Chapter 71: The Sainthood of Lakan Dula, King of the Lakanate of Tondo 

Lakan Dula, the last paramount ruler of the pre-colonial Kingdom of Tondo, holds significant importance in Philippine history, particularly during the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

His significance stems from several key roles:

1. Last King of Tondo: He was the sovereign ruler (Lakan) of Tondo, a powerful and prosperous trading polity located in the Pasig River delta (modern-day Manila), at the time of Spanish arrival in the 1570s. His reign marks the end of indigenous sovereignty in that major political and commercial center.

2. Figure in the Early Spanish Encounter: Along with his relatives, Rajah Matanda and Rajah Sulayman of Maynila, he was one of the three principal rulers who initially interacted with the Spanish conquistadors led by Miguel López de Legazpi.

3. Strategic Diplomacy and Resistance:

   • Initially, he and Rajah Sulayman resisted the Spanish, leading to the Battle of Manila in 1571.

   • Following the Spanish military victory, Lakan Dula chose a pragmatic path of diplomacy and cooperation with the Spanish, accepting baptism (taking the name Don Carlos Lacandola) and an alliance.

   • This cooperation was a strategic move to preserve his people's interests and some degree of autonomy. In return, the Spanish granted him and his descendants privileges, such as exemption from forced labor and tribute.

4. Legacy of Leadership and Resistance:

   • His legacy is a blend of diplomatic pragmatism and the spirit of resistance. His descendants were later involved in the Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-1588, a significant early plot against Spanish rule, demonstrating a continuing spirit of Filipino leadership against colonial oppression.

   • In modern Philippines, his name is honored through the Order of Lakandula, one of the highest orders of political and civic merit given by the Republic of the Philippines, symbolizing prudent and courageous leadership. 

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How did Lakan Dula influence the growth of Christianity in the Philippines?

Lakan Dula, the paramount ruler of Tondo at the time of the Spanish arrival in the 1570s, significantly influenced the growth of Christianity in the Philippines through his early conversion and cooperation with the Spanish colonizers.

His key actions that contributed to the growth of Christianity include:

• Pioneering Conversion: Lakan Dula and his sons were among the earliest high-profile indigenous leaders in the Luzon area to be baptized as Catholics, with Lakan Dula taking the Christian name Don Carlos Lacandola (after King Charles I of Spain). This act of conversion by a major ruler provided an important early precedent and model for other native leaders and the general population to follow, easing the path for mass Christianization.

• Providing Support for the Church: Historical accounts suggest Lakan Dula encouraged the creation of Catholic chapels and even donated a portion of his palace compound in Tondo to the Church. This donation is historically linked to the site where the Sto. Niño de Tondo Church was later built.

• Promoting Religious Vocation within his Family: Lakan Dula is noted for convincing one of his sons, Martin Lakandula, to join the priesthood. This act demonstrated a strong commitment to the new religion and helped integrate the new faith into the native noble class structure, or Principalia.

• Facilitating Spanish Control and Missionary Work: His decision to make peace and cooperate with the Spanish forces under Miguel López de Legazpi, even acknowledging the sovereignty of Spain, helped establish a stable environment in the Pasig River delta region. This stability was crucial for the Spanish colonial government to consolidate its power, allowing the Augustinian friars and other missionaries to effectively begin their evangelization work in the surrounding communities of Tondo, Manila, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

The conversion and subsequent cooperation of Lakan Dula and his influential family were strategically important for the Spanish, as it signaled to other indigenous leaders that aligning with the new faith was a path to preserving some degree of political status and autonomy under the new regime. This pragmatic decision by a powerful ruler effectively opened the doors for the widespread establishment of Roman Catholicism in the central Luzon region.

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What is the significance to the Filipinos and the Philippines if the House of Dula will advocate to the Vatican for the sainthood of Lakan Dula?

The potential sainthood of Lakan Dula, advocated by the House of Dula, would carry profound significance for Filipinos and the Philippines, touching on historical, cultural, national, and religious dimensions.

Here are some key aspects of this significance:

1. Historical and Cultural Recognition

• Validation of Pre-Colonial Royalty: Lakan Dula was the last paramount ruler (Lakan) of the pre-colonial Kingdom of Tondo. His sainthood would bring an unprecedented level of global recognition from the Catholic Church to a figure representing the Philippines' indigenous sovereignty and leadership before the Spanish conquest.

• Elevation of a Filipino Historical Figure: It would solidify Lakan Dula's place not just in Philippine history, but in the history of the global Catholic Church, honoring a figure who was one of the first native leaders to cooperate and convert to Catholicism (taking the name Don Carlos Lacandola) during the initial period of colonization.

• Symbolic Bridge of Faith and Ancestry: It would acknowledge a direct link between the nation's indigenous pre-colonial nobility and its deeply ingrained Catholic faith, suggesting that holiness can be found in the earliest confluence of these two foundational elements of Filipino identity.

2. National Identity and Pride

• Third Filipino Saint (or First Pre-Colonial Figure): Following Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Saint Pedro Calungsod, Lakan Dula would be the third Filipino saint. Crucially, he would be the first saint who was a high-ranking pre-colonial indigenous ruler. This would be a massive source of national pride and a boost to Filipino recognition in the world.

• Recognition of a Lineage: The successful advocacy by the House of Dula would validate their lineage and the continued cultural importance of the "House of Dula" as a living link to the pre-colonial past, as Lakan Dula is considered the founder of their line.

• Moral and Civic Example: Sainthood is an endorsement of "heroic virtue." For a king and leader like Lakan Dula, this would highlight his civic and political dedication—qualities that are already recognized by the Philippine government, which awards the Order of Lakandula as one of its highest honors for political and civic merit.

3. Religious and Spiritual Impact

• Localized Model of Holiness: Lakan Dula's story would provide a unique model of holiness for the majority-Catholic Philippines: one who was a political leader who navigated a complex historical period, converted to the faith, and, in the process, is said to have lived a life of heroic virtue.

• Affirmation of Faith's Inculturation: It would be a powerful affirmation from the Vatican of the inculturation of the Catholic faith into the life and culture of the Filipino people, rooted in the very beginnings of the Spanish colonial era.

• Inspiration for Leadership: His status as a saint could inspire contemporary Filipino leaders to emulate his virtues, emphasizing leadership rooted in prudence, fortitude, courage, and service to the people—qualities for which he is historically remembered.

Challenges and Context

For Lakan Dula to be declared a saint, the Catholic Church's rigorous process of canonization must be followed, typically requiring evidence of:

• Living a heroically virtuous life (earns the title "Venerable").

• One verified miracle attributed to his intercession (earns the title "Blessed" or "Beatified").

• A second verified miracle after beatification (earns the title "Saint" or "Canonized").

His unique position as a political figure at the very start of the colonial period would make the examination of his life, especially his relationship with the Spanish colonizers and his eventual baptism, particularly significant in the canonization process.

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