The Baranggay in Ancient Tmes

The Barangay in Ancient Times Before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in the Philippines in the 16th century, the Barangays were well-organized independent villages - and in some cases, cosmopolitan sovereign principalities, which functioned much like a city-state. The Barangay was the dominant organizational pattern among indigenous communities in the Philippine archipelago. The name barangay originated from balangay, a Malay word meaning "sailboat". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barangay_(pre-colonial) h

The Hierarchy of Leadership in Ancient Philippines… The political history of the Philippines begins clearly from the formation of various ethno-linguistic groups with distinct territorial imperatives and traditions. The political system revolved around a kinship-based power or influence hierarchy headed by a leader called Mampus or Mapalon among the Ivatan, Mabacnang or "Amaen ti ili" among the Ilocano, Apo among the Igorot, Benganganat among the Ilongot, Mingal among the Gaddang, Gator Lakan among the Tagalog, Rajah among the Bisayan, Timuay among the Subanun, Datu among the Lumad and Muslim of Mindanao, and Nakurah among the Sama. http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=2&i=187 The head was called datu and was the chief executive, legislator, judge and military commander. He made laws, enforced them and judged all cases and trials brought by the villagers. However, he had a council of elders who assisted him in his administration. A person could become a datu through inheritance, wealth, wisdom and bravery. The written laws were promulgated by the datu and council of elders. A town crier called umalohokan announced the laws to the people. The contents of ancient laws involved family relations, property rights, domestic affairs, inheritance, marriage conflicts, murder and business problems. Punishment for serious crimes was death, slavery or heavy fines. Minor crimes were punished through with exposure