The National Historical Commission of the Philippines wrote to the Patriarch of the House of Dula saying:

“Please be informed that our technical team will conduct an ocular visit at Plaza Lakan Dula and the Amado V. Hernandez Mural and historical marker for assessment and further research….the installation of a historical marker of Lakan Dula was endorsed to our Research, Publication and Heraldry Division, for proper action”.

Below is the copy of the official governmental communication to the Lakanate of Tondo:

Years ago, a representative of Manila City Government visited the House of Dula to discuss the following plans:

1. Declaration of Plaza Lakan Dula as a national historical landmark;

2. Installation of a historical monument honoring Lakan Bunao Dula, chieftain of the pre - colonial Kingdom of Tondo; and

3. Transfer of the Amado V. Hernandez mural and historical marker from the present Sto. Nino de Tondo to Plaza Vicente del Fierro in Gagalangin, Tondo Manila.

The national historical markers in Tondo to be inscripted and transferred given the following facts:

The historical figure Lakan Bunao Dula and national artist Amado V. Hernandez are known figures in Tondo. Lacandola Documents (a collection of legal documents held by the Philippine National Archives) and the Archivo General de Indias (General Archive of the Indies) in Seville, Spain provided historical bases and genealogical records (cuadernos de linaje) of the "noble houses" (Manila aristocracy) of Soliman, Matanda, and Lakan Bunao Dula.

Lakandula or Lakan Bunao Dula (1503–1575), the last ruler of pre-colonial Tondo when the Spaniards first conquered the lands of the Pasig River delta in the Philippines in 1571. Lakan Dula was recognized as one of the three key leaders in Manila when the Spaniards arrived. Distinguished scholar and historian William Henry Scott quoted royal notary Hernando Riquel's original text, which he found in the Spanish archives under "Archivo General de Indias Seccion Patronato leg. 24, no 24." The pertinent part of the text read:

...declaracion llamarse Raha Ache el Viejo y Raha Solimane el Mozo, senores y principales del pueblo de Manila, y Sibunao Lacandola, principal del pueblo de Tondo...(emphasis added)

William Henry Scott’s "Bibliographic Essay" at the end of his book "Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society", noted that direct details of the events of Lakan Dula's lifetime were identified in the three important accounts, namely: i) An account written by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi himself; (ii) An account by royal notary Hernando Riquel who was part of Legazpi's expedition; and (iii) a third account which is anonymous, but which Scott suggests is probably written by royal notary Hernando Riquel.

The existence of the Kingdom of Tondo headed by Lakan Bunao Dula was referred to as Tundun, a polity cited in line 3 of the Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI), the earliest known calendar-dated document inscribed on a dark rolled piece of copper plate dredged up by a laborer in Lumbang River, Barangay Wawa, Lumban, Laguna. Another historical reference to ancient Tondo can be found in the Ming Annals (明史]), which record the arrival of an envoy from Luzon to the Ming Dynasty (大明朝) in 1373 AD. The ruler of Tondo (traditional Chinese: 東都; pinyin: dōngdū) was acknowledged not as mere chieftain, but as king (王).

In the historical account posted by NHCP on its website, it recognized that in 1570s, Manila was “a flourishing Moslem kingdom under Rajah Sulayman,” situated in the south side of the mouth of the Pasig River and being defended by a wooden fort” while the area of Tondo on the north side of Pasig River delta was being ruled by Lakan Dula.

In recognition of the contribution of Tundun’s pre-colonial king for agreeing to the peace pact that led to the Tondo of today, Lakan Dula was appointed gobernadorcillo and later was referred to as Capitan Municipal (who had functions similar to a town mayor). During his birthday and at the same time baptism into the Catholic faith, Lakan Carlos Dula donated a portion of his former kingdom to give way for the construction of Santo Niño de Tondo Church.

Recognizing the national historical significance of Lakan Dula, the Republic of the Philippines bestows the Order of Lakandula as the highest honors to an individual for political and civic merits to an individual. This award is in memory of Lakan Dula's dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one's people.

In 1982, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a marker at Plaza Leon in front of Sto. Nino Church. On 20 September 1994, another historical marker for Amado V. Hernandez was inscripted in Manila North Cemetery, Sta. Cruz, Manila. During the Administration of then Manila Mayor Jose Atienza, Amado V. Hernandez mural was installed in Plaza Leon.

On March 20, 2011, the national marker of Vicente L. Del Fierro was inscripted in Barangay 168, Gagalangin, Tondo, District II (photo below). In November 2020, Congressman Rolan Valeriano funded the improvement of Plaza Del Fierro.

Proposed in the Manila Tourism and Cultural Development Plan, 2021-2025 approved by the Manila City Council on December 10, 2020 are two redevelopment projects, namely: i) Plaza Leon into Plaza Lakan Dula with a Monument; and ii) Plaza Del Fierro Redevelopment including the Dambana ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Tundo.

Rule No. 8.4 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10066 provides that “Unless declared or its presumption removed by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, works of national heroes, movable or immovable structures marked by the NHCP or any of Its predecessor agencies or structures at least fifty (50) years old, shall be considered Important Cultural Property.

To be considered an Important Cultural Property the property must have an “exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines as determined by the National Museum and/or National Historical Institute” (RA 10066 Article II, Section 3 [w].

Furthermore, pursuant to Section 11 of the IRR, for cultural properties whether public or privately owned, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, belonging to the categories of either Grades I, II or III level or even categorized properties must undergo the procedure of declaration or registration, delisting and lifting of National Cultural Treasures, Important Cultural Property or Property Deemed Important Cultural Property.

Accordingly, all existing cultural properties declared by the NHCP & National Museum are included and listed in !the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property) (PRECUP), National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines; the different categories and subcategories of Cultural Properties of the Philippines by Region and the 21 subcategories of landmarks in the Philippines.

It is proposed to build a shrine for national artists across the Vicente del Fierro monument, in Plaza Del Fierro, Gagalangin, Tondo, transfer Amado V. Hernandez marker in his rightful birthplace, together with his wife National Artist Atang dela Rama (theater and music-1987), and all other national artists Lamberto Avella (film & theater-1976), Cesar Legaspi (painting-1990), Rolando S. Tinio (theatre and literature-1997); 6) Levi Celerio (music and literature-1997), Daisy Avellana (film & theatre-1999), Benedicto Reyes Cabrera (visual painting-2006), and Jose ‘Pitoy’ Moreno, Jr. (fashion-2009; revoked; to be included if reinstated) who were born, raised or once lived in Gagalangin, Tondo.