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Created on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 13:14
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Published on Wednesday, 23 March 2011 13:14
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Written by Administrator
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The Malay settlement of Panay in the Visayas is told in the Maragtas, which is legendary or at least semi-historical. In the 13th century, about the time that Sulu was undergoing a transformation owing to the paramount influence of Banjarmasin, Borneo was seething with discontent. It appeared that Sultan Makatunaw was mistreating his subjects, so that ten of the chieftains (or datus) decided to leave for unknown parts in search of freedom.
With their families, Datus Puti, Bangkaya, Dumalugdog, Sumakwel, Lubay, Paiburong, Dumangsil, Balensusa, Paduhihog, and Dumangsol secretly sailed in their balangays without any definite destination. After days of sailing, the Bornean datus reached Panay which at the time was inhabited by Negritos called Atis, who were ruled by their brave chieftain, Marikudo and his wife, Maniwantiwan.
Realizing that the Atis suspected them of evil intention, Datu Puti, the leader of the Bornean datus, assured them of their peaceful intentions. All they wanted, he explained, was to buy land where he and his men and families could settle peacefully. Marikudo, after consulting with his elders, decided to sell his land to the newcomers. The purchase price was a gold salakot and, to satisfy feminine vanity, a long gold necklace for Maniwantiwan. As was customary, a feast was held, after which Marikudo and his people retired to the interior.
With the datus and their families firmly settled in Panay, Datus Puti, Balensusa, and Dumangsil sailed northward to Luzon, disembarking in the region around Lake Bonbon (Taal). The fertility of the soil led Dumangsil and Balensusa to found settlement there, while Puti, satisfied that his men were leading peaceful lives, returned to Borneo.
In the course of time, Dumangsil and Balensusa's families spread out to the neighboring regions now known as Laguna and the Bicol Peninsula. As for the seven datus in Panay - they also prospered. They divided the island into three districts: Hantik (now Antique), under Datu Sumakwel; Irong-irong (now Iloilo), under Datu Paiburong; and Aklan (now Aklan and Capiz), under Datu Bangkaya.
For the purposes of protection as well as for maintaining close family relations, the datus formed a sort of political organization known as the Confederation of Madyaas, whose ranking chieftain was Sumakwel.
Datu Sumakwel founded the town of Malandog, considered to be the first Malay settlement in the country. Malandog is now a barangay in the present-day municipality of Hamtic, which was named after the historic sakup.
The 10 DATUS are:
1. Datu Puti with wife, Pinagpangan
2. Datu Sumakwel with wife Kapinangan
3. Datu Dumangsil with wife Kabiling
4. Datu Bangkaya with wife Katurong
5. Datu Paiburong with wife Pabilaan
6. Datu Balkasusa
7. Datu Lubay
8. Datu Dumalugdog
9. Datu Balinsusa
10. Datu Padohinog with wife Tibongsapay
