A Glimpse of the Warrior Class

The Maharlika

The Pre-colonial Class Systemby 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.

An Introduction to our group’s topic

The Maharlika

HeroesBy 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.

Feast for Heroes

The Class of WarriorsBy Gabriel Corrales

The maharlika were a martial class of Freemen. Like the timawa, they were free vassals of their datu who were exempt from taxes and tribute but were required to provide military service. The brave and the strong compose the warrior class.

The Warrior Class

Role in the BarangayBy Audrey Villanueva

It was the duty of the maharliks to help the datu maintain peace and order in the barangay by defending their territory from other barangays. In return, the maharlika was exempted from paying tribute to the datu.

The maharlika may also be occasionally obliged to work on the lands of the datu and assist in projects and other events in the community.

A warrior’s duties and resposibilities

Maharlika at warBy Carloz Maravilla

In times of war, the maharlika were obligated to provide and prepare weapons at their own expense and answer the summons of the datu, wherever and whenever that might be. They accompanied their ruler in battles as comrades-at-arms and were given a share of the spoils.

At war

Mukhang MaharlikaBy Mikaela Trebol

Warriors had certain trademarks. Visayan warriors, for instance, could be recognized by numerous tattoos all over their body. The warrior with the most number of tattoos meant that he was the bravest warrior since he was able to kill the most number of enemies.

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

Trademarks of a maharlika

Additional Insights: beyond the booksBy Pearl Corpuz

Maharlika

Almost similar but not quite …

Timawa

The historian William Henry Scott believes that the class originated from high-status warriors who married into the maginoo blood or were perhaps remnants of the nobility class of a conquered line.

Similar high-status warriors in other Philippine societies like that of the Bagobo and the Bukidnon did not inherit their positions, but were acquired through martial prowess.[

Did you know ..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 feast and 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.

Grupo MaharlikaChugani, Ishan Corpus, Pearl

Corrales, Gabriel Maravilla, Carloz

Panganiban, KM Tan, Justin

Trebol, Mikaela Villanueva, Audrey

Salamat..Sources:

One Country One People 5, 4th edition

Maharlika and the Ancient Class System by P. Morrow

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

15 point quiz with a bonus question

We shall be giving papers for you to fill in with the answers. Please do not forget to write your name.

a. datusb. warriorsc. traders

Q # 1: The maharlikas were

a. topb. bottomc. second

Q # 2: In the social hierarchy, what level is

maharlika

a. bayanib. babaylan

c. bagumbayan

Q # 3: The military leaders who exhibited their

powers by sheer bravery alone were called

a. A silver-coated carabao hornb. A gold-coated carabao horn

c. Four wives and a carabao

Q # 4: During a feast for a hero, the people showed

their appreciation by giving the hero

a. The most handsome among the warriors

b. The richest among the warriorsc. The one who was able to kill the

most number of enemies

Q # 5: The warrior with the most number of tattoos

is

a. Redb. Royal blue

c. Silver and Gold

Q # 6: Only the best warrior among the

Tagalogs could wear a ________ putong.

a. A loin clothb. A small cloth on one’s head

c. A cape

Q # 7: What is a putong?

True or False

Q # 8: Many of the heroes that the people admired

and respected came from the Maharlika

True or False

Q # 9: The maharlika were exempted from paying

tribute to the datu.

… so we hope that you were listening

3 points each

Hard Questions:

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

from?

Q # 10

One of the two requirements before a maharlika can transfer allegiance

to another datu (write just one).

Q # 11

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

group during the presentation (and

it wasn’t me).

Bonus Question