Pampangan

The language is pampangan (kampampangan, also pampanga, pampango, kampampangan), the Central Luson branch of the West-Austronesian group of Austronesian languages (according to one classification). Latin script. There is a literary tradition, ancient literature existed.

The beginning of the settlement of pampangans in the Philippines is attributed to the ΙΧ — X centuries. Before the Spanish colonization of the Philippines at the end of the 16th century, pampangans constituted the majority of the population of the state known by Chinese sources, conditionally called the Kingdom of Luzon ( Chinese. 國 ) and were known as merchants and seafarers. In the XVI century, the pampangan society was a traditional picture for Southeast Asia: small communities. consisting mainly of representatives of the same clan, and governed by a council of elders. The most famous and successful of these communities were the states of Tungdo ( Chinese 東 都 ) and Betis.

The main occupations of pampangan were agriculture and fishing, but in the 16th century, trade with China and piracy brought the greatest incomes. Campangan were also mercenaries in the armies of various rulers of Southeast Asia. In 1500 , the Kingdom of Brunei conquered Luzon, which at that time was the most important center of Chinese trade, and founded Manila .

Contacts with Europeans and Christianization by Dominican monks took place in the 16th century.

Pampangan (kapampangan) cuisine is considered one of the most sophisticated in the Philippines. Many of them spread in the kitchens of other Filipino peoples.

Most pampangans are deeply religious Catholics . In each city in the province of Pampanga there is at least one church and several chapels (chapels), a total of 26 churches. Religious holidays are accompanied by processions, theatrical performances and dances. Famous Christmas Lantern Festival in San Fernando. Part of the pampangan is Protestant, the number of Hindus is increasing. Of the traditional beliefs, faith in spirits (anito), magic , and the use of amulets (anting-anting) are preserved.

Folklore pampangan - tales , myths , proverbs . Under Spanish influence, mixed forms of musical and dance creativity arose - serenade , romance , fandango . Since the beginning of the 20th century, sarsuela has spread - a musical comedy or operetta , of a patriotic content, in the pampangan language. There is a traditional musical wind instrument - the pasiyok , which is made from a sheet of palm tree.

• Peoples and religions of the world , ed. V.A. Tishkova, M. - 1998.
• Peoples of Southeast Asia, ed. A.A. Huber, M. - 1966.