The Panditas of the Philippines, 17th - Early 20th Centuries

The article explores the panditas and their role function in Philippine history, examining selected depictions Spanish English sources from 17th century until early 20th centuries. As precolonial figures that illustrate link of Philippines to broader Malay world, gradually acquired embodied Islamic elements into amorphous identity practice, ultimately becoming knowledge, spirituality, culture Muslim communities. By representations panditas, aims problematize place historical record, as supposedly false religion, primitive civilization, ethnographic interest, occultism, military regulation, point a dynamic history communities adapted, absorbed, localized religious tenets varying degrees, so pre-Islamic like would have new contexts be understood own distinctive way.