Thought to have arrived in the Philippines via land bridge about 30,000 years ago, the Negritos (now more properly called "Aeta") once had the islands all to themselves. They are true pygmies, rarely exceeding 150 cm (4' 10") in stature, and probably related to the Samang of Malaysia, the Andaman Islanders, and various New Guinea tribes. Their physical resemblance to African pygmies has led to conjecture that the world once witnessed a tide of bold pygmy explorers; unfortunately this is difficult to verify short of DNA testing, since most of their descendants have long since lost their original language and traditions, with the possible exception of the Andamese.

The Philippine Negritos tend towards a hunting/gathering lifestyle rather than the agriculturalism of most of their neighbors, and are among the few peoples who still maintain the use of the bow and arrow. There are only about 80,000 Negritos left in the Philippines; that's about one tenth of one percent of the total population.

Although technically of "Mongoloid" stock, Filipinos classified as "Indonesian" (the name has no real significance) generally have less-pronounced Mongoloid features than their neighbors classed as "Malayan." Kroeber categorized them as shorter and stockier, with narrower heads and broader noses. "Indonesian" peoples represent only about a tenth of the total Filiphino population, although culturally they are the most diverse, and generally live by farming the remoter (and less productive) highland areas. Largely because of this inaccessibility, they have retained more of their indigenous culture than the lowland and seagoing "Malayans," or the "Negritos," who tend to adopt the habits of their trading partners.

Both of the individuals shown here are Bontok. Notice the ink work on the lady's arms and shoulders.

The so-called "Malayans" would have been the last wave in a hypothesized "indigenous invasion" (or the last three in Beyers' scheme), arriving from Malaysia by way of Borneo. Supposedly their greater elaboration of social and political organization, acquired on the mainland, would have enabled them to push the outmoded "Indonesians" inland, away from choice agricultural and fishing lands. Beyer suggests that the restless spirits of the "first wave" do not allow them to stop until they have brought their talents to Formosa, southern Japan, Korea, and even Manchuria.

• 2,300 B.P. first "Malays" bring irrigation, iron, ceramics, weaving, and glass beadwork (according to Beyer). They also import a number of domesticated animals.
• Starting 1,900 B.P. Hindu alphabet-using "Malays" arrive.
• During the 14th century, Mohammedan "Malays" begin conquering the Philippines for Allah. They create complex and powerful states in the south.

Again, much of this is highly speculative.

This has provided much of the stimulus for the elaboration of various "migration wave" theories, inspired by the tracing of cultural influences from Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and China. One of the most elaborate of these was developed by anthropologist H.O. Beyer in the early 20th century, and involved eight waves of prehistoric H. Sapiens immigrants:

• 25,000-30,000 B.P. Negritos arrive.
• 12,000-15,000 B.P. semi-dwarf Mongoloids "like Ainu."
• 5,000-6,000 B.P. "Indonesian" first wave, from SE Asia.
• 3,500-4,000 B.P. Shorter & bulkier "Indonesians" arrive.
• 3,500 B.P. "Indonesians" who build houses on stilts appear from three directions (Formosa, China, and S.E. Asia).
• 2,800-2,500 B.P. more "Indos," bringing copper & bronze.
• 2,300 B.P. first "Malays," from Borneo, bringing iron.
• 1,900-900 B.P. 2nd wave of "Malays," bringing writing.
• 900-500 B.P. arrival of Moslem "Malays."

It should be remarked that the various "waves of migration" theories are still largely unsubstantiated and highly controversial. Most modern anthropologists see Beyer's scheme as rather overblown; nevertheless it is evident that the Philippines have seen many episodes of large-scale immigration.