Alipinage

Alipinage refers to a system of social stratification and servitude that existed in pre-colonial Philippines. It was a hierarchical structure where individuals occupied different statuses, ranging from free persons to various degrees of unfree labor. The concept of alipinage was complex and varied across different ethnic groups and regions of the archipelago.

At the lowest rung of society were the alipin, who were considered unfree laborers. Their status was not equivalent to chattel slavery in the Western sense, as they often retained certain rights and could, in some cases, regain their freedom. There were distinctions among the alipin, such as the tumao, who were nobles and chiefs but could be reduced to alipin status, and the maharlika, a class of freemen. The lowest category were the oripun, who were domestic servants and agricultural laborers.

The condition of being an alipin could be a result of various circumstances, including debt, capture in warfare, birth into an alipin family, or as a punishment for certain offenses. The obligations of an alipin typically involved performing domestic chores, labor in the fields, and providing services to their masters. However, the extent of these obligations and the rights afforded to alipin differed significantly. For instance, some alipin lived with their masters, while others maintained their own households and paid tribute.

The social mobility within the alipinage system was also a notable feature. While it was possible to be born into servitude, opportunities existed for individuals to improve their status through hard work, marriage, or the payment of debts. The arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 16th century led to the gradual erosion and eventual abolition of the alipinage system, although its legacy influenced subsequent social structures in the Philippines.