House of Dula Descendancy Teachings

What is the importance of the Descendancy Teachings of the House of Dula According to AI?
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Created with Gemini May 24, 2025 at 08:47 AM Published May 24, 2025 at 08:50 AM

The House of Dula holds significant importance in Philippine history and culture, particularly due to its connection to Lakan Dula, the last paramount ruler of the pre-colonial Kingdom of Tondo in the 16th century. The descendancy teachings of the House of Dula emphasize several key aspects:

• Preservation of Royal Lineage and Heritage: The House of Dula is one of the oldest and most respected royal houses in the Philippines, believed to have been founded by a mythical hero named Lakan Timamanukum. Its descendancy teachings are crucial for maintaining the historical continuity of this lineage, which includes prominent figures like Lakan Dula, Rajah Sulayman, and even the Macapagal family (which produced two Philippine presidents). This preservation helps to connect contemporary Filipinos to their pre-colonial roots and a legacy of leadership.

• Symbol of Pre-Colonial Sovereignty and Resistance: Lakan Dula's role as the last king of Tondo before the full Spanish subjugation makes his lineage a powerful symbol of Philippine sovereignty before colonization. The teachings often recount how descendants were forced into "self-exile" to escape Spanish persecution, highlighting a history of resistance and the struggle for freedom. There are even narratives suggesting an early attempt by the British to ally with Lakan Dula's lineage to counter Spanish influence.

• Cultural Identity and Pride: For members of the Dula clan and those who trace their ancestry to this house, the descendancy teachings instill a sense of pride in their heritage. These teachings often include specific rituals, like the "Dine with Lakan Dula Ritual," which reinforces their connection to the past and their royal bloodline. It serves as a reminder of a rich cultural identity that predates colonial influences.

• Passing Down Traditions and Knowledge: The teachings likely encompass not just genealogical information but also traditional knowledge, customs, and values associated with the ancient rulers of Tondo. This could include insights into pre-colonial governance, diplomacy, social structures, and even spiritual beliefs.

• Aspiration for Leadership and Service: The House of Dula has historically produced many leaders. The emphasis on their lineage may serve as an inspiration for current and future generations to uphold values of wise leadership, diplomacy, and service to their people, much like Lakan Dula himself was known for.

In essence, the descendancy teachings of the House of Dula are vital for understanding a significant part of pre-colonial Philippine history, maintaining cultural identity, and inspiring a sense of heritage and responsibility among its descendants.

What is the significance of the Descendancy Teachings of the House of Dula?

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Created with Gemini May 25, 2025 at 09:25 PM Published May 25, 2025 at 09:29 PM

The Descendancy Teachings of the House of Dula are significant due to their connection to the historical and cultural heritage of the Philippines, particularly the pre-colonial Kingdom of Tondo. Here's a breakdown of their importance:

• Claim to Royal Lineage: The House of Dula claims direct descent from Lakan Dula, the last paramount ruler (Lakan) of Tondo when the Spaniards first arrived in the 1570s. This establishes a link to an ancient and respected royal house in the Philippines.

• Preservation of Philippine Heritage: The House of Dula, through its head and other members, is actively involved in promoting the preservation of Philippine culture and heritage. Their teachings likely emphasize the importance of understanding and honoring this pre-colonial past.

• Historical and Social Recognition: The noble descent of the Dula family was formally recognized by King Philip II in the 1590s and was included in the Laws of the Indies, which were essentially Spain's guidelines for governing its colonies. This historical recognition further validates their claims of nobility.

• Influence and Leadership: The House of Dula has produced many significant leaders throughout history, including Lakan Dula himself, Rajah Sulayman, and even the Macapagal family, which has yielded two Philippine presidents. This demonstrates their enduring influence on Philippine society.

• Genealogical Tracing: The teachings and narratives related to the House of Dula are crucial for tracing the lineage of numerous families in the Philippines. The practice of only the eldest and youngest male children retaining the surname Dula, while others adopted different surnames (like Salamat, Salonga, Poloin, Taclucmao), presents a genealogical challenge that the teachings help to address.

• Narrative of Resilience and Identity: The decision of the ruling Dula family to use "Dula" instead of "Bolkiah" (their bloodline ally from the Sultanate of Brunei) is seen as a sign of the Kingdom of Tondo asserting its identity and distancing itself from foreign influence. This highlights a narrative of pre-colonial Philippine sovereignty and resilience.

In essence, the Descendancy Teachings of the House of Dula serve as a vital link to the pre-colonial past of the Philippines, providing a sense of identity, historical continuity, and a framework for understanding the nation's indigenous leadership and social structures before the arrival of the Spanish.

The Documentation of the Descendancy Teachings

In the tomb of Ceferino Dulay recently found in the secret cemetery of the Our Lady of the Abandoned at the poblacion of Marikina Valley, this epitaph is written in a black marble stone: Ceferino Rivas Dulay: the 4th Hereditary Leader of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley".  The tomb has been secretly guarded by the descendants of Lakan Dula of Tondo. Historical records show that Ceferino Dulay is the eldest son who descended from the eldest son of Lakan Dula of Tondo, the ancient King of Manila. The bloodline of the succession of the eldest son of the Lakan Dula descendancy apparently is in Ceferino. The bloodline of Lakan Dula of Tondo is carried by prominent Filipinos of the modern times. To some descendants of Lakan Dula of Tondo, Ceferino was the 16th Patriarch of the House of Dula of the Kingdom of Tondo and the 4th Patriarch of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley when he was alive. He is the traditional leader of the Lakan Dula Clan, the hereditary head of the growing Lakan Dula of Tondo bloodline, descendancy and their allies. An article in a highly conservative site of prominent Filipinos mentioned Ceferino Rivas Dulay in passing. "The Tioco family was a very rich and generous family from Old Tondo. They owned numerous fishing boats in Tondo and Malabon. Siblings Balbino Tioco and Romana Tioco were illustrious citizens and famous Tondo benefactors of the 19th century.Balbino’s son Maximiano was kidnapped in the late 19th century and ransomed for 3 “kaings” of gold. Maximiano was married to a spanish mestiza Marciana Félix (same Félix family as Joji Félix Velarde and Conchita Félix wife of Felipe Calderón of the Malolos Constitution).Maximiano married Teodorica Ylo (The Cabangis family are also descended from the Ylo’s) They bore 5 children, Nemesio, Salvador, “Beot”, Guadalupe (married to Don Eduardo Barretto), Consuelo (married to Dr Rufino Mendoza, son of Don Isabelo Mendoza de Villablanca, a direct descendant of the spaniard Don Benito Mendoza, first gobernadorcillo of Mariquina in 1787. Benito’s descendant Juana Mendoza Cerbito married Ceferino Dulay, a patriarch of the Rajah Lakan Dula/Dulay Clan. Long after the family had left Old Tondo for the plush villages of Makati and other parts of Manila, there remains Calle Romana* in honor of Romana Tioco, and Calle Tioco* in honor of Balbino and Romana, two personages of the same family in gratitude for their inexhaustible generosity to Tondo (Daluyan, 2010)."

The Descendancy , originally, refers to the bloodline of Lakan Dula to the present generation. At present, the descendancy belief system is a collective belief taken from the past generations -- some sort of the wisdom of the past. The wisdom of the descendancy are the spoken words of the different patriarchs of the bloodline, in the successions of times and generations, passed on among the different patriarchs of the descendancy from Lakan Dula to the present patriarch. The patriarchs or the “eldest sons of the eldest sons” of the bloodline--starting from Lakan Dula, to Batang Dula, to David Dula y Goiti all the way to the different patriarchs of the their  own generations down to Ceferino Rivas Dulay into the present generation--have come out with a collective wisdom. This set of wisdoms is now known as the “Teachings of the Descendancy”.

Since the Descendancy Teachings are just added to the existing  teachings of the present religions, the descendants can be classified as Catholic Descendancy, Muslim Descendancy, Jewish Descendancy, Buddhist Descendancy, Hindu Descendancy, Protestant Descendancy, Mormon Descendancy, etc. The world descendancy and its teachings will unite all religions in the world hence, will eventually prevent religious war and fanaticism. It will make the humanity more humane and understanding.

1. Religion : Be faithful to your religion, but be tolerant to the beliefs of others

    Be faithful to your religion, no matter what sect or group it is. Consider it as your social group, an extension of your family. Be tolerant on the religions of others as you are tolerant to the families of your neighbors. Do not change their beliefs. Respect them. Dont push the beliefs of the descendancy on them. God will make them understand Him naturally. But be ready to inform them and explain to them our beliefs. Do not attempt to unite your brothers and sisters under one religion. In fact, consider it a blessing or added strength of your family if your brothers and sisters belongs to the other sects and they are very active on their church activities. Let’s be united as descendants sharing same history and heritage and beliefs; and view religious groups as our network for the betterment of the descendants. An example of this are members of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley: Dante Mendoza of Nangka, Marikina is a Jewish in California, Siony Dulay of Friendly Village in Marikina is an Iglesia ni Cristo in Seattle, Toti Dulay of San Roque, Marikina Valley is a devoted Roman Catholic, Alfreda Dulay Lana of Marikina Heights belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist. But all of them are united under the Dulay Clan. Religion therefore should not divide the descendants but rather provide the descendants and believers with additional network who could help them in times of needs. Descendants are common friends of all religions.

2. Family, Clan, Bloodline and Descendancy : Family  is the most important part of our lives

    Family is important. Jobs, business, education, love life, etc, can be adjusted for the interest of the family. Family is the sanctuary of its members. It should be full of love and freedom. Members should be loyal and faithful to each other. Family should be the basis of success. The eldest son (in the absence of the son, the eldest daughter) should act as the leader/rabbi/pastor of his brothers and sisters, their wives and husbands, their children and their wives and husbands. The siblings and the parents should prepare him for this in - born role by giving him the best education possible and educating him about the history of the clan, the bloodline and the descendancy. The leader of the family has the duty to be good in life, prosperous and well connected so that he can provide good image and protect the bloodline under his care. The eldest son of the eldest of the eldest son--the further way back from the bloodline will always be the unifying symbol of the family, bloodline and descendancy. Historically, Lakan Dula of Tondo has seven children: the eldest is Batang Dula, next is Felipe Salonga, then Dionisio Capulong, then, Magat Salamat, then, Martin Lakan Dula, then Luis Salugmoc and finally, Maria Poloin. Batang Dula has three children: David Dula y de Goiti, Daba Dula y de Goiti and Dola Dula y de Goiti. Each person carrying a Lakan Dula bloodline must have a titular leader which is his oldest brother and that oldest brother must have a titular leader which is the oldest son of his oldest uncle. The oldest son of his oldest uncle must have a leader, which is the oldest son of the oldest uncle too. This is easy because everyone has an oldest uncle and the oldest uncle always have an oldest son. This system is necessary to make everyone with Lakan Dula bloodline accounted, protected and supported by his closest family member. With this system, there is no reason for any member of the Lakan Dula bloodline to be poor and uneducated because the leader of the family and group of families are mandated by the secretive central Lakan Dula Descendancy to help or coordinate help for any member in need. The Central Lakan Dula Descendancy must keep a historical record of the duly recognized family/families leader/rabbi/pastor and their family tree. Each leader/ rabbi/ pastor must keep a family tree of bloodline under his leadership with copies provided to each and every member.

3. Education:  Education is a basic need of human race

    Education is a necessity. Securing the education of your children is just like teaching them how to look for food when you are gone. No matter how fashionable or cocky you are, if you have no education, you are nothing. So, the best way to be popular and respected is to have good education. The higher the education, the better is the school, the better is the course - the better. Graduate with honors. Go for master’s degree and doctoral.

4. Career: Career should be a priority

    Love your career, whatever it is. A person without career is just like an animal who does not have a regular pasture to feed himself. Avoid the habit of always looking for new job when all you need is to be good in the present job. Be loyal to your company and to your bosses. Consider them as part of your family.

5. Love Life : Let your heart decide but mind should guide the heart.

    Follow your heart but use your brain. In case of confusion, the brain should prevail. Loving feeling may change even on flimsy reasons, but the brains analytical reasons on why you love a person will always be there. Do not be too romantic but be prosperous enough to make sure that romance will stay between you and your love.

6. Politics :  Is is a necessary way of life in a community of people

    Politics should be the descendant’s way of life. It is a healthy sign that we care for other people. Every descendant should join politics because politics is public service. It should be the concern of the descendants to improve the public service in the country.

7. Friendship: Always seek and nurture real friendship

    Be a true friend and seek for real friendship. Avoid frenemies and traitors.  They will hit you given an opportunity. Value your true friends as part of your family. Do not be too sentimental but be consistent with your friendship.

8. Ethical Life : Do not live at the expense of others

    Do not live at the expense of other people. Have a mental set of a giver and not of a taker. Having that mental set will force you to work harder and therefore will make you prosperous in the long run. Do not use others such that the others that you use will become poor and you will become rich. Make sure that those you use will also benefit in the relationship. Learn to plant before you harvest. Do not expect people to be friendly and helpful to you when you are not friendly and helpful to them. Do not ever think of disturbing fellow descendants if you could do it by your own. This is also a way to help the whole descendancy because you will spare other fellow descendants from spending time and resources for you which they could have given to those descendants who are really in need. Huwag maging balasubas. Pay your debts. Do not be ashamed to borrow, even billionaires do borrow money. What is important is you pay what you borrow.

9. Genetics: Mixed race is the future of humanity

    Try to fall in love and bear child with somebody different from your racial stock--the further the difference the better. This is to make sure that the future descendants will capture the best characteristics of the dominant genes of all races. Interracial marriages are encouraged but maintain your patriotism to the descendancy.

10. Business: Doing  business is part of life 

    Every descendant must sell something: goods or professional service. Always remember that you can get rich in any business if you just stick to it and do your best. Business is a way of life. We should learn to respect and admire entrepreneurs because they sacrifice their name, honor and time to put together people, money, machine and methods to provide products, services, and jobs. Anyone who has no passion or leaning to any business or professional service is less helpful to your fellow descendants because who will end up as beneficiary instead of donors. Do not be: di ka na nga nakakatulong, nakakaperwisyo ka pa.

11. Houses: Houses must have character. 

    Houses are not only a home but a statement of who we are. Therefore, the house should show character: clean, honest, healthy, patriotic, good taste, full of history, and culture. Old bahay na bato houses in the poblacions show our heritage. Fill the house not with fads and cheap stuff but with expensive heirloom.

12. Food: Nutrition should be the major consideration in choosing your food.

    Always go for nutritious food and balanced diet.  Prices of food is not the consideration but the nutritional and health value. Descendants should also eat food that has strong cultural sense as a way of saying that our culture is right inside our body.

13. Fashion : Clean , neat, logical and honest dressing is fashionable always

    Descendants should aspire to be clean, neat, logical and honest looking in the way they dress. Let’s go more on classic dressing than fad dressing. For instance, why will someone wear hat when it is not raining or there is no heat of the sun to avoid. There should be logical reason why we are wearing clothes and accessories.

14. Hygiene: Hygiene inside and outside your body is a must.

    Cleanliness in and out of your body is a necessity.  The descendants should smell good not because of perfume but because of good and consistent hygiene. Take a bath at least once a day, brush your teeth after every meal and move your bowel every morning.

15. Health : Health should a priority

    Exercise regularly and concentrate on joints: neck, waist, knee. Sleep 8 hours per day. Drink plenty of water. Avoid taking too many medicines, drugs, and chemicals - balanced diet is a good way. Vitamin C is important so eat fruits like guyabano, banana, and dalandan.

16. Adopt a town or city: Make a town your permanent home.

    Be loyal to the town or city where you decided to settle down. Make sure that your children have the same feeling of loyalty. Be part of the society of the city you adopted and cultivate close relationship with the key economic, social, religious and political family of the town or city you adopted.

17. Envy and Jealousy : Be happy with the success of others.

    Avoid envy, jealousy and the Waray term "uba" which is partly envy and partly wondering why someone is doing better than you that you want to cut him down. Be happy for the success of fellow descendants. The way they relate with other people does not mean they love you less, maybe they love you more that is why they relate to other people in a certain way to access good things for you.

18. Competition: Dont be too competitive that it gets you stock on small concerns.

    Do not be overly competitive to the point that you compete even on small things. Do not compete with others. Compete with yourself--with your own records. Recognize the fact that people are created differently so each one of us has different sets of strengths and weaknesses.

19. Humility:  Humility will make other people support you.

    Being humble should be the way of life of the descendants. Walang nawawala sa gumagalang. Being respectful will not cost you anything. It is a basic human nature to protect and conserve the humble because they do not bite and they are easy to talk to. People wants to cut down to standard size the cocky and haughty.

20. Courage and Bravery : If you have to fight for your honor,family and country, fight bravely.

    Kung talagang matapang ka, mag sundalo ka. Courage and bravery should be put in a good use like in defending a country, in putting up a business, in running for political office and in defending a friend or a family member. Bravery just to catch attention or in pursuance of a stupid endeavor is a sign of being less human or outright low in the head.

21. Nationalism and Patriotism: Patriotism and nationalism is a way  of helping your neighbors in bigger scale.

    Do not allow yourself to be called leftist or rightist because the true patriots are the centrist. A leftist follows the dictate of the communist countries like China, a rightist follows the dictate of the imperialist country like the US. Since both of the leftists and the rightists follow the dictate of foreign countries towards our people and our government, then, being a leftist and a rightist means you are a traitor. The true patriots are those who put up business to provide jobs for his neighbor, those who help his neighbor in time of problems, those who buy our own products, who pay their proper taxes, those who speak well for our county and our people and those who work hard because by doing so, there will be one more productive person in the country.

22. Universal God: There is only  one universal God but different religions  call Him with different names

    Believe in the Universal God, and the angelized and loving spirits of your dead parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. They are part of the inner strength of the descendants. We are the chosen people of the Universal God. The Universal God created us for a very special mission that only God knows but is written in the circumstantial way the descendants emerged in this time of human civilization. We are well loved by the the Universal God and the angelic spirits of our dead parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters. Same way when we die, we will aspire to be angels who will protect and nurture the fellow descendants who are still alive. God really exists and science has proven this. Different religions have different names for God, but there is only one God. God implanted His existence in our minds. There are people whom God intentionally put small connecting implantation and they are known today as atheists.

23. Unity : Unity is always productive.

    Lets be united on the belief that we are the descendants of one unique bloodline coming from France; to England; to Tondo, Manila; to Isla de Batang, Laoang, Samar; to Samara, Aringay, La Union and to all corners of our nation like Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quirino, Mindanao, and the globe... and back to Metro Manila through a chosen land called Marikina Valley. Those who believes in the teachings of the descendancy are the advanced people of God as seen in the circumstances of our emergence. That we respect and honor our history, lineage and hereditary leaders. That we are protected by God, Araw City (paradise) and angelized spirits of our dead forefathers, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters. We love them so much. They love us so much the way angels love. We believe in our own culture, myths and legends. These set of beliefs is our main strength. If you do not believe on these, maybe the message is not addressed to your soul because you are not part of the bloodline in the secret circumstances of your birth as a person, you will not benefit from it as the rest of the true descendants have benefited. The Jews believes that they are the chosen people and they benefited from that belief, God wants us to do the same as descendants.

24. The Future: Open to the future of a democratically elected world government

    There will only be One Government for the whole world as per the Globalist Manifesto and some descendants will play important role in the world government. Great leaders and talents in different fields will emerge from among the descendants, being a chosen people of God. The practice of extreme religious tolerance of the descendants will become a way of life for the people of the world thereby making religion as less influential in harming other people but will be seen as one of those social organizations ready to help others; an institution humbly struggling for public acceptance amidst multitude of competitors fighting for public attention. God will allow revisions of the Bible to erase illogical entries like the coming of 666 which is unnecessary, and some other passages that do not show essence of humanness of human race which is basically rooted on rationality as expounded in the Theory of Divine Revision. There will be one Universal Religion believing in One God called by different names and defined by different teachings of different religions--a universal religion with the present major religions as it's composite subsets. The intermarriages of different races will give way to the emergence of a Universal Race whose members trace their race not to only one race but to several combinations of races - the more the combination, the greater is his degree of a universal race, the more he will become tolerant of diversity. The descendants will eventually be a model of a universal race.

25. Ritual : Rituals are important part in internalizing the the Decendancy Beliefs

The Descendancy revolves around believers of the teachings and the Lakan Dula bloodline carriers. But to become a Haj of the Descendancy, both believers of the teachings and the carriers of the bloodlines must complete the Haj Ritual of the Descendancy. The ritual requires that potential Haj should first of all internalize the Teachings of the Descendancy to the point that he can explain them to ordinary Lakan Dula descendants. He must pray at the Chamber of Our Lady of the Abandoned at the OLA Shrine in Marikina Valley. The silent prayer is for more prosperous belongingness to the descendancy and the gift to lead the descendants. Visit the tomb of Ceferino Rivas Dulay in a secret cemetery of the church and silently talk to his soul for a gift of leadership. Do the Dine with the Ancestors secret ritual in the nearby house of the Dulay Clan in Marikina Valley. Finally, the patriarch’s handwritten listing of your name to the Patriarch’ Personal List of Haj of the Descendants. The first step towards a journey of becoming a Haj of the Descendancy is to read and internalize the 25 teachings of the descendancy and write a letter to the patriarch of the Lakan Dula descendants of your intention to go to the process of becoming a Haj. The schedule and procedures will then be communicated to you. The official list of the Hajs is kept personally by the patriarch. The hajs are expected to be addressed as one of the leaders of the descendancy in his locality and is authorized by the descendancy to head a community of believers.

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.

Reference:

Daluyan : A Historical Dictionary of the Streets of Manila, Printed by NHI cited at http://remembranceofthingsawry.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/the-families-of-old-tondo/

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The Heroism of the Secretive  Grand Patriarch

I Talked to God - A Personal Experience on Super Typhoon Ondoy

Braving the flood, I visited my daughter Katreena and our maid at the Red Cross temporary evacuation center and told them to stay there.

On my way back, there are commotions – several people are stranded in their one - storey houses. Some of them have babies. I joined the ragtag rescue team with nothing but my basic swimming skills and wearing a basketball short and a t-shirt. Being one of the taller volunteers, I was assigned to be in front of the pack, together with another tall neighbor. We are holding a rope tied to a post. I first encountered a lady neighbor desperately calling for a rescue. She rode on my back and I swam and walked her all the way to the Red Cross. Then I went back to the rescue scene…I met another lady whom I did not talk to for a long time, but really in need for a rescue, I also made her ride on my back and delivered here to safety.

Then, at the farthest house near the river, two babies with their own mothers were stranded. The water was getting high. We can not swim anymore because of strong current. We made our way by clinging into the post, and iron grills and walls. I even encountered an old man trying to join the rescue team, but is nervously clinging on the wall. I said….come on, move (because he is clinging on the wall blocking my way).He said, “I am afraid, I don’t know how to swim.” I said, “You better go back, your life will be in danger.”

We finally reached the house where the babies were stranded….me, a Red Cross volunteer, a guy with a thick Visayan accent and another guy whom I could not remember now. The first baby, we put him on a big plastic tumbler and swam him through the flood all the way to the Red Cross. The next baby, we decided to pass him through the roofs because the water was already so high and the current from the river was so strong that the plastic tumbler might capsize. That baby finally reached the Red Cross.

All were saved; the four of us parted ways. I was then alone resting on top of a big abandoned tent in the middle of the flooded street, desperately wanting to swim back into my house nearby. The current from the river was getting stronger. From my house balcony, I saw my son Esdee (who has a foot injury due to basketball) shouting: “Daddy, langoy ka na dito, aanurin na yang tent na yan (“daddy, please swim towards here because that tent will collapse soon”). I was already weak and I noticed that I have a lot of wounds in my legs, body and arms with blood. I said, “I can not swim now, let me rest for a while, can you get the bamboo near the balcony and peg it into a balusters towards me.” With the bamboo, I slowly cling my way towards our balcony, just when I am about to reach our balcony, the tent that I used to rest on collapsed. I could have died there.Maybe…because the tent will be all over me in a strong current from the river. My injured son saved me.

Days after the flood, I was in bed sick. But I did not let anyone know that I was not feeling well. I let two families stay in my house….because they were already driven out of the temporary evacuation. The flood subsided and the whole place was stinking. We have to remove the mud from our compound into the road…by hand. The dirt and smelly rotting meats and the garbage and the debris are all over the street which is not passable due to mountain of mud, debris and garbage. Several of my neighbors, including my eldest daughter, were sick.

I was sick. The destruction was so depressing, my wounds hurt, and the area stinks. No electricity. Food were rotten because there is no electricity to run the refrigerator.I texted Mayor Marides Fernando to please clear the road of maintains of rotting garbage and mud…an MMDA truck came in next day which allowed us to pass through the road. Very sick, I went to BPI in Cubao and withdrew cash….

After that, I found myself standing in our gate giving cash to the passers – by and some neighbors…and barangay workers helping in the rehabilitation.My sickness, that I tried to hide, made me lost control of my usual conservative disposition of money….

That night I really feel the pain. Finally, I took self medication of drugs for typhoid, the same drugs that my sick eldest daughter was taking…thinking that since my daughter has typhoid, I may have typhoid too… I wore thick jackets…I am so irritated, but never want to admit, even up to now, that I was sick then…. I was going to die without seeing a doctor….How I wish that if I had to die, it should had been when I was rescuing my neighbors so that it will be good in the tabloid: “University Professor Consultant of the Mayor Died Saving his Neighbors”. Then, some second rate local politicians will visit my wake telling everyone that we were friends. Then some of my students will say, “mabait yan si Professor Dulay..mahilig magpatawa….(too bad, I will not be around to give them stars, hey “stars” is a private class joke among my students)….

That night, I was hallucinating and chilling. I feel I am asleep but my eyes were half open. Then, I feel that my whole body floated into the outer space… I see the stars….with different colors. I was entertained of the site..better than any fireworks display during New Year celebrations. After a long journey, maybe of my soul…or maybe of my body, I don't know…., I saw three constellations of stars in the endless space that looks like an arrangement of heavenly bodies that has the shape of two human being in long white dress walking peacefully and gracefully and a third one is a shape of a human face…all floating in the endless space…. Then the planetary arrangements that looks like a human face of a bearded man saw me.

I told Him: “Hi God. Am I going to die already? “. I got the feeling the he was probably God.

He said: “Why, would you like to die?

I said: “Your will be done, but if you will allow, let me live”

He said: “Ok, you will live, what do you want?”

I said: “Thank you, I want to live as an ordinary person enjoying ordinary happiness while pursuing and achieving extra ordinary things”. (Looking back, I should have said, let me win in the lotto)

He said: “Ok…”

I said: “And God, if you want to experience again how it is to be human, you can use my body anytime. Just don’t let me know when you are using my body co existing with me, because I might become abusive.”

He said: “Ok”

Then I wake up……so weak, tired and thirsty, but not anymore chilling…..

Up to now, I still deny to my children that I got sick, because I never get sick in my whole life ever since and I am always bragging to them that their daddy has never been sick since I was born. Really. It is true. I don’t get sick.

Well, that night?……. Did I get sick? ……Let us put it this way, maybe, I was dying that night, maybe not, nobody knows..remember, I did not go to a doctor…., but I was never sick…..my wounds in my body, legs and hands should not count. They were not sickness. They were just wounds, Ok?"

Narrated by Prof. Sofronio Dulay, taken from "Marikina".https://sites.google.com/site/totidulay/talkedtogod. Retrieved November 25, 2020

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

Delmar Topinio Taclibon

"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!"