Customs-of-the-Tagalogs-Summary.docx - 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.
Arrival in the Philippines
 Came with the first batch of Franciscan
missionaries in the Philippines in 1577.
Life in the Philippines
 He is believed to have arrived to the
Philippines in 1578. As soon as he
arrived, he joined forces with another
missionary, Fray Diego de Oropesa,
and they both started preaching
around Laguna de Bay and Tayabas,
Quezon, in Quezon Province, where he
founded several towns as early as two
months upon arrival in Manila.
 During the following years they are
also credited with the foundation of a
large number of towns in the provinces
of Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal, such as
Tayabas, Caliraya, Lucban, Mahjayjay,
Nagcarlan, Lilio(Liliw), Pila, Santa Cruz,
Lumban, Pangil, Siniloan, Morong,
Antipolo, Taytay, and Meycauayan.
 Elected as the custos of the friars in
May 23, 1584 and held it until 1588.
 Passed away in Liliw, Laguna in the
year 1590.
Literary Works
 Arte de la Lengua (Art of Language)
 Vocabulario
 Coleccion de Frases Tagala (Collection
of Tagalog Phrases)
 Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana ,
1581 – translated the Christian
Doctrines in Tagalog
 Diccionario Tagalog , 1580
 La Santina , 1585 – opus on Prayer and
Meditation
 Relacion de las Costumbres de Los
Tagalos , 1589 – First Civil Code of the