Ontay & Marogong.Net - ROYAL HOUSES OF LANAO

The Royal Sultanate Of Lanao

To the regular Filipino, the Sultanate System in Mindanao may seem so hard to understand and difficult to accept, the Sultanate system was the first centralized political bureaucracy in the Philippine archipelago. As state’s governance, it combines civil and religious authority, as the state in the pacific, it dominates trade and commerce and set the pace for others in social mores and ideas.

Indeed it has been very regrettable that some Filipino historians give only a few accounts, if any, of the heroism and bravery made by the Bangsamoro people and sultans, like Sultan Sarikula (1599) the fifth sultan of Maguindanao, Sultan Sharif Laut Buisan (1602) the sixth Sultan of Maguindanao, Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (1656), Datu Mamundog (1759) Darimbang Sultan of Raya in the battle of Radapan, Kauswagan, Lanao in 1889, Datu Akadir Amai Pakpak (1889) of the sultanate of Masiu and other sultans.

However, many respected historians: Filipino, foreigner and Bangsamoro have chronicled events that would affirm and substantiate the heroic struggles of the Bangsamoro Sultans.

The Sultanate of Lanao could be traced from the advent of two muslim brother missionaries Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuan and Sharif Muhammad Alawi who arrived in Mindanao in 1515. They later settled in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and the Sharif Kabungsuan in the present site of Malabang, Lanao, in the western coast of Mindanao after passing through Brunei, the sea-faring people from johore who accompanied Kabungsuan were called Jamal or erang Laut, Sharif Kabungsuan's blood relation with his followers who remained with him and aided him in the establishment of a Sultanate system and the support would be based more on the successful bringing of Islam among the heathen inhabitant of Mindanao and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the year 1520.

Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuan was the son of Ali Zein ul Abedin an Arab hailing from Hadhramout (Mecca) who settled in Johore where he married the daughter of Sultan Iskandar Julkarnain, the first sultan of Malacca. He arrived in Malabang in 1515 and married the daughter of Macaapun Rajah Simbaan of Malabang. Sharif Kabungsuan and her maranao wife Angintabo was blessed of two children, Sharif macaalang and her sister Daragat. Angintabo died,and Sharif Kabungsuan married Masawang niece of Angintabo, they begot eleven children one of them is Aloyodan and Layagun.

In 1543, Sharif Kabungsuan reached an old aged and he installed his first native Maranao son Sharif Macaalang as 2nd Sultan of Maguindanao in 1543-1574. Sharif Macaalang married Bae Ble and begot Sharif Bangkaya.

Sharif Bangkaya was enthroned as the 3rd Sultan of Maguindanao in 1574-1578, he ruled for a short period, Sharif Bangkaya married Bae sa Sulangan and begot Sharif Dimasangcay Adel. Dimasangcay Adel was enthroned as 4th Sultan of Maguindanao in 1579-1585. the Royal Datus and sultans of Lanao and Iranon were descendants of Dimasangcay Adel. Sharif Bangkaya begot four children to her second wife Bai Bezaton, the children’s were Datu sa Palao a Pekong , Rajah Muda a mala sa kalibo, Pinayongan Bae a labi of Rabaugon in Pagadian and Sharif Gugu Sarikula. In 1585- Sharif Sarikula was enthroned as fifth sultan of Maguindanao, he married a Sulu princess. Sharif Bangkaya begot two children and her 3rd wife Bae sa Matampay, such as Dakunug of Malabang and Sharif Laut Buisan. Sharif Laut Buisan was installed as 6th Sultan of Maguindanao in 1597, and was married to the sister of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah of Sulu. Sharif Laut Buisan begot Gayang and Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, Gayang was married of the grandson of Dimasangcay Adel, Sharif Matonding whose children's now the reigning Sultans and Bai Labi of Lanao while his brother Sharif Muhammad Kudarat was installed as 7th sultan of Maguindanao in 1619. In 1656 he reached declared a jihad against the Spanish colonialist. His sultanate was felt as far as Ternate in Indonesia and Borneo and in facts its power had reached the shore of Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Mindoro and Manila in north.

HISTORY OF ROYAL HOUSES OF LANAO

Sharif Bangkaya begot two children from her 3^rd wife Bae sa Matampay namely, Dakunuq of Malabang and Sharif Laut Buisan. Sharif Laut Buisan was installed as 6^th Sultan of Maguindanao in 1597, and was married to the sister of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah of Sulu. Shariff Laut Buisan begot Gayang and Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat. Gayang was married to the grandson of Dimasangcay Adel- Sharif Matonding whose children reigned as the Sultans and Bai Labi of Lanao while his brother Sharif Muhammad Kudarat was installed as 7^th Sultan of Maguindanao in 1619. In 1656 he declared a jihad against the Spanish colonialist. His Sultanate was felt as far as Ternate in Indonesia and Borneo and in fact its power reached the shores of Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Mindoro and Manila in north.

Spanish conquest of Lanao

In 1637 Sebastean Hurtado-de Curcuera decided to send an expedition to subdue the Datus and the people of Lake Lanao. As early as September 1637 he had promised the lake area to the Jesuits, who would get the same the moment it was conquered.

The conquest of the Maranaos was entrusted to Captain Francesco Atienza, the Alcalde Mayor of Caraga. With fifty Spaniards and give hundred Caragans, the captain landed in Bayug, then proceeded to the Maranao territory, reaching the lake on 4 April 1639. There were about 2,000 families or 800 inhabitants. The Spaniards brought with them six collapsible boats that they fitted out in the lake.

The Datus of Lanao initially offered allegiance to the Spaniards. They promised tribute and accepted the missionaries, what appeared ominous to the Spaniards was the movement of inhabitants into the interior at the same time. The Maranaos could easily muster 6,000 warriors from among the four confederation of Lanao. Lack of firearms though was their disadvantage. Governor Al Monte dispatched Major Pedro Fernandez del Rio with seventy Spaniards and 500 Visayans to join with the forces of Atienza. The expedition had to pass through the area of Butig where Sharif Matonding an Iranon Datu married to Gayang, a sister of Sultan Kudarat, engaged the colonizers. After a most difficult passage made by the fierce resistance of Sharif Matonding, Pedro del Rio made it to the shores of the lake where he join the forces of Atienza. In the middle of April Atienza and part of his troops left for Bayug and fortified it with a stockade and sailed for Caraga.

In October of the same year, an additional force of fifty Spaniards and five hundred Boholanos arrived under the command of Captain Pedro Bermudez de Castro who had orders to build a fort in Marawi to establish Spanish sovereignty.

Sultan Kudarat visited his son in laws in Lanao- Balindong Bzar and Dianaton of Butig. He gathered the Datus of Lanao and delivered a speech in this form:

"What have you done? Do you realize what subjection would reduce you to? A toilsome slavery under the Spaniards! Turn your eyes to the subject nations and look at the misery to which such glorious nation had been reduced to, look at the Tagalog and Visayan: Are you better than they? Do you think that the Spaniards consider you of better stuff? Have you not seen the Spaniards trample them under their feet? Do you not see everyday how they are obliged to work at the oars and the factories with all their rigor? Can you tolerate anyone with little Spanish blood to best you up and grasp the fruits of your labor? Allow your selves to be subjects (today) and tomorrow you will be at the oars? I, at least will be a pilot, the biggest favor they will allow a chief. Do not let their sweet words deceive you; their promises facilities their deceits, which little by little, enable them to control everything. Reflect on how even minor promises as to the chief of other nations were not honored until they become master of them all. See now what is being done to these chief and how they are being led by rod."

The Maranaos took up arms against the newly built fort. They used indigenous means to get at the fort and set it on fire. Three of the Spanish boats, brought form Bayug were captured. Atienza formed a relief expedition and saved the Spaniards. The Maranao warriors after 29 days of siegeleft their position. Afraid to experience once more the horrors of siege, they proceeded to burn their their own fort and made a retreat back to Iligan. In 1640 Atienza tried once more to conquer the Maranaos. For the second time, the Spaniards burned the fields and retired to the coast, but not without losing some men on the way due to ambushes. The second attempt to colonize and Christianize the Maranaos had utterly failed. In payment for their freedom however, the Maranaos lost their harvest.

Birth of the Sultanates in Lanao

In 1671 Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat return to the grace of Allah and the sultanate of Maguindanao started to declining and datus of Iranon and the Maranaos gradually stop their support to the Sultanate of Maguindanao.

In Lanao, the Maranaos started to be acquainted with the sultanate system in the 15^th century thru the influence of Sharif Kabungsuan, who was enthroned as first Sultan of Maguindanao in 1520, In 1640 Balindong Bzar of Masiu became the first Maranao Chieftain enthroned as Sultan, with specific title as Sultan as Sultan Diagaborolah. He was charged to enforce the teaching of Islam and the law and order in Lanao. On the same year Sultan Diagaborolah consulted the seven Maranao Datus on how to govern Lanao. They were Dianton Naim of Butig. Datu Burus of Pagayawan, Datu Ottawa of Ditsaan, Datu Acari of Ramain, Embaor of Bansaya, Engki-Okoda of Minitupad, Alanake of Baloi. The eight wise man (including Balindong Buzar) agreed to create the four confederation of Lanao (Pat a Pangampong a Ranao) composed of the State of Masiu, Butig, Bayabao and Baloi, and on the second level, the 15 Royal houses (Panoroganan) and the 28 legislative body (Pyakambaya ko Taritif). The socio-political system was based on the Taritib, laws, Ijma, customary laws, and adapted practices of the Maranaos. The Pangampong state was further divided into smaller socio-political units. Within the four state is a total 43 Ingud communities classified into 15 Royal Houses (Panoroganans), and 28 supporting Ingud or Legislative Houses called Piyacambaya ko Taritib (Decider of Laws).

The Taritib, an ancient order or law bound together the four states or principality of Lanao into an alliance or confederation and defined their relationships. There is no central, all powerful authority but every state or principality respected the traditional alliance termed Kangiginawai.

One problem that beset the Sultanate of the four confederation of Lanao was the identification of ancestral land area (Kawali) of each State (Pangampong). They were consequently defined by Datu Pascan of Unayan, Datu Popawan of Bayabao, Amiyanon Simban of Masiu and Datu Dilion of Baloi. The agreement known as "Kiatathamana-an" declineated the areas as: Dalama, located in the municipality of Molondo, the boundary between Bayabao and East Masiu; Sawenn Masiu municipality the boundary between East Masiu municipality and East Unayan T Madamba municipality, the boundary between West Unayan and West Masiu; and Bacayawan in Marantao municipality, the boundary between west Masiu and Bayabao. Suprisingly, there is no identified boundary between Bayabao and Baloi but the reason is that both Pangampong lineage come from the same family tree. Under the Kiangginawai (friendship) their boundary need not be established.

In 1754, the maranos kept on increasing their maritime strength and accelerated their attacks on the Spaniards. Leyte and Calamianes bore part of the brunt of their attacks. About nine hundred Maranaos once landed in Albay and captured more than a hundred inhabitants. In Balayan, they looted everything they could lay their hands on. The Maranaos were thus greatly responsible for the abandonment of many settlements in the Visayas and the dislocation of the economic life of thousands of people. The Maranao made these attacks since most of the native troops used against them were Visayans. The events prompted the Spaniards to devise a more elaborate and effective naval system of defense. In 1557, the Iranuns and Maranaos accelerated their attacks on the Spaniards. There were frequent naval encounters between them and the Spaniards. In some of them, according to reports, thousands have perished.

In a span of four years, the Maranao raids on Visayas reduced the number of tributes to the Spanish government by at least 100,000. For example, figures showed that the district of Panay, it paid 1,500 tributes in 1750. By the year 1757 there only 500 tributes paid. In Romblon, the number of tributes went down from 1370 to 995, while in Kalibu (Capiz) it decreased from 1,164 to 549. Many coastal towns were totally destroyed and the visayan population was reduced considerably. In 1759 Datu Aber Palawan and his men attacked the Spanish squadron in the northern part of Mindanao. He was martyred and buried in Radapan, Lanao (now Tarapan, Linamon, Lanao del norte).

Gen. Valeriano Weyler, the Spanish Gov. General decided to deal with the Maranaos in 1889. He ordered his troops to land in Malabang to conquer the unconquered Maranaos. He had 1,242 soldiers in two columns. The first column started from Malabang while the second column started from Higan. (This two-pronged attack on Maranao territory from the northern and western parts of Mindanao was a reminiscent of of the 1639 campaign against Maranaos). Darimbang Sultan sa Raya Martyred in Kuswagan Lanao, After a bloody clashes, Marawi was occupied on August 19, but not without encountering strong resistance from the Maranaos led by Datu Amai Pakpak. In September 1891, Weyler finally terminated his campaign without actually conquered the Maranaos. In May 15, 1892, Pablo Pastel drafted the blue print for the temporal and spiritual conquest of the Sultanates in Philippines for the gradual reduction of the political and other powers of the Sultans, Datus, Sharif and Pamlitas in such a way that they would all eventually become powerless. The Spaniards considered them as the primary obstacle impeding the rapid progress of the degraded race in its march to civilization. On June 5, the Datus of Lanao cooperated in the fortification of the section around Agus River for their mutual defense. In February 1895, systematic Maranao attacks on the Spanish forst began. As a result, the Spanish invaders launched another Spanish expedition on March 10 of the same year to attack and capture Marawi, once and for all. The march to Marawi commenced. The Spaniards found themselves faced by strong cotta under the command of the same Amai Pakpak. The Maranao warriors fought with equal bravery but lost the war with the martyrdom of Datu Akader Amai Papak, his son, 23 datus and 150 Maranao warriors. The Spaniards lost 194 men. Abot 3,000 Spanish troops, and countless volunteer from Zamboaga, Mizamis and Sibugay were involved. This did not stop the Maranaos to continue fighting. The Spanish garrison in Marawi was in state of siege. Sporadic attacks on the garrison and ambushes become the order of the day. The Maranaos around the lake continued their resistance against the Spaniards even after gunboats were brought to Lake Lanao to launch a campaign against the communities around it. The Spaniards had to withdraw after their defeat in Manila Bay on May 1, 1896.

The American Regime and the Commonwealth

In 1899, the Sultans themselves led their people in fighting both the Spaniards and later, Americans. They all ended as martyrs along with their families and warriors. In 1889, the Americans landed in Malabang and occupied the Spanish camp without much fanfare and named it camp Concuera. Two years later, the Americans proceeded to the lake area but was met by Maranao warriors in Upper Bayang, Amai Barang, Mamarinta, Pitilan Sultan of Bayang and 300 warriors clashed with the Americans in a fierce battle. The Sultan and his men were crushed. The sultan perished but Capt. Vicar also died. (Their camp in Upper Bayang was named after him). In Tugaya Datu Saruang and many others also died fighting against the American forces coming to their place.

During the Commonwealth regime, Amai Manabilang of Marawi challenged the authority of Justice Cayetano Arellano in enforcing the government laws to the Maranaos. He led a campaign that Mindanao should be separated from the Philippines. The policy of attraction of the Americans in Lanao under under General Pershing offered empty promises to the Maranaos who felt that the government deprived them with the continued exercise of their traditional and cultural practices and interference to their religion, customs and traditions.

On March 18, 1935, one hundred twenty Datus of Lanao, with thirty Sultans signed a strongly worded letter, popularly known as "Dansalan Declaration" to U.S President Franklin Roosevelt and the U.S congress asking them that the Filipinos should be granted Independence and the Moro province should also be given their own independence or better left under American rule until such time that they were prepared to grant their independence to be known as Bangsamoro.

The Present Sultanates

The Sultanates in the Philippines at present have legally been disenfranchised and practically reduced to non-entities by a provision in the Philippines constitution prohibiting the grant of a title of nobility to a Filipino citizen. Interestingly, the same constitution provides respect for the local culture, traditions and practices. Many non-Muslims do not realize that the Sultans are not only temporal but also spiritual leaders. They are the symbols not only of their communities but also considered vicegerent followers of Allah in this world. It was the responsibility of the Sultans not only to defend their people and communities but also their religion – Islam. Among the Muslims, there is no way one can separate the Sultanate from their culture, tradition and religious practices. Once the Sultanate is destroyed everything goes along with it. A Muslim is a Muslim because he has his own identity in the Sultanate of which he is part and parcel. Without the Sultanate, he becomes a non-entity, a person with out identity or an anchor much like a rudderless boat being blown away any which way by every passing wind.

This in essence is the heart of the Mindanao problem and why it continues to fester like a wound that has turned cancerous. The government looks at the Mindanao problem as one of economics, peace and order, progress, education, and perhaps implicitly, religion. This may be partly true but the primary factor is the recognition of the rights of the Muslims for self-determination and respect for their own identity as a people with a unique culture and tradition and, for as long as the real solution to this Mindanao problem is not address, the situation will continue to widen. This is where the Royal Sultanate could play a very important role especially because by accepted tradition, his constituents respect and value his authority. For example, in the Preservation of Social Order.

Ø When there is no source of power except the Sultan, the community is stable. The Sultan has influence and command to impose and execute the highly respected Taritib and Ijma.

Ø When a dispute happens and the Sultan is not personally available to settle it, he can simply send his Tobao (scarf Headdress) through his emissary and it would be enough to make the parties stay "in suspended the animation" and wait until he arrives to settle their dispute.

Ø The Sultan has the power to ask anyone within his territory to come for questioning, for punishment if he committed an offense or for anything that is for the interest of his people. He only needs to beat his gong and it is enough for the people to come him.

Ø When a buffalo is stolen by a person from another area, it becomes his duty to recover and restore it to the owner.

Ø When conflicts between Sultanates occur, it was the duty of another Sultan to come and talk to them for peaceful settlement. The common practice used by the Sultan in settling Ridos even until now is tracing the family lineage of the conflicting parties with the ultimate end that both parties will realize that they are relatives either by affinity or by consanguinity. Kambabatabata-a (blood relations) Kapamagongowa (friendship) Kapamagadata (respect), and other relationships of the forefathers are being recalled. In most cases, disputes are resolved with tears flowing from the persons witnessing or present in the scene.

The 16 Ruling Royal Sultanates in Lanao

The original number of the ruling Royal Sultands of Lanao was only fifteen (15). It is now increased to sixteen (16) with the creation of Sultan sa Domalondong sa Butig in Pangampong a Unayan. Hence, it was recently renamed as 16 "Panoroganans of Lanao". A "Pangampong" is a principality where the head is addressed as his Royal Highness (HRH). Since the title of a Sultan becomes now a "common commodity" in Lanao, the 16 Royal Sultans agreed to call themselves as "Panoroganan" instead of "His Royal Highness" in order to be fitting to the Maranao dialect and make them different from the other Sultans in Lanao.

The Panoroganans are the ones entitled to approve or disapprove the Taritib, Ijmas and Adats in their respective Pangampong. This gave them the title as Royal Highness or now localized as "Panoroganans". They also created the 28 "Piakambaya ko Taritib" (ruled by a Sultan but not Royal Sultan) that is seemingly similar to a legislative council or body that formulates the Taritib and Ijma which are distributed by pangampong.

The places under each of the "Pat a Pangmpong a Ranao" are:

1. Pangampong a Masiu covers the municipalities of Molondo, Taraka, Tamparan, Masiu, Wato Balindong, Tugaya, Bacolod Kalawi, Madalum.

2. Pangampong a Unayan covers the south of lake Lanao strictly from the Buldon, Barira, Matanog, Parang of Sharif Kabunsuan province and the long coastal area parallel to Illana Bay going to northern up to Zamboaga, Lanao border. In Lanao del Sur, it include Butiq, Domalondong, Lumayanague, Lumbatan, Bayang, Tubaran, Binidayan, Marogong, Ganassi, Pualas, Madamba, Calanogas, Kapatangan, Balabagan and Malabang. In Lanao del Norte, it includes Kormatan, Kapatagan, Lala and Tubod.

3. Pangampong Bayabao is presently composed of the Municipalities of Ditsaan Ramain, Bubong, Buadipusa-Buntong, Kapai, Marantao, Saguiran, Maguing, Bumbaran, Wao, Lumba-Bayabao, Poona-Bayabao, Piagapo in Lanao del Sur and the city of Marawi.

4. Pangampong a Baloi consists of the municipalities of Pantar, Tangoloan I, Kapai, Baloi, Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo, Tangkal, Magsaysay, Kauswagan, Linamon, Bacolod, Maigo and Kolambogan in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City.

THE SIXTEEN ROYAL HOUSES OF LANAO

MASIU

· The Royal House of Masiu

· The Royal House of Datu a Cabugatan

ONAYAN

· The Royal House of Butig

· The Royal House of Pagayawan

· The Royal House of Bayang

· The Royal House of Dumalondong

POONA-BAYABAO

· The Royal House of Bansayan

· The Royal House of Rogan

· The Royal House of Taporog

LUMBA-BAYABAO

· The Royal House of Minitupad

· The Royal House of Borocot

· The Royal House of Bacolod

· The Royal House of Maribo

MALA-BAYABAO

· The Royal House of Ramain

· The Royal House of Ditsaan

BALOI

· The Royal House of Baloi

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Reworking the Philippine sultanates

MANY FILIPINOS TODAY think that to be a Sultan is a position strewn with beds of roses. While this romantic notion was true in ancient times when the sultan wielded enormous power and even appoints ambassadors and emissaries to foreign lands, in our day it becomes more of a burden. Many royal houses in fact have folded and some others have the barest minimum of courtiers, operating on a skeletal setup. Only the sheer determination and dedication of the royal family and their loyal subjects keep it from closing shop.

The passing of an era has been eloquently captured, albeit lamentably, by a reigning Sultan of Sulu, Moh’d. Hadji Jamalul Dalus Kiram III: “It is like a joke of history when once upon a time Ambassadors from the Court of St. James of England, the Celestial Empire of China and other Great Powers pay tribute to the Sultan of Sulu at his ancestral Palace in Darul Jambangan, Maimbung, Sulu, which is now a depressed area needing rehabilitation.”

Too often, to add leverage to his influence, the Sultan himself holds on to a government position—whether appointed or elected—to augment what nominal power he can dispense. This has been how many royalties in Mindanao have survived in the modern era. As witnessed in the last election, no less than the Sultan of Sulu tried his hand on national politics by running for the senate at the prodding of the Arroyo administration with uncalled for result.

For many years, political planners have been shrugging off the influence of the royalties as a dead angle in shaping the future of the country especially the South. Even rebel movements like the MNLF and the MILF and most religious groups tried to do away with the royalties of Sulu, Maguindanao and Lanao. But lately there has been a renaissance.

The potential of the royalties in swiftly ending disputes, even blood feuds at that or rido had been tapped successfully in many instances. The royalties effectively rally the people in social works, even mediating on marriages, inheritance disputes and facilitating local development infrastructures by the government when the locality are not too convinced of the motives.

Sultan Topann Ditaul Disomimba, the reigning Sultan of Masiu in Lanao echoed the trend: “It has been realized by everyone that the Sultanates cannot be dispensed with. We are the missing link in our troubled nation. The Royalties must be revived not for nostalgic reason but as our anchor of the past and for the stability of our future. True, in the constitution no royalty is recognized, but that doesn’t mean we have to jettison our heritage. We have to take the lead of Japan, Malaysia, and the European countries. In Japan, no matter how modernized they are, they always look upon their past. It is manifested in their households and the treatment they accord their royalties.”

The government seemed to sense the latent potential of the old royalties. For instance, President Gloria Arroyo recently created the Lanao Advisory Council that empowers the 16 Royal Houses of Lanao to make a study and recommendations on the promotion of peace and development in their area. She has issued Executive Order 602 establishing the Council that would advise her on issues and problems affecting the constituents of the affected Royal Houses. This development appears experimental for now and if found successful it could also take foothold in Sulu, Maguindanao and other places.

The Sultanate of Sulu

The Sultanate of Sulu is the best known and oldest Sultanate in the Philippines. The Genealogy of the Sulu Royal Families, written by Sururul-Ain Ututalum and Abdul-Karim Hedjazi, traced the close relationship between the royals of Brunei and Sulu. In the 1500s, Brunei Sultan Bolkiah was married to Sulu Princess Putri Laila, granddaughter of Shariful Hashim, first sultan of Sulu. In the late 1600s, when Sultan Muaddin of Brunei was threatened by rebellion, he turned to his kin in Sulu for help. The rebellion was quelled. As a reward, the Brunei sultan gave resource-rich Sabah to the sultan of Sulu.

The Sultanate had been a sovereign nation, recognized by both the Spanish and American colonizers. The colonizers entered into treaties with the Sultan. Between the 16th and 19th century, only about a dozen assaults were successfully launched by the Spanish Audiencia operating from Fort Santiago in Manila. Earlier, attempts of subjugation were made by the Srivijaya Empire, the Madjapahit, and Ming Empires. The British, French, German, and Portuguese tried also. In all these long struggles, the Spanish Walled City of Jolo was the only part of the territory of the Royal Sultanate of Sulu that was taken and garrisoned by the Spaniards which only lasted for about 31 years.

A reigning Sultan is Paduka Maulana Mahashari, Al Sultan Moh. Hadji Jamalul Dalus Kiram III.

He is the eldest son of the late Sultan Punjungan Kiram. He’s from the direct lineage of the first Sultan of Sulu, Sultan Shariful Hashim from the Bano-Hashimite tribe. He is married to Dayang Hadja Fatima Celia H. Kiram.

He acted as “Interim Sultan” during the absence of his father Sultan Punjungan Kiram while in Sabah (1974- 1981) and proclaimed in 1984 as 33rd Sultan of Sulu and was crowned on June 15, 1986 in Jolo, Sulu. However, there are contrary opinions on who is the true Sultan of Sulu. When Sultan Punjungan left Sulu to live in Sabah, the Ruma Bechara installed Sultan Esmail Kiram. In 1962, Sultan Ismail Kiram and his Ruma Bichara (literally “House of Talk,”, the equivalent to the Cabinet) transferred sovereign rights over Sabah to the Philippine government on condition that the government would pursue the Sabah claim. The resolution signed by Sultan Ismail also stipulated that if the Philippine government fails to recover Sabah, the Sultanate would be free to assert sovereignty over Sabah.

When sultan Esmail died, his son and Crown Prince, Mahakuttah, was enthroned. Mahakuttah proclaimed his son, Datu Muedzul-lail Crown Prince. The latter has proclaimed himself sultan in ceremonies conducted two years ago. In 1993, Princess Denchurain Kiram, then the oldest of the surviving private heirs to Sabah, acknowledged three claimants to the throne: Datu Muedzul-Lail, Datu Terona al-Shariff Kiram, nephew of Princess Tarhata Kiram, the recognized Queen of the Sultanate for five decades and Sultan Aguimoddin Abidin, son of Sultan Jainal Abidin.

To revive the international stature of the Sultanate of Sulu, Kiram III forged the century-old relationships between Sulu and China during the royal visit in Dezhou, Shandong Province, PR China in September 1999 with 87-man entourage. The visit concluded with the signing of the agreement between Hebei Province and the Sulu Sultanate on agricultural technology exchange.

The Maguindanao Sultanate

The Old Sultanate of Maguindanao was given new impetus lately when Datu Amir Baraguir, a writer cum historian, was crowned to the royal throne as Seri Paduka Sultan Sayyid Hadji Datu Amir bin Muhammad Baraguir. Baraguir, thus, became the 25th Sultan of Maguindano on December 12, 2005.

Baraguir was the third son of the late Sultan Muhammad G. M. Baraguir and Bai Fatima Carmen Andong. He traces his roots from the Maguindanao’s 3 royalties, namely, Maguindanao, Buayan, and Kabuntalan.

Baraguir lamented that contemporary sultans have had “little else to do” than acting as “symbols of unity for those whose traditional and historical moorings are still intact, and in serving in limited capacity as a patron of Maguindanaoan arts, culture and tradition.”

Although, Baraguir had some high hopes he commented that the royalty cannot appropriately address the problems besetting the community like poverty, education, and peace because they were reduced to no more than ceremonials. But Sultan Baraguir insisted that this state of affair need not continue. The royal leadership said in his speech on becoming the new sultan can be a catalyst in pursuit of Maguindanao’s right to self determination without having to uproot the present political setup.”

Unfortunately, before Sultan Baraguir could put prime his projects he was gunned down by masked gunmen on his way home on January 12, 2006, cutting short his reign for just a month.

Moro Times were able to interview the Sultan’s brother Datu Khalikuzaman Baraguir to give his assessment on the present status of the Sultanate.

When asked if he was ready to succeed his brother, Datu Khalikuzaman, the Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry in Maguindanao only grinned. He said that “there are five criteria which must be present before one can be crowned a Sultan, and I think this equally apply to any Royalty, wherever. They are: Nobility, which means blood lineage; knowledge, which is breeding and high education; wealth, which is financial, an ability to financial run a court; aura, which is personality; and rupawan or authority.”

The Baraguirs came from a long line of the Masturas. Datu Baraguir himself was the grandson of Mastura. His father was Datu Mamadra, known as “Wata Mama sa Maguindanao,” the eldest son of Mastura by one of his wives, Sarifa Atik, sister of Sharif Ampatuan. He died earlier than the father. On his mother side, Baraguir is descended from Rajah Toa, brother of the Datudacula I of Sebogay (the current being Datu Dacula VI). Amerol Parti is one of the sons of Datudacula I. His brother was the Sultan Ontong, the regal name of Sultan Kudaratullah Djamalol Alam Ontong. Ontong was named after Sultan Kudarat, so he was referred to in written records as Sultan Kudarat II. Amerol Parti, who was also known as “Mama sa Sulog” had a daughter Bae Ikog who marrief Datu Mamadra, and out of the marriage came Datu Baraguir.

The Sultanate of Masiu

The reign of Topaan Ditual Disomimba as Sultan of Masiu is a manifestation of the reworking of the royalties in the Southern Philippines to give it a positive posture in the modern age. No longer are datus confined to the métier of their courts. They have to reach out to their people if they do not wish to be relegated to the periphery.

Sultan Disomimba is one of the exponents of the new movement. He was named after a great, great ancestor Amaloya Topaan who had married Potri Kaizadan, who herself was the granddaughter of Sharif Kabungsuwan by his third wife, Bae Mazawang. As a young man Topaan Disomimba was trained in the court of his father, Datu Palawan, who was then the Datu-a Cabugatan of the Royal House of Masiu. His apprenticeship gave him a close-up observation of the proceedings of the court, the action of the courtiers, and the mechanics of the ijma and tartib, and how justice is dispensed. In 1991 when the elder Palawan died, Topaan had to take the mantle. He is the only male among eight children. He became mayor of the town of Tamparan in 1992, following the footsteps of his father Datu Palawan who had held the post for 30 years who also became Vice Governor of Lanao del Sur. In the just concluded election, Sultan Disomimba, after completing a 3-term, is succeeded by his wife Bae Norhaniza Janaree Macapundag Pundato.

The Sultanate of Masiu is the most documented royalty around Lake Lanao. It was founded by Balindong Bezar, after the successful retake of Lamitan (Ramitan) near Baraas along the Illana Bay by the redoubtable Sultan Kudarat. At the time, Balindong Bezar was a young man awed by the prowess of his uncle-in-law. Balindong had married Bae Pindaw (Pindawa-dawa Oray is the longer name), daughter of Bae Gayang Mupat, sister of Kudarat and wife of Amatonding a Noni. Since Balindong is the son of Paramata Adir, cousin of Amatonding, that makes Balindong and Bae Pindaw second cousins. As soon as Kudarat has reestablished himself back to power, the young Balindong, getting his spur, lay stake on his claim on a vast tract of land that included a sweep of the towns around Lanao and down along the shorelines of Panguil Bay.

The reigning Sultan Disomimba and the 16 Royal Houses of Lanao had organized the 1st Conference of the Royal Sultanates on Unified and Effective Governance on August 27, 2003 in Manila. A 2nd Conference is in the offing which will touch on the peace and economic development in Mindanao to be held in Davao sometime in early February, 2008.

Claims to the Sultanates

In the wake of the branching out of the royal lineage over the centuries, many of the Sultanates are disputed especially in cases where the succession of male progeny had been broken for quite sometime.

Does this development hamper the working of the Sultanates?

The incumbent Sultan of Masiu, Topaan Dsimomba does not think so. “I’m not alarmed at all by the rival claims to the Sultanates. This is in fact, a healthy situation,” Disomimba said. “It only goes to show a resurgence of interest in the old titles. I myself don’t mind, as long as everyone works for a common good. What is bad is when people just sit on their title and sleep on it.” <v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1AdminLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml1