The Austronesian Migration Theory
The Traditional Concept
• Austronesian Migration Theory propounds on the
expansion of a group of people called the
Austronesians from Asia into the Pacific by means
of Taiwan 6,000 years ago. It was a theory
proposed by Peter Bellwood a professor of
Archeology.
• The Austronesian migrations began from the
Chinese mainland, reaching Taiwan first in 3500
BC then the Philippines by 3000 BC. They reached
Sumatra and Java by 2000 BC, Northern New
Guinea by 1600 BC, Samoa by 1200 BC, Hawaii,
Easter Island, and Madagascar by 500 AD, etc.
Common Austronesians
Cultural traces include:
• Tattooing
• Outriggers of canoes
• Prehistoric art styles
• Social characters
Language:
The Austronesian language family is usually
divided into two branches: Malayo-Polynesian and
Formosan. The Western sub-branch includes over 500
languages spoken in Madagascar, Malaysia, Indonesia, the
Philippines, parts of Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and
Cambodia.
According to Dr. Beyer, the ancestors of the Filipinos came
in different "waves of migration", as follows:
1. "Dawn Man", a cave-man type who was similar to
Java man, Peking Man, and other Asian homo
sapiens of 250,000 years ago.
2. The aboriginal pygmy group, the Negritos, who
arrived between 25,000 and 30,000 years ago via
land bridges.
3. The seafaring, more civilized Malays who brought
the Iron age culture and were the real colonizers
and dominant cultural group in the pre-Hispanic
Philippines.
Anthropologist F. Landa Jocano of the University of
the Philippines contends that what fossil evidence of
ancient men show is that they not only migrated to the
Philippines, but also to New Guinea, Borneo, and Australia.
He says that there is no way of determining if they were
Negritos at all. However, what is sure is that there is
evidence the Philippines was inhabited as early as 21,000
or 22,000 years ago. In 1962, a skull cap and a portion of a
jaw, presumed to be those of a human being, were found in
a Tabon Cave in Palawan.
The discovery may show that man came earlier to the
Philippines than to the Malay Peninsula. If this is true, the
first inhabitants of the Philippines did not come from the
Malay Peninsula. Jocano further believes that the present
Filipinos are products of the long process of evolution and
movement of people
Filipino culture- is the summation of indigenous forces and
foreign influences that had come to bear upon the people
in varying degrees during the last centuries.
Filipino Cultural Perspective
1.
Hold that Filipino culture was developed due to
the conglomeration of the physical, intellectual,
moral and spriritual aspects.
2. The Nationalistic View
Regards culture as the summation of the needs of
people, the description of their past and present
condition, an expression of their values, thoughts
and emotions, and the dipiction of their historic
struggles too liberate themselves.
3. Cultural Dualism
The Philippines is a transitional society dominated
on one side by the traditional culture and on the
other side by the modern culture.
Filipino Culture
A. Belief System
Filipinos are believers of religion.
They believe so much on supernatural powers and
viewed themselves as only a speck in this wide
universe.
Success is considered a blessing from above, as a
result of good luck and faith
Good is considered relative.
Hapiness and success differ from one person to
another.
Hospitality is practice.
B. Value System
Cultural values are shared assumptions of what is
right, good or important.
Guide man's behavior and action as he relates
himself in most situations in life.
Can best be seen from the aspects of personal and
social relationships.
Majority of Filipinos value more their honor
(karangalan) rather than wealth.
In decision- making, the Filipinos usually consult
and take into consideration the consensus of the
family members as the feelings of those who are
to be affected.
Filipinos love to mingle with other people
particularly with friends and relatives.
They engaged themselves in mutual cooperation
(Bayanihan)
Filipinos are friendly. They smile at people, even
with strangers
They are warm and simple
Filipino women are regard and respected.
The Filipino Values (predominant)
1. Utang-na -loob
it is a technique of receprocity of debt of gratitude
to others within the family circle or primary group,
sometimes unlimited in nature, emotional rather
than financial or rational.
It is sign of marginal economy where no place is
available in bargaining, formal agreeements,
written contracts, specific rights and
responsibilities.
2. Pakikisama
Closely to utang-na-loob
It is the value of belongingness and loyalty to the
snall in-group with sensitivity to the feelings of
others on the principle of “give and take.”
Is a folk concept of good public relations and
avoidance of conflict with the leader or majority of
the groups.
3. Hiya
Controls a large extent the behavior of the
individual.
Dependent on others will think, say and do.
Because of hiya, a Filipino cannot say “NO”
even it is against his will to do what is being
requested.
4. Bahala na
Common expression among Filipinos and this rest
on the fatalistic outlook and strong dependence
on the “spirits” who will take care of everything if
they are really meant for a person.
5. Authoritarianism
It is the dependense of the Filipinos in a
paternalistic rather than in a stern way upon the
eldres of the family, upon their boss, if employed,
and upon people in authority as their father figure.
Commonly practice in the Filipino familoyt which
basically patriachal in nature.
The father is seen as the head that makes major
decisions affecting the family.
6. Individualism
Pattern of behavior which characterizes the
Filipino as self-centered
The desire to make the name for himself becomes
the primary motivation for success.
7. Amor-propio
Individual's highly emotional reaction to protect
his honor and dignity when they are threaten or
questioned and to retaliate.
Common forms of this are “hele hele bago quiere”
or pakipot which shows at aperson initially
refusing an offer even if he wants very much to
accept it.