Gay Filipino In History - Walterina Markova

Walterina Markova (1924 - 2005) 

Filipino Comfort Gay

Birth Name: Walter Dempster Jr.

Birth Date: May 20, 1924, in Pasay, Rizal

Death: June 24, 2005

During the Japanese conquest of the Philippines in World War II, Walter Dempster Jr. (May 20, 1924 – June 24, 2005), better known by his nickname Walterina Markova, was a gay Filipino who was compelled to work as a "comfort gay" (sex slave) for Imperial Japanese Army soldiers.

As a young child growing up in Manila in the 1930s, Markova's life was already influenced by cruelty. He was frequently harassed and mistreated as a child by his older brother, Robert. When Robert passed away, he experienced independence for the first time.

According to Markova, he was first unconcerned by the Japanese soldiers' presence in the nation in the early 1940s. Actually, the soldiers only chuckled when they witnessed his gang rifling through a Harrison food shop.

However, Japanese forces searching for Americans nearly arrested him during a raid. When the military arrived, he was accompanied by his American stepfather, and they brought him to a garrison at the University of Sto. Tomas.

Markova claimed that the Japanese soldiers eventually turned vicious. He remarked, "In the land they do not own, they were like kings." Rice, vegetables, and other goods were seized by the soldiers to be kept in their barracks. By then, he recalled, forced labor was also enforced.

Markova joined a gang of six drag queens, or crossdressing performers, after leaving home. Japanese forces detained him when he was a member of this group and brought him to what is now the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

For several years, he and his friends—along with other "comfort gays"—were forced to work and were sexually exploited by Japanese soldiers, who utilized the "comfort women" for their own purposes.

During World War II, when homosexuality was seen as a societal taboo and a cardinal sin, the Japanese army compelled him to work as a sex slave.

At Japanese sentry stations, violence was a common occurrence. Markova said how they were told to exit the car in order to give them a salute. They would be beaten severely if they did not perform the proper salute, which is to bow the head to hip level with the hands-on top of the thighs. He held his cheeks and remarked, "Pag hindi maganda ang saludo mo sasampalin ka…bibigyan ka ng mag-asawang sampal" (If the salute was not performed correctly, the soldiers would slap you on both sides of your face).

After learning from an informant that a gay man had killed a Japanese in retaliation for the loss of his parents, Japanese soldiers were once hunting out gays. At the San Beda College gate, a gay acquaintance was detained, shackled, and subjected to beatings and cigarette burns by passing Japanese soldiers. Only when another gay suspect—who was thought to be the Japanese murderer—was apprehended was he released.

The culprit was then taken to Fort Santiago, according to Markova, where burning wood was placed beneath his feet and his arms were hung. It appears that during torture, all of his toenails were ripped out.

Between 80,000 and 200,000 women were reportedly coerced into serving Japanese troops at "comfort stations" across the Pacific during World War II, according to historical records.

Even when men were around, Filipino women were not safe in those days. In reality, women were raped anywhere, at any time, and even in front of their male friends, according to Markova. "They would compel women to accompany them and sexually assault them anywhere," Markova said, describing the ways in which they would violate their rights.

Markova and his gay pals were not exempt from such "service" at the age of 18, which is considered to be the age of adolescence for women.

When Markova's barkada (friends) were brought to the Japanese officials' suites at the Manila Hotel, Japanese soldiers initially thought they were ladies. In addition to being beaten with weapons for their "deception," all drag queens were ordered to be detained. After being taken to a place that is now known as the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the gays were raped far more frequently than comfort ladies and turned into comfort drag queens.

"Buti sana eh hindi kung isang beses lang ginawa sa amin 'yon." Lahat ng klaseng kababuyan ginawa sa amin. "Mga bakla ito, hindi ito mga tunay na babae." He recalled, "Di ka naman makapagsabi ng 'huwag,' e bayoneta ang kaharap mo" (They did it not once, but multiple times; they were even enraged that we were gay and not women; they did all kinds of nasty things to us and we were unable to defend ourselves because their bayonets were pointed at us).

The barkada or friends would be transported to other Japanese camps for years in order to provide the soldiers with their "service." They simply had a set of clothes back then, Markova disclosed. He said that while they were washing their garments, they would just wear rice sacks.

Additionally, the barkada were forced to perform labor. They would wash the soldiers' uniforms and shine their battle shoes every morning before cleaning their barracks. The lawn in front of Manila City Hall also needed to be mowed.

He claimed that despite all of their "service" and other labor, they were frequently just given lugaw (rice porridge) to eat. Giving them sisid rice—sea rice that had to be fried due to its unpleasant odor—along with mongo beans and ginataang ubod ng saging, or banana stalk cooked with coconut milk, was already a feast for them.

Markova witnessed the army raiding communities nearly every day while they were in Japanese prison. Those who were arrested would be slain after having their hands tied. "D'yan sa may Remedios Church, ang daming paring Amerikanong pinatay d'yan" (Many American priests were slaughtered at the Remedios Church in Baclaran), he said.

Markova, however, was appalled by the infant deaths. "Cheers to the sanggol!"Ihahagis nila nang pataas bago sasaluhin ng bayoneta," Markova muttered, shaking his head in fear. (Babies were hurled up in mid-air and their bodies punctured by bayonets as they came down.)

These terrible events caused Markova to live each day as though it were his last. Nevertheless, his desire to regain his freedom had not been forgotten.

About a year before American troops returned, he had an opportunity to run for freedom. He was traveling to another Japanese garrison in a military truck with a few friends. The Japanese soldiers had to disembark to inspect the truck due to a mechanical issue. It was then that Markova and his companions fled. The Japanese soldiers pursued them through a grassy field that is known today as the EDSA highway, but it was too late for them. 

Markova witnessed a captured Japanese soldier bound to the rear of a jeep one day during the "liberation." He claimed to have struck the soldier with an umbrella in retaliation. Then he removed a safety pin and poked the inmate several times.

When the soldier's American prisoners attempted to step in, he warned them, "You don't know what the Japanese did to us...they tortured us."

To exact revenge for what they had done to us, I slapped the Japanese and then struck his arms, head, and face. “But nahampas ko na ‘yung Hapon…kung saan ko hampasin, sa likod, sa braso, sa ulo, sa mukha, para makaganti ako sa galit ko sa ginawa sa amin.”

Markova was eventually left alone to tell this story after learning that his two other gay friends had been killed in a raid shortly before the Japanese occupation ended.

He retired from crossdressing years after the war ended and worked as a makeup artist for the motion picture industry. He also discovered that some macho actors in the movie business were in relationships with gay lovers.

He would spend the night in the Home for the Golden Gays in Pasay City, where other elderly gay people who had experienced persecution from society also sought safety.

Additionally, he started training young Filipinas part-time to work as exotic dancers in Japan.

Markova never believed that his story, which was already widely known in print and on television, would be worthy of a movie. Dolphy, the comedy king of the film industry, depicts his life in much more detail.

His final years were spent in Pasay City at the Home for the Golden Gays. When he was unintentionally struck by a racing bike on June 24, 2005, he passed away at the age of 81.

He was cited as saying: "Tayo namang tao ay hindi talaga magtatagal. Kaya ako lumabas ay para magbigay inspirasyon lalo na mga baklang hanggang ngayon ay inaalipusta pa rin. Because of this, naniniwala ako na hindi lang ang sarili ko ang napalaya ko mula sa ganitong pagtingin." (As humans, we won't live long. By sharing my own story, I hope to inspire other gays who are still oppressed today, and by doing so, I may have likely granted freedom to many other gay people.)

Gil Portes directed the 2000 movie Markova: Comfort Gay, which was based on his narrative. It was screened at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival as well as the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 2002.

Source Article: 

WP, excerpts from AUBREY SC MAKILAN's interview of Walter Dempster Jr for Bulatlat.com

Photo Source: 

The Probe Team

Philippine Mythological Creature: Kaperosa

Kaperosa

Kaperosa of the Tagalogs

The Tagalogs local term for the white lady.

Female ghosts are frequently seen wearing flowing white robes or dresses. Some may appear without heads or with rotten flesh. The most famous are the White Lady of Balete Drive and Loacan Road in Baguio. Common Kaperosa stories feature a female committing suicide out of hatred or being betrayed by her spouse or fiance, and then being murdered. Other 'ghost legends' describe them as souls who refuse to rest because they have unfinished business on Earth.

The KAPEROSA, also known in the Philippines as the WHITE LADY, is a white-clad spirit of a young woman who died tragically. She periodically appears to people at night near the location where she died, but she does not cause any harm. She appears to be seeking justice for her death.

A female ghost dressed in a white long garment with long black hair. Kaperosa is a female who commits herself because she is hated or betrayed by her spouse or fiance, or who is murdered, according to others. They are souls who cannot rest because they have unfinished business on Earth.

Some people believe that if you encounter a white lady in your house, whether it is rented or inherited from your parents or relatives, she is the former owner and want to remain on the property.

A white lady lives in a specific location where she had a negative encounter and died. Some people claim that she doesn't hurt others. She will appear briefly and then vanish.

White ladies often reveal themselves in seconds, but they will frighten you to death. Some individuals believe they live in high-stress environments such as 'balete', old houses, or the location where she died. There are reports that they are waiting on the road and need a ride. She will enter the vehicle and close it once the driver has given his OK. By the time he asks where he can drop her off, she has already left.

These are just a few of the unresolved questions. People believed they were lost spirits seeking assistance from mortals.

Philippine Mythological Creature: Yumud

Yumud 

Yumud of the Manobo ethnic group

A Manobo (parts of the Agusan valley) mythical creature. 

A water wraith that occasionally takes the form of a long-haired woman. It is a harmless spirit that lives beneath the water's surface in stony, deep regions that are typically pools. She is the owner of the color white and occasionally manifests as a masculine deity or spirit. It keeps an eye on the fish. People drown when they offended the Yumud.

Folk Dance of Western Visayas Region: Urukay

In the Philippines, it is customary to have a wedding feast no matter how poor or humble the bride and groom are. This feast is usually held at the bride's house or at the newly-build house of the couple. In this celebration, there is much fun and good-natured teasing. 

In Anini-y, Antique, where this dance originated, the parents of both parties perform the Urukay dance at the wedding feast. 

The Urukay dance is first performed by the father of the groom and the mother of the bride. Then another couple, the father of the bride and the mother of the groom dance the same dance or improvise their own steps.

The Urukay dance is a spirited dance with the male dancer showing off his power and superiority over his female partner by ordering the girl to crawl and pass between his legs in figure IV. The girl retaliates by elbowing the boy. All the time the onlookers cheer and encourage them to show off. 

COSTUME. Girl wears patadyong, camisa or kimona, soft kerchief around neck, and corcho, or chinelas/slippers.

MUSIC. is composed of two parts: A and B

COUNT one, two; one, and two; or one, and, two, and to a measure.

FORMATION. Partners face each other about six feet apart. When facing audience, girl stands at the right side of the boy. This is best danced by only one pair. (Second pair repeats the dance after the first pair) 

DANCE OF FATHER OF GROOM AND MOTHER OF BRIDE.

I

Music A.

       Partners face each other.

       (a) Rock R forward (ct. 1), and rock L backward (ct. 2) alternately six times (6 counts). Step R close to L (ct. 1), pause (ct. 2). Girl holds patadyong, boy places hands on waist. _______________ 4M

        (b) Raise L knee in front, L arm bent forward at chest level, sway body slightly backward, R hand holding patadyong, (ct. 1), tap L foot in front, trunk erect. L hand down at side, R hand of girl holding patadyong that of boy is placed on waist (ct. 2) __________________________________________ 1M

        (c) Starting with L foot, take four steps forward to partner's place, passing by L shoulders (cts. 1, 2, 1, 2). Take two steps in place turning left about to face each other. (cts. 1, 2) ___________________ 3M

        (d) Repeat all (a-c), starting with L foot. Reverse position of hands in (b). Finish in proper places, passing by R shoulders in (c). ________________________________________________________ 8M

II

Music B.

      Partners face each other.

      (a) With R foot leading, take eight mincing steps sideward right (cts. 1, and, 2, and, 2 and 1). Girl holds patadyong, Boy places hands on waist. ___________________________________________ 2M

      (b) Bend body slightly to right side, R arm in reverse "T" position and kumintang, L hand on waist (cts. 1, 2). _______________________________________________________________________1M

      (c) Repeat (b), reverse position of hands, bend body to left side. _________________________1M

      (d) Repeat (a-c), L foot leading. Reverse direction and position of hands in (b). _____________4M

      (e) Repeat all (a-d) _____________________________________________________________8M

III

Music A.

      Partners face each other. Boy and Girl do their movements simultaneously.

      Boy. Hold two opposite corners of kerchief diagonally.

      (a). Starting with R foot, take eight change steps forward going around girl clockwise. Start with R hand up, L hand down. Reverse position of hands every measure. __________________________ 8M

      (b) Repeat movements of Girl in (a) below. Hands on waist ____________________________8M

  

    Girl.

      (a) Rock R forward (ct. 1), and rock L backward (ct. 2) alternatively, sixteen times. L hand on waist, R holding patadyong and swinging forward and backward alternately. ______________________8M

      (b) Repeat movements of Boy in (a) above.) Hold kerchief in the same manner ____________8M

IV

Music B. First time.

       Partners face each other.

      (a) Boy stands with feet apart sideward, holding kerchief in front at two opposite corners, and says aloud to Girl, "Suhot, Balaye!" (Pass through, Balaye!) pointing to his open legs at the same time. Upon hearing this, the onlookers also shout, "Suhot, Balaye!" __________________________________8M

      Girl hesitatingly assumes four's base position and crawls between the legs of partner. While she is doing this the onlookers, shout, clap hands and tease girl. ________________________________8M

V

Music B. Second Time

       Partners face each other.

       (a) Starting with R foot, partners execute change steps forward going to any direction. Boy dances nimbly, trying to avoid girl who on her part tries to dig her elbow into him several times as they dance around ________________________________________________________________________8M

NOTE: To end the dance, girl takes her kerchief and puts it around the neck of the other girl (the mother of the groom) and boy puts his kerchief around the neck of the other boy (the father of the bride). The next couple may repeat the same dance or may improvise their own steps and movements. 

Unknown Filipino Hero: Timoteo Paez

Timoteo Paez

Filipino Revolutionary Leader and Reformist

(1861 - 1939)

Timoteo Paez is a Filipino revolutionary and patriot. He was born in Tondo, Manila. He is widely known as one of the co-founders of La Liga Filipina and Nilad Lodge alongside Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal.

Early Years

Timoteo Paez or “Teong” to his friends was born on August 22, 1861 in Tondo, Manila. Orphaned at an early age by his wealthy father, Francisco Paez, he had to take care of himself. After finishing his elementary school in Tondo Municipal School, he took clerical jobs or as messenger in offices during the day and studied at the Escuela Nautica during the night until he completed a course in accounting.

First Employment and Participation in the Reform Movement

He was employed at the shipping company of Carrinage & Co. when he became involved with the reform movement, which he served by raising funds for the support of the reformists and the La Solidaridad abroad. On July 3, 1892, he joined the La Liga Filipina and became part of its Supreme Council. Although the organization was short lived, he continued his support to the ideals for reform. He printed and distributed Bonifacio’s “True Decalogue” and the teachings of Rizal at his own expense. 

On August 19, 1896, Spanish authorities discovered the Katipunan and as a result, they arrested many suspected members including Timoteo Paez. He suffered nine months in prison until General Primo de Rivera pardoned him and placed him in exile in Hong Kong. There, he continued to update himself of developments in the Philippines and, later, became acquainted with the exiled revolutionary leaders.

The War Years

In September 1898, he returned to the Philippines and joined the revolutionary government of General Emilio Aguinaldo that have retreated to Tarlac. He was designated commissary officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and represented the province of Surigao in the Revolutionary Congress. Paez was assigned to a command field during the Philippine-American War. In April 1899, General Aguinaldo attached him to the General Headquarters Service Force as one of his security officers on their retreat to Northern Luzon. After Tirad Pass fell to the Americans, the revolutionary leaders decided to make their flight from the Americans easier by surrendering the women and other non-combatant members in their company. Colonels Paez and Sityar were tasked to accompany those who surrendered back to Manila, where he was held as prisoner-of-war.

Later Years 

When the civil government was organized, Paez was one of the first councilors of Manila. In 1903, he erected a monument of Rizal in the place where the La Liga was established and was one of those who proposed the Rizal monument in Luneta. One who strongly believed in God, he had the Ten Commandments from the Bible inscribed on a stone block.

On September 18, 1939, Timoteo Paez passed away in Tondo.

Unknown Filipino Hero: Rajah Sulayman

Rajah Sulayman

The Last King of Manila

(1558 - 1575)

Often called Sulayman III (Arabic script: سليمان, Abecedario: Solimán), Sulayman died in the 1590s while serving as the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Luzon. He was the nephew of King Ache of Luzon. In the 1570 Battle of Manila, he led the Luzonian soldiers against the Spanish.

Manila was a walled and fortified city, and it contained his palace. Sulayman was one of three kings who fought the Spanish in the battle of Manila in 1570, along with his uncle King Ache and Lakan Dula, the ruler of the nearby kingdom or principality of Tondo. Considering his youth in comparison to the other two monarchs, the Spanish characterized him as the most violent. Following Lakan Dula's passing, Sulayman's adopted son—whom he christened Agustin de Legaspi—was anointed as Tondo's sovereign monarch. He was put to death by the Spanish, along with the majority of Lakan Dula's sons and the majority of Sulayman's other adopted sons, for their roles in an assembly that sought to overthrow Spanish power in Manila. This execution strengthened the Spanish East Indies' hold over portions of Luzon.

Names

According to Spanish records, Sulayman was referred to by his subjects as Raja Mura or Raja Muda, "Young Raja," because he was the nephew and presumed heir of Raja Matanda. Due to Spanish influence, his name is sometimes frequently spelled Solimán. The Spaniards also called him "Raja Solimano el Mow".

Family History

The genealogy put up by Mariano A. Henson in 1955 and confirmed by Majul in 1973 states that Sulayman was the fourteenth Raja of Manila after Rajah Ahmad established the city as a Muslim principality in 1258 after defeating Raja Avirjirkaya, the suzerain of Majapahit.

Manila Was Conquered by the Spanish (1570–1571)

At the time of the Legazpi invasion, Rajah Sulayman and Rajah Matanda ruled over Maynila. Already, neighboring Southeast Asian kingdoms had considerable impact on Manila. The region served as a hub for trade with China, Thailand, and other countries.

After transferring from Cebu to Panay due to Portuguese claims to the archipelago, Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi ordered Martín de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo on an expedition northward to Luzon after learning of a rich kingdom there.

Goiti sent a "message of friendship" to the states bordering the Pasig River after establishing his anchorage at Cavite. Sulayman was prepared to accept the "friendship" from the Spaniards as he had been granted control over these villages by the aging Rajah Matanda. But he would not give up his throne, and he was forced to fight back against the demands of the newcomers. Goíti and his army invaded the kingdoms in June 1570 and proceeded to sack and burn the mighty city before retreating back to Panay.

The Battle of Bangkusay and Tarik Sulayman (1571)

Regarding the identity of the Macabebe chieftain who started the Bangkusay Battle in 1571, there is some dispute. Filipino history refer to that chieftain as Tarik Sulayman. Some accounts of the Battle of Bangkusay claim that Sulayman III of Manila and Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe are the same person, but others dispute this.

The Macabebe Rebel leader's name is omitted from Spanish records, but it is noted that he perished at Bangkusay, forcing the Macabebe to retire and giving the Spanish the upper hand. Conversely, Sulayman III is unmistakably documented as having taken part in the Revolt of 1574, and hence he cannot be the anonymous person who perished at Bangkusay in 1571.

The 1574 "Sulayman Revolt"

Following the death of Lopez de Legazpi in 1572, the agreements made with Sulayman and Lakan Dula were not upheld by his successor, Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris. He put both kings' properties under lockdown and put up with crimes committed by the Spanish.

In retaliation, Sulayman and Lakan Dula staged an uprising in the Navotas villages in 1574, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the Chinese pirate Limahong's attacks. The Sulayman Revolt is also known as the "First Battle of Manila Bay" because it engaged naval forces. This is commonly referred to as the "Manila Revolt of 1574," while it is also occasionally called the "Sulayman Revolt" and the "Lakan Dula Revolt."

It was the duty of Friar Gerónimo Marín and Juan de Salcedo to negotiate a settlement with the kingdoms. Salcedo's peace deal was accepted by Lakan Dula and Sulayman, and the two parties established an alliance.

Life after 1574

Some American Occupation sources state that Sulayman was murdered in the 1574 insurrection; however, this seems to be another case of Sulayman being mistaken for Tarik Sulayman of Macabebe, who had already passed away in the 1571 revolt. According to an analysis of genealogical records held by the National Archives, Sulayman survived the uprising in 1574 that resulted in the death of his son Rahang Bago. He also lived long enough to adopt an unidentified sibling's children and claim them as his own grandchildren.

The narratives of the events of 1586–1588, which involved numerous members of Sulayman's family, no longer mention him.

Descendants

Genealogical research by Luciano P.R. Santiago indicates that Sulayman married a Borneo princess, his cousin, and that they had at least two biological children: a daughter who would be baptized Doña María Laran and a son known as "Rahang Bago" ("new prince"; written as "Raxa el Vago" in the Spanish texts). According to a tale claimed by the Pasay administration in the 1950s, Sulayman had two children: Dayang-dayang (Princess) Pasay, who would inherit the lands south of Manila that are now Pasay and Parañaque, and a son named Suwaboy. But in the chaos that followed Limahong, the Chinese corsair, attacking in November 1574, Rahang Bago and his cousin Lumantalan were slain by the Spanish.

Santiago's investigation revealed that Doña María Laran had two daughters: Doña Inés Dahitim, the older, who wed Don Miguel Banal of Quiapo, and Doña María Guinyamat, who wed a Don Agustín Turingan. According to Luciano P.R. Santiago's theory, Don Miguel Banal was the son of Don Juan Banal, who was charged in the 1587 Tondo Conspiracy. According to Santiago, Don Miguel Banal and Doña Inés Dahitim are credited with bearing Fray Marcelo Banal de San Agustín, the second Filipino to enter the Augustinian Order.

According to the oral tradition that the Pasay local administration cites, Dayang-dayang Pasay moved to Balite after marrying Maytubig, a local prince. According to folklore, they had a daughter named Dominga Custodio who, before her death, bequeathed all of her estates to the Augustinians.

Santiago asserts, however, that Sulayman had adopted descendants in addition to his own offspring. According to Santiago's genealogy research, Sulayman may have had a male sibling who passed away before Rahang Bago in 1574 but whose name is not mentioned in the documents. Sulayman made the decision to adopt this sibling's boys, who were named in the documents as Don Jerónimo Bassi, Don Gabriel Taumbasan, and Agustin de Legaspi. Sulayman's three adopted children took part in the Tondo Conspiracy in 1587; only Taumbasan, who was banished to Mexico for four years, escaped execution.

Others

Historiography of Meranau places him among these kings:

Sulayman Rajah

Maharaja Indarafatra

Umaka'an Rajah

Legacy

A statue of Rajah Sulayman, a hero opposing the Spanish invasion, is located in Manila's Rizal Park. One of two science high schools in Binondo, Manila, Rajah Soliman Science and Technology High School bears his name.

Unknown Filipino Hero: Lakandula

Lakandula 

Supreme Ruler of the Kingdom of Tondo 

(? - 1575)

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:

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