386232832-Customs-of-the-Tagalogs.pdf - CUSTOMS OF THE...

CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS
(Las costumbres de los indios Tagalos de Filipinas)
JUAN DE PLASCENCIA
I. Author’s Background
Juan de Plasencia
 Born in the 16
th
century to the illustrious
family of the Portocarreros in Plasencia , in the
Region of Extremadura, Spain.
 His real name is Joan de Puerto Carrero, del
convento de Villanueva de la Serena .
 He was a Spanish Friar of the Franciscan
order.
 He spent most of his missionary life in the
Philippines, where he founded numerous
towns in Luzon and authored several
religious and linguistic books, most notably,
the Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana , 1581 –
translated the Christian Doctrines in Tagalog ,
the first book ever printed in the Philippines.
 Juan de Plasencia was born in the early 16th
century as Juan Portocarrero in Plasencia, in
the region of Extremadura, Spain. He was
one of the seven children of Pedro
Portocarrero , a captain of a Spanish schooner.
 Said to have been inspired to be a Franciscan
because of his upbringing spent during a
spiritual and religious resurgence affected by
Spain’ s Siglo de Oro , a Golden Age when arts
and literature flourished in many parts of
Spain, among them his native Extremadura.
 Well reputed as the one who took the leading
role in fostering the spread of primary
education.
 Converted natives, taught catechisms, and
organized towns and barangays in the
Philippines.
 Promoted the understanding of both the
Spanish language among the natives, and the
local languages among the missionaries, to
facilitate the task of spreading Christianity.
 Initiated the Reduccion Policy – policy to
reduce or resettle natives in central locations.
 Some of his works aimed to put an end to
some injustices being committed against the
natives by certain government officials.