Journey Through Time: A Look Into Pre-Colonial Philippines

[@nipatales]

Correction: In the video, we stated that Polynesians may have migrated to the Philippines. While there is evidence of Polynesian-style pottery found in the region, the origins and significance of this pottery style are still a topic of debate among scholars. After reading through the many insightful comments on this topic, it appears that the evidence actually suggests that Austronesian-speaking peoples, who shared common ancestry with both Filipinos and Polynesians, may have spread the pottery style throughout the region. We apologize for any confusion or misinformation we may have caused and strive to ensure the accuracy of our content in the future. We appreciate all of the engagement and insights from our viewers, as learning history is always best done through a collective effort. Thank you so much for watching our video!

[@robertvidal3935]

Austronesians are the native islanders who moved from Taiwan and spread to Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar, parts of Thailand and Vietnam. We don’t call ourselves Austronesians anymore because many of us have Chinese, Indian, Spanish, etc bloods. But, as Filipinos we are still predominantly Austronesians. Polynesians are combination of Austronesian and Papuans. That’s why they are bigger and tend to have curly hair. Austronesians tend to have straight hair and aren’t as tall. Both groups were maritime by the time colonialization came.

[@kahldiss2689]

@@robertvidal3935 The Out of Taiwan theory is also a subject of enormous debates. So do not dwell too much on that as a reality.

[@robertvidal3935]

@@kahldiss2689 The most accurate would be a combination of migrations from ancient times into the pre-colonial when human movement was curved by colonial powers. But, the most ancient DNA trace for Austronesians come from southern China so some may have migrated on land south to Malaysia and some to Taiwan. And since there were no more land bridges by the time of the Austronesians, either way, they would have sailed to the Philippines.

[@kahldiss2689]

@@robertvidal3935 Austronesian is not a race. It is a language group. There is no evidence of Austronesian speakers originating from southern China.

[@robertvidal3935]

@@kahldiss2689What race would you assign to this group? Where would you think people from Taiwan came from if they crossed land bridges?

[@robertvidal3935]

I think you may have switched the immigration pattern. The Austronesians who had settled in the Philippines (around 2200 BC) migrated to other islands of SE Asia including Papua New Guinea and intermarried with the people there (original migrants from Africa). Those people then continued to sail all over the Pacific islands to become the Polynesians around the time of Christ. The knowledge of pottery traditions of the Lapita civilization of Samoa are linked to the same traditions in Philippines where pottery has been produced since 1500 BC according to archaeological finds of burial jars.

[@jap882]

Thats why it baffled me, why came from polynesia when migration patterns came from africa to asia....

[@jap882]

Why is an indus script found in the pacific islands.... In the form of rongorongo script So polynesians go to india too hahaha im really skeptic about the "polynesian to the philippines" part of this video.

[@jap882]

Even korean language have southern indian language influence.

[@jap882]

so polynesian brought outrigger boats to the philippines... This video is somewhat backwards hehe

[@jap882]

most pacific islanders tribes are thought that there ancestors came from distant lands who sailed to the island... Continental America have been traced even before the time of vikings from Asia along the siberia route.

[@mikebacchus721]

thanks for your efforts to give brief history of the Philippines. i visited the Philippines in 2019 to 2021 from Toronto Canada. I love Filipino people. will visit again.

[@griggbaylee5808]

Hmmm interesting, where you isolated there by the lockdown? That’s pretty much the time when very few foreigners were in the archipelago, great people and so beautiful country

[@DwaineWoolley]

That’s why the Tongan and Samoan languages are very similar to Bisaya.

[@buhokobunot6100]

Really?

[@alanguages]

@@buhokobunot6100 No, not really. If they were very similar they would have notable mutually intelligibility. Bisaya is closer to Indonesian, than it is to the Tongan and Samoan languages, even though related, they are distantly so. Unless the op (Dwaine Woolley) would like to elaborate on it. You can even look at the Austronesian language family tree and see for yourself the distance between them.

[@buhokobunot6100]

@@alanguages im a bisayan speaker...but i really dont know that we have words similarity to the Tongans and Samoans .

[@alanguages]

@@buhokobunot6100 Yes there are similar words, due to cognates coming from an ancestor language. It is still not a great deal of words though. Tongan and Samoan are still related to Bisaya, but notably distant. A Bisaya speaker would not be able to listen to a person speaking Samoan and vice versa with both of them carrying a conversation with each other, knowing what is being said. If you listen to Indonesian, you will have better comprehension. Bisaya is my favourite Filipiino language.

[@lakas_tama]

Lol ang layo may related lang pero sobrang layo ng pagkakaiba

[@dayangmarikit6860]

What are you talking about?… there’s no evidence of back migration from the Pacific Islands into the Philippines. The Pacific Islanders were the ones who came from us. Those potteries have similarities because Austronesians migrated from Taiwan into the Philippines, then they migrated out of the Philippines, towards the Pacific Ocean and those ancient migrants are basically the ancestors of modern Pacific Islanders. Those migrants also mixed with Papuans and Melanesians, hence why modern Pacific Islanders are genetically mixed between Austronesian and Oceanian.

[@morgasm26]

I have melanesian Polynesian and philipino/austronesian dna.. my 3rd great grandfather was from guam and my 3rd great grandmother was from kauai.. that's as far back as I can trace my ancestry.. I also a pulling indigenous Chilean dna which makes me think my andestors is how sweet potatoes got into Polynesia.. granted I am also spanish and Portuguese among other things.. I just think some people settled and others kept moving.. kept interbreeding.. I'm actually pulling dna from all over the world except central asia.. I think dna is going to shed light on the true migratory paths of humanity.. filling in the gaps in our histories...

[@dayangmarikit6860]

@@morgasm26 More about Philippine history. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqHFiHWtm5yWa5Y kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5Clm6d8qpx_aZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGbGdWqrj76Bopo

[@chewy6487]

No one came from the Philippines. The Philippines came from everyone else. Theres a reason why the Philippines is known as "the melting pot of Asia".

[@kilipaki87oritahiti]

They didn’t migrate from Taiwan. The “out of Taiwan theory” has been debunked due to recent archaeological evidence that backs up earlier proof (DNA and linguistic), that the Philippines was the ground zero for Austronesian expansion into the Pacific as you said. Aboriginal Taiwanese came from northern Philippines as they are clearly closely related to the Igorot in culture, language and DNA. Our tattoo tools can be carbondated as far back as 4000 years old. The Philippines was settled through the route from mainland Asia, and Sundalan. Later back migration from Indonesia (Borneo) to Central Philippines Visayas. We even settled as far east as Madagascar from Borneo, the 1st humans there. We also have relatives in Nagaland east India, and Cham people southern Vietnam.

[@chewy6487]

@@kilipaki87oritahiti And how many theories are going to be debunked? These are only theories so stop acting as if you have some sort of undeniable truths.

[@gaufrid1956]

Maayad tungkay! Maayo gyud! Mabuti talaga! My wife is Higaonon, from Bukidnon, Mindanao. She speaks her native language, holds tribal beliefs, and was trained by her maternal grandmother as a baylan.

[@nipatales]

That is wonderful to hear that they held on to those traditions. Perhaps your family can pass it on to the next generation 😉

[@suskagusip1036]

Babaylan are quack spiritual doctors. Still exist in many local villages.

[@NylonStrap]

If you look at the numbers, there are some very obvious connections between the Philippines and Polynesian Islands: English, Tongan, Samoan, Bikolano(Philippine dialect) one, taha, tasi, saru two, ua, lua, duwa three, tolu, tolu, tulo four, fa, fa, apat five, nima, lima, lima six, ono, ono, anom seven, fitu, fitu, pito eight, valu, valu, walo nine, hiva, iva, siyam ten, hongofulu, sefulu, sampulo

[@silentririnneur5315]

dont know much of bikolano but one thing for sure, it is a language, not a dialect

[@suskagusip1036]

Philippines has 7,600+ islands and every island has different dialects but yes your numbers are correct. Our tongue got twisted the minute you sailed to another island.

[@earthquakenationz]

oo nga pare pareho lang mdeyo naiba nalang kunti kasi di pa uso yung mag linis ng tainga kaya medyo bingi wala pa kasi cotton buds dati

[@arghentrock]

Linguistic and archaeological evidence suggests the Polynesians came from Asia and went east to cross the Pacific ocean all the way to Easter Island and beyond. One of the similar words used in the Philippines and Easter Island is "mata" which means "eye."

[@chewy6487]

In Indonesian too

[@st4r444]

Yes original east asians were dark skinned looking who worshipped ancestors, nature and totem with body ink and wore animal parts clothing

[@emilioba6770]

Philippines is part of AUSTRONESIAN people, because comparing each languages among Islands that belong to AUSTRONESIAN have similarities one way or the other , it differs only on spelling or sounds, very interesting to know and very proud I belong to a unique group of people that GOD created from one of the sons of NOE that spread around the earth,,,, 🇵🇭♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ AUSTRONESIAN TRIBES worldwide 🌎

[@jonasstrabel]

Wow i have been searching for a video like this one for a long time... finally i found it:) Great work! Salamat!

[@thomas_the_cat]

indonesia, malaysia (sabah), and the philippines are probably a one big archiphelago country right now if no colonialism happened back then

[@friendofvinnie]

Yeah a Muslim sultanate

[@georgeacenas2349]

I appreciate the pre-colonial history primer. Your references to archaeology are noteworthy. Of the weaponry, I note the sword-keris wavy blade used in Sinkil dance. Indonesian lore relates our Indo cousins unsheathing their keris to battle Dutch colonists armed with guns/cannon. I like your work!

[@GoodBoyChevy]

Very interesting and your presentation was clearly explained. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@dayangmarikit6860]

It’s very interesting how inaccurate the information is.

[@nicholascauton9648]

So that explains why some of my Samoan friends sometimes call me cousin. They’re probably aware of the possibility of their own people migrating to pre-Hispanic Philippines thousands of years ago.

[@globalismoblackman]

Of course you are cousin with Polynesian in the South Pacific of Oceania 👍🙂. You genetics are silent when you see Filipinos ancestors facial looks and skin complexion and you compare with Polynesian in Samoa and Solomon Islands and Hawaiians.

[@gabrielsimbachosenboxing6734]

Proud that my father if Filipino from Morong Rizal. The Negritos are indeed the first true Filipinos. They have similar features to many Filipinos even my Kuyas look Negrito, they also speak tagalog. Negritos just have darker skin and curly hair, Filipinos nowadays are mixed.

[@LifeOdysseyMotivation]

bweee! di nga?

[@gabrielsimbachosenboxing6734]

@@LifeOdysseyMotivation yes really

[@LifeOdysseyMotivation]

@@gabrielsimbachosenboxing6734 😍

[@ophirph-2024]

Negritos are from Africa, most were being sold by spaniards

[@suskagusip1036]

​@@ophirph-2024 Know the history of the Philippine original tribe not the one you learned in the UK and USA. They're still there living free away from the drama of your color.

[@comeju3264]

We are both Austronesian speaker but There's no evidence of polynesian migrating to Philippines or filipino to Polynesian island. that's why a lot of fil am or some Filipino are confused because of this mis information.

[@薛氏-z5s]

Austronesian Peoples come from Taiwan (Formosa) The Origins of the Austronesians kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5mygmRueJiqopY Taiwan Austronesian Peoples/China Chinese Peoples in Taiwan kzbin.info/www/bejne/eprccnqQgpaojM0

[@louisemmanuelmorente3978]

I commend the effort of this, since the pre-colonial history of Philippines is hardly taught in our schools. However, please do more extensive research and verify your information from historians before posting, to avoid spreading false information and unverified theories. The Polynesian backward migration is false so please find a way to make your viewers aware of that. Also, you mentioned the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, which is not pre-colonial, but a colonial trade route established by the Spanish Empire. You could have included the Maritime Jade Trade route instead, which the early PH polities are a major player of. Second, some key information is lacking. You barely talked about the Malay migration waves (1st and 2nd) which is the reason why most Filipinos are mostly of Malay ancestry; and didn't mention other powerful kingdoms like Cebu, Madyas, and Caboloan (Pangasinan), etc. Finally, there were no empires and imperialism in pre-colonial Philippines, the political structure of our early kingdoms and polities, followed the "Mandala system." Be distinct with the terms you use to avoid misconceptions.

[@Christian-wu3mp]

Cool, It would fun to be ur friend and learn these things from u

[@CHARLIESTARITA]

Amazing info, the truth is no body knows exactly what is the real history of every country.

[@teachgrace9656]

I can tell, base on the accent. The narrator is a Filipino, the consonant sounds are more stressed than vowel sounds.

[@LifeOdysseyMotivation]

i noticed it too

[@garumanthefiremage]

keep the vids coming man! I dont know enough about archipelago and its people's history!

[@tdn4773]

Panay Island was purchased from the indigenous Ati people by Malay colonizers from Sabah in the early 1300s. Why no mention of Malay colonizers and the genocide against the indigenous Ati??

[@raincloud706]

Theories are that people from Taiwan and polynesian or austronesian migrated to the Philippines and introduce advance culture but did you have a notion or further studies that these theories could be the other way around.

[@nipatales]

While it's possible that the migration could have gone the other way, the prevailing theory is that Austronesian peoples originated in Taiwan and later migrated to the Philippines, other parts of Southeast Asia, Polynesia and other parts of the Pacific, and even as far as Africa (i.e. Madagascar). This is supported by archaeological evidence as well as linguistic and genetic studies. While there is always room for new discoveries and alternative theories, most scholars agree that Austronesian folks initially came from Taiwan and then expanded from there. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights on the topic. It's always great to hear different perspectives and ideas!

[@annawarren-sullivan7630]

​@@nipatales 🙌 👊

[@DaveChuaa]

Polynesians are more Australoid genetically. The only real Austronesians genetically are natives of Taiwan and Filipinos especially Central Cordilleran. The ancestors of Polynesian are Native Australians/Papuan. Then the Austronesian who came from the Philippines intermixed with the native of Australia thus forming Polynesia and Micronesia. Polynesian culture came from Austronesians.

[@Miss_Hannah]

Filipino are not from Polynesian

[@Budywieser]

Tingnan nyo ang history ng baiyu tribe sa Southern china during Neolithic Era dito ng galing lahat ng South east asians. Southern barbarian tawag ng mga chinese sa kanila.

[@wiv2631]

Thanks for providing a useful framework on the history of the Philippines. Personally, I don't believe we have an absolutely correct history of anything that transpired in ancient times, only educated guesses and theories based on somewhat inconclusive evidence.

[@fernandoesteban2345]

Latest epigenetic evidence has settled the question of indigenous populations. The diverse genetic mix in Luzon and Visayas is largely a result of constant migrations from neighboring islands. We need to broaden our understanding of migrations.

[@ramblingrootscamp]

Great video, I can't wait for more!

[@DrumTeacherManila]

New subscriber here! more videos please! I used to be a history teacher myself. I'm glad you made this channel.

[@febuanpava3682]

Finally a channel presenting the Pre-Colonial Philippines. Mabuhay! Subbed!

[@jerrytang3146]

There was a lot of maritime migration in the past. Our lands were populated by several groups of people at different times.

[@devonmckenna]

This was a great overview. Thank you!

[@annawarren-sullivan7630]

Very interesting. Thanks 😊 BTW, if you could do any videos on the Ryukyu Islands (Yonaguni, Ishigaki, Okinawa) that would be awesome 👊

[@nipatales]

Thank you so much for your interest 😊 We'll definitely look into it -- this is all new to us and we welcome any and all ideas for future videos.

[@annawarren-sullivan7630]

@@nipatales very well done 👏

[@romeomacaspac6198]

@@nipatales i would like to share this video to my fellow countrymen,,,,GOD BLESS US ALL,,,BE PROUD FOR WHAT WE ARE,,,,, RISE UP PHILIPPINES....kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2PXgIhtiN-Vps0

[@geshia1751]

The biggest asset of the Philippines is the knowledge of the English language. The difficult job of the Thomasites to convert the official Spanish language into English is very commendable. It's also amazing that ancient languages from the many regions have survived but slowly fading away. English and Tagalog and the hybrid TagLish seem to be dominating and spreading fast. Nate, your video is excellent! Thank You.

[@nox6555]

what a good channel for Filipinos

[@johnootot]

Very sad to see so much detail given to Islam, which in fact came so late, and barely a mention of the much earlier Hindu Buddhist kingdoms, with a number of tribes, like the Kamiyo speaking languages with connections to Sanskrit. Unfortunately these less warlike, more trade focused Hindu/Buddhist cultures got squeezed to death by Islam from one direction and Catholics from the other direction. The surviving vestiges of these beautiful Mindanoan cultures can be traced in gold jewelry found in collections as far as Europe. Almost obliterated but now research is currently helping to bring to light.

[@LifeOdysseyMotivation]

So, the Catholics and Islam are plagues?

[@poohthegreatslayer]

Exactly

[@Gelatinocyte2]

There are also archaeological evidence to this, right? There's at least one golden artefact IIRC.

[@mannyp6582]

❤❤❤ I love your voice and your narration is very soothing to listen to.

[@rapmamori4136]

Lol. Austronesians came from Taiwan to Philippines, spread all over to South East Asia, further west to Madagascar. And further east to Pacific Islands. They became Melanesians, Micronesians, and Polynesians. Of course they’re not pure Austronesians as the mix with other tribes like aboriginals from Guinea and Australia. Even Polynesians mixed with south americans. Austronesians are expert navigators. Some Islanders thought they came from South America but austronesians mixed with them and bring them back to pacific islands.

[@CP0rings33]

They mixed with melanesians, not aboriginal Australians. However Austronesian cultural and linguistic aspects were brought to the Torres Strait in between Australia and Papua New Guinea by Austronesian speakers from the east.

[@rapmamori4136]

@@CP0rings33 thanks for the info 👍😊

[@jrexx2841]

Very underrated channel!

[@jultolentino7515]

This channel is a must,dont know much our origin &history.god bless alhamdulilla

[@RyuSunJae-sm9gh]

This such an important video to know the history and culture of philippines!

[@lorenjameslee7931]

Thanks for this vid! It’s excellent and exciting. I learned a lot. Thanks Nipa Tales!

[@prosimian]

The Polynesians came from Asia, they didn't migrate to Asia

[@jondoealoe]

Assuming that the place where people originated is above sea level, and Atlantis and Mu aren't real places. Follow the money... The oldest money supposedly comes from China, but it was imported from the Maldives.

[@st4r444]

​@@jondoealoe ancient 👽

[@jondoealoe]

@@st4r444 The Ho'okumu Ka Lani Ho'okumu Ka Honua, tells us that the Hawaiians came from Alaska and the migrations from the south came later.

[@st4r444]

@@jondoealoe lost tribe israelite

[@jondoealoe]

@@st4r444 That's possible. Dan and Manasah were just across the Bering Straight in Tartaria, China used to be part of The Tartarian Empire, the Haida had trade with China; and the Haida are related to the Polynesians. They were slave traders like Abraham and his family and they sailed all the way to New Zealand and back to the Queen Charlotte Islands too. In Hebrew and Hawaiian He and Ha is the breath of God. The Masoretic scribes changed the A's to E's about a thousand years after Jesus was crucified. The I in Haida would be a Yod in Hebrew, and that's God's hand, like the I in Hawaii. The last syllable in Haida contains the first two letters of Dan's name. Hawaii could be YHWH backwards, HWHY. In Hebrew HAVA can be translated as Palace or Being. The Yod at the end could make Hawaii be translated as Palace of Yah. The W in Hawaii can also be pronounced like a V, exactly the same as in Hebrew. It should be remembered that the tribe of Dan left Egypt around 1500 bc, but the name of Dan was being used by Ham and Japheth, SiDON, DeDAN and MeDAN right after they got off of the ark at least a thousand years earlier; Abram was a Brahman, and Dan "the serpent" was named after DANu the serpent in the Mahabharata. Baptisms, born again doctrine, Ash Wednesday and rosary beads all have Vedic origins too. Linguists teach that all of our words were originally names for the sun as the shekina of God. Every proper etymology reaches the sun. Dawn is when the sun rises. Dan's (the judges) color is red. Red sky at night, red sky at morning is the judge to a sailor; and Dan was a sailor... The sun's reflection on water is often refered to as a serpent...

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

Interesting and also the many comments add a lot of interesting discussion.

[@AMM0beatz]

There is no theory or evidence of Polynesians settling in the Philippines, the Polynesians spread out into the Pacific interior not into Asia. The pottery that were found in Polynesia were Lapita origin, who are said to be ancient maritime people of southeast asia.

[@carlobenhurarines6234]

Austronesians are Fishermen while Negritos are Mountain people... another groups of later inhabited Asiatic people will be farmer people... With these personalities we can understand how they spread the asean and pacific islands until the present

[@garychavez5406]

Bravo! More videos like this please!

[@Errr717]

Very informative ... at least for the southern part of the Philippines. Just what role did the people in the northern part play during the pre-colonial period?

[@jackstone2482]

Nothing. They despise work and spent the whole day gossiping at a mango tree... they are so lazy even in the pre-colonial time but kept on demanding for relief goods daily and bad mouthed their Datu if they were given sardines instead of corned beef!Even without contribution to the society... They have organized multiple rallies protesting in the rice fields, river bank, outside the bahay kubo everyday inorder to destabilized their barangay and all leaders they accused of corruption. Sadly, the tagalog still preserve this culture until today, that's why you can always find the tagalogs on the street with different demands everyday for out government to fees them, give them house & lot, take care their 24 children while they just do nothing but makes some more! 😭

[@rodlapuz4891]

@@jackstone2482 I don't think it's fair to generalize people in Luzon especially NCR to be Tagalog. NCR is a melting pot...a lot of people there come from Visayas and Mindanao in search of better pasture...this is not a Tagalog issue, it's a Filipino issue

[@jackstone2482]

@@rodlapuz4891 Ok . In order to avoid confusion... My comment is not for the whole NCR but directed to tagalog ethnic group only.🤣

[@rodlapuz4891]

@@jackstone2482 I don't understand what makes you think this people are Tagalog in the first place. How can you be sure?

[@skylinelover9276]

Kingdom of Samtoy(ilocanos) Ifugao kingdom (Cordilleran) Kingdom Lusong (Pampanga) Kingdom of Caboloan(Pangasinen)

[@RockyGuerrero]

Wow! very interesting , thanks , Great VIDEO

[@yoyojoe9240]

Great info.!!!

[@bonitz]

Kingdom is incorrect though. It is a chiefdom or polity.

[@mistyrivers4995]

It only means that any human can transfer from one land to another without any required papers in the early years.

[@ilaybanana3000]

Salamat for the Video!

[@Mnptb001]

Anyone wants to know the real history of the Phil I suggest listening to "The God Culture". You will be amazed.

[@meowyjane96]

What books can you recommend if i want to read more into pre colonial Philippines?

[@suskagusip1036]

Why???

[@JR-yi3cz]

There is no Philippines before the Spanish times. Only a collection of barangays independent from each other.

[@ttp436]

Great very interesting I am currently getting to know more about the history of the islands and the people and culture before the Spanish arrived

[@jeffyON3]

True no Philippines before. Wrong because we have Kingdom of Tondo, Kingdom of Pangasinan at Kingdom of Sulu.

[@dayangmarikit6860]

This narrative is not entirely accurate… some form of imperialism existed and the Spaniards based their own colony on what existed before them. Transforming Manila: China, Islam, and Spain in a Global Port City Ethan Hawkley The year is 1588. Agustin de Legazpi, a Tagalog chieftain from Tondo, a suburb of Manila, is planning to overthrow Spain's Philippine colony, a colony that is only about 20 years old. His covert allies include dozens of other chieftains, locally known as datus, a band of Japanese merchants, and coalition of Muslim rulers from the nearby islands of Borneo and Jolo. If he succeeds, Spanish ships will stop coming to Southeast Asia with American silver, and the largest economy in the world, China's economy, will be cut off from a vital source of currency. Chinese economic growth will stagnate and poverty will increase.1 Spanish America will similarly never develop its Asian silk industry, an industry that will otherwise adorn its churches, decorate its colonial estates, dress its priests, clothe its governors, and employ thousands of its artisans. Then, of course, there is also the porcelain and ivory trade that will likewise never set Latin American tables with fine china or fill its churches with made-in-China images of Jesus and Mary.2 Agustin's plot, in short, comes at a pivotal moment the history of Manila and in the history of the world. Will the port city return to what it had been before the Spaniards arrived? Or will it grow into a colonial capital and major focal point of world trade? Will the final link in truly global trade, the one connecting Asia and the Americas, continue to annually ship 2-4 million pesos of silver and Chinese goods across the Pacific?3 Or will the 250 year history of the Manila galleons be cut off in its infancy? As these questions suggest, the expansion of Spain's empire into Manila is fundamentally transforming Agustin's city, and Manila is in turn beginning to play a prominent role in a larger transformation of the world.4 Transformation, however, does not mean starting from scratch. Agustin's plan to overthrow the Spanish colony, in fact, shows the continued presence of two vital precolonial layers of globalization. He is reaching out to a group of East Asian merchants, the Japanese, and to various Muslim rulers, those on Borneo and Jolo. The Japanese merchants are a legacy of an earlier China-centered network of world trade, and the Muslim rulers are similarly manifestations of Islam's medieval global expansion. These two previous layers of globalization, China and Islam, had converged on the archipelago before Spain's arrival, and they have as much to do with making Manila into a global port-city as does the arrival of the Europeans. The last piece of the puzzle, in other words, is not always the most important. Remove any one of these three networks-China, Islam, or Spain-and Manila would not become a global port city, and by extension the Philippines would likely never form into a unified political community. Taking this broader view, we can see Agustin's strategy for what it really is: he is mobilizing not only local but also traditional global channels of authority against the Spaniards. For their part, however, the Spaniards have also, by now, begun to incorporate themselves into precolonial Sino-Muslim networks at Manila. They have their own East Asian and formerly Islamic allies. Agustin's rebellion is, in summation, a final attempt to revive a dying world against the new one that is coming. It is a conflict over which network of global connections will survive, his or the Spaniards', and it is furthermore a conflict that will decide the historical trajectory of Manila and of the Pacific world for centuries to come. A brief examination of how China and Islam relate to both sides of this conflict will reveal the importance of these two precolonial layers of globalization, and it will also show how these laid the foundation for the arrival and establishment of a third and final layer: Spanish colonialism.5

[@dayangmarikit6860]

Manila and China: The First Layer Agustin de Legazpi invites Juan Gayo, a Japanese merchant, and his followers to feast with him several times in 1588. In his culture, like many others, feasts are elaborate spectacles where political relationships are forged over conversation and alcohol. At one of these feasts, several other Tagalog chieftains are present: Magat Salamat, Agustin Manuguit, Felipe Salalila, and Geronimo Bassi, Agustin de Legazpi's brother. The Tagalog chieftains speak to Juan Gayo and his band of merchants through a Japanese interpreter named Dionisio Fernandez. They convince the Japanese that together they can defeat and kill all of the Spaniards. With the Spanish gone, Agustin adds, he will then become the new "king of the land," and he promises to divide his tribute with Gayo. The leaders make a traditional oath to one another by anointing their necks with a broken egg.6 Agustin is certainly not the first Tagalog leader to feast or ally with Japanese merchants. Indeed, when the Spaniards arrived at Manila, there were already twenty Japanese residents living among the town's people. A unique combination of economic and political forces from East Asia had brought them there. In the fifteenth century, paper currency failed in Ming China, and a currency shortage threatened to halt the realm's economic growth. Merchants therefore began to fill this shortage with silver. But China did not have enough silver deposits to supply the merchants' needs, which increased its value dramatically. In the following century, silver in Ming China was twice as valuable as it was in Europe.7 Meanwhile, valuable deposits of silver were discovered in Japan. This silver, however, was not directly accessible to China's merchants because the Ming had banned direct trade with Japanese merchants. The demand for silver was, nevertheless, more powerful than Ming decrees. Unable to trade in China itself, the Japanese traded with Chinese merchant smugglers at offshore locations, like Manila, and often under the jurisdiction of local rulers, like Agustin's ancestors. Already afoul of the law, this culture of smuggling later expanded to include raiding, looting, and other pirate activities. From the 1520s to the 1560s, independent Chinese and Japanese merchant-pirate companies plagued the China coast, and they became collectively known to the Ming as wokou, "Japanese pirates," a label that only further harmed Sino-Japanese relations. Japanese and Chinese merchant-pirates then also began trading directly with Manila's chieftain elites. That Agustin can still recruit a Japanese-Tagalog translator, almost twenty years after the Spaniards' arrival, and that he can still convince Juan Gayo to support him shows the persistence of autonomous Japanese-Tagalog relations into the early colonial period. Agustin does not, however, recruit help from the Chinese, despite centuries of Sino-Tagalog trade and cooperation in Manila. Beginning in ancient times, Chinese manufactured goods, especially silk, had traveled various routes throughout Eurasia and Africa, most famously along the silk roads; and in the ninth century Chinese merchants, called Sangleys, first carried these goods to the Philippine islands. The Sangleys came to the archipelago to obtain various Philippine products, including gold, wax, pearls, hardwoods, medicines, cotton, birds nests, animal skins, etc.; and the Philippine chieftains, who controlled this trade, sought Chinese porcelain, stoneware, iron, silks, perfumes, and even cannons.8 Chieftains from Manila had even periodically sent tribute missions to Chinese emperors. A generation before, Agustin's adoptive father, Rajah Soliman-the precolonial Muslim ruler of Manila-had himself tried to use his relationship with the Sangleys to overthrow the Spaniards. In 1574, only three years after the Spaniards and their local allies had subdued Soliman, a Sangley merchant-pirate named Limahong attacked Manila. Seeing this as his opportunity to throw off the Spanish yoke, Soliman allied with Limahong. But the Spaniards and their various indigenous allies expelled Limahong from Manila and pacified Soliman, once again, under colonial authority. Agustin is likewise turning to East Asians for help, and his alliance with the Japanese may well be inspired by Soliman's actions fourteen years ago. But things are different now. The Sangleys know, in 1588, that trade with the Spaniards will bring them more profit than conquest or looting. The Spaniards control a continuing supply silver, having recently discovered the most lucrative silver mines in history, and their silver attracts thousands of Sangleys to Manila. Many Sangleys have even moved to settle permanently in the colonial capital. In 1570, the year the Spaniards arrived, there had been roughly 40 Chinese living in Manila. Now there are some 10,000 frequenting the area, more than ten times the number of Spaniards in the colony. Though the two people are not always friendly with one another, they do share a common interest. The Chinese can count on making a steady 30 percent profit annually on their imports of silver to China, and the Spaniards might make as much as 100 percent or more on their shipments of silk and silver across the Pacific. Silver, after all, is two times more valuable in China than it is in Spanish America, while Chinese silk is far more precious in Mexico than it is in the Philippines.9 It is this disparity in values that connects the Spaniards to China and to the first layer of Philippine globalization. The Spaniards need some way to fund their colonial project, and without China's demand for silver, they have no other means for profit in the islands, at least not enough to justify a permanent settlement there. The Spaniards' presence is thus changing Manila's relationship to the East Asian world. Agustin knows that he cannot turn to the Sangleys against the Spaniards, as Soliman had, because of their craving for silver. But the Japanese have their own interests. They are, like the Spaniards, silver suppliers, and they likewise want fine Chinese silks, porcelains, and other manufactured goods. With the Spaniards out of the way, the supply of silver will go down and its value will go up, and the Japanese stand to make a significant profit. So Agustin turns to Juan Gayo, they swear their oath, and the plan continues.

[@dayangmarikit6860]

Manila and Islam: The Second Layer Agustin de Legazpi sends four clandestine ambassadors to Borneo. They are traveling on a Spanish merchant ship. They are Magat Salamat, Agustin Manuguit, Felipe Salalila, and Antonio Surabao. Though three of them have Christian names, all four almost certainly have personal ties with the Muslim elites of Brunei. Agustin de Legazpi is himself married to the Brunei Sultan's daughter.10 The Tagalog diplomats are tasked with convincing Brunei's Sultan to send a large fleet against Manila. When the Bornean ships arrive at the colonial capital, the Spaniards, heavily outnumbered, will do what they always do in times of crisis. They will call on the Tagalog datus and on the Japanese for military assistance. The datus and their East Asian allies will feign their support until they get within the walls of the Spanish fort, and then they will strike. Surrounded by Bornean Muslims from without, and inundated with Tagalog and Japanese adversaries from within, the thousand or so Spanish residents of Manila will be easily wiped out. But one of Agustin's four diplomats, Antonio Surabao, has a relationship with the ship's Spanish captain, Pedro Sarmiento. Sarmiento is Surabao's encomendero, his Spanish overlord. For unknown reasons, Surabao approaches Sarmiento. The chieftains of Manila, he explains, have "plotted and conspired with the Borneans…to kill the Spaniards." Brunei, he goes on, is preparing seven galleys and other warships, as well as ammunition and other supplies.11 Alarmed by this report, Sarmiento reroutes his ship and returns to Manila. An investigation begins. Agustin's ambassadors never arrive in Brunei. The battle is over before it has begun. Just as Agustin is not the first to make an alliance with Japanese merchants, Antonio is not the first Tagalog chieftain to side with the Spaniards in a Muslim-Spanish conflict. Indeed, when the Spaniards arrived, Manila was ruled by Muslim chieftains, or 'Moros' as the Spaniards called them, and several of these allied with the Spanish against others. After those resisting the Spaniards were defeated, most of the chieftains were baptized and christened with new European names. But many still maintained their political connections to the region's other Muslim rulers, especially to those on Borneo. Some have even continued certain Muslim practices. Agustin, for example, was imprisoned in 1585 for giving his mother an Islamic burial.12 Manila, in other words, almost 20 years after Spanish settlement, is still in transition away from Islam and toward Catholicism. Surabao's presence among those being sent to Brunei suggests that he too has connections there, and that he has Muslim heritage. Brunei has, after all, long been the Islamic capital of the region. Before the Spaniards arrived, many of Manila's Moros were abstaining from pork because Bornean preachers had taught them that eating it was a sin. These preachers had also circumcised, ritualistically cleansed, and given Islamic names to several Tagalog chieftains. Brunei was in fact so closely associated with Islam, that some of Manila's Muslims had believed avoiding pork was optional until one had actually traveled to Borneo, and those Manila Moros who had been to Brunei were known to be more familiar with the Qur'an than those who had not.13 But Islam in Manila, as with the rest of Southeast Asia, was more than just a missionary movement. It was also an economic and political one. The religion had come to the region in the eighth century, traveling across the Indian Ocean with Muslim merchants seeking Chinese goods. These merchants spread Islam into the area through preaching, political alliances, and intermarriage with local peoples. The political importance of the religion was further elevated in the region during the early fifteenth century when Melaka's rulers embraced it, and during this same era Islam was also incorporated into Brunei's elite political culture. From there, it was later adopted by many Manila chieftains, and it brought these datus important advantages over their non-Muslim neighbors. In a region defined by political fragmentation, for example, Islam connected Manila's datus to a powerful network of other Muslim rulers through intermarriage, alliances, and trade. Agustin's marriage to the Brunei Sultan's daughter is perhaps the clearest indication that several Tagalog chieftains still maintain, in 1588, their precolonial connections to this older Muslim network. Even though the Spaniards have formally removed the veneer of Islam, there remains an undercurrent of old Moro authority in the town. Another advantage of Islam had been, before the 1570s, its commercial connection to the precolonial China trade. Before the Spanish arrived, Moro merchants dominated Southeast Asia's China trade, a trade that reached from Manila to Melaka, and this Southeast Asian network was, in turn, connected to an Indian Ocean and Islamic world that reached all the way to Spain itself. This second layer of early Philippine globalization, Islam, in other words drew much of its power from its relationship to the first, China. Prominence in the China trade not only brought raw wealth to Manila's datus, but Chinese products also conferred status on the town's chieftains. The porcelains, silks, stoneware, etc., that Moro merchants imported from China through Manila represented the finest commodities available to Philippine peoples, and as such they were powerful symbols of prestige and authority. Moro and non-Moro datus alike who obtained these goods displayed them in their homes, used them in feasting rituals, and gifted them to their dependents and allies. Indeed, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Chinese goods had enabled Philippine chieftains to build the largest chiefdoms and inter-datu alliance networks in their history.14 In precolonial times, Agustin's Moro ancestors had made themselves into the region's most powerful chieftains because they obtained a near monopoly over the archipelago's China trade. Chinese merchants who traveled to the archipelago came to Manila first, where they traded the bulk of their goods. Manila's Moro merchant-rulers would then sail throughout the region trading these goods to others. The Moros, in fact, traded so much in Chinese goods that merchant boats from Manila came to be known throughout the region as the China ships, and soon Manila's Moros had learned the archipelago's many other dialects so they could conduct their trade with diverse Philippine ethnic groups. Ultimately, through translation and trade early Philippine Moros gained control not only over local Chinese commerce but also over almost all other inter-ethnic/inter-island exchanges.15

[@sanzogenzo76]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqjYdad9paeIosk at 8:20 it is much more accurate to say intricate brassware is actually heavily influence by the malays influence, the terms Islamic influence that you use is TOO broad, plus the kind of craftsman style usually only find in the Malay's world, even the mosque and houses design is pitched roof vernacular architecture which is common in Malay's architecture, only latter era where we see Ottoman's stylized dome being introduce in the malay architecture in the archipelago

[@paulnicobuenavides9016]

More please 😊

[@mrjackbagginz]

What an awesome video

[@mickie2412]

The first modern human "homo sapiens" bones found in tabon caves near luzon in palawan is 47.000 years old. The place is a magnificent site. But hey, you were only off by 15.000 years, not bad😒

[@Gelatinocyte2]

I mean, this is about the ethno/cultural origins, not necessarily the very first humans on the island. Also, if I'm recalling correctly, I thought it was already pointed out in the video that Negritos were already present in the Philippines before the arrival of early Austronesians.

[@paronzoda]

Very good video!

[@marckiemarck90]

do you have copy of references use in the video? need for discussion in my class

[@joebombero1]

Precolonial, so that means the Aeta? Before Austonesian colonization? Certainly before Muslim colonization and Chinese colonlization, right? The Aeta....precolonial Philippines

[@GeorgeTSiy]

Chinese , Arabs , Indians traded with, did not colonize. only the west .. Spain , England, USA and the pseudo western Japan conquered killed and colonized when they had the chance .

[@observations2011]

just an observation, maybe one reason that some of its people suffer identity crisis is because of its diversity. A mixture of different bloods flowing through their veins moreover upon the colonization of Spain the "colonial mentality" developed.

[@observations2011]

Their appearance too is so diversified specially now that most Filipinos intermarry people with the western world making the Negritos nowadays minority. Most do share "kayumangi" skin tone because of the ☀️ sun. The Philippines is actually in the middle of the equator.

[@薛氏-z5s]

Austronesian Peoples come from Taiwan (Formosa) The Origins of the Austronesians kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5mygmRueJiqopY Taiwan Austronesian Peoples/China Chinese Peoples in Taiwan kzbin.info/www/bejne/eprccnqQgpaojM0

[@jingmable8548]

You got it all wrong! Linguistic studies show that proto austronesian lsnguages started from Luzviminda Archipelago.

[@graceli6886]

Hi, I was wondering where came the "Metalworking" brought in to the Philippines islands around 4000-6000 years ago, as described at 2:10 - 2:24？The archaeological news I read about the excavations along the coastal lines of both Mainland China (Liangdao (~8000 years ago) & Tanshi Mountain (~5000 years ago)) and Taiwan island (Dabenkeng (~6000 years ago) & Fengbitou (~5000 years ago)) did not show evidences of metalworking. You may have read that two bronze arrow heads were excavated in Dabenkeng site, but since their size and style are very similar to those of Shang and Zhou Dynasties of ancient China (ca. 3700 years ago onwards), plus no local metalworking site was found, whether these two arrow heads were imported is under dispute.

[@user-yl5pi3sg6u]

You forgot to mention the Malay colonization and how the hunted down, killed and stole Negritos lands

[@jameswaterhouse-brown6646]

It sounds like it was always colonised. Or does colonisation only refer to western countries?

[@karoltakisobie6638]

Completely missed are Chinese Emperors attempts of colonization in that part of Asia. They happened about the same time as Chinese rule in Vietnam.

[@GeorgeTSiy]

Chinese were trading with Filipinos on the records at latest since the 900s, unofficially even much in earlier, and never tried to conquer it. you are talking biased uninformed speculation. But Phil was immediately conquered by Spain, England, Japan , USA , when they had the first chance...

[@shinsenshogun900]

All the Five Dynasties + Ten Kingdoms, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties did here in what would become the Philippines is cornering the markets there and acquired the tributes of certain sultanates and rajahnates here. The only known Chinese attempt to conquer the Philippines is when Koxinga tried to invade Intramuros in Manila

[@wendylima2463]

the Pintados (inked raiders) from the pre-colonial Philippines had been raiding the Chinese coasts for ages for loots. but thanks to Spaniards though 'cause it formed a nation called the Philippines of today.

[@poohthegreatslayer]

So, much history of about Hinduism, Buddhism, Indian influence has been left out. And you thought only Islamic past is enough. I feel like every youtuber purposely try to leave this topic to make southeast asians to forgot about their ancient culture.

[@circuitrider101]

The problem about the migration theory is that, it remains and will remain to be a theory. It was the brainchild of an "American school teacher, Otley Beyer, who was stationed in Ifugao. Beyer's theory became widely accepted and found its way to Philippine textbooks and became gospel truth among educators [and students]" (WH Scott, 1992)

[@USALiveStream]

I subscribe thank you for giving us insight thanks amazing information big likes

[@jeannemorales3619]

I'm in Spain but the letter is "S" silent.

[@martinvanrequilme776]

Next Topic: Filipino Languages and Ancient Scripts

[@PRAVINRAAJRAAJ]

Malays Indonesians Filipino brunei Sabah Sarawakians all are from Taiwan Hainan and Southern Yunnan. They are all Austronesians.

[@creestee08]

when do you consider a technology as advance?

[@natanieljames6998]

I just Subscribe to this channel… really interesting topics❤❤❤… the voice is beautiful btw🥰

[@joseantoniomiranda-zy8bj]

Very interesting.

[@juliantroyvevang1036]

It makes sense that after knowing the result of my DNA test heritage I am so..shocked and a little bit disappointed because I consider my self 💯percent Filipino my heart and soul. But I'm so surprised 😮that I am only 32.67 Filipino 😔 32.67 Indonesian 32.67 Malaysian 1percent Eskimo 😊 1percent Scottish, Irish and Wales it makes a sense now😂

[@henryvegter8773]

What company did test? My wife is Filipina. We did a test with ancestry dna and the breakdown is early tech 15 years back. Perla’s dna breakdown was 49 % East Asian 49 Polynesian and 1 .% East Indian ! The tech is better now with more details!

[@henryvegter8773]

Do you know where you got scotch Irish wales? I’m Dutch and have connections to Java / Indonesia through history. Meeting my wife an anomaly and history.

[@kahldiss2689]

@@henryvegter8773 That is interesting. I am wondering if your wife is from Northern Luzon?

[@henryvegter8773]

@@kahldiss2689 Northern Samar

[@kenxinhxc1635]

d tayo pure Ako nga parents ko from masbate pero mukha akong chingschong eh hahaha

[@florentinodicang2403]

new subscriber watching from the Philippines

[@lelouch111]

7,641 islands now

[@AAFlight11]

Polynesians are from Philippines

[@st4r444]

Not likely. It's not 100% but more likely from taiwan

[@AAFlight11]

@@st4r444 Taiwan -> Philippines -> Polynesians

[@antoniogutierrezjr7471]

U forgot the aeta who was there 40 k years ago

[@markusgarvey1034]

From the Smithsonian: 700,000-Year-Old Butchered Rhino Pushes Back Ancient Human Arrival in the Philippines. On the Philippines' northern island of Luzon, researchers have made an exciting find: stone tools and bones from a butchered rhinoceros that date to 709,000 years ago, hundreds of thousands of years before modern humans evolved.May 4, 2018 -------So where did man in SE originate if the oldest in ASIA ever found were from Luzon?

[@Gelatinocyte2]

Are you sure that's modern human, not some extinct relative of _Homo sapiens_ or ancestors thereof? There have always been so-called humans roaming across almost the entire globe in evolutionary history, way before the actual emergence of modern humans in Africa some few dozen thousand years ago; we are all what's left of the genus _Homo._

[@Emmermi]

I am quite confused, is there people in the Philippines before the Negritos came? Possibly the Tabon Cave People precedes the Negrito Migration?

[@NagaKushiteTEEJEEZY]

Wait there also evidence that the Negrito's crossed the indian ocean from Madagascar Africa. But at that time the indian ocean was the Kushite ocean

[@carlyshemariesga7381]

then no mention of Rajanate of Sugbo? ??

[@Galame2]

The Native Negrito , Aitas, Baluga, are already in the island. They are not From Africa😂 😅

[@Gelatinocyte2]

Blud doesn't know how migration works. Dude, *everyone* came from Africa; the Negritos were one of the earliest descendants from Africa that were the very first to colonize/inhabit the Philippine archipelago. All of humanity originates from Africa.

[@Frodofinds]

Not 100% correct but I like it.

[@kamskykimann1925]

Kingdom of Tondo was a Muslim Kingdom headed by Raja Sulaiman

[@derptrolling4740]

Tondo founded in 900 AD. Islam came to Tondo by Brunei invasion in 1500.

[@benedicttambiga6994]

9:57 picture you used for gold is Pyrite AKA fool's gold

[@jaysonbayani3241]

this why why Sabah belongs to the Philippines!

[@smoothcriminal7232]

11:26 That's a blue ninja

[@twentysevenstudio1201]

Hello, is it ok if I use some clips of your video in a project? Thank you

[@greyfordbulan6627]

Accdg to the books ancient tribes of the Philippines migrated to other island during Spanish colonialization that's why Filipinos scattered in any island nations

[@franzniere2241]

Hello Sir! Monetizable ba tong mga gabitong videos?

[@myriahepino3389]

No mention of babaylan?

[@RandieDeguzman-qw3fm]

Malayopolynesian is branch of Austronesian. People, according christian vonahumvold, an, historian. Linguistic, which, refer, to, southeast, Asia, island, of, Polynesian, which, have, similarity

[@leshaynetvchannel9603]

What is your evidence that the polynesians is migrated the Philippines, Philippines is exactly own originally by Austronesian, and Polynesian.

[@veniceitalyvlog]

Nice video

[@snowstorm0914]

Without Spanish colonisation.... the kingdom of Davao could have been a great nation with our powerful leader Datu Bago....

[@Dennis2020i]

Another foreign historian telling history of the Philippines😁😁Nicely presented Good Job but I detect inaccuracy on the Autronesians part, Austronesian spread both east and west of the region of Southeast Asia, Polynesia is one the frontier in the east and Madagascar in the west, you would still see their boats there😂😂original people in these places would be black or likely to be black with kinky hair as opposed to Austronesians straight hairs, they would have mixed thousand of years ago and evolve with less kinky hair (Polynesians) they would have likely to spoken parts of the elements of the Austronesians language but unlikely the written text, would have spread Animism as well. The Native Americans would have been the same but up top originating from the freeze zone region of the planet again both spreading from east and west to now known Americas, becoming Eskimos to Mexicans 😁😁these pre historic guys would have been Animist as well in culture but their ancestor would have been still in Siberia and Finland 😁😁You know these guys small eyes straight hair no side burns less fur in their body, does it ring a bell? there are some of them left in North America/Canada Eskimos, Indians that have survive the genocides, does it makes sense and they thought the European discover the Americas and the Philippines 😂😂well what can you do the truth "Sucks", Invaders would always tells lies otherwise nothing works 😁😁OK Folks don't always believe what you see.. Like or Hate the comments it's all the same, Have a Nice Day to All.. Cheers.!! 👍👌😉😎✌.

[@tomdapliyan3290]

You ring the bell, but what book would you suggest me to read that best describe pre colonial Phil.? Salamuch

[@Dennis2020i]

@@tomdapliyan3290 None' Word of Mouth but you can try this KZbinr Kirby Araullo his the most accurate I've seen for Philippines, his Phd.Most books can be debunk by knowledgeable Filipinos but not by foreigners. OK👍👍

[@nipatales]

Thank you so much for your very detailed input. You are correct in that the Austronesians did venture out west as far as Africa. As the focus on the video was the Philippine islands, we didn't go into too much detail. We tried to keep it very general and condense as much info as we could in a short video. We do intend to do a video just on the Austronesians and their great voyages -- so keep an eye out for it 😉. And I'm not sure who you were referring to as a foreign historian, but our small channel consists of just two people -- both born and raised Filipinos ✌

[@tomdapliyan3290]

@@Dennis2020i im curently reading Prehispanic Filipino by William Henry Scott.

[@Dennis2020i]

@@nipatales There are a lot of foreign influence Filipinos in the Philippines culture or DNA wise anyhow Filipinos are not Polynesians but Polynesians might have Filipino DNA in them.

[@andilouis8770]

Pre-Colonial - Aristocracy Colonial - Theocracy Present - Democracy

[@robertowilly6702]

A good version... but... no clear cut evidence ..