and Catalonan in Tagalog regions

• Women could own and inherit property

• • Women have the right to name their children and engage in trade

• Women were not allowed to engage in livelihood.

True or False. Early Filipinos all used the same writing system across the islands.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

• Writing systems included:

  • Baybayin (Tagalog)

  • Kulitan (Kapampangan)

  • Badlit (Visayan)

  • Kirim (Mindanao)

How did early Filipinos show creativity in their homes and crafts?

• They built homes using bricks and cement.

• They copied architectural styles from neighboring countries.

• They used light materials and decorated items with symbolic designs like the Sarimanok and Naga.

• They avoided using decorations to keep homes simple.

Education in early Filipino culture was informal. Children learned family history and skills from whom?

• Parents or experts in their communities

• Foreign traders.

• School teachers.

• Religious missionaries.