Unknown Filipino Historical Figure: Princess Urduja

Princess Urduja

Pangasinan Warrior Princess

(ca. 1304 - c. 1368 or 1377 AD)

Princess Urduja is a colorful historical Filipino figure that has been a subject of contentions and so many debates and discussions about her existence. Many scholars and historians considered her as a fictitious personality and her story a myth, but others say that she may be a true heroine who existed and lived elsewhere. She would have been a great heroine from Pangasinan.  

Urduja is thought to be a legendary warrior princess the one being referred to in the journals of Maghrebi traveler, explorer and scholar Ibn Battuta, but scholars and historians alike doubt her existence and considered her as a fictitious figure or someone who lived elsewhere and not in Pangasinan especially historians Henry Yule and William Henry Scott.

Princess Urduja is famous for being a brave and fierce warrior princess leading other women warriors who were skilled fighters and equestrian called Kinalakihan or Amazons. She always defends her kingdom of Tawalisi (in the supposed to be modern-day Pangasinan) in warfare.

The Indian name Urduja turns out to be Sanskrit in origin and a variation of the name "Udaya" which means arise or rising sun or the name "Urja" which means energy, life force or breath.

The only account that exists which tells about this legendary princess is from the journals of one of the greatest traveler and explorer in history the Maghrebi Ibn Battuta. 

 

On Battuta's accounts, Urduja was described as a tall and beautiful woman with bronze skin, straight black hair and deep eyes and adorned with bejeweled ornaments and was a fierce warrior in the battlefield. The princess was a valiant warrior, skilled in swordsmanship and horseback riding whose penchant is a duel combat. Ibn Battuta was even impressed that she can speak the Turkish language aside from the fact that she is fluent in Arabic and provided the Maghrebi traveler with generous gifts for his trip to China and even prepared a banquet for him. 

Sources: 

https://www.facebook.com/PMPonFB/photos/a.251529181653283/293299540809580/?type=3

https://www.aswangproject.com/princess-urduja/

https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Enduring-Princess-Urduja-Hoax

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduja

https://medium.com/@AsinBolo/existence-of-princess-urduja-in-pangasinan-still-a-folklore-or-already-a-truth-400fd9701cb3

https://survivalarts.org/articles/urduha

http://snml.weebly.com/princess-urduja.html

https://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/rws/article/download/3044/2863/ (ADOBE FILE see DOWNLOADS)

https://www.hellapinay.com/article/2016/12/8/princess-urduja-legendary-warrior-princess

Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 1 - The Arrival Of Malays

  Chapter 1
   The Arrival of Malays

* highlighted in violet is the approximate timeline or date

The Malay Migration

The Quest for the roots of Language of Iloilo

While it is difficult to determine the earliest history of Iloilo due to non-availability  of surviving ancient  literatures or archaeological evidence , there are  some points to ponder  on reconstructing the earliest history of Iloilo using ethnolinguistic history and ethnographic implication of Spanish historiographers.

Questions about human origins have an enduring fascination. Languages, like genes, are archives of history. They provide vital evidence to help unravel the  mysteries of our past. Languages evolve in remarkably similar ways to biological species. They split into new languages, mutate, and sometimes go extinct. I analyzed basic vocabulary of 3 Major Islands of Indonesia. The results clearly show that the origin of the entire Hiligaynon language can be dated back from those Islands around 500 AD's.


Ethnolinguistic History of Iloilo

The beginning of ancient places all over the world was traceable to the study of ethnolinguistic history of the land. Britain because it was settled by English-speaking Anglo Tribes, Latin-America because Spanish-speaking colonized them. The same story happened.

Migration of Malayan people was not a single event nor from single place of  origin. It came from a diverse linguistic background from the islands of Sumatra, Indonesia and Borneo. The ancient seafaring Malays love to journey in the sea going to other adjacent Islands. Dangerous beast is lurking in very thick vegetation. Any navigators can claim its own and cultivate them. Migration was intermittent in  longer interval. During a period of  pauses, new technology were developed - better canoes, farming, social techniques to deal with the inter- island expedition . Several Islands were settled. New comers are  welcomed by pioneers but they were given new lands that is not yet settled. It is here were Malays found their sanctuary from months of sailing. It was mostly not inhabited.


Sri-Vijaya Empire during Ming Dynasty


The scattering of SriVijaya to Sulo , Malacca and Visayas
Ancient Malays scatterred when Javanese Majapahit warriots waged destructive conquest in Sri Visaya Coastal Kingdoms .


Sri-Vijaya to Sulu and founded a new Kingdom

1390 AD - Srivijayan Raja Baguinda, a minor ruler of Minangkabau, arrived in Sulu from Swarna Dwipa and founded the town of Bwansa in Jolo Island; His other compatriots, fleeing incoming Majapahit warriors, settled in Negeri Sembilan (a state in present-day Malaysia).


Sri-Vijaya to Malaca and founded a new Kingdom

1402 AD - Majapahit dispatched a fleet of three hundred main warships and hundreds of smaller vessels, carrying no less than 200,000. Temesek  Parameswara, last King of Sri Vijaya - Melayu Kingdom leaves from  invading Majapahit warriors, moved north to Muar and founded a Melaka settlement; He also embraced Islam on marrying a princess from Samudara Pasai and named himself Sultan Iskandar Shah of the Sultanate of Melaka to honor his ancestor Raja Iskandar Zulkarnain (the Macedonian greatman Alexander the Great). On 1521 , Magellan hired a boy from Malacca to act as interpreter when he sailed to Philippines.

Irong-Irong was born

500 AD Pioneers in Salog River Settlement and it's Linguistic Expansions

Malay families navigated the strait .  They designate  the river  with malay word " Yrong-irong"   means nose because the shape of the mouth Batiano river  resembles a " nose" . These pioneering settlers  speak western proto Kinaray-a languge . A Sri-Vijayan dialect.

Note: They were the first settlers who visit Irong-irong because of the extensive dispersal of their language as far as 70 kilometers away in Calinog .That extent of expansion should take a longer period of time  and centuries  of population growth.  It's very unlikely they are the secondary settlers because the extent of their expansion along the Salog River. If they arrived late, then Hiligaynon  should have penetrated  the hinterlands.  If their point of entry was Jalaud River , they should have left their residual  linguistic feature there and  have expanded through Jalaud River retaining their original intonation.

They were among the first to make permanent settlement . The settlement was enclosed by three big river, Batiano river , Salog in north and Dungon in the south. They concentrated in hunting ,  farming,  rice cultivation and crops. A hundred years has elapsed that every families have already three generation.  As population grows, they spread by building homes along Salog River in western hinterlands of ancient villages which is now Pavia, Angoy (San Miguel), Catmon (Santa Barbara ). People of Catmon (Santa Barbara) was dispersed further. They established hamlets of Cabatuan,  Himanban ( Lucena) and  Pototan. Then people of Cabatuan spread to Maasin westerward. People of Himanban travelled to Mina and Janiuay. Northward , they established Lambunao, Calinog and Bingawan.  ( Yellow Towns)

Source: Bisayan Accounts of Early Bornean Settlements in the Philippines”  Original Manuscript was written by  Spanish Augustinian , Father Santaren : 1858


Siruagan River Settlements,  the far South

Some communities in Antique slowly populated the  southern land near Siruagan River ( now San Joaquin)they spread to many hamlets now Miag-ao , Igbaras , Tubungan area . They speak kinaray-a language similar to Antique. 

"In  the mountain region of Ogtong a very harsh language is spoken"
 - ( Fray  Juan  de Medina , Ecclesiastical Affairs, 1630-1640)



Sibalom River Settlements

Another communities settled in a river called Sibalom . Thick growth of a species of giant grass or tall reeds grows abundantly on riverbanks. So the settlers called it "Ka-tigbaun". Facilitated by flat terrain, many families easily migrated upward following the Sibalom river and begun to populate present towns of Alimodian and Leon . They share the same intonation.  ( Green Towns)



600 AD's  Second wave of Migration - The Hiligaynon expansion  through Northern Coast

Mass migration took place by large number of families who speak Hiligaynon settled on wider geography in Visayas, several families head to Iloilo. First, the most northern part was Estancia was settled, people moved to Batad , Balasan and Carles. The Ajuy was settled, communities spread to inhabit the present Conception and San Dionesio area. In time, communities of Ajuy spread upland to populate hamlet of Sara. Families of Sara spread to Lemery. Other families inhabit coast of Bobog (Banate-Viejo) and traversed the mountain now San Rafael. Some families founded near the river Jalaud, meaning near the sea. Others moved further South and settled in Irong-irong and finally stopped at Ogtong. These indipendent coastal settlements were devoted in fishing and  settled in a river 

Note : The failure of Hiligaynon demographic dispersion in Southern Western and Central part of Iloilo suggest a strong proof they arrived only later. Their closest ancestry is  Cebuano Language  due to close affinity with  their  vocabolary and distinct phonetical sound  of "u" such as inum. Thus, separating them from western  communities of Iloilo who pronounced " u" like English pronounced " earn"

“The people of the coast, who are called the Yligueynes” - (Miguel De Loarca , 1582 )

"along the coast another, more polished and elegant, which is called  Hileygueina"
 - (Fray Juan de Medina , Ecclesiastical Affairs, 1630-1640)




700 AD's - Jalaud River and  creation of new distinct dialect.

Some families of Jalaud settlement followed the river up, established ancient villages of Malutac. They continue to pushed upward and inhabit Pototan (Pototan has been populated by western group). They interbreed with families there who belong to the western Iloilo creating  a new dialect into new feature. It retained much of Kinaray-a vocabolary, however the intonation is heavily influenced of Hiligaynon of Araut. As population of Pototan  grow, communities expanded into Baong (Dueñas), Laglag ( Dingle), Anilao and Passi. People of Passi spread to hamlets of San Enrique and Calinog, while some families of Baong ( Dueñas) followed the Ulian River up and intermarriage with people of Lambunao.  (Red Towns)

  

              Irong-irong  shifted to Ilong-ilong

800 AD's  - The conglomeration of  Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a  through trade

The mouth of Irong-irong river became a center place of  trading activity. Various new Hiligaynon families and  from the north especially in Araut and Ogtong continue to pour into area of Irong-irong where they can sell their produce to the remnant families of western settlers of Iloilo. They sailed through boats because its easy to go to Irong-irong by sea, than through land.

Footnote:  Travelling to  Irong-irong by land from Araut  is geographically difficult and hostile . The distance between Araut and Irong-Irong is approximately 30 KM ,  you first have to cross big river of Jalaud , a vast muddy swamp land , and presense of thick vegetation and wild boars inhabit the area  which is now area of Zaraga and Leganes. This is  explanation why Zaraga speaks Kinaray-a rather than Hiligaynon even they are very close to Dumangas because families of Santa barbara easily pushed into that area.



Hiligaynon emerged  into 3 distinct intonation.

The frequency of economic activity on Salog Settlement (Lapaz Area) or in Tabucan (a place next to Dungun Creek presently Mandurriao) between Kinaray-a and Hiligaynon resulted to profound shift of linguistic development. Hiligaynon became the  dominant language in the area. Kinaray-a speakers  was becoming extinct. However, Hiligaynon original intonation slowly changed and contained in that village of Irong-irong. The name of place was gradually changed into Ilong-ilong to accomodate the Hiligaynon-speakers. Few kilometers south, the Hiligaynon of Oton was gradually influenced by the intonation of Tigbaun due to their frequent and constant contact (White Towns). As a result, within the respective social space, The Hiligaynon speakers have emerged into 3 separate groups of varying intonation, first those original of  Araut and northern communites, second the Irong-Irong groups and third the Ogtong groups.



Iloilo and it's ancient socio-cultural and political set-up

"They were divided into barangays, as Roma into districts, and our cities into parishes or collations. They are called barangays, which is the name of a boat, preserving the name from the boat in  which they came to settle these islands. Since they came subject to one leader in their barangay, who acted as their captain or pilot—who was accompanied by his children, relatives, friends, and comrades—after landing, they kept in company under that leader, who is the datu seizing the lands, they began to cultivate them and to make use of them."
   - (Native Races and their Customs by Francisco Colin, S.J.; Madrid, 1663 From his Labor evangélica )

Ancient Ilonggo social  structure was ruled by Malay quasi-nobility called Datu, a similar rank as Lord  in Medieval Europe feudalism in which he owns a vast  agricultural lands and the same time  protects of the village especially from marauding pirates thus a sense of society. Then a class composed of freeman called the timawa,  then  the lowest rank are slaves called " ulipon". Ancient Ilongo communities enjoyed the  certain freedom from Datu. Each barangays were independent from each other however the chieftains can be summoned in matters of judicial decision or settling disputes. Each barangay is independent from each other.

" each tiny community was practically independent, and the power of a dato very limited. There were no great princes, with large forces of fighting retainers whom they could call to arms, such as the Portuguese had encountered among the Malays south in the Moluccas."
   - (History of Iloilo , authored by Vic of Iloilo )

Religious Culture of Settlers

When Spanish reached Iloilo, they found that the native Indians do not profess any established religion, let alone paganism. If the swarm of Malay migration took place around 7-13th century, they most likely to have retained their Hindu-Buddhism culture. None of their spiritual beliefs reflects any residual Hindu-Buddhism theme.

I proposed that intermittent migration took place before 7th century A.D. That's the time when paganism swept various islands in South East Asians.

Onwards, Sri Vijaya established kingdom in Sumatra. In Laguna, there's a copperplate discovered with inscription dating 822 AD referring to Javanese Medang Kingdom, the Srivijaya Empire, and the Middle kingdoms of India

Maragtas - The Dawning of Ilonggo Civilization

Pedro Monteclaro with his work "Maragtas" narrates the genesis of Iloilo. It was based on oral tradition (tradition in Greek means handed down by word of mouth) as recorded by Fray Tomas Santaren in 1800's. Many accounts can be corroborated with discipline of archaeology, others by ethnographic implication of Spanish Histeriographers.  It can be authoritative account of the past and it is un-scholarly to discredit its sense.




Malay tribes left Sumatra"Kingdom of SriVisaya"

On a year 1212, a number of  families along their children left the declining kingdom of  Sri-Vishaya in Melayu Sumatra, a Hindu-Malay Empire from  Borneo and Sumatra. Under the leadership of Datu Puti, they undertook a long and dangerous  maritime voyage , moving upward in a boat called "Balangay ".  After months of sailing, they arrived in an island called "Aninipay." Bringing their language, culture, religion and way of living. **


Footnotes :
1. Language : Close resemblance of Ilongo words with proto-Malay survived.

2. Creation Account: First man and woman was burst inside the reed in Sumatra. This solidify the hypothesis that people who settled here most likely to infer Sumatra, a place where they came from is a place where first people had begun.

3. Spanish Histeriographers: They are mostly divided , some say it came from Solomon Island others from Malacca


"It is probable that the inhabitants would come to Borney immediately from Sumatra, which is a very large land quite near the mainland of Malaca and Malayo. In the midst of that great island of Sumatra there is a large and extensive lake whose marge is settled by many different nations, whence, according to tradition, the people went to settle various islands. "
 - (Francisco Colin, S.J.; Madrid, published in 1663 , from his Labor Evangélica)

4. Ming Dynasty: porcelain wares has been unearthed suggesting that there has been settlement that flourished before 1363 AD.

Finally, using those road-map of deductive reasoning and pertinent documents  , we will able to re-construct the pre-Spanish history of Iloilo with confidence of certitude. Thus , it goes like this ;

" People of Sumatra traveled to Iloilo headed by Datu somewhere before 1300's and meet the black chiefstein living in Panay . They eventually made permanent settlement called barangay. "

Astonishingly, Pedro Monteclaro " Maragtas " was pretty close . The only thing left is, how historic the names he had mentioned in his book such as " Datu Puti or Marikudo ". That puzzle is too hard to address and be only confirmed whenever proofs will surfaced .




Malay civilization arrived in Aninipay

The seafaring malays meet the negrito chieftain named Maricudo who has been living and claiming the Island as his own  . The Malay  who wants peaceful entry  and dwell the land offered " gift-deal" by giving golden saduk (headpiece or helmet), and a golden necklace to  Marikudo and  to his wife   Maniwang-tiwang , among other barter. After a friendly deal , they  were permitted to navigate the Island.

"  Its inhabitants are the Bisayas, a white people, who have among them some  blacks—the ancient inhabitants of the island, who occupied it before the  Bisayas did. They are not so dark or ugly as are the natives of Guinea, but are  very diminutive and weak; but in their hair and beard they closely resemble the
Guineans."
  - ( Father Pedro Chirino, a Jesuit priest in Tigbauan , Iloilo - Relationes De Las Islas Filipinas 1604)



Datu Paiburong founded Irong-irong

The 10 Datus agreed to partition the new  land collectively called as Panay.  Datu Sumakwel stayed and founded the town of Malandog and called the village as " Hamtik " (Antique) . The  sea-horse shaped isolated province was a  disadvantaged topography of arid land base, mountainous terrain, lined by narrow coastal plain and unfavorable climatic condition ( hostile to agriculture).  In Northern Part , its called "Akean" .

Datu Paiburung, along with his relatives and many other Malay families, sailed  in  the southern cost and established permanent settlement. Unknowingly, it's the most fertile and larger. It has 150 rivers, large plains, rich marine life and a fertile soil. It has strategic port which foreign merchants frequently docks and do trades in the succeeding centuries. They found a dominant river and designated a name for a place as " Irong-irong", their proto-Malayan word of " Irung" meaning nose in English.***

"Before the conquest of those  islands by the Spaniards, the natives of the country were subject to the  chiefs among them, who were recognized as  nobles, and all the others obeyed  them. Those chiefs possessed a great  amount of gold, and slaves in proportion to their nobility"
  - (1638-1640 - Manucript of Padre Diego De  Bobadilla's " Relacion" )

** Paiburong is a shadowy figure and verefiable.
*** Spanish begun to call it Yloylo for convenience. For a more detailed linguistic history. Please visit the other page with a tile " Languages of Iloilo ".

Trade Relation with Mainland China

Several antique wares, porcelain, with impressions of Ming Dynasty were uncovered. It has certainty that Chinese merchants docked and conducted commercial trade with Ilonggos.**** .


**** Footnote:  Burial grounds are  found in many  towns of Iloilo such as Cabugao Sur , Pavia  and Oton  These burial grounds contained  antique porcelain burial jars and coffins made of hard wood,  where the dead  were put to rest with abundance of gold mask , crystal beads,  Chinese potteries, and golden masks. Currently showcased in Museo de Iloilo and in the  collections of many Ilongo old families. However , they do not confirm about the historicity of 12 Bornean Datus.



Chinese Merchant mentions of Poni in 12th century (believed to be  Panay)

From Toupo, it takes "two weeks before reaching Poni by sea "then you resume a northwest heading arriving in a about a week at Mai (Mindoro), from here the journey still continues northwest before reaching Sanfotsi in a few days"



1349 - Wang Ta-yuan  account in ‘Tao I  Chih Lueh’ (Summary Notices of the Barbarians of the Isles)

It's a Chinese account about the native folk of an Island called Pi-she-ya as being tattooed up to their neck. (Photo above). In Iloilo where Loarca called Islas de Los Pintados.




                                      Iloilo Democratic Society ****

Whenever the Spanish navigators anchored  in any major islands in Philippines,  historiographer, biographies and letters will note names of certain chieftains that welcome their arrival . The Spaniards have encountered  Raha in Limasawa , to Datu Tupaz in Cebu and Bohol and Lakan Dula in Manila. However , none of Spanish monks , navigators or soldiers revealed certain nobility  or the like when they had lived and converse the people in Dumangas to Oton, Jaro or Tigbauan, Iloilo. Strangely , they all in a habit of declaring the names of  chieftains in every place they visited too.

"There were no kings or rulers worthy of mention, throughout this archipelago; but there were many chiefs who dominated others less powerful. "

*****  Footnote- poorly-sourced claims

A Malay Civilization thrives in rivers of Iloilo

Population grew in next centuries. Iloilo is frequented by trading Chinese vessels, Indians, Japanese, Thailand, and those from Java . Some of these Chinese merchants preferred to stay and dwell near the mouth of the river in Salog. The locals called the location Yrong-Yrong, or Yloylo. Malay settlements in "Binanwahan" ( Malay term meaning a place settled upon), Guimbal. It was ideal location because it is close the river. A recent excavation reveals round boxes with the lid decorated with a finial are Sawankhalok  covered boxes with a black under-glaze most probably done in the  Sisatchanelai kilns in Thailand of a short-lived kiln production (14th  to 15th century). According to Ming-Jung Kim, curator of the Asian Arts  and Design Exhibit of the Powerhouse Museum in Brisbane, Australia  (November 2009)the design of the covered round boxes followed the form  of Indian stone and metal Buddhist reliquaries. These are part of the  export trade Thailand  was involved with in the Philippines and Indonesia.

The Golden Culture of Ilongos

In Oton, Alfredo  Evangelista and F. Landa Jocano excavated in the later part of the 1960s several burial sites yielding artifacts of gold, carnelian beads, and porcelain. Among the rare items recovered were a gold leaf mask for the eyes of the dead, a cone-shaped gold leaf-covering for the nose, and a gold-facing for and ear plug.  Necklaces of gold and other semi-precious stones were also recovered. 

Out of their knowledge, people of Iloilo living in community, a  new foreign power is heading towards them in the waters of Pacific Ocean that will going to change their history  .

 

 

 

Some Important Facts About The History of Iloilo and Panay Island - Arrival of Malay Settlers

Little bronze figures depicting the Barter of Panay

Datu Bangkaya, founder of Aklan province

Datu Paiburong, founder of Iloilo province stands proudly at the Iloilo River Esplanade

Sultan Makatunaw - the cruel tyrannical ruler of Borneo who is the reason for the exodus of the noblemen courts of ten (10) datus to search, occupy and rule new lands.

Datu Puti - the wise minister of Sultan Makatunaw who lead the exodus of ten datus, their families and people.


The Ten (10) Bornean Datus Who Left Borneo And Search For New Lands To Settle:


Datu Puti (head chief of the expedition) - with wife, Pinangpinang
Datu Bangkaya - with wife, Katorong
Datu Paiburong - with wife, Pabulanan
Datu Sumakwel - with wife, Kapinangan
Datu Paduhinog - with wife, Ribongsapaw
Datu Dumangsol - with wife, Kabiling
Datu Lubay
Datu Dumangsil
Datu Dumalogdog
Datu Balensuela


They brought with them their people, followers, servants, warriors and slaves.

Ati people - group of people who were the original inhabitants of Panay Island. They were short in height, dark skinned with kinky black hair, thick lips, short nose and fast disappearing because they are not permanent settlers and they transfer from one place to another. They like to eat honeybees. They get it by lighting some fire and create smokes to drive away the bees before getting the honeycomb. They are pretty much afraid of water, never learn the skill of swimming and never created sailboats.

Datu Marikudo - the chief of the Ati people during the arrival of the Malay settlers.

Maniwangtiwan - wife of Datu Marikudo

Datu Puti and Datu Marikudo met in Sinugbuhan at the shores of Ilug-ilugan of Andona and sat on the Embidayan stone to which the arriving group explain their desire of settling in the place.

Datu Puti offered some treasure in exchange of the land they will occupy and settle with their followers. The Borneans offered golden hat made of nito and anahaw leaves and golden batya.

Maniwangtiwan noticed the manangyad, a golden necklace worn by the wife of Datu Puti to which she offered Maniwangtiwan her necklace much to her delight.

Manangyad - a very long golden necklace which touches the ground from the neck of the wearer 

The Borneans also offered different gifts to the Atis, including a dagger (kris) to Marikudo, beautiful red beads with bells for Maniwangtiwan, necklaces to the Ati women and axes, clothes and trinkets.

The Atis, on the other hand, aside from offering their lands promised to give tabungos (basket crafted from bamboo) filled with crabs, 7-year old wild boar, white cross-eyed deer.

Tabungos - a basket crafted from bamboo. It is used to store rice grains but sometimes used to store poultry and farm and cattle products. It has various sizes, small, medium, big. 

As a sign of the barter, the Borneans and the Ati held a bountiful feast and merrymaking by showcasing their native dance and music. This is the origin of the popular annual Ati-atihan Festival of Kalibo, Aklan and Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City.

After the festivities, the Atis went to the mountains to settle leaving the vast tract of fertile lands and valleys to the Malay settlers.


Datu Paiburong, his wife and followers stayed in Iloilo. Datu Bangkaya, Datu Sumakwel and their wives and followers settled in Malandog, Antique where vast fertile lands for farming can be found. The place was called Hamtik, named after the large red ants that are plentiful in the place.

The datus divided among themselves the island of Panay into jurisdictions or districts:

Hamtik (former name of Antique) - was under the rule of Datu Sumakwel
Aklan - under the rule of Datu Bangkaya
Irong-irong (former name of Iloilo) - under the rule of Datu Paiburong

The datus decided to call the entire Panay island Madyaas after the highest mountain of Panay located in Hamtik (present-day Antique province in the town of Culasi) was said to be the dwelling of their god Bululakaw. They called their government Konpederasyon it Madyaas or Confederation of Madiaas. The supreme chief is Sumakwel, the brightest of all.

In 1225, Datu Sumakwel wrote some codes of conducts and set of rules and laws known as the Code of Sumakwel or Code of Maragtas. This was the first code and set of laws declared in the Philippines and followed by the Visayans. This code was painstakingly translated in Spanish by Guillermo Santiago Guino and in English by Manuel Carreon and Emma A. Bilan. The codes contain some simple truths, states the obligation of work for every individual.

Kalantiao who became a ruler of Aklan also wrote some codes that was named after him. The codes contains some 18 articles and it includes some ordinances about taking good care of one's life, tools, veneration of relics, safety of women, support of truth and the establishment of a just government. The code also includes the punishments for those who violate these laws. Though the implemented punishment is a bit harsh, the jurists unanimously agreed that these has similarities with the ancient laws of the Greeks and Romans. According to Josue Soncuya, this code was excavated by Jose E. Marco of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental in Panay Island. The code was written in the old Bisaya alphabet in 1433. Its translation in Spanish was found in "Las Antiquas Leyendas de la Isla de Negros" of Father Jose Maria Pavon. The original code was under the care and custody of Don Marcelino Orfila of Zaragoza, Spain.




Photo Source:

Madyaas Pen - http://madyaaspen.blogspot.com
Reed Dexter via www.flickr.com
Research Center for Iloilo - http://ilongo.weebly.com
Robbie Robles via http://iloilo-travel-guide.blogspot.com

Other Philippine Geography and History Trivia

Bagobo Tribe during the American occupation 

Bridge of Spain, Manila 1899 

Tamblot 

These are some more tidbits of trivia:

Different Stages of Philippines Republic:

First Republic - Kawit, Cavite - June 12, 1898
Second Republic - Japanese Puppet Republic - September 25, 1943
Third Republic - July 4, 1946 - Manuel Roxas as President
Fourth Republic - September 21, 1972 - Bagong Lipunan (New Society)
Fifth Republic - June 30, 1981, New Republic

Bacolor, Pampanga - made by the Spaniards as the capital of the Philippines in 1762 when Manila was captured by the British and ruled the Philippines for two years.

Pantaleon Perez - other name of Juan de la Cruz Palariz, the leader of the second Pangasinan revolt

Tarlac - melting pot of Luzon because it is the home of province of different ethno-linguistic groups

Mindoro - named as the island of Mai by the Chinese historian, Chau-Ju-Kua in 1225.

Cotabato - Rice Granary of Mindanao

Nueva Caceres - former name of Naga City. Founded in 1593 as one of the oldest settlements in the Philippines

Catanduanes - known as the Island of the Eastern Sea and Land of the Howling Winds because of its location which is directly on the path of the typhoon belt.

Romblon - known for its rich marble deposits of commercial value

Calbayog City - city of Western Samar which got its name from a tree called "Bayog" from which "cal" (Spanish word for lime) was extracted and used for church-building

Agusan - got its name from the word "agus" meaning flow of water from the Agusan River. It was once a part of the old province of Surigao

Bukidnon - province whose name means people of the mountains from the tribe which inhabited the plateaus of Northern Mindanao. The country's top producer of pineapple.

Batanes, Camiguin, Palawan and Siquijor - considered as the most beautiful island provinces in the Philippines

Rio Grande de Mindanao - second largest river in the Philippines

Mount Diwata - found in the province of Surigao del Sur

Manuel Roxas - founded the Philippines Herald, the first Filipino daily newspaper in English

Turrumba Festival - religious fiesta at Pakil, Laguna in which devotees fall on their knees or stumbles as they follow the images of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patroness of Pakil, in a religious procession around the town

Sta. Maria, Calamiugan, Cagayan - where the oldest bell in the Philippines is found

Paradise Island - scenic spot found in the province of Tarlac

Caves of Bathala - an attraction in the province of Marinduque

Beaches in Leyte are named after different colors - red, blue, white etc.

La Naval de Manila - candlelit procession held in honor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary to commemorate the Filipino - Spanish victory over the Dutch forces in October 3, 1646  Battle of Manila. Held every 2nd Sunday of October.

Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of Pillar) - Patroness of Zamboanga City, known for her miraculous intervention against raids and foreign invasions during the Spanish regime.

Juan Ronquillo - Commander of the Spanish fleet which defeated the Dutch fleet under Admiral Jan Derickson Lam at the Battle of Playa Honda

Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas - Spanish Governor-General who was treacherously killed by the Chinese pirates in Sulphor Point, Batangas on October 25, 1593

Governor Fernando de Bustamante - Spanish Governor General who was murdered by the friars and some residents in Manila as a result of his imprisonment of Archbishop Francisco Cuesta.

Manila Grand Opera House - where the first Philippine Assembly was inaugurated on October 16, 1907

Liwasang Bagong Lipunan  - the name of Rizal Park under the Marcos Administration

Kiangan - town north of Baguio City where General Tomoyuki Yamashita surrendered his army to the Filipino-American forces

Juan de Camus - discovered the image of the Holy Infant Jesus in an unburned Cebuano home

Roxas City - second Spanish settlement in the Philippines

Fort Pilar - former name of Zamboanga

Melbourne, Australia - where General MacArthur made his promise that he "shall return" to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese

Negros - first provincial government established by the Americans

Second Philippines Commission or the Taft Commission - established the public school system with English as medium of instruction

OSROX Mission - independent mission composed of Osmeña and Roxas which brought the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Bill

Maura Law of 1893 - gave the citizens of a municipality with not less than 1,000 taxpayers, the right to elect the members of their municipal council to make laws for their municipality

Fr. Mariano Gil of Tondo - discovered the secrets of the Katipunan as told by Teodoro Patiño to his sister Honoria

Governor General Narciso Claveria - ordered the correction of the calendar in the year 1844.

Battle of Besang Pass- longest battle in the liberation of the Philippines fought by the Filipino guerillas and American soldiers against the Japanese during World War II where President Marcos was considered as the most decorated hero.

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig - became the new name of Camp Murphy which headquarters the Philippine Army

Cesar Bengson - first Filipino to be elected to the World Court or International Court of Justice

Dr. Jesus Tamesis - first Filipino to be elected President of the World Medical Association

Caballo Bay - where relics of a wrecked Spanish Galleon were found

The significance of number 17 in Philippine History:

Our country was discovered by Ferdinand Magellan on March 17, 1521
Luzon is the 17th largest island in the world
There are 17 Articles in our 1973 Constitution
It took 17 months for the delegates of the 1971 Constitutional Convention to draft our 1973 Constitutional Convention.
January 17 is our Constitution Day
Our 1973 Constitution was announced ratified on January 17, 1973 by President Marcos
Martial Law was lifted on January 17, 1981.
Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines on February 17, 1981.
President Ramon Magsaysay died on a plane crash on March 17, 1957.


Authors or Writers of Different Philippine Constitutions:

        NAME                                             Author / Writer                                    Date

Biak-na-Bato Constitution               Isabelo Artacho and Felix Ferrer                      1897

Makabulos Constitution                   Gen. Francisco Makabulos                               1898

Constitution of Aguinaldo's
Dictatorial Government                   Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista                            1898

Constitution of Aguinaldo's
Revolutionary Government              Apolinario Mabini                                            1898

Malolos Constitution                       Felipe Calderon                                                 1898

National Constitution of
Philippine Islands                            Cayetano Arellano                                             1900

Constitution of the Free State
of 1900                                         California Members of the
                                                    Anti-Imperialist League of America                      1900

Constitution for a Free State
of the Philippines                            Pedro Paterno                                                     1900

Constitution of the Tagalog
Republic                                        Macario Sakay                                   November 12, 1901  -
                                                                                                                  March 25, 1902

Philippine Bill of 1902                             -                                                                 1902

Constitution of the
Rizaline Republic                            Artemio Ricarte                                          March 31, 1913

Jones Law of 1916                                                                                                      1916

1935 Constitution                           1934 Constitutional Convention                          1935

1972  Constitution                          1972 Constitutional Convention                          1972

1986 Constitution                           1986 Constitutional Convention                          1986



Antonio de Pigafetta - historian or chronicler of Magellan's expedition
Fr. Andres de Urdaneta - historian or chronicler of Legaspi's expedition


Hudhud and Alim - epic poems of the Ifugaos
Biag ni Lam-ang - epic poems of the Ilocanos
Handiong - epic poem of the Bicolanos
Hinilawod and Humadapnon - epic poems of the Panay Island's Ati people
Bantugan, Indarapatra and Sulayman, Bidasari and Parang-Sabil - epic poems of the Muslims
Darangan - epic poem of the Maranaws

Islas de Ladrones or Island of Thieves in English - name given by Magellan to what is now Marianas Islands because some of the natives stole one of his boats.

Tendaya - former name of Leyte

Cumplase - right of the Governor-General to suspend the operation of a Royal decree or order relative to the Philippines if in his opinion the said order or decree would not be beneficial to the administration of the country

Indulto de Comercio - right given to Spanish government officials to engage in trade

Xylography - first printing press in the Philippines introduced by the Dominicans

Fr. Francisco Blancas de San Jose - introduced the movable type of printing press called typography in 1602


Admiral Van Noort - leader of the first Dutch fleet which fought against the Spanish squadron headed by Antonio de Morga in the 1600 Battle of Manila Bay.

Tribute - paid by Filipinos who are above 16 yrs. and below 60 years old to the Spanish government. Abolished in 1884 and replaced by cedula personal (residence certificate class A).


1811 - last voyage of the Galleon Trade

Situado - annual financial aid sent to the Philippines by the Mexican government to save the Philippine colonial government from bankruptcy (average of about P250,000)

Sinibaldo de Mas - sent by the King of Spain to study the commercial condition of the Philippines and has recommended the abolition of the tobacco monopoly and the opening of more ports for foreign trade

1882 - abolition of tobacco monopoly

1873 - telegraph was introduced in the Philippines

1890 - telephone was introduced in the Philippines. First telephone service outside Manila was in Iloilo in 1891.

Antillean - type of house introduced by the Spaniards in the Philippines which was either rectangular or square, made of first class wood such as narra, ipil or molave

Magalat - led the Cagayan revolt in 1596

Bancao - chieftain of Limasawa who led the Leyte revolt in 1622

Pedro Ladia - native of Borneo who led the revolt in Malolos, Bulacan

Juan Sumuroy - led the 1649 revolt in Palapag, Samar because of forced labor

Francisco Maniago - led the Pampanga Revolt in 1660

Andres Malong - led the 1660 Pangasinan Revolt and proclaimed himself "King of Pangasinan"

Juan de la Cruz Palariz - led the 1762 Pangasinan Revolt

Apolinario de la Cruz ( or Hermano Pule) - founder of Cofradia de San Jose, a religious brotherhood, who led a religious revolt in Lukban, Quezon in 1840.  Called as the "King of the Tagalogs" by the people of his province.

Rafael de Izquierdo - Spanish governor general who replaced Carlos Maria de la Torre in 1871 and ruled the Philippines with a cross in one hand and a sword in the other.

Lodge Revolucion - Filipino  masonic lodge founded by Lopez Jaena in Barcelona, Spain in 1889

Governor General Ramon Blanco - placed under Martial Law the first eight provinces which rose up in arms against Spain - Cavite, Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija - through a decree issued on August 30, 1896

Governor General Fermin Jaudenes - made a secret agreement with American Commodore Dewey and General Merritt that he would surrender Manila to the Americans after staging a mock battle.

Marcha Filipina Magdalo - original title of the Official March of the Philippines composed by Julian Felipe which later became the Philippine National Anthem

Lazaro Segovia - a Spaniard who helped the Americans to capture Aguinaldo at Palanan, Isabela

Spooner Amendment - basis of the civil government in the Philippines and sponsored by United States senator John Spooner

Cuban Constitution - copied by Artacho and Ferrer for the Biak-na-Bato Constitution

Sulu Sea - the country's most productive fishing ground

June 24, 1571 - City of Manila was formally established

Sioco - Chinese pirate and Limahong's military commander who attacked Manila and killed Martin de Goiti, Legaspi's Master of Camp

November 19, 1595 - Manila was designated as the capital of the Philippines

Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario (College of the Most Holy Rosary) - old name of the University of Santo Tomas

Franciscan nuns - established the first convent in the Philippines

Paragua Island - former name of Palawan

1698 - encomienda system was abolished

Archbishop Manuel A. Rojo - acting governor general of Manila who surrendered Manila to the British

Francis Drake - commander of the British Fleet who acted as Governor General of Manila on  October 10, 1762 after the Spanish defeat in the Battle of Manila Bay.

December 25, 1762 - Known as the Red Christmas of 1762 when the Filipino and Spanish churchgoers were killed by Chinese rebels on Christmas eve in a church in Guagua, Pampanga

Simon de Anda y Salazar - regained the city of Manila from the British

1767 - establishment of the first postal service system in the Philippines

July 12, 1767 - Jesuits were expelled from the Philippines on orders of King Charles III

1782 - Royal decree was issued establishing schools all over the Philippines

February 14, 1810 - Royal decree was issued providing for Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes

February 3, 1827 - establishment of the first "Obras Pias," or insurance company

Colgante Bridge - former name of the Quezon bridge connecting Manila proper to the district of Quiapo

December 19, 1863 - primary education for children from 7 to 12 years old was made compulsory

Lope K. Santos - known as the "Father of Pilipino grammar  (Balarilang Pilipino).

Official Gazette - first American newspaper in the Philippines

March 26, 1920 - Philippine Flag was adopted as the official flag of the Philippines

KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas) - single political party allowed to exist during the Japanese Occupation

September 2, 1945 - formal surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers

Los Baños, Laguna - where General Yamashita was hanged as a war criminal on February 23, 1946

November 8, 1947 - first local elections held in the Philippines

May 14, 1935 - first national referendum was held to ratify the Philippine Constitution

Davaokuo - Japanese community in Davao in the 1930s

Kempeitai - Japanese military police during World War II

Kura - most feared Japanese word during World War II

Col. Macario Peralta - leader of the guerillas in Panay during the Japanese Occupation

Kalibo War Bulletin - most widely distributed guerilla newspaper in Panay during World War II

Ang Tigbatas - guerilla newspaper published by Tomas Confesor which survived the war and became the principal reading matter of the people in Panay.

First Battle of Philippine Seas - took place near the Marianas Islands on June 19 - 20, 1944

Gustavus von Overbeck and Alfred Dent - owners of the North Borneo Company to whom the Sultan of Sulu rented the North Borneo (Sabah)

USS Maine - American warship whose sinking at Havana, Cuba, caused the Spanish-American War

Henry Allen Cooper - United States Congressman who sponsored the Philippine Bill of 1902 which was established the Philippine Assembly. He defended his bill by reciting Rizal's poem "Mi Ultimo Adios".

Civil Service Act (Act No. 5) - law enacted by the Philippine Commission on September 19, 1900 which required all prospective government employees to take a competitive examination that would give them eligibility.

September 29, 1855 - when the Port of Iloilo was opened to foreign trade

Sugar - first export of Iloilo to Australia


Pen Names used by the Katipuneros in writing to the Kalayaan, the Katipunan Official Newspaper:

1. Bonifacio - Agap-ito Bagumbayan
2. Jacinto - Dimas-Ilaw
3. Dr. Pio Valenzuela - Madlang-Away


Cagayan - the most rebellious region in the Philippines during the early years of the Spanish rule

Basi Revolt - caused by the government's order prohibiting the Ilocanos to make their native wine "basi"

El Filibusterismo - novel by Rizal dedicated in memory of the three martyred priests: Burgos, Gomez, Zamora

Four Martyrs of Katipunan,  Thirteen Martyrs of Cavite, Twelve Martyrs of Bicol and Nineteen Martyrs of Aklan - the first martyrs of Philippines Revolution

General Martin Delgado - commanded the Visayan patriots in the defense of Iloilo City against the Spanish and American forces. He became Iloilo's first provincial governor in 1901.

Teodoro Sandiko - the oldest delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935

Wenceslao Q. Vinzon - youngest delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1935

Gregorio Perfecto - signed the approved Philippine Constitution of 1935 with his own blood

Tomas Cabili of Lanao - the only delegate who voted NO to the approved Constitution of 1935

Carmen Planas - first woman Councilor of Manila

Elisa R. Ochoa - first woman to become a member of the Congress of the Philippines

September 17, 1935 - national election for the officials of the Philippine Commonwealth

Capt. Jesus Villamor - first Filipino pilot to win honors for his fight against the Japanese planes over the skies in Batangas.

Ramon Magsaysay - first Philippine president to wear Barong Tagalog in a Presidential inauguration

American soldiers - first English teachers of the Filipinos 

Order of Sikatuna - highest civilian award given by the Philippine government to a foreign national for a worthy and outstanding services rendered to the Filipino people


Mai - name given to the Philippines by the Chinese traders meaning "Land of Barbarians"

Y'ami isle - northernmost point in the Philippines

Saluag isle - southernmost point in the Philippines

Sierra Madre mountains - longest mountain range in the Philipines

Cagayan Valley - largest valley in the Philippines

Cagayan River - longest river in the Philippines

Laguna de Bay - largest lake in the Philippines

Dowell Pearl - world's largest pearl found in the waters of Palawan


Basi - Ilocano wine
Pangasi - Visayan wine
Lambanog - Tagalog wine
Tapuy - Igorot wine

Kumintang - Tagalog love dance
Binaylan - Manobo courtship dance
Sagayan - Maranaw war dance
Kinnoton - Ilocano ants' dance
Uya-uy - Ifugao courtship dance
Tadek - Tinggian love dance
Kandingan - Muslim wedding dance

Buglas - former name of Negros
Himal-us - former name of Guimaras

Ancient Gods and Goddesses:

Idianalo - Tagalog goddess of agriculture
Sidapa - Visayan god of death
Apolaki - Pangasinan war god
Dal-lang - Ilocano goddess of beauty
Kidul - Kalinga god of thunder
Darago - Bagobo war god
Kolyog - Ifugao god of earthquakes
Lalahon - Visayan goddess of volcanoes

Maganito - sacrifices offered to the anitos of the ancient Filipinos

Katalona or Babaylan -  priest or priestess of the ancient Filipinos

Odom - ancient amulet of the ancient Filipinos that could make its possessor invisible to the human eye

Wiga - ancient charm that enable any person to cross a river without getting wet


Ancient Names Of The Ancient Visayan Calendar:

Days of the Week

Monday - Tigburokad
Tuesday - Dumasun
Wednesday - Dukotdukot
Thursday - Baylobaylo
Friday - Danghus
Saturday - Hinguthingot
Sunday - Ligidligid


Months

January - Ulalong
February - Dagangkahoy
March - Dagangbulan
April - Kiling
May - Himabuyan
June - Kabay
July - Hidapdapon
August - Lubadlubad
September - Kangurolsol
October - Bagyobagyo
November - Panglut nga Diutay
December - Panglut nga Daku

Tumunoh - Ifugao calendar keeper

piloncitos - ancient coins of our ancestors

Sri Vijaya and Madjapahit Empires - through these empires, India's cultural influences reached the Philippines

Sulu and Visayas - main centers of Sri Vijaya influence in the Philippines

Abu Bakr - first Muslim sultan of Jolo

Sharif Kabungsuan - first Muslim sultan of Mindanao

Pacific Ocean - was named by Magellan "pacific" because of its calm waters

Watering Place of Good Signs - name given by Magellan to Homonhon because they found some traces of gold

City of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - name given to the city of Cebu by Legazpi

Distinguished and Ever Loyal Noble City - name given to Manila by King Philip II of Spain and later the same title bestowed to Iloilo City by Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain making it her favorite city thus the moniker "Queen City of the South"

Capt. Juan de Salcedo - called as the "Hernando Cortes of the Philippines"

Residencia - an investigation of a government official at the end of his term of office to find out how he behaved while in power during the Spanish colonial period

Polo - forced labor during the Spanish regime
Polista - person who rendered forced labor
Falla - sum of money paid to exempt a person from forced labor

Local governments during the Spanish Period:

Alcaldia - province under the alcalde mayor
Pueblo - town under the gobernadorcillo or capitan
Ayuntamiento - city under the alcalde
Barangay - barrio or local community village under the Cabeza de Barangay

Msgr. Ignacio de Santibañez - first Archbishop of Manila
Boleta - a ticket representing the right of the holder to take part in the galleon trade
Obras Pias - funds donated by rich persons for pious or charitable purposes

Capt. Alejandro Malaspina - conducted the first Geodetic survey of the Philippines
Francisco Lacsamana - greatest Filipino hero during the Chinese revolts who crushed the Chinese rebels in Antipolo

Duplo - a poetical debate held by trained men and women on the ninth or last night of the mourning for the dead

Bellocos and Bellacas - participants in the duplo

Cariñosa, Surtido, Fandanggo and Jota - popular folk dances during the Spanish times

Fr. Geronimo Aguilar - first music teacher of the Filipinos
Fr. Blas de la Madre de Dios - wrote the first work on Philippine flora (flowers)
Banco Español Filipino  - first government bank in the Philippines

Fr. Pedro Pelaez - championed the rights of the Filipino priests

Baler, Quezon - last Spanish outpost to surrender to the Filipinos under Lieutenant Colonel Simon Tecson

El Nuevo Dia - famous provincial newspaper founded and edited by Sergio Osmeña in Cebu
Major Manuel Sityar - director of the Military Academy of the First Philippine Republic in Malolos, Bulacan

General Jose Paua - the only Chinese general in the Philippine Revolution
General Licerio Geronimo - leader of the Filipino troops which killed Gen. Henry C. Lawton in the Battle of San Mateo

Gen. Vicente  Lukban - leader of the Filipino troops which massacred the 3 officers and 43 soldiers of the American garrison in Balangiga, Samar
Gen. Gregorio del Pilar  - hero of Tirad Pass and was called Leonidas of the Philippines

Januario Galut - Filipino traitor who led the American soldier to a secret path in Tirad Pass which resulted to the death of General Gregorio del Pilar

Melecio Severino - first Filipino to be elected as provincial governor under the American Occupation

Frank W. Carpenter - first American civilian to become Governor of Mindanao and Sulu

Luke E. Wright - first Democratic governor - general of the Philippines

James F. Smith - first Catholic American governor-general of the Philippines
Gregorio Araneta - first Filipino to be named as head of an executive department under the American Occupation

Gen. Leonard Wood - first American governor of the Moro province

Benito Legarda and Pablo Ocampo - first Filipino Resident Commissioners to the US Congress in Washington D.C.

Governor General Francis Burton Harrison - Filipinized the government service by appointing Filipinos to government offices whenever vacancies occur

Jones Law of 1916 - sponsored by US Congressman William Atkinson Jones, it declared that Philippine independence shall be granted by the United States as soon as a stable government is established in the Philippines

Tomas Claudio - First Filipino hero to die in World War I in the battlefield of France under the American flag

Centro Escolar University - oldest university for women, founded by Librada Avelino in 1907
Silliman University  - first Protestant university located in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and was founded by Dr. David S. Hibbard in 1901.

Dr. David P. Barrows - first Director of Education in the Philippines

Isabelo de los Reyes - founded the first labor union in the Philippines called Union Obrera Democratica Filipina

Act No. 1818 - law passed by the Philippine Assembly on April 30, 1908 which declared May 1st of each year as Labor Day

Msgr. P.L. Chapelle - first Apostolic delegate to the Philippines

Most Reverend Jeremiah J. Harty - first American Archbishop of Manila
Msgr. Bernardino Nozaleda - last Spanish Archbishop of Manila

Right Reverend Jorge Barlin - first Filipino priest to become bishop during the American regime

Tacloban, Leyte - first municipal government to be restored after the war

Paul V. McNutt - last United States High Commissioner and the first United States ambassador to the Philippines

Senator Salipada K. Pendatun - first Muslim Senator of the Philippines

Salih Ututalum - first Muslim Superintendent of Schools

Badu Dangwa - first Igorot Governor of Mountain Province

Bai Bagungan Inok of Buluan, Cotabato - first woman municipal mayor in the Philippines

Rufino Cardinal Santos - first Filipino Cardinal of the Catholic Church

Mrs. Emilia S. Cavan - organized the first recital of Filipino folk songs at the Manila Grand Opera House in 1919. Her book "Filipino Folk Songs" was the first published collection of our folk songs

Dr. Eliseo Pajaro - composed the symphony "Life of Lam-ang" based on the Ilocano epic poem

Lt. Col. Antonio Buenaventura - conductor of the PC Band who popularized the Muslim folk songs in his composition "Mindanao Orchids"

Dr. Paulino J. Garcia - first Chairman of the National Science and Development Board



Photo Sources: 


Dabawenyong Lumad - https://dabawenyonglumad.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/head-kerchief/ 

Flickr.com 

Manila Nostalgia - http://www.lougopal.com/manila/?paged=39