Chapter 70: Most Royal Candidate Theory as Applied on the Philippine and US Presidency

With the exception of President Martin Van Buren, 42 out of 43 Presidents (circa 2012) share one common ancestor, King John of England who signed the Magna Carta in 2012. The most prominent "popular name" associated with the idea that US Presidents are connected to royal lineage, and specifically that the winner of elections has more "royal blood," is the "Most Royal Candidate Theory."

This theory was notably publicized by Harold Brooks-Baker, a genealogist and publishing director of Burke's Peerage. He would often make predictions about US presidential elections based on which candidate, in his assessment, had the most ancestral connections to European royalty.

While it gained some media attention, it's generally viewed with skepticism by serious historians and genealogists. The underlying reality is more about pedigree collapse (where distant ancestors are repeated many times in a family tree) and the common ancestry of people of European descent, especially those who came from the British Isles. If you go back far enough, a significant portion of people will find royal ancestors.

While there isn't a widespread "legend" in the US that specifically states all US Presidents came from one royal lineage, there's a recurring claim or interesting genealogical finding that many (if not most) US presidents are distantly related to each other, and often, to European royalty, particularly British royalty.

This isn't a "legend" in the traditional sense of a mythical or folkloric story, but rather a genealogical observation that sometimes gets amplified. Here's what's behind it:

• Common Ancestry: Most early US Presidents, and many thereafter, had ancestors who emigrated from the British Isles during the colonial period. Given the relatively smaller gene pool of early European settlers and the intermarriage among prominent families, it's not entirely surprising that many of these individuals would share distant common ancestors.

• Royal Connections: Due to the extensive genealogical records kept for European royal families, it's often easier to trace lineage back to them. When genealogists trace the ancestry of US presidents, they frequently find connections to various European royal lines, including figures like King John of England (Magna Carta signer) or even Charlemagne. The argument is that if you go back far enough, a significant portion of people of European descent are likely to be related to some royal figure, simply due to the vast number of descendants these individuals would have over centuries.

• Media and Books: These genealogical connections are sometimes highlighted in popular media, articles, and books, such as Raymond C. Wilson's "European Royal Bloodlines of the American Presidents." These publications often aim to show the intricate web of familial relationships among historical figures.

It's important to distinguish this from a "legend" implying a deliberate, unbroken line of royal succession or a secret society controlling the presidency. Instead, it's a consequence of historical migration patterns, intermarriage within certain social strata, and the nature of deep genealogical research.

Who are the Philippine Presidents that have connections with Lakan Bunao Dula or the Lakanate of Tondo?

Genealogical claims connecting modern Philippine Presidents to Lakan Dula and the Kingdom of Tondo are a significant part of historical and familial narratives in the Philippines. While definitively proving direct, unbroken male-line descent over centuries can be challenging due to historical record keeping (especially before the Spanish formalization of surnames), several prominent families and, by extension, presidents, claim this lineage.

The most widely cited presidential connections are:

• Diosdado Macapagal and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo: The Macapagal family prominently claims descent from Lakan Dula. Their lineage is often traced through Don Juan Macapagal, Datu of Arayat, who is said to be a great-grandson of Lakan Dula. This connection makes both President Diosdado Macapagal and his daughter, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, direct descendants according to these claims.

Beyond the Macapagals, there are claims and discussions about other presidents:

• Ferdinand Marcos: There are claims that the Marcos family, particularly through the mother of Ferdinand Marcos, Josefa Edralin Marcos, has a Lakan Dula bloodline. Some sources suggest that Marcos himself was aware of and fascinated by this connection, linking it to his "Maharlika" concept.

• Ramon Magsaysay: Some narratives suggest President Ramon Magsaysay also carried a Lakan Dula bloodline, and that his role as godfather to Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos's wedding was partly to ensure the "intactness" of the Lakan Dula bloodline from both the Waray and Ilocano branches.

• Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III: It has been suggested that President Noynoy Aquino, through the Sumulong lineage, is also a descendant of Lakan Dula.

• Sara Duterte: Recent discussions and suggestions have emerged, particularly from the House of Dula, encouraging figures like Vice President Sara Duterte and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to submit DNA for verification of their Lakan Dula ancestry.

Important Considerations:

• Genealogical Complexity: Tracing lineages back to pre-colonial figures like Lakan Dula can be complex. Spanish colonial policies, like the Claveria Decree of 1849 which standardized surnames, often disrupted traditional indigenous naming conventions, making direct tracing difficult for many.

• Oral Tradition and Family Claims: Much of the connection relies on strong oral traditions within families and the research of family historians. While valuable, these need to be approached with critical genealogical methodology.

• "Principalia" Class: Lakan Dula was a paramount ruler, and his descendants, the principalia class, were often recognized and given privileges by the Spanish. This class formed the foundation of many prominent Filipino families, increasing the likelihood of widespread descent from pre-colonial royalty among the country's elite, including those who later entered politics.

While the claims for the Macapagal family are perhaps the most widely accepted and publicized, the broader concept of many Filipino political figures having roots in the pre-colonial datus and lakans (like Lakan Dula) is a recurring theme in discussions about Philippine history and genealogy.

Source: https://g.co/gemini/share/13daf8113868

The Marcos Family includes President Fidel Ramos. President Estrada  was born  in Tondo. There is an  assertion by some historians that Gen Aguinaldo has a connection to Lakan Dula. His parents, Carlos Jamir Aguinaldo and Trinidad Villanueva Famy, were members of the principalia (local gentry) in Cavite and in the earlier days, principalias are connected to the Kingdom of Tondo, considering also that Emilio Aguinaldo hailed from Kawit, Cavite, relatively close to Tondo (now part of Metro Manila). President Manuel Quezon, based on an AI Assistant answer also said that he has a link with  the Tagalog Kingdom of Tondo or Lakan Dula on his motherside. It is interesting to know that despite so many presidentiables from the the Aquino and Cojuangco family, only Cory and Noynoy, with the ancestry from Sumulong, became presidents. Another interesting  observation is that during the presidential fight of Mar Roxas and Digong Deterte, Digong won despite being just a Mayor. Some historians are crediting it to the claim of the Dutertes from the lineage of Maria Poloin, the only daughter of Lakan Dula. .