Lakandula is the title of the last ruler of pre-colonial Tondo when the Spaniards first conquered the lands of the Pasig River delta in the Philippines in the 1570s.
Lakandula who is also known by the name Lakan Bunao Dula (or the Lakan of Tondo) is one of the triumvirates along with Rajah Matanda and Rajah Sulayman who played important roles in the Spanish conquest of the Pasig River polities during the early Spanish colonial period.
Lakandula's Name and Title
According to the Spanish Royal Notary of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi expedition Hernando Riquel, the Lord of Tondo introduced himself to the Spaniards as "Sibunao Lacandola", lord of the town of Tondo when the boarded Legazpi's ship on May 18, 1571, along with the other lords of Manila. While his first name is being interpreted as "Bunao", the historic meaning of the word Lakan, was a title equivalent to the royal title of a prince or a paramount ruler, which means he was the principal datu or prince of his domain.
Due to Spanish writers' lack of familiarity with the local tongue and their frequent inclusion of the grammatical article "si-" in Filipino names, modern historians frequently eliminate the Filipino word "si," which comes before personal names in documented names from this historical period. As a result, Sibunao means "[Ako] si Bunao" or "[I am] Bunao." As a result, historians interpret this to suggest that the Lakan identified himself as "Bunao Lakandula." Although Lakandula was formerly thought to be a regnal name, it was actually his title, as will be shown later.
The Origin of the Name Lakandula
Under the Tagalog language, a "bayan" or "large barangay" is a major coastal settlement, and the persona "Lakan" indicated that he was a "paramount ruler" (or more precisely, "paramount datu") of one of these locations.
Currently means "gentleman" in Tagalog.
Another popular spelling of the name is Gat Dula, which can also be spelled Gatdula, when written as a single word. Gatdula literally translates to "Nobleman of the Palace," which is equivalent to the Kapampangan version of Lakandula. In the past, the prefix Gat, a condensed form of the Tagalog epithet "Pamagat," meant "nobleman."
This means that the addendum "dula" issue still needs to be resolved. Although it is unlikely that this was a family name like those that Filipinos use now, this may not be a good enough explanation given that static family names were brought into the culture much later, by a proclamation signed on November 11, 1849, by Governor General Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa. Alternatively, Dula might have referred to a clan or family group rather than a surname in and of itself, though there isn't any historical evidence to bolster this theory. According to historian Jose N. Sevilla y Tolentino, "Dula" was a regional term that had a meaning similar to "Palace," rather than a personal name. It's possible that he didn't actually rule from a palace, but this would have suggested the Lakan's center of authority. Therefore, the "Lord of the Palace" and Tondo's monarch would have been referred to as the "Lakandula" in the local tongue. In a same vein, Rajah Sulayman was occasionally referred to as Rajah Muda or Rajamora (Young Rajah), while the more recent Rajah Ache was called Rajah Matanda (Old Rajah).
Although historians like Dery and Scott clarify that Banaw was his real name, they nevertheless call him Lakandula or "the" Lakandula. Conversely, Joaquin states that the Lakan's real name was Banaw and goes on to refer to him as "the" or Lakan Dula (different terms) in his "Manila, My Manila" text. The final Lakan of Dula (or Lakan of Tondo) is referred to as "Lakandula" as if it were his name, and many modern historians continue to overlook the fact that Lakandula was a title. All things considered, "Bunau, Lakan Dula" or "the Lakan of Tondo" would be the most correct way to style the historical person's name and title.
"Lakan" As Opposed To "Rajah"
Despite the fact that he has been mistakenly called Rajah Lakandula, "Rajah" and "Lakan" are essentially same. The native Lakan title was used in Tondo, hence using both "Rajah" and "Lakandula" at the same time was redundant and incorrect. Filipino historian and national artist for literature Nick Joaquin goes to great lengths to clarify that the Tondo kings used the term Lakan, not Rajah.
Lakandula's Existence Prior to the Spanish Arrival
Before Legazpi arrived, hardly much is known about the early years of Banaw, Lakan Dula. National Artist Nick Joaquin states that "he is presumed to be of native birth," having mixed Kapampangan and Sinaunang Tagalog (Dumagat) heritage. According to Joaquin, "He was said to be a descendant of King Balagtas."
Joaquin makes several assumptions about the religious practices of the Lakan Dula:
"Tondo's Lakan Dula may have been unusual in being neither foreign nor Muslim. This was indicated by his use of the native term Lakan instead of the foreign [Muslim] title Rajah. Lakan dula can be presumed . . . to have been reared in the anito cults. One guess is that he converted to Islam, then changed his mind and returned to his native faith."
Joaquin goes on to elaborate on the Lakan Dula's rule over Tondo's economic background:
"Tondo had replaced Namayan as the chief port of entry on Manila Bay. Tondo was right on the seaside. This was the advantage it had over Namayan, which was upriver inland. So, the merchant ships that came into the bay preferred to unload their goods at the port of Tondo. And now it was the king of Tondo who was responsible for sending the merchandise upriver to the lakeside communities, there to be traded for local products. Tondo was thus the distributing center, or entrepot, on the delta... At the time of [the last] Lakan Dula [in the 1570s], Tondo was at the height of its career as an entrepot…."
When Chinese ships arrived in Manila Bay, according to Scott (1982), the Lakan Dula would take off their sails and rudders until the Chinese paid him duties and anchorage fees. After that, he would purchase all of their goods, paying half of their value up front and the remaining half when the ships returned the following year. He would barter these things with peoples further upstream in the meantime, which ultimately prevented other locals from purchasing anything directly from the Chinese and forced them to do so through the Lakan Dula, who profited handsomely from the transaction.
William Henry Scott mentions that Maynila's ships sourced their products from Tondo and subsequently controlled trade throughout the rest of the archipelago. He also recalls that Augustinian Fray Martin de Rada Legaspi observed that the Tagalogs were "more traders than warriors". Maynila's boats were called "Chinese" (Sina or Sinina) by people in other parts of the archipelago because they arrived with Chinese merchandise.
Legazpi's Arrival, May 1571
The Lakan Dula was waiting for Miguel Lopez de Legazpi when he arrived at Manila Bay in May 1571. On May 17, the day following Legazpi's arrival in the bay, Rajah Matanda and Lakan Dula boarded Legazpi's ship to negotiate terms. This was the first time the two met. A portion of these talks stipulated that the Spanish would land in Manila, which had burned to the ground the previous year, rather than Tondo. Joaquin proposes that Lakan Dula "would have seen that Legaspi was being practical; Maynila would be a better spot to fortify, being more strategic, after it was burned down and emptied." Manila was actually occupied by Legazpi and the three kings—the Lakan Dula, the (older) Rajah Ache, and the (younger) Rajah Sulayman—through a peace treaty.
On May 18, 1571, Rajah Sulayman, Rajah Matanda, and Lakan Dula, the native aristocracy of the House of Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo, declared themselves to be vassals of Spain and accepted its dominion over the islands. In the presence of Soliman, Matanda, and Lakan Dula, Legazpi ceremoniously took possession of the land on May 19, the day after his arrival in Manila.
Lakan Dula provided the Spanish, who were low on ammunition, with twelve jars of gunpowder and fourteen pieces of cannon in addition to helping Legazpi create a home and construct a fort.
The Lakan Dula and his sons converted to Catholicism shortly after that. Bunao Lakan Dula adopted the moniker "Don Carlos Lacandola" in honor of Spanish King Charles I. The Spanish fired Manila's artillery and arquebuses during the celebration to commemorate the occasion.
The Bangkusay Battle, June 1571
Although the locals initially welcomed the Spaniards with open arms, they eventually realized that their presence had meant servitude. The dominance of the Spanish in Luzon was soon questioned. On May 24, 1570, there was a first combat, and the indigenous lost. After an assault on Manila a month later, Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe persuaded Rajah Sulayman to join the fight against Legazpi. In what would become known as the Battle of Bangkusay Channel, Macabebe and Sulayman's armies were routed, and Macabebe's Datu was slain. (Some people have been confused about these two leaders because of their similar names, but Tarik Sulayman and Rajah Sulayman were not the same person; one lived to see the end of the conflict.)
Even though Lakandula had declined to join Macabebe and Sulayman's alliance, two of his nephews and several of his commanders were among the Spanish prisoners that the Spanish captured during the battle. When questioned, they claimed not to have been combatants but rather merely observers at the incident. Legazpi released them as a sign of his faith in Lakandula.
Joaquin observes that Legaspi made a sensible decision in making this:
"If he had been playing a double game before, Lakan Dula now became earnest in supporting the Spanish. It maybe he who persuaded the fugitive Soliman to surrender and return to the good graces of Legazpi."
Travel to Bulacan and Pampanga in Late 1571
On September 14, 1571, Legaspi dispatched Martin de Goiti later that year to impose Spanish dominion over the inhabitants of what are now the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga, specifically the areas of Lubao with Macabebe, Guagua. On November 14, of the same year, they took control of Malolos and Calumpit, one month later. Legazpi accepted these agreements made while Spain was in power. According to one version, he sent Lakandula and Sulayman with him because "if so great a chief should go with him, when the Tagalogs and Pampangos saw that he had given obedience to His Majesty, they would give it also."
The story goes on:
"Lacandola agreed to go, and served with two ships provided at his cost, and distinguished himself by performing much service for His Majesty and went along so the said Pampangos would give him obedience, as in fact they did."
These were joangas (karakoa), a kind of vessel widespread in Maritime Southeast Asia that could hold three hundred men each, as noted by Dery.
Limahong Attack, 1574
Even after Legaspi died on August 20, 1572, and was succeeded as governor by Guido de Lavezares, the colony's treasurer, Lakandula's tight ties with the Spanish persisted. An opposing expedition led by the Chinese pirate Limahong, who had been banned by the Celestial Emperor of China, attempted in vain to claim the Islands. When Limahong arrived in 1574 to attempt to take over Manila, Lakandula was there to assist in rebuffing him. Lakandula successfully instigated a rebellion against the Spanish colonizers. The indigenous population of Mindoro Island also revolted, but a military detachment put an end to all of these problems.
Death
There aren't many references to Lakandula's passing, although Scott states that he passed away in 1575, "three years after" Rajah Matanda and Legazpi, who both passed away in 1572.
After that, Lakandula's grandnephew, Agustin de Legazpi, the adoptive son of Rajah Soliman, assumed leadership of Tondo.
Sultan Bolkiah's cousin, Agustin de Legazpi, commanded Tondo as a Spanish dominion until he rebelled against them in the 1587–1588 Lakans Revolt, at which point he was overthrown and executed.
Kimuell-Gabriel (2013) cites Fray Gaspar de San Agustin in "Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas 1565–1615" as saying that Lakandula controlled Tondo from a high position near Manila Bay, fronted by homes owned by fishermen and facing the shore. Oral histories from the community indicate that the Sto Niño of Tondo Parish church was eventually built on this location.
Documentary Sources
There is a lack of primary documentary evidence about Lakandula, to the extent that there has been discussion regarding the Lakan's true name. Dery categorizes sources about Lakandula into three categories:
- explicit narratives of Legaspi's victory in 1571, as well as oblique allusions from other historical records.
- A collection of records known as the "Lacandola Documents" in the Philippine National Archives, which primarily consists of 18th-century genealogical documents; and
- legends that "suggests prior lineage where documentation definitively identifies only descendants".
Direct Accounts and Citations from Historical Records
William Henry Scott lists the following three reports as specifically describing the events of Lakandula's lifespan in his "Bibliographic Essay" at the conclusion of his book "Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society":
- A narrative penned by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.
- A report from Legazpi's expedition participant, royal notary Hernando Riquel; and
- A third, unnamed narrative that Scott speculates was likely penned by Hernando Riquel, a royal notary.
Scott highlights this third account in particular as being very helpful since it contains in-depth observations about the islands and the individuals contacted.
Scott also mentions other tales that give more details about the circumstances at the time but do not specifically mention that particular event. These include two accounts of the Magellan voyage, reports from the attacks on Borneo in 1578–79, letters from royal auditor Melchor de Avalos to the king, reports by later Governors General, Augustinian Fray Martin de Rada's correspondence, the Relacion accounts of Miguel de Loarca and Juan de Plasencia, and the Boxer Codex, which "can be dated to 1590 on internal evidence." Furthermore, the latter two are recorded in Blair and Robertson.
DESCENDANTS
Children
Among Luzon's ancient monarchs, Lakan Dula was the most productive and the leader of the House of Dula. It was during the Spanish colonial era that his ancestors dispersed over the Kapampangan Region. According to Filipino historian Luciano P.R. Santiago's genealogy, Lakan Dula is the father of at least five children:
Lakan Bunao Dula's eldest son, Batang Dula.
The Datu of Candaba, Don Dionisio Capulong.
Don Magat Salamat, who succeeded his cousin Agustin de Legazpi in ruling Tondo following Lakandula's death, and who was put to death by the Spanish in 1588 for his participation in the Lakans Revolt;
Don Felipe Salonga, Pulu's Datu.
His only known daughter in history, Doña Maria Poloin, wed Don Juan Alonso Talabos; and
Don Martin Lakandula, a lay brother who joined the Augustinian Order in 1590.
Additional documented sources also refer to a "Don Luis Taclocmao" (also known as "Salugmoc"), who is purportedly the son of Lakandula and was slain while battling the Chinese rebels in 1603.
Additional Relationships
According to a local folklore, Juan de Salcedo, a conquistador who was born in Mexico, fell in love with "Dayang-dayang Kandarapa," an 18-year-old noblewoman who was rumored to be Lakandula's niece.
Subsequent Offspring
The identities and life stories of some of Lakan Dula's descendants are described in an article by Filipino historian Luciano P.R. Santiago for the Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society in 1990. The article is primarily based on the "Lacandola Documents," a collection of legal documents kept by the Philippine National Archives. The information from the Lacandola documents is corroborated by a rumored 1539 document known as the "Will of Fernando Malang Balagtas," whose precise provenance has been found to be dubious. This was mentioned by another Filipino historian, Luis Camara Dery, in his 2001 book "A History of the Inarticulate". The Lacandola of Arayat originated with Dola, a resident of San Luis, Pampanga, who is one of Lakan Dula of Tondo's grandkids. After marrying a Spanish mestizo called Reyes, Dola insisted on giving her children the surname Lacandola in order to keep in touch with his grandparents from Tondo and, in part, to evade Spanish authorities. Ultimately, the Reyes-Laciandra family was married into a Macapagal family.
Dery, Scott, and Santiago narrate that following Lakan Dula's passing, some of his successors had disagreements with the Spanish government, which led to the suspension of the rights granted to them for a while. As per Dery's analysis, the Balagtas document describes how these rights were reestablished when a Juan Macapagal—who identified himself as the great-grandson of Lakan Dula through the son of Dionisio Capulong, Juan Gonzalo Capulong—helped the Spanish authorities put down the uprisings in 1660 Maniago, 1660–1661 Malong, and 1661 Almazan while carrying out his duties as Master-of-Camp and Datu of Arayat.
To protect the rights and privileges guaranteed by the Spanish crown to the Kapampangan ancestors of Lakan Dula, A Gremio de Lakandulas was established in 1758. Governor General Simon de Anda granted autonomy to the descendants of Lakan Dula, who were primarily located in the province of Pampanga, and they organized a volunteer company to resist the British during the invasion in 1762–1764.
The Filipino surname Macapagal (selective variant: Makapagal) comes from the Kapampangan language. The last "王" or King of Tondo, "東都" (Dongdu), Lakandula's legitimate grandchildren are the family's alleged lineage to noble status. It is the only known branch of the Seludong royal line to have withstood the invasion of the Majapahit Empire, the pogrom against native royals by the Sultanate of Brunei, the atrocities carried out by Chinese warlord Limahong, and the aftermath of the Tondo Conspiracy. Martin de Goiti's marriage of his Mestiza (half-Spanish, half-Aztec) daughter to Batang Dula allowed the family to live. As time passed, they also included the offspring of the other two royal houses: Tariq Suleiman (سليمان) and Rajah Matanda (ؤअज ंअतन्द). After the Spanish took over control of Manila, the family moved to Pampanga and Northern Samar.
According to Santiago's genealogy, notable 20th-century Lakan Dula descendants include pioneering Filipino industrialist Gonzalo Puyat, former Philippine Senate President Gil Puyat, international stage star Lea Salonga, and former Philippine Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Legacy
One of the highest awards granted by the Philippine Republic is the Order of Lakandula. Lakan Dula's commitment to the duties of leadership, caution, fortitude, courage, and resolution in the service of one's people is honored by this order of political and civic distinction.
The only former USN Edsall-class destroyer escort to serve with the Philippine Navy was the BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4), a destroyer/frigate. From 1981 until 1988, it served as the Philippine Navy's flagship. As of 1999, it remained an immobile barracks ship at Subic Bay, having been struck from the Navy List in 1988.
Lakan Dula is the namesake of several elementary and secondary schools, particularly in the Province of Pampanga and the City of Manila, which are both strongly connected to Banaw Lakan Dula.
Photo Source:
Reddit - u/jchrist98
