Its etymology is rooted from the Sanskrit maharddhika which means
“a man of wealth, knowledge,
and ability”. Its etymology is rooted from the Sanskrit maharddhika which
means “a man of wealth, knowledge, and ability”. During ancient times in the Philippines, the word maharlika
is referred to the nobility class in Philippine society who are also
known to be warriors. As a Tagalog warrior class
in the ancient class system in the Philippines, the maharlikas had the same rights and responsibilities
as the timawa class, ancient Filipino commoners and landowners
of the Luzon and Visayan islands who did not have the obligation to
pay regular tribute to the maginoos (the highest class in ancient Tagalog society). In times of war, maharlikas provided and prepared weapons at
their own expense. They were allowed to keep the loot collected. The maharlikas can occasionally be obligated to work on the Datu’s land and assist in projects and other events in the community. Maharlikas can change allegiances once married to a person in
another community. The allegiance of the maharlikas can also change if they move to another place. Before leaving the Datu’s service, the maharlikas often held a “large public feast”. Apart from the feast, the maharlikas pays obligation to the datu the sum ranging from six to eighteen gold coins. In modern Philippines, MaharLika is a Negros Island based Handicraft Store named after Philippines’ ancestral historical roots of the ancient society and class. The name Maharlika reminds us that we are a people with Heritage,and long before we were colonized by Spain,
we already had our Culture, we had Governance, we had Commerce, and we had our Art.