Pre-Spanish Tacloban

 

DATELINE: 1411: The empire of Sri Vijaya of Malacca (or Melaka) Malaysian archipelago was the largest kingdom in the pacific. Some say the Visayas region of the Philippines were once part of this empire hence the name Visaya derived from Vijaya?

SRI VIJAYA KINGDOM LATER SUTANATE OF MELAKA

DATELINE: 1509: Portuguese fleet (5 ships) led by Capitan Diego Lopez de Sequera landed in Melaka from India to acquire a southern route to China. The fleet was attacked by the stronger fleet of Majarajah Mahmud of the Sultanate of Melaka. Only a handful of Portuguese escaped, among them was the famous (or infamous?) Fernao de Magallanes (Ferdinand Magellan).

DATELINE: 1510: The Majarajah ordered his messengers to call all the subjects of his kingdom, the most powerful and bravest rajahs, sultans and datus. From Melaka to Siam, to Majapahit (Indonesia), Guam, the Philippines and the Amis of Taiwan who were relatives of the Ifugao tribe.

DATELINE: 1511: A Portuguese fleet of 19 ships came back to avenge and free the Portuguese prisoners from the last battle. After 5 days of bombing and the fiercest battle any European and Asian ever fought, the Portuguese were exhausted. Mercenaries from Jahore and China offered their services and the tallest Chinese junk ships to the Portuguese and attack the sultan's fortresses while the Portuguese defended them with bombardments. The sultan finally fled and the kingdom of Melaka was captured.

 

DATELINE: 1515: The Europeans established a trading route in Southeast Asia among the Siamese, Cambodians, Indonesians, Malaysians, Chinese and the islands of the Philippines. Some datus and sultans of the early Philippines were veterans of Melaka on 1511 and are aware of the existence and treachery of the Portuguese colonizers. The Rajah Humabon of Sugbo (Cebu) was the son of Shri Bantug Lamay who was the son of Shri Bataugong of the same kingdom of Sri Vijaya.

 

DATELINE: 1521: Capitane Fernao de Magallanes (Ferdinand Magellan) was seeking another way to gain access to the Orient from the sea. He sailed with 5 Spanish ships and a crew of 260; Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians and some Indios of the Malaccas (Malaysian peninsula). Magellan first landed in Guam

 

GUAMANIAN (CHAMOURRO) TRADITIONAL COSTUMES BEFORE THE SPANIARDS COLONIZED IT.

GUAMANIANS AFTER SPANISH COLONIZATION.

And met Magalahi (chief) Kepuha cousin of Magalahi Hurao (Perhaps the same Datu Hurao of Tacloban) he was well received there, he then moved on and sighted land off Homonhon in Samar. On Sunday march 1521 he met Rajah Kolambu and his wife Ratu Triana in Limasawa with their daughter Dayam Maanyag

 A PINTADO PRINCESS (DAYAM) MAANYAG (NOTICE THE SPANIARDS GAWKING AT THE EARLY FILIPINA BEAUTY)

and performed the first mass on Philippine soil. Rajah Guban of the kingdom of Takarunga (Tacloban) became concerned of this blood compact and friendship for he too fought the battle of Melaka in 1511 and vowed never to trust the Portuguese. Rajah Guban instructed young Rajah Petik to follow the fleet closely and report back to him.

SPANISH SHIPS OVER THE HORIZON

Magellan's fleet landed in Sugbo (Cebu) and made friends with Rajah Humabon and his wife Ratu Humanay.

RATU (QUEEN) HUMANAY WAS BAPTISED REYNA (QUEEN) JUANA THE GUARDIAN OF THE SANTO NiñO WHICH WAS GIVEN BY MAGELLAN AS A GIFT. RAJAH HUMABON WAS BAPTISED REY (KING) CARLOS PREMIERO (THE FIRST).

Señore Pigafetta entered in his log all these events. The Rajah confided with Magellan that a Datu in Mactan island have been harassing their shores and ask Magellan to prove his alliance by attacking the island.

While Magellan was in Cebu, Rajah Guban also sent young Datu Bancao to Datu Lapu-Lapu in Bagasumbol (now named Naval, Leyte) to prepare because the Portuguese were en-route to Sugbo to his enemy's abode.

This infuriated Lapu-Lapu. He organized his men in Biliran and sailed for Mactan an island, part of his kaharian (abode) which was being disputed by Rajah Humabon as his own.

The battle of Mactan ensued, claiming the life of Magellan and vanquishing the Spaniards from the Philippines after Humabon himself turned against them for their failure. Of the 250 that left Spain, only 8 returned.

SOME CEBUANO'S MAY DISPUTE THE CLAIM THAT LAPU-LAPU WAS WARAY, BUT IN THIS PAINTING, HE IS VIEWED AS A PINTADO WHICH MOST LEYTEñOS WERE, AND THAT HIS SON WAS NAMED DAGAMI AND BECAME A DATU OF BOHOL UNDER SULTAN SIKATUNA. DAGAMI DIED WHEN HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE MASSACRED BY LEGASPI IN NAVAL, LEYTE.