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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 2 - Spanish Found Yloilo

Chapter 2
 Spanish Found Yloilo




* highlighted in violet is the timeline or date


1565- The Spanish first arrival in Jalaud or Araut




Miguel Lopez de Legazpi directed Tupas to send two chiefs to the island of Panay to purchase rice. They did not return. He faced growing suspicion that Cebuanos will destroy them through hunger.

Source: from Martinez de Zuñiga, "A Historical View of the Philippine Islands" published 1803.

The sparsity of population is also well indicated by the great scarcity of food. The Spaniards had much difficulty in securing sufficient provisions. A small amount of rice, a pig and a few chickens were obtainable here and there but the Filipinos had no large supplies.

Source: A History of the Philippines by David P. Barrows Ph.D.



First voyage to Iloilo in 1565

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi ordered his men under Mateo del  Saz, his Maestre de Campo (Ship Commander) Juan de la Isla and an Augustinian friar Martin de Rada to explore the other islands for food. They  lingered for a while on the coasts of Bohol. They reached the island of Buglas. They called it " Negros" due to presence of black people. However, they did not stay longer because of its thick vegetation, fewer food production and warring inhabitants. The group left and went on-board, heading northward into the island of Panay in the early part of June 1565. The group drew closer to a protruding land in a village called Araut ( Dumangas). They disembarked and an interpreter was sent first. A friendly native people welcome them though with suspicion.

"The language of all the Pintados and Bisayas is one and the same, by which they understand one another when talking, or when writing with the letters and characters of their own which they possess. These resemble those of the Arabs. The common manner of writing among the natives is on leaves of trees, and on bamboo bark. Throughout the islands the bamboo is abundant; it has huge and misshapen joints, and lower part is a very thick and solid tree."

Source : Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas Dr. Antonio de Morga 1609

1565 - Catholic Church in Araut was born. Father Martin de Rada  founded an oldest town of Iloilo and Western Visayas.
“También fundó convento el Padre Fray Martin de Rada en Araut- que ahora se llama el convento de  Dumangas- con la advocación de nuestro Padre San Agustín. Está fundado este  pueblo casi a los fines del río de Halaur”.

Source : Gaspar de San Agustin, O.S.A., Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas (1565-1615).

The edifices and houses of the natives of all these Filipinas Islands are built in a uniform manner, as are their settlements; for they always build them on the shores of the sea, between rivers and creeks. The natives generally gather in districts or settlements where they sow their rice, and possess their palm trees, nipa and banana groves, and other trees, and implements for their fishing and sailing. A small number inhabit the interior, and are called tinguianes; they also seek sites on rivers and creeks, on which they settle for the same reasons.

The houses and dwellings of all these natives are universally set upon stakes and harigues [i.e., columns] high above the ground. Their rooms are small and the roofs low. They are built and tiled with wood and bamboos, and covered and roofed with nipa-palm leaves. Each house is separate, and is not built adjoining another. In the lower part are enclosures made by stakes and bamboos, where their fowls and cattle are reared, and the rice pounded and  cleaned. One ascends into the houses by means of ladders that can be drawn up, which are made from two bamboos. Above are their open batalanes [galleries] used for household duties; the parents and [grown] children live together. There is little adornment and finery in the houses, which are called bahandin.

Source: Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas Dr. Antonio de Morga 1609

Their customary method of trading was by bartering one thing for another, such as food, cloth, cattle, fowls, lands, houses, fields, slaves, fishing-grounds, and palm-trees (both nipa and wild). Sometimes a price intervened, which was paid in gold, as agreed upon, or in metal bells brought from China. These bells they regard as precious jewels; they resemble large pans and are very sonorous. They play upon these at their feasts, and carry them to the war in their boats instead of drums and other instruments

Source: Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas Dr. Antonio de Morga 1609

" I spent eight years in the Filipinas Islands, the best years of my life, serving continuously as lieutenant of the governor and captain-general, and, as soon as the royal Audiencia of Manila was established, in the office of auditor, which I was the first to fill" Dr. Antonio de Morga.

Footnote: Morga's work is important, as being written by a royal official and a keen observer and participator in affairs. Consequently he touches more on the practical everyday affairs of the islands, and in his narrative shows forth the policies of the government, its ideals, and its strengths and weaknesses. His book is written in the true historic spirit, and the various threads of the history of the islands are followed systematically. As being one of the first of published books regarding the Philippines, it has especial value. Political, social, and economic phases of life, both among the natives and their conquerors, are treated. The futility of the Spanish policy in making external expeditions, and its consequent neglect of internal affairs; the great Chinese question; the growth of trade; communication with Japan; missionary movements from the islands to surrounding countries; the jealous and envious opposition of the Portuguese; the dangers of sea-voyages: all these are portrayed vividly, yet soberly. Morga's position in the state allowed him access to many documents, and he seems to have been on general good terms with all classes, so that he readily gained a knowledge of facts. The character of Morga's work and his comprehensive treatment of the history, institutions, and products of the Philippines, render possible and desirable the copious annotations of this and the succeeding volume. These annotations are contributed in part by those of Lord Stanley's translation of Morga, and those of Rizal's reprint, while the Recopilacion de leyes de Indias furnishes a considerable number of laws.

“The river  of Alaguer, ( Jalaud) flows past  the convent gates. By this one descends leaving on the right and inland the priorate of Laglág; (Duenas) and still lower and also inland and on the same side that of Baong (Dingle) and reaches the convent of Dumangas, which we call "Alaguer” The Panay runs northward, and this of Alaguer toward the vendaval. If one wishes, he may cross hence, between this island and Himal-us; ( Guimaras) to Salog (Jaro) a convent of the order, which was also assigned to it by Bishop Agurto. It has in charge about one thousand Indians. From that place, following the coast, one goes to the convent of Otóng, the chief convent of this island, because it is near the village of Arévalo—once important, but now of no account. The capital is very small, for it enjoys the conscriptions of  Ilong-ilong. A matter of a short legua farther on is the convent of Guimbal. Of  it, one may philosophize as in the case of Tigbauang.”

“The  fathers deliberated, and Father Rada, who “was not only a very great  theologian, but was the wisest man in the world in mathematics, geography, astronomy, astrology, and the foretelling of events,” made a chart on which he showed Pope Alexander VI’s line. By this he proved the islands well within Spain’s demarcation. They had also been taken possession of for Spain by  Magallanes. These proofs did not satisfy the Portuguese, however, and they continued their  attempts."

Source : History of the Augustinian Order in the  Filipinas Islands or Historia de la Orden de S. Agustín de Estas Islas Filipinas written Fray Juan de Medina a native of Sevilla, Spain , formerly minister to the  villages of Ibahay, Aclán, Dumangas, Passi,and Panay, vicar-provincial of that   island by recalled about Spanish Expedition sometime around in 1565 in  Panay and in Iloilo Coastal Towns published by James A Robertson.

Church was built in Dumangas , an ecclesiastical center of Anilao , Bobog ( banate)

" Las visitas que tiene son ocho: tres en el monte, dos en el río y tres en el  mar...Las que están al mar son: Santa Ana de Anilao, San Juan Evangelista de Bobog, y otra visita más en el monte, entitulada Santa Rosa de Hapitan.”

Source : Gaspar de San Agustin, O.S.A., Conquistas de las Yslas Filipinas (1565-1615).

The First Church in Western Visayas was constructed in Araut ( Dumangas)It was written in detail .

"At first we used to make our houses in the manner of the inhabitants of the country themselves; for, in short, they know more of their climate, as they have more experience therein, and God gave them more adequate knowledge of the products of the islands, so that they might make use of them"

"These timbers or columns are called harigues, and the wood is that called "tugas". These timbers having been placed, as I say, upright in the earth, and having the space of more than a braza beneath them, form the columns of the edifice, and upon them the natives build. We have all made use of this method of building in these islands. We have built fine houses and churches from these woods—for which, inasmuch as many villages assist in the building, the largest columns and those of known goodness are sought, which last many years. In conformity with this, while I was building a house in the town of Dumangas, on the Alaguer River, a very large house was there, belonging to an encomendero living there, one Ruy López de Arellano, a native of Constantina."

"There are other columns left as inheritances from father to children, and to grandchildren, upon which many houses have been built. The walls, which are called dingding, are made of excellent timber. The walls of the Indians’ houses are made of bamboo, inasmuch as they are poorer. The roof is made of palm-leaf, called nipa. Instead of nails, the natives use certain strong ligaments, made from flexible roots, called bejuco [i.e., rattan], where we use nails. These houses, then, are considered more healthy; for as it is usually very hot in the islands, these houses are much more cool, and the winds blow through them with greater ease.

Source : History of the Augustinian Order in the  Filipinas Islands or Historia de la Orden de S. Agustín de Estas Islas Filipinas written Fray Juan de Medina

The groups soon returned to Sugbu to  report about good news the abundance of food in Iloilo

Colonet returned to Sugbu bringing good news. Fr. Martin  de Rada was  appointed " prior of Oton" with jurisdiction over Tigbauan,  Vagungun, Guimbal, Jaro  and Dumangas. Spanish found Ilongos to be more friendly than people of  Sugbu , Leyte and  Samar and find it easy to befriend with the local and established Yloylo as Spanish Encomienda. It was abounding in rice , crops , palms and all kind of provisions (food). They went back to Miguel Legazpi with a good news.

"The island of Panay, the most fertile and well-provisioned of all the islands  discovered, except the island of Luçon; for it is exceedingly fertile, and  abounds in rice, swine, fowls, wax, and honey; it produces also a great quantity  of cotton and medriñaque...... This island of Panay provides the city of Manila and other places with a large  quantity of rice and meat."

Source : Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas , Miguel de Loarca ,  written in Arevalo, Iloilo on  June 1582 incorporated in " The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, by Emma Helen Blair at James A. Robertson, published in Manila, 1903




1569- Portuguese fiercely drives Spanish Out





1569 December - Portuguese General Gonzalo de Pereira is aware that the Spanish troops are loosing morals in conquering Cebu. He tried everything to persuade the chieftains of Cebu not to supply food to the Spaniards. He pressed on Portugal's legal right in the Philippines and ordered the Spanish to leave in the series of  meetings. Legazpi  is strong to stay put and reasoned he will stay per royal order of his master, King of Spain who must  rescue the Spanish survivors in Islas de Filipinas. Series of negotiation proven futile. Portuguese keep on firing canons against the Spanish fleet to strategically deplete number of Spanish troops. Because of real threats of Portuguese, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi reasoned that the attacks and humiliation they suffered uplifts the spirit of some chieftains of Sugbu. Soldiers are starving loosing physical strength, they are running out of  food and others has been starting to eat rats that will make easy for Cebuanos to succeed. He had made a drastic decision to avert disaster.

Here are the top reasons why Legazpi considered Panay (Old Iloilo)

1. More friendly folks ( ancient Ilongos ) open for negotiations.
2. Abundance of food for himself and soldiers to regain their vigor.
3. Presence of good port as hideaway from Portuguese.




March 1570




( Photo of Legazpi from Archivo Museu San Telmo)


Don Miguel de Legazpi is anticipating the strong Portuguese troops with their ships will be returning in matter of months to put an end to their presense in Islas de Filipinas. He prepared the 300 Spaniards, and his Lieutenant-Commanders, Martín de Goiti and his nephew, 15 years-old Juan de Salcedo and dispatched a Spanish  fleet to move northward and secretly transferred his troops in Panay port.




Handwriting of Legazpi while he is in Mexico dated February 6, 1564 during a mass bless his expedition to Yslas Filipinas 





1570 - Spanish Voyage




Through the naval efficiency of Augustinian Father Martin de Rada, a mathematician and astronomer adept in the use of the compass and the astrolabe. The galleon moves northward. Another Augustinian Father Diego de Herrera was also on board.




Spanish Galleon arrived



After several days of sea journey, as Spaniards saw the mountains of Iloilo from a distance, they were jubilant in their mind they find a peaceful sanctuary where people are friendly, a place abound with food and a perfect place to prepare themselves for the final conquest in Maynila. The boat moved ashore and settled in a place the native people called Ogtong. They converted Datus Makabaog and Madidong. Adelantado Legazpi made Ogtong as capital of surrounding island.




Adelantado Legazpi Meet Ancient Ilonggos




(Portrait of Fray Martin de Rada, O.S.A photographic reproduction of painting in possession of Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid, Spain)



Spanish regale stature impressed the people

Legaspi was received by the natives of Panay with every demonstration of joy, and they appeared more sincere in their professions than those of Zebu. Woman and children have rushed to these white-skin foreigners. The religious ceremonials with all its impressive and dramatic services have won the heart of Ilonggos. Everyone was eager to listen the religious seal of Spanish Priest that no powerful native priesthood to oppose it. Every Ilonggos was moved, for the friars, it was divine provenance a great accomplishment for the Pope of Rome officially ordering their Spanish monarchy to preach the Gospel to all nations of the earth. Thereafter, mass baptism was conducted. For Spanish soldiers, a stepping stone for another heights of their grandest scheme .




Padre Martin de Rada - Apostle to Ogtong




Ogtong, 2nd oldest town in founded in 1570

In 1570,  Padre Martin de Rada built the first convent in the country in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary in the first pueblo of Ogtong. In the same year, Padre Martin de Rada, while still in Oton, must have assigned and sent Padre Alva to  Dumangas, a little village.

"Martín de Rada remained in Cebú, Juan de Alva went to the Alaguer River in Panay"

Fr. Juan de Alva, O.S.A., who accompanied Captain Luis de la Haya in Spanish galleon, journeyed northward to locate Araut. He had built the first chapel in Dumangas replacing the small rural chapel whose edifice was built by Fr. Martin de Rada himself around 1566. Fr. de Rada was made regional spiritual director and he remained in Sugbu up to 1572.

Source: History of the Augustinian Order in the Filipinas Islands, Fray Juan de Medina. He was minister at Laglag ( Duenas) in 1613, at Mambúsao in 1615, at Dumangas in 1618, at Panay in 1619, and at Passi in 1623)

Fray Juan de Alva was born of an illustrious family in Segovia, and professed in the Augustinian convent in Toledo in 1514. In 1535, he went to Mexico and there he labored for thirty-three years. At the age of seventy-two, he went to the Philippines landing in Cebú in 1569. He labored successfully in Panay and founded the church of Dumangas. In 1572, he was elected first prior of the  convent of Manila and definitor, after which (1575) he began the foundation  of Pásig. He became rector provincial of the Philippines in 1576, and died in Manila, September 17, 1577.



Spanish Victory over Manila through Ilonggo




"Turning Point of History "

Iloilo, was the big accomplice for Spanish Conquest of Philippines

If Ilonggos followed Cebuanos silent-bloodless battle against Spanish which is slow death by starvation. Spanish  all could have fall to the ground. A promise of prosperity, civilization and protection from pirates prompted Ilonggos to help Spanish. Their  appearance, splendidly armored and full weapons could have dissuade Ilonggos and utilized divide and conquer military strategy was wise for the islands are extremely disunited by geography and barriers of language. In Iloilo as the new headquarter, Legazpi and his soldiers rebuilt their shattered health and dreams, he studied in failures and potentials and to achieve his grandest dream: conquest of all islands in Philippines under Spanish Crown.


Ilongo Maritime Heritage

1570 -  After several months, Spanish have regained strength.  Moreover, Spanish warships were too big, too slow and the draft too deep to navigate close to the coast to make effective use of their cannons. The ships of the conquistadors were mostly anchored in the natural harbors of Ogtong from where they boarded hundreds of barangay, referred by the Spanish as caracoa, manned mostly by native allies to attack the Kingdom of Manila. It is also a warship like that of Vikings, highly maneuverable, versatile vessel best  as a war canoe suited to the shallow waters of the archipelago

Source: Historia de las islas e indios visayas del parde alcina 1668

January 1570 - Legazpi sent with him his grandson, 21 years-old,  Juan de Salcedo sailed on this expedition with thirty Spaniards and many friendly Indians. He entered the town of Mamburao, and having made himself master of it, compelled the inhabitants to ransom themselves with gold; after which he proceeded to the isle of Lucban, where the pirates of Mindoro had taken refuge, and had protected themselves by some indifferent works; he, with ease, forced their entrenchments, attacked them with fire-arms and as they were unable to resist this mode of warfare, they agreed to ransom themselves with gold, as the inhabitants of Mamburao had done. Salcedo divided the spoil among his soldiers and the Indians.

May 1570 - They  reached Manila. It being the commencement of the season of rains and typhoons. The Spaniards decided to defer the occupation of Manila and after exploring the Cavite harbor to do the needed repairs to his ships returned to Panay in two days to give an account of this expedition.


Galleons arrived with a news to Legazpi "Go Signal for final conquest" from Spanish Crown

June 23, 1570 -  Captain Juan de la Isla arrived with three vessels, in which came the Friar Perrera with two other religious, viz. Friar Diego Ordoñez, and Friar Diego de Espinar. Dispatches were brought by them from his Majesty, by which Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was constituted President of the islands of the Ladrones, and he was recommended to settle the Philippines; at the same time his Majesty bestowed portions of lands, with their inhabitants, on all who might be engaged in the conquest. With a view to put these orders in execution, Legaspi first dispatched from Panay, the same Captain Juan de la Isla, with two ships to Acapulco, and sailed for Zebu.

July 25, 1570 - Legazpi wrote a letter to King Philip II in Iloilo asking to send Captain Felipe de Salcedo back
.
January 1571 - Legazpi left Cebu at the end of January and sailed to Panay.

Iloilo was incorporated into Philippine Nation of Spanish Colony

April 15 , 1571 - Miguel Lopez de Legazpi assigned Padre Ximenes to Dumangas. He brought Colonel Martin de Goite,  Padre Herrera with other religious officers and soldiers. They dropped Padre Alva in Masbate with 6 men. They arrived in Manila and forced Muslim chief Suleiman, an ally or vassal of the Sultan of Brunei, to allow the Spanish to establish a colony. The Spanish successfully subjugated kingdoms of Maynila and Tondo to the Spanish Crown. It was a bloodless victory. The Filipino rajahs declared themselves vassals of the Spanish king. They established Manila as the capital of the Spanish East Indies. Iloilo lost its identity as autonomous nation after the Spanish incorporated it as  one island of El Rey de Espana, Felipi , thus Filipinas.

July 17, 1571 - Don Diego de Legaspi, a nephew of the Governor, arrived. He was sent by Viceroy of Mexico as a reinforcement with two ships which stationed in Iloilo. He was sent by Captain Juan de Aguirre to the aid of his uncle. Legazpi ordered the Colonel to proceed to Iloilo, and dispatch these ships to Manila, and afterwards go to Zebu, and bring his family to the capital.

On May 3, 1572 - Oton was accepted as a house of the Order, the third after Cebu and Manila.

Jaro was born with very few households.

1575 -  Spanish missionaries stationed in Ogtong had found settlement along the rivers of Salog (Spaniards call it as Xaro and later Jaro). Augustinians founded their missions on March 3, 1575 and was  originally located at Alanga (now La Paz) under the pastoral charge of main parish of Ogtong.  After 9 years in 1584, Jaro was annexed to the Villa de Arevalo. Because of it's small community, priest only visit Salog now and then. On April 25, 1587, the Provincial Chapter of the Augustinians made Salog an independent parish. It includes La Paz Area formerly called Lobo, Llauon (or Ilaod meaning “down the river”).

Father Martin De Rada last years in Iloilo

Fray Francisco Manrique professed at Valladolid and on his arrival at the islands relieved Father Rada (September 11, 1575) of the ministry at Otón. Father de Rada  and Jeronimo Marin OSA accompanied a delegation of  officials to China.



1582 - Punta Villa, Arevalo was born




From Ogtong to Punta Villa, Arevalo

In  1581 - Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa, was appointed as 4th Governor-General of Philippines. Don Gonzalo sailed from Manila to Ogtong. He then realized that the recurrent raids by Moro pirates from Mindanao, Dutch and English privateers posed a real threat to Ogtong. The Spaniards decided to transfer to a more secure place. It was around 12 kilometer eastward  to a place they called “ Punta”. Don Gonzalo built his mansion there named the town as La Villa Rica de Arevalo to demonstrate its richness, glory and privilege that captivated the heart of the Governor General . Writing to the King of Spain in 1581, Peñalosa informed the king that Arevalo had a fertile land and rich inhabitants. Perhaps the Governor awarded it with great accord and the privilege of becoming an independent town from Oton because of his high personal regard and as a memento of his distant native land in Spain. It became the hometown in Spain political, religious and  military for next thirty years. During his term, the trade with the  Chinese increased, and he built a  market-place and Parián for them within the city, where the Chinese could bring  and sell their merchandise. Arevalo became capital of  surrounding Islands.

According to Fr. Policarpo Hernandez, OSA an Augustinian historian Arevalo’s center was located in the present-day Brgy. Santa Cruz. This is in harmony with some claims in Arevalo. Santa Cruz’s foundation was earlier than that of Arevalo (indicating that it used to be the very center of the poblacion). Santa
Cruz is also strategically located nearer Oton town and is supported by the claim of Fray San Agustin that it was “almost in front of the convent of Ogtong.

Moreover, it was also the residence of a purveyor of Oton who bore the title of “Senior Justice.” By his orders, Ronquillo also transferred the residences of other Spanish officials residing in Oton. By this, Arevalo bore the prestige of and link to the history of Iloilo itself.

Miguel Loarca wrote  that Arevalo becomes the seat of Spanish governance of whole of Iloilo, Panay (Capiz, Aklan and Antique)  Negros, Guimaras, Cuyu -Palawan, Caluya, Romblon and Boracay.

The following are the principal communities in this island:
The village of Oton, next to the town.
The village of Ticbauan. (Southern part) 
The river Jaro. (Natives called salog which means  river)
The river Yvahay (Natives living in Northern aklan)
The river Ajuy (Northern People of present Iloilo)
The river Harahut.(People close to Jalaud River)
The river Panay (Communities in present Capiz)
The river Aclan (Communities in present Aklan)
The village of Antique (Communities in Present Antique)
The village of Bugason.

"Since the town is situated on the side nearest Negros Island, its nearest neighbor, the above-mentioned governor placed under its jurisdiction the rivers Ylo ( Ilog), Ynabagan ( Binalbagan), Bago, Carobcop (Silay) and Tecgaguan.

Source: Miguel de Loarca , Relaciones 1582, written in Arevalo



Spanish Governor wrote to King about Arevalo, Iloilo



Arevalo, Iloilo with the church on the left side and the legendary and iconic crown tower on the right side
Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa wrote a letter to King Philip II in June 16, 1582

“Accordingly,  the village of Arevalo—on the island of Panay, fifty leagues from this  district—has just been settled.

" The land is very fertile and the inhabitants are rich. They are almost all at peace, and the town is increasing in population because of the good and healthful character of that country.”



Parian was founded (ancient Molo)




Portrait of Antonio de Morga


"Don Gonzalo Ronquillo founded a Spanish town in the island of Panay, in Oton, which he named Arevalo. During his term, the trade with the Chinese increased, and he built a market-place and Parian for them within the city, where the Chinese could bring and sell their merchandise"

Antonio Morga, in his book, SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS described the Visayan men and women as "very clean and elegant in their persons and dresses, and of goodly mien and grace."



Ilonggos as what Spanish documented of them




1582Book was written in Arevalo by Miguel De Loarca.

In a peaceful environment of Arevalo, Miguel de Loarca started to write about the Spanish accounts of their exploration of the Philippines as ordered by Don Gonzalo for his report to the King of Spain. With the help of fellow Spaniards, friars, explorers and the Ilonggos. He carefully write everything. The book was finished on 1582. It is called " Relaciones de las Islas Filipinas ". It is the first Spanish accounts of their colonization, census of Indios, identification, location, religion, culture, way of living and distribution of settled communities in the island. Of all places, he has more details about life of Panay and Iloilo. They stayed
for more than one year.

Note: all originally written in Spanish and translated in English

Indians are called  Pintados

“ The men tattoo their entire bodies with very beautiful figures, using therefore small pieces of iron dipped in ink. This ink incorporates itself with the blood, and the marks are indelible.” The  Pintados tattoo the whole body very gorgeously.”

"In some of those islands the men formerly marked all the body with figures whence comes the Spanish name “Pintados”..Those called Pintados and those of the island of Mindanao wear short white, yellow, or red tunics, which hang to the knees, bound in by a girdle one vara wide and two and one-half brazas long; this is, as a general rule, white or red,  and always falls to the knees. They wear neither stockings nor shoes; and  instead of a hat they use a bit of cloth, which they wind twice or thrice around  the head. Their whole adornment consists in having very rich and beautiful necklaces, earrings, and gold rings or bracelets. They wear those bracelets above the ankle; some wear these of ivory, and others of brass."
                                                        -  ( Padre Chirino)

Physical Features of Ilongos

“The natives of the  Pintados Islands are not very dark. Both men and women are well formed and have  regular features. Some of the women are white. Both men and women wear their  hair long, and fastened in a knot on the crown of the head, which is very becoming "

Ilongga are beautiful, modest and fond of perfumes

"The women are beautiful ... They are well and modestly dressed,  in that they cover all the private parts; they are very clean, and are very fond of perfumes"

People of Iloilo are peaceful and friendly

“Its villages stand very close together, and the people are  peaceful and open to conversion.”

Ilonggo History is well preserved in songs or epics.

“Since these natives are not acquainted  with the art of writing, they preserve their ancient lore through songs, which  they sing in a very pleasing manner—commonly while plying their oars, as they  are island-dwellers. Also, during their revelries, the singers who have good  voices recite the exploits of olden times; thus they always possess a knowledge  of past events”

People called themselves as “Hiligaynon”

“ The people of the coast, who are called the Yligueynes”

They drink local wine

“They are greatly addicted to the use of a kind of wine which they make from rice and from the palm-tree and which is good. Very rarely do they become angry when drunk for their drunkenness passes off in jests or in  sleep”

Fruits grown in Iloilo

“As for fruits like those in Castilla, they were formerly not to be found in this land, because of its  proximity to China, where there are so many fruits peculiar to that country. There are here some tolerably good fruits, such as excellent  bananas; nancas, a very fragrant fruit, and larger than the largest Spanish melon; macupas, which resemble apples; and santors, which taste like the quince. There are also many good oranges and lemons”

Baylanes offer sacrifice foe the sick or war.

“It is only in case of sickness, and in times of seed-sowing or of war, that sacrifices are offered. These sacrifices are called baylanes, and the priestesses, or the men who perform this office, are also called baylanes”

Baylan Dress offering

“The priestesses dress very gaily, with garlands on their heads, and  are resplendent with gold. They bring to the place of sacrifice some pitarrillas (a kind of earthen jar) full of rice-wine, besides a live hog and a quantity of prepared food.”

Baylan Ritual

“Then the priestess chants her songs and invokes the demon, who appears to her all glistening in  gold. Then he enters her body and hurls her to the ground, foaming at the mouth  as one possessed. In this state she declares whether the sick person is to  recover or not. In regard to other matters, she foretells the future. All this  takes place to the sound of bells and kettle-drums. Then she rises and taking a  spear, she pierces the heart of the hog. They dress it and prepare a dish for  the demons. Upon an altar erected there, they place the dressed hog, rice,  bananas, wine, and all the other articles of food that they have brought. All  this is done in behalf of sick persons, or to redeem those who are confined in  the infernal regions

Shipbuilding in Iloilo

“ As this island contains great abundance of timber and provisions, it has almost continuously had a shipyard on it, as is the case now at the location of the town of Arevalo, for galleys and fragatas. Here the ship  “Visaya” was launched.”

" This relation was written by order of the governor of these islands."
(Esta Relaçion saco por mandado del Gouernador destas yslas)

Miguel de Loarca of the town of  Arevalo.
(miguel de loarca de la Villa de areualo)

was also one of the first, among those who came to these islands, who showed  any curiosity regarding these matters; and therefore I consider this a reliable and true account."
(Vno de los primeros que en ellas entraron curioso é estas cosas y asi la tengo por çierta y Verdadera)

Source: Relaciones, Miguel de Loarca



Padre Pedro Chirino, Apostles to the people of Tigbaun

On 1592 left Manila and settled in Tigbaun. He stayed for 3 years there. He also helped the Diocese of Arevalo. He faced friction among the people. He wrote explaining why the chief village was called Tigbauan

" They call the reed-grass tigbao and, by derivation, the lands which bear this grass are called Tigbauan; and because the site of this village is close to a great expanse of reedy land on the bank of a beautiful stream, it bears the above name. "

Father graphically narrated and described Tigbauan.
"The village itself was on the same shore, at the mouth of the river—which, as well as the sea, yields various kinds of fish, excellent and plentiful, which I myself have enjoyed in abundance. As they were continually fishing on the beach, usually with three or four nets, they never made a haul without devoutly regaling us with a part of it. Tigbauan has a very beautiful district, with many villages extending more than six leguas along the coast of the sea; the entire district is well supplied with game, fruits, and vegetables, and fish from the sea. The people are very industrious; consequently I always saw them occupied—the men, with their fisheries and farming; the women, with their spinning and weaving. What we accomplished in the two years spent among a people so good and well-disposed towards the Gospel could be told in less time than
what we left undone."

Father conducted mass baptism, matrimony and established christian feast

" Many churches were erected, and some who had been baptized were confirmed in the faith. Some improper relations were dissolved and converted into Christian matrimony. In Tigbauan and its villages, besides the baptism of many children and adults, there were introduced the holy sacraments of confession,
communion, and extreme unction, the last of which they neither knew nor had ever heard of. Church-feasts were celebrated with vespers and solemn masses, particularly at Easter and in Holy Week".

Padre Chirino founded a first Bording School in Tigbaun from various villages including Oton and Arevalo, which Saint Pedro Calungsod was born.

" A large school was formed, containing the children of all that region,where they learned to read, write, play musical instruments, and sing; two children from this school were sent every week to each one of the churches in the district, to take care of it and to assemble each afternoon the people of the village to repeat the doctrine in front of the church, as was done inTigbauan. "

Padre revealed that there are other hamlets which are apparently not reached probably Igbaras, Miag-ao and Suruagan.

" outside of the chief village (which is Tigbauan) and two or three other outlying hamlets, distant two miles or less."

Augustinian Missions in Pototan
It's visitas are baong (now Dingle) Laglag (Dueñas) Fray Diego Alvarez in 1593 Minestry

"He established a religious in Pototan, a village then ruined; and that village, as it was so small, was united, above Suagui, with another called Baong. Accordingly, a church was built there. This convent of Baong had morethan one thousand Indians, and was a well-known place for recreation; but now,although it endures, it has but six hundred Indians. As it is remote from trade, and situated inland, residence there is regarded as exile. It is one day’s journey from Dumangás, and its river empties into that of Alaguer.

Source: Written by Juan De Medina 1630. He was minister at Laglag in 1613, at Mambúsao in 1615, at Dumangas in 1618, at Panay in 1619, and at Passi in 1623 )

Accounting of Monasteries, Augustinians and baptized Indians

"In the island of Panay, the best island after that of Luzon, are six monasteries of his order. The island has sixteen ministers, who have baptized more than thirty thousand persons, large and small. Each day the conversion extends farther and it is through lack of ministers that more are not baptized.

1594 - Fray Francisco de Ortega of the order of St. Augustine, visitor-general of the province of the Philipines, and prior of the convent of the city of Manila in his " Summary of a report by Fray Francisco de Ortega to King Philip II."

Fray Alonso Baraona, a native of Quintanario, in the province of Burgos. He took his vows in the convent of that city in 1596. He became prior of Santo Niño in 1607, and was missionary at Dumangás in 1608, Batan in 1609, Jaro in 1610, Aclán in 1613, and Passi in 1614.

He was definitor and prior provincial in 1617, and missionary at Bay in 1633. His death occurred in 1626.

There is printed a captured Spanish letter of the famous sea-captain, Sebastian Biscaino, on the Philippine trade. Biscaino grieves over the loss of life which had accompanied the conquest of the Philippines, and the treacherous climate of the tropics. “The country is very unwholesome for us Spaniards. For within these
20 years, of 14,000 which have gone to the Philippines, there are 13,000 of them dead, and not past 1,000
of them left alive.”

Source : The Principal Navigations, Voiages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, by Richard Hakluyt, Master of Artes and sometime Student of Christ Church in Oxford. Imprinted at London, 1598. Vol. I., p. 560




Spanish Parish at the end of 1500's





The Spaniards referred Iloilo since 1565 as Panay, Isla de los Pintados and specifically Araut, Ogtong and Tigbaun. These small villages are among the thickly populated with around 4000 or more Indians (others yet to be settled who might have heard of these foreigners) only with meager grains and crops were abundant Ilong-ilong at the time is sparsely populated in Salog (Jaro ).


The Spaniards believes there's a lot of work to de done especially going deep inward to the uncharted areas of Iloilo where thousands Indians are living, waiting the Gospel of Christ , and be subdued to fulfill their duty to the Spanish Crown.


Pope directed Spanish Crown to spread Christian Faith

" Alexander, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to the illustrious sovereigns, our very dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, king, and our very dear daughter in Christ, Isabella, queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, and Granada, health and apostolic benediction. Among other works well pleasing to the Divine Majesty and cherished of our heart, this assuredly ranks highest, that in our times especially the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself"

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

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  .


 

 

 

Monday, February 12, 2018

Research Center Of Iloilo - History Of Iloilo Compilation

The succeeding articles were taken from digital archives of the Research Center of Iloilo at the archived website of Ilongo Weebly.com on the history of Iloilo. The history of Iloilo in the now archived Ilongo weebly.com website is a compilation or collection of pieces of history articles coming from various sources pieced together to make a whole concrete and coherent story about the glorious past of the city and province. I will post those articles here in Ocean Breeze blog in an effort to save these precious articles for future references and for other readers and knowledge seekers to add more ideas to their memory banks. Thank you very much for your support and continued patronage.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Daigon Christmas Song Lyrics

This is the lyrics of the song Daigon, a Hiligaynon or Ilonggo Christmas carol song. This is sung every Christmas as a caroling song as one of the last songs of the carolers as the song signifies leaving for another home or place. I will try to translate it later in English. Listen for the song below in Youtube starting at the timestamp of 1:48.




(An Ilonggo Christmas Carol Song)

Daigon

O dungga man ninyo
Ang makaluluoy
Nga yari sa idalom
Nga nagapasilong
Nagahulat sang inyo
Maayong kabubut on
Nagabatas sang tun og
Sining kagab ihon



Sa pagkabulahan nga gab i
Ang amon karon nga pagkari;
Kay natao ang manunubos
Sa kalibutan nga luhaan




Paalam na sa inyo
Mga kautoran
Kag kabay sang diwa
Kamo kaluoyan



 
Paalam paalam
Sa inyo nga tanan
Kay kami na karon
Ang magataliwan.