Chapter 62: The Order of the House of Dula

The Order of Lakandula and the Order of the House of Dula are different. Before the end of his term, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte awarded some of his friends whom he put in his Cabinet the Order of Lakandula, in short, the Order of Lakandula is given personally by the President of the Philippines while the Order of the House of Dula is awarded to respected individuals by 10 Philippine royal houses led by the House of Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo. It follows the universal tradition of awarding respected individuals by the historical monarchy. 

Although the Anglo-Saxon monarchs are known to have rewarded their loyal subjects with rings and other symbols of favor, it was the Normans who introduced knighthoods as part of their feudal government. The first English order of chivalry, the Order of the Garter, was created in 1348 by Edward III. Since then, the system has evolved to address the changing need to recognize other forms of service to the United Kingdom.

As the head of state, the Sovereign is the 'fount of honor', but the system for identifying and recognizing candidates to honor has changed considerably over time. Various orders of knighthood have been created as well as awards for military service, bravery, merit, and achievement which take the form of decorations or medals. Most medals are not graded. Each one recognizes specific service and as such there are normally set criteria which must be met. These criteria may include a period of time and will often delimit a particular geographic region. Medals are not normally presented by the Sovereign. A full list is printed in the 'order of wear', published (infrequently) by the London Gazette.

The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honor those who had served in a non-combative role and expanded the Order to reward contributions to the Arts, Sciences, Charitable work and Public Service. The Order is composed of five classes across both military and civilian divisions.

"The last king of Tondo, Lakandula, came from the House of Dula. He was the paramount ruler of Tondo when the Spaniards first conquered the lands of the Pasig River delta in the Philippines in the 1570s. Lakandula was a wise and just ruler, and he was respected by his people. He was also a skilled diplomat, and he was able to negotiate a peaceful surrender to the Spaniards.The House of Dula is one of the oldest and most respected royal houses in the Philippines. It is said to have been founded by a mythical hero named Lakan Timamanukum. The House of Dula has produced many great leaders over the centuries, including Lakandula, Rajah Sulayman, and the Macapagal family. The current head of the House of Dula is Sofronio Dulay. He is a descendant of Lakandula and a respected member of the Filipino community. He is also the founder of the United Royal Houses of the Philippines, an organization that promotes the preservation of Philippine culture and heritage (AI Bard of Google, September 2023)"

The two Historical  Royal Houses in the Philippines

The Philippines has two historical Kingdoms that had  been rewarding loyal allies with symbols for their support to the Kingdom. These two kingdoms are the Sultanate of Sulu and the Lakanate of Tondo. The Sultanate of Sulu is based in the Province of Sulu with Muslims as their subjects while the Lakanate of Tondo is based in Tondo, Manila with Christians and Filipinos with other religions as their allies.

The Royal and Hashemite Order of the Pearl is the dynastic order of the Royal House of Sulu, which serves as the premier institution and the highest personal honor of and in the Royal Sultanate of Sulu. The order is an honorable and nobiliary corporation instituted as a dynastic Order of Datuship analogous to traditional dynastic orders of chivalry, and is in direct continuation from the ancient customs and distinctions of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu and the Court of the Sultan. Ampun Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, as Head of the Royal House of Sulu, is the hereditary sovereign who processes the fons honorum and Grand Sayyid of the order, and his heirs and successors as heads of the Royal House of Sulu, shall ever be sovereigns and Grand Sayyids of the order. In his care for preservation of the ancient customs of the Sultanate and the values of the nation, Ampun Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram in 2011 used his sovereignty right of fons honorum to create an Order, thus developing the traditional honors of the Royal court in a form accepted internationally.Membership within the Order is conferred upon those who have performed worthy and meritorious service of an exceptional level for the Royal House of Sulu; upon those of any nationality who, in any field of endeavor, have become distinguished and respected figures of international renown by virtue of their celebrated activities; and upon those who have performed loyal and faithful service to the Royal House and its members.

The Lakanate of Tondo has the Order of the House of Dula. Sulaiman I (Sulayman) is the Kingdom of Manila's second to the last indigenous leader-- Lakan Bunao Dula (Lakan Dula) is the last, as the state was absorbed into the Spanish Empire. His eldest son, Lakan Bunao Dula was crowned Lakan (King) when Sulaiman I was too sick to function as a monarch. Sulaiman I is the grandson of Abdul Bolkiah and the son of Sulaiman Bolkiah. Sulaiman I however, did not use the surname Bolkiah but instead used the official title "Soliman Dula I" to mark the new lineage of Maynila aristocracy. The regnal surname "Dulay", later spelled as "Dula" came from the native Baybayin direct translation of "Doyley", the surname of the royal - blooded British wife of Rajah Sulaiman I named "Ysmeria Doyley", mother of Lakan Dula and Rajah Sulaiman II. In the ancient Baybayin alphabet, there is no letter "Y" so, the Baybayin translation of Doyley becomes a native sounding surname Dulay, and later written in official documents as Dula losing the Y, the current surname of Lakan Dula of Kingdom of Maynila (Talastas, 2019).

The Significance of the House of Dula in the Philippine History that Justifies the creation of the  Order of the House of Dula

The House of Dula refers to the prominent political dynasty in the ancient Kingdom of Tondo, which was located in what is now known as the Philippines. The House of Dula was a powerful and influential noble family that played a significant role in the governance of Tondo.

The Dula family held positions of high importance in the Kingdom of Tondo, with some members serving as rulers or governors. One of the most notable members of the House of Dula is Rajah Gambang, who was a leader of Tondo during the 15th century.

The House of Dula was part of the nobility in Tondo, known as the Maginoo class. The lineage and prestige of the Dula family were inherited and passed down through generations, ensuring their continued influence within the kingdom.

Overall, the House of Dula was a key political force in the Kingdom of Tondo, contributing to its administration, governance, and leadership (Chat GPT dated September 1, 2023).

The House of Dula was the ruling dynasty of the pre-colonial Lakanate of Tondo, one of the most powerful polities in the Manila Bay area. The Lakanate of Tondo was founded by Lakan Dula, who is considered to be one of the most important figures in Philippine history.

Lakan Dula was a wise and benevolent ruler who is said to have brought peace and prosperity to his people. He was also a skilled diplomat and warrior who was able to maintain the independence of the Lakanate of Tondo from its neighbors.

In 1571, Lakan Dula met with Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi and agreed to a peace treaty. The Spanish recognized Lakan Dula as the ruler of the Lakanate of Tondo and promised to protect his people. In return, Lakan Dula agreed to help the Spanish build a fort in Manila.

Lakan Dula's descendants continued to rule the Lakanate of Tondo until it was conquered by the Spanish in 1574. However, the House of Dula continued to be a respected and influential family in Philippine society. Many prominent Filipino families, such as the Macapagal, Salonga, and Puyat families, claim to be descended from Lakan Dula.

The significance of the House of Dula in Philippine history is twofold. First, they were the rulers of one of the most powerful polities in the pre-colonial Philippines. Second, they were the first Filipino rulers to make peace with the Spanish. This peace treaty paved the way for the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, but it also helped to preserve the Filipino culture and traditions.

The House of Dula is a reminder of the rich and complex history of the Philippines. They are a symbol of the Filipino people's resilience and their ability to overcome adversity (AI Bard of Google dated September 1, 2023).

    The traditional symbolic leadership of the House of Dula, by historical tradition, is inherited by Patriarch Ceferino Dulay (1919 -1988), the 4th hereditary Patriarch of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley being the "eldest son of the eldest son" of the cadet line of Batang Dula - David Dulay - Petre Dulay lineage. The succession by the "eldest son of the eldest son" is a universal rule of successions among ancient royal houses. After Patriarch Ceferino's death, Hon, Simon Dulay, Sr., a Northern Samar politician and the head of the Dulay Family in Laoang (the present name of the Lakanate of Lawan), Northern Samar, organized the Ceferino Dulay Memorial Foundation, Inc (CDMFI) and Prof. Sofronio Dulay was installed as the President of the foundation  -- being the  eldest son and heir of the late Patriarch Ceferino, hereby reaffirming him as the 5th Patriarch of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley being the "oldest son of the oldest son". Letters from the Kingdom of Spain addressed Patriarch Sofronio as Lakan and letters from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines addressed him as the Grand Patriarch. The Sto Nino de Tondo Church offered a mass for the birthday of Lakan Bunao Dula, the last Sinaunang Tagalog (Dumagat) King of Tondo, and  in that solemn mass, Patriarch Sofronio Dulay was installed as the Patriarch of the House of Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo and the Grand Patriarch of the United Royal Houses of the Philippines. Grand Patriarch is a modern day equivalent of the "paramount ruler" definition of a Lakan in a Lakanate system of government such as the Kingdom of Tondo. The following are the hereditary leaders of the United Royal Houses: Grand Patriarch Sofronio Dulay,The House of Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo | Datuk Delmar Taclibon, The House of Magat Salamat of the Lakanate of Tondo | Matriarch Cecille Cayetano. The House of Capulong of the Lakanate of Tondo | Dayang Corazon Siya. The House of Sumakwel of the Madja-as Confederation | Rajah Julian Canonoy, The House of Lapu Lapu of the Rajahnate of Mactan | Apo Remedios Cabate - Cabral, House of Cabailo, of the Kingdom of Palawan, in El Nido in the town of Taytay | Rajah Junbert Guigayuma, The Royal House of Tupas Humabon of the Rajahnate of Cebu | Patriarch Andrew Miranda, The House of Gatchalian of the Lakanate of Tondo | Baron Rjhay Laurea, The House of Poloin of the Lakanate of Tondo | Patriarch Fr. Mariel Sumallo, The House of Iberein of the Lakanate of Lawan.

To succeed Grand Patriarch Sofronio Dulay is his only son, Atty. Sofronio Dulay ll who will be the 6th Patriarch of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley. He is also the historical future successor of  Grand Patriarch Sofronio Dulay in the House of Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo being also an "eldest son of the eldest son". Atty. Sofronio Dulay is a Makati - based trial lawyer who handled several sensational cases and was the Vice Chairman of UP's Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity. He is also a winner in a national debate competition and a representative of the Philippines in an international debate held in Hong Kong. As a child, he was a Sacristan of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned. He was also declared as the Prom King of the Marist School graduation ball of his batch.