What is Mahadlika again?

I remember in 2003 when I posted my Mahadlika Thesis website there was nothing about it online. Now, I'm glad that more and more filipinos are furthering their own study on who they are. I have to verify on my own, the posters claims but it makes some sense.

Also what further supports the "freemen" over "noble" theory is that in order for there to be nobles there have to be long standing dynasties in the first place. The dynasties that created nobles in the west were based on the warrior class who were also great land owners. We didn't have that, think about it, the population of the Philippines pre-spanish arival was only a several thousands, with manila being the largest being 10 to 20k (p20, carlos quirino: Filipinos at War) Instead we have "first" men or

On the part about Alipin, filipinos are not familiar with the term Serf. Serf is basically an indentured servant. Alipin is actually more of a "dependent", according to agoncilio. A serf has rights, unlike a slave, and is actually in the care of their master. Looking at clashing points of the Bornean Datus of Maynila and the Khemeric peoples of Sugbu and Panay, points to the serf being the key difference between the two. If one pillages for slaves, the other goes about its business putting serfs to work.


1570 all estimated
Maynilad (Bornean muslim)
- Raja Sulayman
- pop 15,000 est (medieval city)
- fighting force 500-700
- Walled City (palisades)
- Brass cannons
- as a city, the existance of one high tech specialist: panday pira or the cannon maker

Sugbu (Khemer Budist Mahayana)
-pop 7,500 (large town)
- fighting force 250-350 (sent 250)
- as a town there is a very high possibility of specialists like swordmakers, especially since cebu has always had an early access to iron.

Panay (Khemer Budist Mahayana)
- pop 6,000 (large town)
- fighting force 200-300 (sent 200)
- given the resources of panay, the most likely specialists that exist are boat makers. they are the most likely because, Panay has always favorite pickings of muslim slavers and an emnity that survives in modern day. Boats would be the best way to provide early warning and may be also the reason why they were choice targets: the possibility of their profession as fisher men may be the reason why they were easy pickings because of the high vulnerability when the men are away.