Chapter 49 : The Calaycay Bucad Taclibon Progeny

The writer,Delmar Topinio Taclibon is a descendant/progeny of Rajah Magat Salamat of Cagayan-Isabela Valley by affinity or consanguinity being the Great Grandson of Vicente Kalaykay married to Inocencia Paggao Bukad (Malay Ibanag Bloodlines). It was relayed by older generations and passed on the next the existence of a Principalia Clan in Cagayan Valley of which my ancestors belong. My surname Taklibon is also a native surname emanated from the former Itneg Malay (corrupted as Tinggians by the Spanish interlopers) settlement in the coastal town of Santo Domingo, Ilokos Sur (though it has not been established yet if the Taklibons were of Muslim Malay progeny).

The clan name Taklibon was never been changed with a Spanish sounding surname derived from the Iberian Peninsula not until the second Hispanization of surnames that the K was changed into C by virtue of the decree of Governor General Narciso Claveria, known as the “ Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos” on November 21, 1841. Almost five (5) years earlier before the birth of my Great Great Grandfather, Mariano Taclibon in 1846.

As it has been told by my paternal grandfathers Dominador Taclibon y Rubio (born, 1908, and died, 1995 in Dingras, Ilocos Norte) and Marcos Lucero y Taclibon (born, 1899 and died, 1982) – one of the best Ilocos poets and orators during his time, that our ancestors were dissidents who never yielded to the whims of the Spanish friars to be a part of an established community (known as the Doctrinas) by force or through hamleting of natives. My ancestors preferred then to get out of the Doctrina and roamed in the wilderness until succeeding generations settled in the town of Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur and later on to Badoc in Ilocos Norte and some in the town of Moncada in Tarlac. The clan name Taklibon was never been changed with a Spanish sounding surname derived from the Iberian Peninsula not until the second Hispanization of surnames that the K was changed into C by virtue of the decree of Governor General Narciso Claveria, known as the “ Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos” on November 21, 1841. Almost five (5) years earlier before the birth of my Great Great Grandfather, Mariano Taklibon in 1846.

Datu (k) Magat Salamat (1550–?) was one of the four sons of Lakan Dula. Salamat was the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Tondo prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. His eldest brother, Batang Dula, was betrothed to the younger sister of the Conquistador Martin de Goiti to symbolize the alliance of the Kingdom of Tondo and the Spanish government. The marriage bore three children: David, Daba and Dola. Magat Salamat participated in the Tondo Conspiracy (1587–1588) against the Spaniards (Wikepedia).

The descendants of Lakan Dula (Datuk Magat Salamat’s father) were hidden in different parts of the country along sea and river routes to keep them safe during the intense Spanish persecution of the native aristocracy. There are five main branches of the direct descendants of Lakan Dula. These are the branches of the five children of Lakan Dula: Batang Dula, the eldest; Magat Salamat, the martyr (he was declared dead to avoid his exile to the North detected by the Spanish authorities); Maria Poloin, the only girl; Dionisio Capulong; and Felipe Salonga. Batang Dula has three children: David, Daba and Dola. David was hidden in Candawid, Isla de Batag, Northern Samar; Daba settled in Candaba, Pampanga; and Dola was given a big tract of land in Candola, San Luis, Pampanga.

The story is obscure if Magat Salamat have children when he was executed but most of his descendants of today are situated in Central Luzon and Mindanao. Maria Poloin married Alonso Talabos and it is still unclear up to now if they have children. Current research has not lead to the children of Dionisio Capulong. But some historians are saying that Dionisio was hidden in Candaba, Pampanga together with his young niece Daba. Felipe Salonga was described as the lord of Polo (Wikepedia).

Datu (k) Magat Salamat was not executed but rather migrated somewhere in Northern Luzon the way Rajah Soliman self exiled to Caliraya in Quezon Province married to one of the daughters of the Sultan of Sulu.

200 years after the founding of Iloko Spanish settlements, as an evidence of Muslim settlements along the Ilokos Coast, it was noted in 1771 that In Bangui (northern pueblo of Ilocos), the settlers fights off a raid of Moro pirates who speak Iloko vernacular. This implies that the raiders had bases along the Ilokos coastlines (de los Reyes).

The Descendants of Lakan Dula of Tondo are united, their unassuming secretive patriarch does not rule, he reigns privately