Ancient Tondo

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Luzon Empire. (Discuss)

A portrayal of the Tagalog Maginoo class. From the Boxer Codex, c.1595 AD. Maginoo like these would have formed the ruling caste of Tondo at the time.

Ancient Tondo, also referred to as Tundo, Tundun, Tundok, and sometimes as the Kingdom of Lusong, was a settlement of ancient Filipinos in the Manila Bay area, specifically north of the Pasig river. It is one of the settlements mentioned by the Philippines' earliest historical record, the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. This kingdom initiated diplomatic ties with China under the Ming Dynasty and was a dominant force in regional trade, sparking an attack from Brunei's Sultan Bolkiah in 1500. The Spanish first arrived in Tondo in 1570 and finally defeated the settlements in the Manila Bay area in 1591, after which Tondo came under the administration of Manila, ending its existence as an independent city-state. This subjugated Tondo continues to exist today as a district of the city of Manila.

[edit] The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (900 A.D.)

Laguna Copperplate Inscription (circa 900 AD)

The first reference to Tondo occurs in the Philippines' oldest historical record - the Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI). This legal document, written in Kawi, dates back to Saka 822 - the year 900 AD. The first part of the document says that:

On this occasion, Lady Angkatan, and her brother whose name is Buka, the children of the Honourable Namwaran, were awarded a document of complete pardon from the Commander in Chief of Tundun, represented by the Lord Minister of Pailah, Jayadewa. (Emphasis Added)

Apparently, the document was a sort of receipt that acknowledged that the man named Namwaran had been cleared of his debt to the chief of Tundo, which in today's measure would be about 926.4 grams of gold. ^[1]

The article mentioned that other places in the Philippines and their chiefs: Pailah (Lord Minister Jayadewa), Puliran (Lord Minister Ka Sumuran), Binwangan (unnamed). It has been suggested that Pailah , Puliran, and Binwangan are the towns of Paila,Pulilan, and Binwangan in Bulacan^[1], but it has also been suggested that Pailah refers to the town of Pila, Laguna. ^[2] While the document does not describe the exact relationship of the chief of Tundun with these other chiefs, it at least suggests that he was of higher rank. ^[3]

[edit] Diplomatic ties with the Ming Dynasty (1373 A.D.)

The next reference to Ancient Tondo appears in the Ming Annals (明史), which records the arrival of an Luzon envoy to the Ming Dynasty (大明國) in 1373 AD.^[4] Her rulers were acknowledged not mere chieftains, but as kings (王). ^[5].

[edit] Attack by Sultan Bolkiah (1500 A.D.)

Tondo became so prosperous that around the year 1500 AD, the Kingdom of Brunei attacked it and established the city of Maynila, given the Malay name of Selurong^[6] on the opposite bank of Pasig River. The traditional rulers of Tondo, the Lakandula, retained their titles and property but the real political power now resides in the House of Soliman, the Radjahs of Manila.^[7]

[edit] The Spanish advent (1570–1591)

Spanish colonizers first came to the Manila Bay area and its settlements in June 1570, while Governor-General Legazpi was searching for a suitable place to establish a capital for the new territory. Having heard of a prosperous Muslim settlement on the island of Luzon, Legaspi had sent Martin de Goiti to investigate. When Maynilad's ruler, Rajah Soliman, refused to submit to Spanish sovereignty, De Goiti attacked. De Goiti eventually defeated Soliman, claimed Maynilad in the name of the King of Spain, then returned to report his success to Legazpi, who was then based on the island of Panay.

Legazpi himself returned to take the settlement on June 19, 1591. When the Spanish forces approached the natives burned Maynilad down and fled to Tondo and other neighboring towns.

Legaspi began constructing a fort on the ashes of Maynilad and made overtures of friendship to Rajah Lakandula of Tondo, who accepted. The defeated Soliman refused to submit to the Spaniards, but failed to get the support of Lakandula or of the Pampangan and Pangasinan settlements to the north. When Soliman and a force of Tagalog warriors attacked the Spaniards in the battle of Bangcusay, he was finally defeated and killed.

This defeat marked the end of rebellion against the Spanish amongst the Pasig river settlements, and Lakandula's Tondo surrendered its sovereignty, submitting to the authority of the new Spanish capital, Manila. ^[8]

[edit] Historical theories associated with Ancient Tondo

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (March 2008)

Due to the lack of historical records for the Philippines prior to Spanish colonization, a number of historical theories regarding Ancient Tondo have surfaced over the years.

[edit] The Lesser Song Empire

One theory suggests that after the fall of Nan Song (南宋國, "Southern Song Empire"), the last Song emperor may have escaped to pre-colonial Philippines and established the Luzon Empire or the Lesser Song Empire^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Lakandula as a Title

While most historians think of Lakan Dula as a specific person, with Lakan meaning "chief" and Dula being a proper name, one theory suggests that Lakandula is a hereditary title for the chiefs of the Kingdom of Tondo.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] The heirs of Lakandula

In 1587 Magat Salamat, one of the children of Lakan Dula, and Augustin de Legazpi, Lakan Dula's nephew, and the chiefs of the neighboring areas of Tondo, Pandacan, Marikina, Candaba, Navotas and Bulacan were executed for secretly conspiring to overthrow the Spanish colonizers. Stories were told that Magat Salamat's descendants settled in Hagonoy, Bulacan and many of his descendants spread from this area.^{[citation needed]})

David Dula y Goiti, a grandson of Lakan Dula with a Spanish mother [1] escaped the persecution of the descendants of Lakan Dula by settling in Isla de Batag, Northern Samar and settled in the place now called Candawid (Kan David). Due to hatred for the Spaniards, he dropped the Goiti in his surname and adopted a new name David Dulay [2]. He was eventually caught by the Guardia Civil based in Palapag and was executed together with seven followers. They were charged with planning to attack the Spanish detachment.

Former President Diosdado Macapagal, father of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is also said to be a descendant of Rajah Lakandula.

[edit] References

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] LCI Era

• Joaqiun, Nick (1988). Culture and History. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc., 411. ISBN 971-27-1300-8. 
• Jocano, F. Landa (2001). Filipino Prehistory: Rediscovering Precolonial Heritage. Quezon City: Punlad Research House, Inc.. ISBN 971-622-006-5. 
• Scott, William Henry (1992). Looking for the Prehispanic Filipino. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-0524-7. 
• Ongpin Valdes, Cynthia, “Pila in Ancient Times”, Treasures of Pila, Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc. 
• Santiago, Luciano, “Pila: The Noble Town”, Treasures of Pila, Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc. 

[edit] Bolkiah Era

• “National Day of Brunei Darussalam (Editorial)”, Manila Bulletin, February 23, 2006, <http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/02/23/OPED2006022356993.html> 
• Laput, Ernesto. The first invader was a neighbor: Ang Unang Conquistador (HTML). Pinas: Munting Kasaysayan ng Pira-pirasong Bayan. elaput.com. Retrieved on February 5, 2008.

[edit] Spanish Era

• Alabastro, Tony (April 29, 2002). Soul of the Walled City (Brief History of Intramuros) (html). Retrieved on 5 February 2008.
• Flores, Wilson Lee (February 22, 2005), “Proud to be a Tondo Boy”, The Philippine Star, <http://www.manila-map.com/history.html> 
• Joaquin, Nick (1983). The Aquinos of Tarlac: An Essay on History as Three Generations. Manila, Philippines: Solar Publishing Corporation.