Timawa: This term referred to the Visayan class of 'free men', people who were required neither to pay rent for their lodgings or work on the fields, in exchange for their loyalty as warriors to the acting Datu or tribal leader.
Basically, they were warriors who paid their debts by protecting their Datu, and by extension, their people.
Timawa Manila:
A concept of mine set in modern Manila where certain peoples thought only to exist in mythology settled in and acclimated with humanity. Though they are welcomed, the system isn't perfect, and there are rogue creatures that still, like lore would say, kill people. This is where the Timawas come in.
The Timawas are people who drift around the community, marked by very distinctive tattoos, protecting people and hunting rogues.
The rules that apply to the Timawas are that: --They receive free meals in establishments --They are welcomed into people's homes at night to sleep (though they don't unless they're invited) --They must do their part to protect the people. Any major kills are marked by their tattoos