Philippine units of measurement explained

A number of units of measurement were used in the Philippines to measure various quantities including mass, area, and capacity. The metric system has been compulsory in the country since 1860, during the late Spanish colonial period.^[1] A mixture of Spanish units and indigenous units were used alongside American units in the 1900s.

Mass

Measurements of Mass

• 1 Kurot = 5 grams
• 1 Daks = 10 grams
• 1 Guhit = 100 grams
• 1 Kagitna = 1/2 kilogram
• 1 Gatang = 1 kilogram
• 1 Chimanta = 6 kilograms
• 1 Kaban = 50 kilograms

Length

Measurements of Length

• 1 Piranggot = 1/2 inch
• 1 Sandamak = 4 inches
• 1 Dangkal = 8 inches
• 1 Talampakan = 12 inches = 1 foot
• 1 Bisig = 16 inches
• 1 Dipa = 68 inches

Volume

Measurements of Volume:

• 1 Salok = 80 ml
• 1 Saro = 250 ml
• 1 Mangok = 400 ml

Notes and References

1. Book: Washburn, E.W.. International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. McGraw–Hill Book Company, Inc. 1926. New York. 1. 10 . 8 February 2015.