The Need to Re-examine the historical books about the People whom Spanish Colonizers called “Filipinos”

The Need to Re-examine the Historical Books

About the People whom Spanish Colonizers called “Filipinos”

By Apolinario Villalobos

It is surprising to know that well-known writers were vocal about the supposedly Malaysian ancestry of the Filipinos, a reference which yet, was imposed by the Spanish colonizers. These early writers obviously based their claim on the “Ten Bornean Datus” and the “Code of Kalantiaw”, the veracity of which, have been questioned, since researchers today consider them as “legends”. Pre-Spanish history books made mention about the natives of the islands of Southeast Asian islands, and with whom the early traders such as Indians, Arabs and Chinese had a prosperous commercial intercourse, and in the process intermarried with them. It could be possible that because of trading ventures, those from the Malay Peninsula who have ventured into the Philippine archipelago could have also intermarried with the natives just like the three mentioned groups of traders, but who were never referred to as the ancestors of Filipinos in general . It is unfair then to make a sweeping reference to the Malaysians as the common ancestors of the Filipinos.

The following are some disturbing quotes:

From the poem,”I am a Filipino Boy”, by Amado M. Yuzon, in his book, “The Citizen’s Poems” (1960), the first two line state:

“I am a Filipino boy,

Runs in my veins, Malayan blood;”

From the poem, “Filipinas”, of the same author, from the same book, the second paragraph states:

“I see its face upon your face,

My friend, my sister, my brother;

Your browny skin is its Malayan race,

The Blessed Damosel(?) its mother.

From the book, “Philippine Civics” (1932), used in elementary schools during the American Regime, and authored by Conrado Benitez, p. 16 of Chapter I, the last paragraph states:

“At this point you should recall your Philippine History. How did the first Malay settlers of the Philippines reach these islands? Did they not come in boats called barangays? Yes, these boats or barangays, were loaded with families of Malay immigrants which were related to one another and which constituted a gens(?), or clan, that was under a headman, or chief, or dato. (He must be referring to the legendary “Ten Bornean Datus”).

On page  220, Benitez, emphasized the “Malays” by stating:

“The activities of these early Malays were characterized by cooperation……” (referring to the early Filipinos).

Another emphasis which the same author made was on the title itself of Chapter XIV:

“CHAPTER XIV – How Spain Built Upon our Old Malay Government”

Still, on page 270, Benitez, stated, under a sub-chapter, Bill Of Rights: “Under our old Malayan government, the people had few personal rights.”

Practically, the book of Benitez is replete with reference to the Malaysian ancestry of Filipinos, quoting them all would need several blog pages.  At the time of the book’s publication, he was the Director of Business Administration of the University of the Philippines. His family established the Philippine Women’s University (PWU), located along Taft Avenue. While he was still alive, clamors to re-write history books of the Philippines were loud in view of the questionable ancestry of the Filipinos, based on the controversial “Ten Bornean Datus” and “Code of Kalantiaw”, but he did nothing to republish his own book with necessary rectifications. Researchers who may encounter a copy of the book then, but who has no knowledge on the questionable issue of the Filipino ancestry, will definitely, gobble up the information that Benitez presented.

While the issue on Filipino ancestry has not been settled yet, the Philippine government has added confusion by allowing “authorities” in converting the textbooks into workbooks on other subjects, leaving many students ignorant of what really happened in the past, such as the effort of many national heroes who practically shed blood to gain freedom for the country.

On the issue of Mindanao autonomy, there is no need to cite questionable historic references to give it weight, as we, the people of the Philippines are proud anyway, or our unique Filipino race. There is diversity in religion and culture, just like in any other country, but what cannot be questioned is the harmony that unites us all. And, just like in any other country, the world over, the meddling of politics creates animosities in our country, resulting to the suffering of the Filipinos as a people.

Historically, Malaysian kaya tayo?…kung hindi matanggap, eh di, “Aeta” na lang!

Historically, Malaysian kaya tayo?
…kung hindi naman matanggap, eh di, “Aeta” na lang!
Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Kung gagayahin ng Malaysia ang pamimilosopo ng Tsina sa pag-angkin ng halos lahat ng mga bahura o reefs sa West Philippine Sea at karagatan mismo, ay kaya nilang gawin, kung ibabatay pa rin sa kasaysayan. Nakasaad kasi sa history books na ginagamit sa mga eskwelahan sa Pilipinas ang tungkol sa “Ten Bornean Datus” na nakarating sa Visayas, particularly sa Panay Island, at doon ay nadatnan nila ang mga “Aeta” sa pamumuno ni Marikudo na nagbenta sa kanila ng lupang matitirhan. Ang mga “Aeta” o “Ati” sa salitang Bisaya ay maliliit na taong kulot ang buhok, sarat ang ilong, at maitim ang balat. Ibig sabihin, ang mga “Aeta” ang talagang mga lehitimong katutubo ng Pilipinas.

Noong panahon ni Marcos, napag-alamang may mga dapat baguhin sa mga nilalaman ng mga libro tungkol sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. May ginawa na kaya rito ang nanahimik na National Historical Commission? Bakit hindi rin sila kumikibo sa isyu ng West Philippine Sea na may kinalaman sa kasaysayan? Bakit hindi nila opisyal na ituwid ang mga maling itinuturo sa mga bata? Kulang kaya sa budget? Naibulsa din kaya ng mga kawatan ang budget nila? Yong DepEd naman at CHED, busy ba sa pag-apruba ng maraming workbook na hindi na magagamit uli?

Ang nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea ay dapat isisi sa unang gumawa ng mapa ng mundo kung saan ay nakasulat ang “South China Sea”, kaya akala tuloy ng mga Intsik ay kanila ang malawak na karagatang ito dahil may pangalan nila. Kung nakaisip ang mga cartographer noon ng “Pacific Ocean” at “Atlantic Ocean”, bakit hindi sila nakaisip ng ibang pangalan sa halip na “South China Sea”, ganoong napakalayo na nito sa mainland China? Intsik din kaya ang gumawa ng mapa?

Ang dapat namang sisihin sa haka-hakang nanggaling ang lahi ng Pilipino sa Malaysia, ay ang nagpangalandakan ng “Ten Bornean Datus”, dahil gusto lang yata niyang magkaroon ng kulay ang librong isinulat, kaya nilagyan ng ganitong kwento. Pati ang “katotohanan” tungkol sa Kalantiaw Code ay pinagdudahan na rin. Subalit ang masaklap ay ginamit pa ang kasaysayan sa isang TV series na “Amaya” kaya lalong nag-ugat ng malalim ang pinagdudahang mga pangyayari noong unang panahon. Aliw na aliw naman ang mga nanonood dahil kay Marian Rivera! Ganyan na ba kababaw ang Pilipino?

At dahil sa ugali ng Pilipino na malikhain, pinagbatayan pa ng isang relihiyosong festival ang pagdating ng mga datu sa Panay. Gumawa sila ng “Ati-atihan”, isang nakalilitong festival dahil hindi malaman kung saan nakasentro ito… kung sa Sto. Niῆo o sa mga “Aeta”. Narambol din ang mga costume, kaya nagpapaligsahan na lang sa pagka-outlandish at kulay. Bakit hindi nililinaw ng simbahang Katoliko at ahensiyang may kinalaman sa kasaysayan ang mga kalituhang ito? Dahil ba naging tourist attraction na?

Pero, para safe ang mga nagpi-festival na lunsod…yong sa Iloilo, tinawag na “Dinagyang”…yong sa Cebu, tinawag na “Sinulog”. Samantalang, itinuloy na lang ng Kalibo, tunay na pinanggalingan ng festival na ito, ang dati nang tawag na “Ati-Atihan”. Kalaunan, naging generic na rin ang katawagan, dahil basta may mga costume at street dancing, ang festival ay itinuturing na “ati-atihan”. Yan ang isa sa mga malinaw na katunayan tungkol sa ating nakalilitong pagkakakilanlan.

Ngayon, kung hindi matanggap na ang ninuno ng mga Pilipino ay ang mga “Aeta” na dinatnan ng mga datu galing Borneo, ibig sabihin, mga Malaysian kaya tayo? Ang malinaw kasi, hindi tayo Kastila, Amerikano, o Hapon – mga lahing umalipin sa atin. Ang pagkaroon ng kulay ng mga Pilipino, na kayumangging mapusyaw, o tisayin at tisuyin ay resulta lamang ng mga pambubuntis na ginawa ng mga dayuhang ito sa mga babaeng native noon kaya nahaluan ang dugo nila at ang resulta ay ang mga sumunod na henerasyon.

Malinaw ang kalituhan natin sa tunay na pagkakakilanlan ng ating lahi. Kaya sa kalituhan, madalas ayaw aminin ng mga Pilipinong nasa abroad na sila ay galing sa lahing sinakop ng ibang bansa. At, ang ganyang kahinaan din ang magpapalaho ng ating lahi kung hindi tayo magkakaisa dahil lamang sa magkaibang paniniwala sa Diyos na isinalaksak lang din sa kaisipan ng ating mga ninuno noong panahon ng pananakop. Ang katatagan ng isang lahi ay nakasalalay sa katatagan din ng tunay na identity nito. Kung nakakalito ang identity, hindi buo ang pagkatao ng mga taong tinutukoy ng lahi.

Sa isang banda, kung sa Amerika naman nakatira ang nagdi-deny na Pilipino siya, para sa akin ay okey lang…kung TNT siya!…o Tago Ng Tago! Mag-ingat lang siya dahil maari siyang ipagkanulo ng kalahi niya kapalit ang ilang pirasong berdeng pera na kung tawagin ay dolyar!

Is the BBL Intent made clear by the MNLF “story” of a Bangsamoro Republik?

Is the BBL Intent Made Clear
by the MNLF “story” of a Bangsamoro Republik?
By Apolinario Villalobos

Ever since MILF came out with its BBL proposal that shall pave the ground for the establishment of the Bangsamoro, some Filipinos did not believe its sincerity as for them, the MNLF and BIFF are not really excluded from the picture. For the suspicious, even the death of the bomb maker, Basit Usman was caused only by a petty misunderstanding between the low-ranking members of the MILF and his (Usman) party that led to provocation and later, the deadly altercation. As for the MNLF, some parties believe that it has a mutual understanding with MILF that stands until the passing of the unrevised BBL. Fortunately, lawmakers discovered that some of BBL’s provisions are leading towards the establishment of a separate state.

When the delay for the passing of the BBL was delayed, there was an immediate reaction from the MNLF. Even Malaysia was alarmed, a questionable reaction as it was just expected to be an observer…and the only one that reacted. The delay is in view of the government’s intention to ensure that the BBL will maintain the status of Bangsamoro as an integral part of the country. Malaysia even warned of trouble, an uncalled for remark….but why? What is its interest in the ongoing process?

Now, the MNLF is saying that its plan is to establish a Bangsamoro Republik that would include the whole of Mindanao, Sulu and Tawi-tawi islands, Palawan, Sarawak and Sabah, with Malaysia, supposedly behind this effort. Is this the reason why the Sulu sultanate is not supportive of BBL? Why did MNLF come out with such statement only now when there is a problem with the passing of the BBL? Is this not a ploy to force the lawmakers to double time the passing of the BBL, so that they can proceed to the next stage which is the compromise between the MILF, MNLF, and BIFF for the eventual establishment of the republic, a feat which will not require much sweat as the Bangsamoro of MILF, based on the unrevised BBL is a virtual separate state, so leaders can do as they wish? Meanwhile, the BIFF may come in as the republic’s military arm.

If the Bangsamoro Republik will push through, it can easily join Malaysia’s federation as a federal state.

Ethnically, the light-skinned Filipinos without trace of white people’s blood, can trace their ancestry to the Malays. Though disputed, the story of the Ten Bornean Datus who came to the shores of the Philippines to escape the tyranny of their sultan, Makatunaw, tells some. The ten Bornean datus purportedly first landed in the Visayas, particularly Panay, and negotiated with Marikudo, the chieftain of the black-skinned pygmies locally called “ati”, for the purchase of land which they successfully did using a “sadok” (hat) made of gold for the chieftain and a long necklace of gold for his wife, Maniwantiwan or Maniwangtiwang. In another legend, the payment included a basin of gold. From Panay island, some datus sailed down to Mindanao, and some to Luzon where they settled. That is why when the Spaniards came, they found settlements of Mohammedans in Manila and some islands ruled by the “lakans” and “datus”.

As regards Mindanao, briefly, this is how its Islamization and peopling by those from Malaysia, came about: In 1380, Islam was introduced in Sulu via Malacca, by Mudum (Makdum?); followed by Rajah Baginda of Menangkabaw, Sumatra in 1390; and further, followed by Abu Bakr (Bakar) who left Palembang for Sulu in 1450 and married Rajah Baginda’s daughter, Paramisuli. On mainland Mindanao, Serif (Sharif) Kabungsuan, arrived from Johore and also laid down the foundation of Islam. He eventually became the first Sultan of Mindanao, from where, it rapidly spread to Visayas and Luzon. The arrival of the Spaniards made the Muslims retreat to the hinterlands. Their presence in Luzon was confirmed by the Spaniards who called them “Moros” which was intentionally used for its bad repute, but later cleansed by Filipino Muslims with much effort and success.

Another group of settlers, known as Orang Dampuans, came to Mindanao from the south of Annam with the sole purpose of establishing a trading post. The Sulu people when they came were then, called Buranun. The Orang Dampuans were followed by the traders from Banjarmasin and Brunei, important states of the Sri Vijaya Empire. The people of Banjarmasin were called Banjar who brought their beautiful princess to Sulu, and was offered for marriage to the Buranun ruler. With the marriage, Sulu came under the influence of Banjarmasin and from the union, came the rulers of Sulu.

As gleaned from the pages of history, there was a two-pronged movement of people from the Malaysian archipelago, with one that settled first in Panay, in the central Philippines, from where they spread to other islands, and with the massive one that also introduced Islam, that settled first in Sulu and mainland Mindanao, and eventually spread to Visayas and Luzon, until the arrival of the colonizing Spaniards.

The conversion of the majority of Filipinos into Christianity by the colonizing Spaniards made the archipelago “the only Christian-dominated” country in Asia. Unfortunately, despite such spiritual status, many if not most of its officials, do not live up to it, as they proved to be corrupt which is very un-Christian.

On the other hand, Malaysia has a lot to explain if indeed, what the MNLF claims is true. It will come out that they betrayed the trust of the Philippine government when it was asked to sit as observer in its negotiation with MILF. The betrayal is in their cuddling of Nur Misuari and his Bangsamoro Republik advocacy, all the while, that the peace process is going on. Malaysia should vehemently deny it publicly if only to prove that it can still be trusted by the Philippine government. Its silence could mean something which may have a negative implication.

If the people of the whole of Mindanao and Palawan will be made to understand the whole situation that leans heavily on ethnic history of the country, a lot of patience is needed as Christianity has been deeply imbedded in their heart and mind. If the Bangsamoro Republik will materialiaze, definitely, those who live within the territory will no longer be called“Filipino” but “Moro”, as the state will be called “Bangsamoro” or “land of the Moro”.

On solid lands where states or countries are situated, thin demarcation lines that indicate territorial boundary separate them from each other, guarded by foot patrols. If the Bangsamoro Republic materializes, Mindanao and Palawan will be separated from Luzon and Visayas by significantly wide body of water and channels.

The Philippines as an archipelago is “united” by the commercial airlines and roll on-roll off ferries, but not well secured because of the inadequate navy and military facilities. These security contingents use second hand equipment, which are either purchased at bargain prices using measly budget provided by the government or donated by sympathizing countries. And, even the purchases were not spared by evil minded officials as they reeked of corruption. The negligence and corruption in the Philippine government in this regard have caused the immense suffering of the Filipinos in general.

Finally, I do not think the zealous Muslim Filipinos would have thought of the separation, if only the Philippine government has been fair to all the citizens. Corrupt Muslim government officials, on the other hand, should not be blamed solely for their neglect of Mindanao, as the same neglect is also prevalent in the Visayas and Luzon regions, committed by Christian officials. In other words, corruption is prevalent in the whole system of the Philippine republic. And there are even more of these corrupt Christian officials in the central government, so these hypocrite better stop their finger pointing while the innocent ordinary Filipinos, both Muslims and Chrisitians, are left desperately apprehensive, confused, and helpless, as their beloved country is at the verge of being dissected!