Chapter 73: Jewish Archaeologists are  Validating  the AI Narrative that seem to Confirm that the Philippines is the Biblical Ophir

The Historical Datu Iberein (from William Henry Scott)

The renowned historian William Henry Scott—known for his "cracks in the parchment curtain" approach (finding indigenous truths within Spanish colonial documents)—references Datu Iberein as a real historical person.

• The 1543 Encounter: Iberein was a chieftain of Lawan (modern-day Laoang, Northern Samar). He is famous in historical circles for his meeting with the Villalobos Expedition in 1543.

• The Display of Wealth: Scott notes that when Iberein rowed out to the Spanish ship, he didn't come as a humble local. He came in a vessel rowed by men who were "collared in gold" (wearing heavy gold neck chains).

• Personal Adornment: Iberein himself was described as wearing massive gold earrings and gold chains, which the Spaniards found staggering.

• Significance: In mainstream history, Iberein is significant because he proves that pre-colonial Samar was a prosperous, organized society with a sophisticated gold industry and a clear social hierarchy (the Kadatuan or noble class) long before the arrival of Legazpi.

Why does this matter today ?

The story of Datu Iberein is significant because it highlights a crisis of identity. Many Filipinos find the "standard" colonial history (starting with "discovery" by Magellan) to be insufficient or humiliating.

By reclaiming Iberein as a "Hebrew King," people are attempting to give the Philippines a history that is older, wealthier, and more "sacred" than the one found in traditional textbooks. While the Hebrew link lacks academic evidence, the gold Iberein wore was very real, proving that his people were indeed masters of their own land and resources.

How about if we include the fact that Lakanate of Lawan is a settlement of lequios waray tribe?

The inclusion of the Lequios (or Lequeios) and their connection to the Waray people adds a layer of mystery that has puzzled historians for centuries. This detail is the primary bridge used to connect the Philippines to the ancient maritime powers of Asia and, in fringe theories, to the Middle East.

Here is how the "Lequios" factor changes the story of the Lakanate of Lawan:

1. Who were the Lequios? (The Historical Mystery)

In authentic 16th-century records (such as those by Duarte Barbosa and the logbooks of the Magellan expedition), the "Lequios" were described as wealthy, fair-skinned maritime people who traded in gold, silver, and silk.

• Mainstream View: Most historians identify the "Lequios" as the people of the Ryukyu Islands (modern-day Okinawa, Japan). The name "Lequio" is a Portuguese corruption of Liuqiu.

• The Lawan Connection: Proponents of the Lakanate of Lawan theory argue that these "Lequios" were actually a specific branch of the Waray tribe (the Waray Hadlok or "Fearless Warays"). They point to Spanish accounts of "bearded, white men" in the Philippines as proof that these weren't just Japanese traders, but a distinct Caucasian-like race living in Samar.

2. Significance of the "Lequios Waray" Identity

When you combine the Lequios with the Waray people of Lawan, the significance shifts toward a "Global Maritime Empire" narrative:

• The "Waray Hadlok" Ethos: The term Waray Hadlok (No Fear) is used to explain how this tribe could navigate the vast Pacific. In this narrative, the Lequios weren't just traders visiting the Philippines; they were the original ruling class of the Lakanate of Lawan.

• The Hebrew/Phoenician Link: This is where the Hebrew theory returns. Some theorists claim the Lequios were descendants of Phoenician or Israelite sailors (the "Ships of Tarshish" mentioned in the Bible). They argue that "Lequios" is a corruption of a Semitic word or refers to a lost tribe that settled in Samar to mine the gold of Ophir.

• Datu Iberein as a Lequio: In this version of history, Datu Iberein isn't just a local chief; he is a Lequio King. His massive gold chains are cited as the "gold of the Lequios" described by early Portuguese explorers.

Summary of the Theory's Architecture

If you put all your points together—the Hebrew link, the name Abba for God, and the Lequios Waray tribe—you get a complete alternative history of the Philippines:

1. The Origin: Ancient Israelites/Phoenicians (Lequios) sail to the "farthest East" (Ophir/Samar) for gold.

2. The Settlement: They establish the Lakanate of Lawan, naming the island "Samar" after "Samaria."

3. The Culture: They retain the name "Abba" for God and wear "collared gold" as a mark of their biblical wealth.

4. The Expansion: This "Lequio" bloodline eventually moves to Manila, leading to the reign of Lakan Dula of Tondo.

While mainstream science (DNA and archaeology) tracks the Waray people's origins to the Austronesian expansion from Taiwan around 4,000 years ago, the Lequios story remains a powerful piece of folk-history that attempts to prove the Philippines was the center of the ancient world.

Would you like me to look into the specific Spanish documents (like the Colección General de Documentos) that these theorists often cite to prove the location of Ophir?

When we bring together the Lakanate of Lawan, the Lequios Waray tribe, the use of "Abba," and Datu Iberein, we are looking at a specific body of work often referred to as the "Principalia Theory" or the "Narag Ophir Theory."

The significance of these interconnected "facts" lies in how they construct an alternative history that positions Northern Samar as the center of a lost biblical civilization. Here is the breakdown of the significance of these elements:

1. The Lequios as "Waray Hadlok"

In this theory, the Lequios (mentioned by 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish explorers as fair-skinned, bearded maritime traders) are not seen as Okinawans/Japanese (the mainstream view), but as a specific elite branch of the Waray people.

• Significance: It claims the Waray people are not just local inhabitants but a "global" seafaring race. The term "Waray Hadlok" (No Fear) is used to explain their ability to navigate the Pacific.

• The Lawan Connection: The theory posits that the Lakanate of Lawan was the "Homeland" (Hometown) of these Lequios. This reframes Lawan from a small settlement into a major international port that supplied gold to the ancient world.

2. The "Abba" and Hebrew Linguistic Link

The claim that pre-colonial Filipinos called God "Abba" is the cornerstone of the religious argument.

• Significance: Since Abba is Aramaic/Hebrew for "Father," proponents (like Dr. Rich Narag) argue this is linguistic "DNA" proving that the people of Lawan were descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel (specifically Samaritans).

• Samar = Samaria: This is why the name of the island is significant in this context. The theory asserts that Datu Iberein and his people named the island "Samar" in honor of their ancestral capital, Samaria, after they fled the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions.

3. Datu Iberein: The "Hebrew-Blooded" King

While mainstream history (via William Henry Scott) describes Iberein as a wealthy Visayan chief who met the Spanish in 1543, this theory elevates him to a much higher status.

• The Name "Iber": Proponents point to his name as being derived from "Eber," the biblical ancestor of the Hebrews.

• Royal Lineage: He is described as the "Hadi" (King) of Lawan and a progenitor of the Lakan Dula line of Tondo. This links the nobility of Manila to the ancient gold-rich kingdom in Samar.

• The Gold: The "collared gold" worn by Iberein’s oarsmen is cited as proof of the Gold of Ophir, which was so abundant that even the common servants wore it.

4. The Documentary "Smoking Gun": Document No. 98

Proponents often cite a specific Spanish document found in the Colección General de Documentos Relativos a las Islas Filipinas (Document No. 98).

• The Claim: They argue this document contains specific directions to find the "land of gold" (Ophir) by traveling past the Cape of Good Hope, Sumatra, and the Moluccas, eventually reaching the islands "in front of China towards the sea."

• Significance: It serves as the "academic" proof used to convince followers that the Spanish colonial government actually knew the Philippines was the biblical Ophir but kept it secret to monopolize the wealth.

Summary of Overall Significance

To those who subscribe to this narrative, the fact that Lawan has a Hebrew link means:

1. Identity: Filipinos are a "long-lost brother" of the Jewish people, not just a colonized Malay race.

2. Sacred Geography: The Philippines (specifically the Lawan-Palapag-Catubig area) is the Biblical Land of Ophir.

3. National Pride: It provides a "Golden Age" of history that predates Western civilization, claiming the Lakanate of Lawan existed as early as 1,800 BC.

Reference:

Lawan's Hebrew Link: Myth vs. History

https://gemini.google.com/share/57da93634e43

Created with Fast December 21, 2025 at 04:24 PMPublished December 21, 2025 at 05:01 PM