Philippine maharlika 2

A Glimpse of the Warrior Class

By Grupo Maharlika

Grade 5 – Cream

St. John’s Institute

by Ishan Chugani

We don’t hear the word maharlika very much anymore. Its origin goes all the way back to the ancient language of India called Sanskrit, from the word, maharddhika, meaning, "a man of wealth, knowledge or ability."

Today it is generally accepted to mean "nobility or aristocracy." The venerable Tagalog dictionary of Leo James English gives us this example: Ang mga harì at prinsipe ay kabilang sa mga maharlikâ. [Kings and princes belong to the nobility.]

That’s the modern definition, but back in the days when there really was a maharlika class in the Philippines, it was actually a lower class of nobility that served the datus, or chiefs, in times of war. The maharlikas belong to the “kings and princes” and not the other way around.

… And this is what our report is all about.

By KM Panganiban

Among the Tagalogs, there were military leaders who exhibited thier powers by sheer bravery alone. They were called bayani or heroes. The rich gave feasts or celebrations in their honor.

The people would show their appreciation by crowning their hero with a gold covered carabao horn. Many of these heroes come from the maharlika or the class of warriors.

By Gabriel Corrales

The maharlika were a martial class ofFreemen. Like the timawa, they were free vassalsof their datu who were exempt from taxes andtribute but were required to provide militaryservice. The brave and the strong compose thewarrior class.

By Audrey Villanueva

It was the duty of the maharliks to help thedatu maintain peace and order in the barangay bydefending their territory from other barangays. Inreturn, the maharlika was exempted from payingtribute to the datu.

The maharlika may also be occasionallyobliged to work on the lands of the datu and assistin projects and other events in the community.

By Carloz Maravilla

In times of war, the maharlika wereobligated to provide and prepare weapons at theirown expense and answer the summons of thedatu, wherever and whenever that might be. Theyaccompanied their ruler in battles as comrades-at-arms and were given a share of the spoils.

By Mikaela Trebol

Warriors had certain trademarks. Visayanwarriors, for instance, could be recognized bynumerous tattoos all over their body. The warriorwith the most number of tattoos meant that hewas the bravest warrior since he was able to killthe most number of enemies.

Meanwhile, only the best warrior amongthe Tagalogs could wear a red “putong” (a smallcloth on his head).

By Pearl Corpuz

Maharlika Timawa

The historian William Henry Scott believesthat the class originated from high-status warriorswho married into the maginoo blood or were perhapsremnants of the nobility class of a conquered line.

Similar high-status warriors in otherPhilippine societies like that of the Bagobo and theBukidnon did not inherit their positions, but wereacquired through martial prowess.[

By Justin Tan

Although they were partly related to the nobility, the maharlikas were technically less free than the timawas because they could not leave a datu’s service without first hosting a large public feastand paying the datu between 6 to 18 pieces of gold – a large sum in those days.

Trivia: During the Marcos Regime, the former president recommended to change the name of the Philippines into “Maharlika”.

… Now we know.

Chugani, Ishan Corpus, Pearl

Corrales, Gabriel Maravilla, Carloz

Panganiban, KM Tan, Justin

Trebol, Mikaela Villanueva, Audrey

Sources:

One Country One People 5, 4th edition

Maharlika and the Ancient Class System by P. Morrow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharlika

Put your answers in a ½ crosswise paper and don’t forget to write your name

each question will be read twice orally

you will be given 10 seconds to answer;

a. datus

b. warriors

c. traders

a. top

b. bottom

c. second

a. bayani

b. babaylan

c. bagumbayan

a. A silver-coated carabao horn

b. A gold-coated carabao horn

c. Four wives and a carabao

a. The most handsome among the warriors

b. The richest among the warriors

c. The one who was able to kill the most number of enemies

a. Red

b. Royal blue

c. Silver and Gold

a. A loin cloth

b. A small cloth on one’s head

c. A cape

True or False

True or False

… so we hope that you were listening

3 points each

What ancient language of India is maharlika (“maharddhika”) derived from?

One of the two requirements before a maharlika can transfer allegiance to

another datu (write just one).

Name the student who is in charge of Grupo Maharlika’s Power Point group

during the presentation (and it wasn’t me).