relearning

LEGEND AND HOAXES IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY 

The Philippines has inconclusive roots and background. Archeological artifacts and written documents are not sufficient to narrate the sequence of events that took place during the ancient Philippines. In fact, it is a common problem today to see errors in many history books and other related reading materials because of the absence of strong and common bases or foundations. Inconsistent presentations of crucial names, dates, places, and even events in many historical reading materials are truly destructive. 

Because of inadequate resources, many Filipino historians manage to rely on oral traditions, folk tales, and legends just to fill the gaps or  missing links in the contents of Philippine History. They contaminated and misguided the young minds of Filipino students using oral stories which considered vulnerable to alterations.  Fortunately, several studies have identified some questionable documents and frauds in Philippine history.

Below are the most incredible chapters in Philippine history:

Code of Maragtas - a semi-historical document dated between 1200 to 1250 and was previously known as the oldest written laws in the Philippines. The Code of Maragtas or Sumakwel Code contained laws written by Datu sumakwel, one of the ten Bornean datus who left Borneo in search for freedom and new territories. This document also narrates the story of the arrival of the “Ten Bornean Datus" who allegedly bought the island of Panay from Marikudo, the leader of the Atis/Atis for a golden salakot (native hat) and a long gold necklace for his queen Maniwantiwan.

William Henry Scott found out that the Code of Maragtas was merely an invention of Guillermo Santiago-Cuino's mind which was probably based on Pedro Monteclaro's book published in 1938.

The Ten Bornean Datus - the ten chieftains who allegedly evade the tyrannical ruler of Borneo, Sultan Makatunaw using their boats or balangays.

With their families and men, Datu Balensusa, Datu Bangkaya, (wife, Katurong), Domalogdog, Datu Dumangsil, Datu Dumangsol, Datu Libay, Datu Paiburong (wife, Pabilaan), Datu Pahudinugan (wife, Tibongsapay), Datu Puti (wife, Piangpangan), and Datu Sumakwel (wife, Kapinangan) left their motherland in search for peaceful area. They sailed northeastward even without definite or concrete destination until they reached the Island of Panay.

The 3 datus, Datu Puti, Datu Balensusa, and Datu Dumangsil sailed northward to Luzon to seek another peaceful and fertile land after the establishment of a strong and tranquil community. The seven datus divided the island into 3 areas namely: Aklan, Irong Irong and Hamtik. These malay communities leading to the birth of Philippine population and culture.

However, this historical error was finally exposed in 1968 by William Henry Scott in his dissertation at the University of Santo Tomas. He conducted a series of investigations regarding the original copy of the documents and artifacts. He even interviewed the individuals behind the story such as Jose E. Marco and Pedro Monteclaro. After a hard-work and critical investigations, William Henry Scott found out that the authenticity or reliability of the stories in the Maragtas  is questionable.

Scott successfully defended his investigations before a panel of Filipino historians, namely: Teodoro Agoncillo, Horacio de la Costa, Marcelino Forondo, Mercedes Grau Santamaria, Nicholas Zafra and Gregorio Zaide.

Raha Bendahara Kalantiaw – also known as Datu Kalantiaw (Kalantiao). Datu Kalantiaw is one of the mythical Filipino characters created by Jose E. Marco in his Maragtas Legend. Datu Kalantiaw is allegedly the chief of Negros (or Aklan) about two hundred years after the rule of Datu Bangkaya.

The irregularities of the Code of Maragtas were exposed by the historian William Henry Scott in his PhD dissertation entitled “Critical Study of the Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History”. Based on his investigations, the code is a part of the “Antiguas Leyendas”, a manuscript acquired from Jose E. Marco by the Philippine Library in 1914.

The Code of Kalantiaw is a mythical ancient code written by Datu Kalantiaw, a chieftain of Aklan in 1433. This set of laws obtained widespread negative criticisms as it prescribed extremely barbarous and savage punishments to law offenders or criminals. Furthermore, the laws can be considered as products of irrational or uncivilized people as it inflicted punishment without a due process.

Princess Urduja - is a mythical, legendary warrior-princess who is said to have ruled the dynastic kingdom of Tawalisi, an area lying by the shores of the Lingayen Gulf in the province of Pangasinan. Princess Urduja is recognized as a woman of strong quality and character, skilled fighter, and equestrian. In Pangasinan, Princess Urduja has been depicted as the heroine for defending the agricultural settlements of Pangasinense in the Agno Grande valley.

However, modern scholars and historians believe that Princess Urduja was not Pangasinense but a Cambodian. Restituto Basa, author of “Footnotes on Pangasinan History and The Story of Dagupan” asserts that one who should be honored as a heroine of Pangasinan is Princess Kabontatala, daughter of the ruler of Barangay Domalandan, who married the Chinese pirate Lim-ahong and helped him dig a canal to escape from the Spanish forces who blockaded the mouth of the Agno River (Pangasinan Blog, 2006).