Chapter 19 : The Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion of the Ancient Kingdom of Tondo Manila, Philippines
A speech delivered by Prof. Sofronio Dulay l, the 5th Hereditary Leader of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley, a cadet branch of the Lakan Dula lineage, on March 17, 2018 at the Luneta Park in Manila, Philippines.
Good afternoon to the Arnis Grandmasters, Lakans, Participants and Organizers of the 9th Filipino Martial Arts World Festival 2018.
We say this welcome in behalf of the descendants of Lakan Bunao Dula, the last king of the ancient Kingdom of Tondo Manila.
The civilization of the Philippines started from the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean into our shores and rivers, along with the emergence of other civilizations of the world. In January 2018, it was announced that modern human finds at Misliya cave, Israel, in 2002, had been dated to around 185,000 years ago, the earliest evidence of their out of Africa migration. The earliest homo sapiens (AMH) found in Europe are the "Cro-Magnon" man, beginning at about 40,000 to 35,000 years ago. At around the same time, the human beings already existed in the Philippine archipelago as evidenced by the Tabon and Callao men. Archaeologists believe that the 67,000 years old Callao man discovered in a Philippine cave near the Pacific Ocean could be the oldest human in Asia Pacific alongside with the Australian findings that the Polynesians may have the Philippines as their homeland. The earliest men of Israel and the Philippines might have been already in contact long before men in Europe emerged, that is why there are the current findings that the Philippines is actually the Ophir that was mentioned in the Bible.
The Kingdom of Tondo Manila is the earliest Kingdom of the Philippines with historical records dating back to 900 century, way ahead than the Muslims, Spanish, Americans and Japanese occupations of the country. The oldest monarchy in the world is the Yamato dynasty of Japan which traces its origins back to 660, making it the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy. They are only a couple of century ahead of the Kingdom of Tondo Manila.
The head of our kingdom is called Lakan, or the "paramount ruler". Arnis was the martial arts of our ancient kingdom and one of the present - day advocates of the art is my cousin and fellow Lakan Dula descendant Samuel Bambit Dulay; the art is as ancient as the “tinalak” cloth weaving championed by another dear cousin Lang Dulay; and Baybayin alphabet being championed at present time by my fellow Lakan Dula descendant in Marikina Valley, Pastor Jay Enage.
Because all of you are the gurus of Arnis all over the world, our ancient Kingdom bestowed upon you the Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion, and later on this evening you will be invited to a “Dine with the Ancestors Ritual” over antiques plates that has been passed on to us from the ancient household of Lakan Dula -- as a sign of the ancient Philippine Kingdom giving all of you a warm welcome; and commanding you to be the Lakans or paramount rulers of warriors in your own settlements in your part of the world.
The ablest warriors of our ancient Kingdom have mastered Arnis through trainings and actual battles. They are the leaders of our people, headed by our Lakan.
With the Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion, you are the paramount leader of warriors who have gained the mastery of Arnis through discipline, training and creativity right in your own homeland.
Welcome to all of you and congratulations.
Giving of Medallions to selected Arnis Guru coming from different parts of the World. The highest award given to blackbelters of ancient Filipino martial arts, Arnis, is a Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion. The awarding ceremony was done at the Luneta Park with Prof. Toti Dulay, a descendant of Lakan Dula, giving the inspirational message and presiding over the awarding of medallions. The following Arnis Grand Masters were the awardees: Samuel Bambit Dulay (a descendant of Lakan Dula), Rene Tongson, Max M. Pallen, Generoso Martinada, Jr.; Dieter Knuettel, Juerg Ziegler, Bram Frank, Brian Zawilinski, Peachie B. Saguin; Tomi Harell, Paulo O.Motita ll, Romeo Ballares, Edward Kwan and Jason Bassels. Later in the evening, Prof. Dulay presided over the "Dine with the Ancestors Ritual" among the awardees and special guests. The ritual is historically done exclusively among the living descendants of Lakan Dula in the Dulay Mendoza House in Marikina Valley but this ritual broke a tradition for the first time when it was done among the Arnis advocates and grand masters of the ancient Filipino martial arts worldwide -- done in an undisclosed historical restaurant somewhere near the ancient Kingdom of Tondo.
The Pre Hispanic Native Royal Houses and Principalia Families of the Republic of the Philippines
The Principalia families of the Philippines are the descendants of the prehispanic lakan, sultan, datu, rajah, hadi of the different ancient prosperous native settlements all over the country that were eventually recognized by the Kingdom of Spain as part of the their royal administration in the country.
This could be a result of the informal alliance between Lakan Bunao Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo with the Kingdom of Spain. Among the agreement of the Lakanate of Tondo and the Kingdom of Spain are : there will be no more armed conflict between the two kingdoms, the native hereditary leaders will be allowed to use their ancient surnames, they will be free from paying taxes, and they will be appointed as gobernadorcillos of their own settlements. As a gesture of this diplomatic alliance between the Kingdom of Spain and the Lakanate of Tondo, Batang Dula, the eldest son and heir apparent of Lakan Bunao Dula and Senorita Goiti were betrothed and the palace of Lakan Bunao Dula, will be under the protection and maintenance of the Kingdom of Spain. Later, the palace was converted into a dormitory and eventually, a church was built on it.
It is now known as the Sto. Nino Church of Tondo. According Rev. Fr. Lito Villegas of the Church of Sto. Nino de Tondo, with the death of Lakan Bunao Dula, the Sto. Nino became the "Lakan of the Kingdom Tondo with children of Lakan Bunao led by his eldest son and heir apparent Batang Dula acting as the regents of the native kingdom. In the later part of the nation’s history, the Philippine Revolution against the Kingdom of Spain will eventually be led by natives of Tondo, Andres Bonifacio and Macario Sakay. When the Philippine Revolutionary Government was hoodwinked by both the Americans and the Kingdom of Spain through the Treaty of Paris, the revolutionary government led by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo filed a formal protest against the treaty and in their protest letter, they mentioned that the sovereignty and mandate of the revolutionary government was derived from the Lakanate of Tondo's mandate of Lakan Bunao Dula.
The recognition of the rights and privileges of the Filipino Principalía as equivalent to those of the Hidalgos of Castile appears to facilitate entrance of Filipino nobles into institutions under the Spanish Crown, either civil or religious, which required proofs of nobility. However, such approximation may not be entirely correct since in reality, although the principales were vassals of the Spanish Crown, their rights as sovereign in their former dominions were guaranteed by the Laws of the Indies, more particularly the Royal Decree of Philip II of 11 June 1594, which Charles II confirmed for the purpose stated above, in order to satisfy the requirements of the existing laws in the Peninsula.
The descendants of Lakan Dula has been spearheaded by the lineage of Batang Dula, through the cadet line of David Dula y Goiti where the Dulay Tribe all over the country emerged. They are recognized by the organizations of indigenous Filipinos headed by Rajah Julian Canonoy and other datu as well as principalia families, royal families from Sarawak, articles, blogs, heritage websites, and historians - - as the cadet line of the Lakanate of Tondo. The descendants of Lakan Dula which is headed by the 5th hereditary leader of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina, through their foundation, Ceferino Dulay Memorial Foundation, Inc. (CDM Foundation) has been doing advocacies and projects such as 1. Animal Shelter, 2. Marikina News, 3. Pro - Poor Projects (Feeding Program, Outreach, and Gift Giving), 4. Baybayin, Arnis and Kundiman Revival, 5. Lakanate of Tondo, Royal Houses and Principalia Families, 6. Descendants of Lakan Dula, 7. Sumpa ni Lakan Dula, 8. Indigenous tribal groups in the Philippines and 9. Dine with the Ancestors. The CDM Foundation was organized by the elders of the Dulay Tribe among them was Simon Dulay Sr. of Laoang, Northern Samar in honor of the lineage of the eldest son Ceferino Rivas Dulay, the 4th hereditary leader of Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley. The Presidency of the foundation is now with the eldest son and legal heir of Ceferino who is known as the 5th hereditary leader of the clan.
A circle of advocates on specialized fields were involved in the projects: Pastor Jay Enage, founder of Baybayin Buhayin, Inc., Samuel Bambit Dulay for arnis, Arjhay Laurea for Kundiman and the family of the late national artist Lang Dulay for tinalak. The leader of the descendants of Lakan Dula had been interviewed by bloggers, I - Juander of GMA, different students and I -Witness of GMA; and the House of Dulay Mendoza has been a favorite venue for films and documentaries. One of those who took notice of the activities of the descendants of Lakan Dula was a Fil American from New York representing the Wangdom of Ma-I in Bulalacao Mindoro. He wrote a letter to the head of the House of Dula and an informal alliance between the Lakanate of Tondo and Wangdom of Ma-I was discussed in principle to support the existing projects and advocacies. The alliance embarked on a US Mission to Recover Doctrina Cristiana now kept by the US Library of Congress which was coordinated with the Office of the President, National Historical Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The people behind the God's Culture in YouTube visited the House of Dula for a Dine with the Ancestors Ritual Havilah Version. A principalia who is a high ranking Filipino priest and papal official based in Vatican City in Rome later participated in the visioning of an organization of the principalia families in the Philippines which in essence became the foundation of the council. In a meeting between the patriarch of the House of Dula and the parish priest of the Sto. Nino de Tondo, a pilgrimage of Lakan Dula descendants to Tondo was discussed and the necessity of formalizing the Principalia Council was deemed as historical priority.
The Descendants of Lakan Dula of Tondo are united, their unassuming secretive patriarch does not rule, he reigns privately
"My deepest gratitude to Hrh Prince Omar Kiram and His Majesty Sultan Fuad A. Kiram I of the Royal Hashemite Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah for this conferment as one of the Datu(k) of the Royal Dominion."
Message of Hrh Prince Omar Kiram:
"The Hon. Datuk Sir Delmar Topinio Taclibon, KRSS, we wish you and your family and all our beloved members a blessed and prosperous joyful new year. Let us continue our resolve, commitment, dedication, true faith and allegiance to our beloved anointed Sultan Fuad A. Kiram I, to realize our advocacy of Sabah and Spratlys against Malaysia's land grabbing for the benefits of the Tausugs and the Filipinos. God Defend the Right!"
Toti Dulay : "congrats insan Delmar Topinio Taclibon and mabuhay ang Magat Salamat lineage ni Lakan Dula ng Tondo..."
Delmar Topinio Taclibon : "Thank you too Modern Day Grand Patriarch of the Lakan Dula Clan Sir Toti Dulay!"
Roderick Alain Alvarez : 9th cousin's husband's 9th great uncle's wife's 6th great aunt's husband's 16th great grandson we're that related, insan Toti, pero hindi pa tapos ang Lakan Dula genealogy: please add as many relatives coz, as head of the Royal House, you know them better :)
Toti Dulay: today at 2:36 AM
Thank you insan Roderick, in the Geni. Com genealogy, we saw na lumabas na yung name nung Juan Reyes Macapagal..ang main concern na lang natin is paano na connect si Diosdado Macapagal kay Juan Macapagal?
Suijul Tasorre : Dear Sir Toti, I am very happy to know that you were able to protect the continuity of the Dula lineage....... how I wish na makilala ko kayo....... I'm a fan royalties specially ancient filipino royalty.... the missing link of our history as a nation.......
Sam Jezrel Moran kamahalan.. pinag mamalaki ko po na akoy pilipino.. kau po pala ang prinsipe ng tondo si Prince. Sofronio Cerbito Dulay I.