Abstract:
The Principalia Council is the organization of families in the Philippines who descended from the ancient native nobilities of the country. The council is composed of patriarch from eight royal houses of the country with the hereditary heir of Lakan Dula as the Grand Patriarch in respect to the ancient role of the last king of Tondo as the paramount ruler. This article shows the history of the council, the vision and mission, plans and several traditional activities and organizational dynamics within the council. The article also shows the list of recognized principalia families in the country that are updated from time to time.
Who are the Principalia Families of the Philippines?
The Principalia families of the Philippines are the descendants of the prehispanic lakan, sultan, datu, rajah, hadi of the different ancient prosperous native settlements all over the country that were eventually recognized by the Kingdom of Spain as part of the their royal administration in the country. This could be a result of the informal alliance between Lakan Bunao Dula of the Lakanate of Tondo with the Kingdom of Spain. Among the agreement of the Lakanate of Tondo and the Kingdom of Spain are : there will be no more armed conflict between the two kingdoms, the native hereditary leaders will be allowed to use their ancient surnames, they will be free from paying taxes, and they will be appointed as gobernadorcillos of their own settlements. As a gesture of this diplomatic alliance between the Kingdom of Spain and the Lakanate of Tondo, Batang Dula, the eldest son and heir apparent of Lakan Bunao Dula and Senorita Goiti were betrothed and the palace of Lakan Bunao Dula, will be under the protection and maintenance of the Kingdom of Spain. Later, the palace was converted into a dormitory and eventually, a church was built on it. It is now known as the Sto. Nino Church of Tondo. According Re. Fr. Lito Villegas of the Church of Sto. Nino de Tondo, with the death of Lakan Bunao Dula, the Sto. Nino became the "Spiritual head of the Kingdom Tondo with children of Lakan Bunao led by his eldest son and heir apparent Batang Dula acting as the regents of the native kingdom. In the later part of the nation's history, the Philippine Revolution against the Kingdom of Spain will eventually be led by natives of Tondo, Andres Bonifacio and Macario Sakay. When the Philippine Revolutionary Government was hoodwinked by both the Americans and the Kingdom of Spain through the Treaty of Paris, the revolutionary government led by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo filed a formal protest against the treaty and in their protest letter, they mentioned that the sovereignty and mandate of the revolutionary government was derived from the Lakanate of Tondo's mandate of Lakan Bunao Dula.The recognition of the rights and privileges of the Filipino Principalía as equivalent to those of the Hidalgos of Castile appears to facilitate entrance of Filipino nobles into institutions under the Spanish Crown, either civil or religious, which required proofs of nobility. However, such approximation may not be entirely correct since in reality, although the principales were vassals of the Spanish Crown, their rights as sovereign in their former dominions were guaranteed by the Laws of the Indies, more particularly the Royal Decree of Philip II of 11 June 1594, which Charles II confirmed for the purpose stated above, in order to satisfy the requirements of the existing laws in the Peninsula.
From the beginning of the Spanish colonial period, the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi retained the hereditary rights of the local ancient sovereigns of the Archipelago who vowed allegiance to the Spanish Crown. Many of them accepted the Catholic religion and became Spanish allies at this time. He only demanded from these local rulers vassalage to the Spanish Crown,[am] replacing the similar overlordship, which previously existed in a few cases, e.g., Sultanate of Brunei's overlordship of the Kingdom of Maynila. Other independent polities, which were not vassals to other States, e.g., Confederation of Madja-as and the Rajahnate of Cebu, were de facto Protectorates/Suzerainties having had alliances with the Spanish Crown before the Kingdom took total control of most parts of the Archipelago.[15](p33)[25](p4)
A question remains after the cessation of Spanish rule in the Philippines regarding any remaining rank equivalency of Filipino Principalía. Reassuming their ancestral titles as Datus while retaining the Hidalguía of Castile (their former protector state), as subsidiary title, is the logical consequence of the above-mentioned recognition by Charles II of Spain. As guaranteed by this Spanish Monarch's Royal Decree, the ancient nobility of the casiques within his realm (which includes the Filipino Principales) "is still retained and acknowledged".[12](p235)
Besides, the principales retained many of the ordinary obligations of local rulers as manifested in constructing local infrastructures and in maintaining the government offices without funds from Spain. Expenditures of the local government came from the private and personal resources of the principales.[1](p326)[19](p294) These were not taxes that citizens were obliged to pay as tributes required by their Spanish Crown from its subjects.[g] In many ways, the principales retained much of the responsibilities, powers and obligations of the pre-colonial Datus — their predecessors, except for the right to organize their own armed forces. Only the right of Gobernadorcillos to appoint alguacils and "cuadrilleros" (police patrol or assistance) seem to point out to some kind of vestige of this pre-colonial sign of the Datu's coercive power and responsibility to defend his domain.
Like deposed royal families elsewhere in the world, which continue to claim hereditary rights as pretenders to the former thrones of their ancestors, the descendants of the Principalía have similar de jure claims to the historical domains of their forebears.
History of the Principalia Council
Lakan Dula was the most prolific of Luzon's ancient rulers. His descendants are spread out all across the Kapampangan Region during the Spanish colonial era.[3] He fathered at least seven children, namely, the eldest son Batang Dula; the brave Magat Salamat, the Datu of Tondo; the priest Martin Lakan Dula; the childless Don Dionisio Capulong, the Datu of Candaba; Don Phelipe Salonga, the Datu of Pulu; the pretty Maria Poloin, and the mysterious Luis Taclocmao . Batang Dula has three children: David, Daba and Dola. They were hidden in different places within sea routes and given vast tract of lands, farm workers, and armed followers. The plantation given to David was named Kandawid, the one given to Daba was now known as Kandaba and that of Dola is known as Kandola in San Luis Pampanga.Kan is an ancient tagalog word for owned. The well-known descendants of Dola are the Macapagal of Lubao through Carlos Lacandola. The descendants of Daba are the Capulong of Candaba and their relatives are the Gatbontons. The descendants of David Dula y Goiti are the Dulay of Candawid, Isla de Batang, Laoang, Northern Samar, and in Samara, Aringay in La Union. There are other descendants of Lakan Dula such as those who descended from his other children. It is still a historical mystery why only the eldest son, and another child carried the regnal royal surname Dula. The rest adopted a different native sounding surnames (Carating, 2014, p.36).Source: Carating, R. R., Galanta, R.G., Bacatio, C.D.(2014). The Soils of the Philippines. New York City: Springer Science and Business
The Vision - Mission, Plans and Organization of the Principalia Council
The council is envisioning of a Philippines that is corrupt - free, united, prosperous and respects its own history. This vision can be attained through a mission: headed by a stable hereditary council based in the seat of the ancient Lakanate of Tondo, there will be a national organization of principalia families from all over the country who will serve as one of the national institutions that influence public opinions and national governance against corruption, initiate and advocate nationally relevant patriotic projects, work for the unity and sense of patriotism among Filipinos all over the world and champion a pro - Filipino interpretation of Philippine history. The council will honor the timeline of the pre - hispanic history, the list of pre-colonial Philippine royalty of the post classical era and the early modern period; and the norms and traditions of the Council of the Principalia.
Pre-colonial Philippine royalty of the Postclassical Era and the early modern period
Royalty of Luzon |
Magayon | Lam-ang | Jayadewa | Kasumuran | Ganashakti | Bisruta | Namwaran | Angkatan | Bukah Urduja
|
Lakans, Datus and Rajahs of Tondo |
Jayadewa | Pangil |Timamanukum | Suko | Lontok–Kalangitan | Lakan Dula | Magat Salamat |Agustin de Legazpi |Batang Dula
|
Rajahs of Maynila
|
Ahmad | Lontok | Salalila | Ache "Matanda" | Rajah Sulayman
|
Lakans of Namayan
|
Tagkan | Palaba | Laboy | Kalamayin | Martin
|
Lakans, Datus and Rajahs of Lawan (Waray)
|
Datu Hadi Iberein | Datu Ete | Sava | Duma | Kahipus | Yumanaw | Sebaste | Benyamin | Esteban | Petre |
Datus of the Madja-as (Ilongo)
|
Puti | Sumakwel | Bangkaya | Balengkaka | Kalantiaw | Manduyog | Padojinog | Kabnayag |Lubay |Paiburong
|
Datus and Rajahs of Cebu (Cebuano)
|
Daya | Sri Lumay | Alho | Ukob | Bantug | Parang | Humabon | Tupas | Katuna | Lapu-Lapu | Zula
|
Rajahs of Butuan
|
Kiling | Bata | Shaja | Siagu | Kolambu
|
Sultans of Maguindanao
|
Kabungsuwan | Maka-alang | Saripada | Bangkaya | Dimasangcay Adel | Gugu Sarikula | Laut Buisan | Kudarat
|
Sultans of Sulu
|
Sharif ul-Hāshim | Kamal ud-Din | Ala ud-Din | Amir ul-Umara | Muizz ul-Mutawadi-in | Nasir ud-Din I |Muhammad ul-Halim | Batarah Shah Tengah | Muwallil Wasit I | Nasir ud-Din II | Salah ud-Din | Ali Shah | Azim ud-Din I | Bantilan Muizz ud-Din | Azim ud-Din II
|
Source: National Historical Institute, 1964. Any proposed addition to the list should be communicated to the Principalia Council for further historical study and approval.
The timeline of the pre - hispanic history
Based on the Principalia Theory of Austronesian Inter Migration, the Rhinoceros man, Dawn man and Callao man existed in the ancient Philippines (Ophir) as early as 709, 000; 250,000 and 65,000 years ago respectively.
1800 BC – Ancient Lawan Pacific Settlement (Ophir, the homeland of Asians, Polynesians and Austronesian peoples)
1000 BC - Igorot Society (CAR)
601 AD - Chiefdoms of Zabag and Wak-Wak (Pampanga and Aparri
800 AD - Namayan (Mandaluyong, Sta. Ana Manila)
900 AD - Tondo (Tondo, Manila)
971 AD - Huangdom of Ma-i
1176 AD - Kingdom of Tondo
1200 AD - Rajahnate of Cebu, Madjas-as Confederation, Dapitan, Butuan
1252 AD - Lupah Sug (Sulu)
1376 AD - Bruneian Empire
1408 AD - Caboloan Vassal State of Ming China (Pangasinan)
1430 AD - Sultanate of Sulu
1450 AD - Kingdom of Tondo reached its peak with the largest territory in the archipelago
1470 AD - Namayan became a vassal state of Tondo
1492 AD - Kingdom of Taytay (Palawan)
1499 AD - Brunei conquered Ma-i and Sulu
1500 AD - Brunei conquered Tondo's Manila territory and established the puppet Kingdom of Maynila
1501 AD - Maguindanao established
1502 AD - Brunei totally took-over Tondo which lost its territories up north of Luzon.
1521 AD - Magellan reaches the Philippines & is killed by Lapu-Lapu in the battle of Mactan
1522 AD - Maranao established
1532 AD - Lanao established
1564 AD - Sultanate of Ternate established, Spain conquered Cebu
1567 AD - Datu Pagbuaya established
1573 AD - Spain conquered Madjas-As and Tondo
1577 AD - Spain conquered Caboloan
During the WWll, Philippine President Manuel L.Quezon, a native of the Pacific side of the Philippines within the influence of the ancient Lakanate of Lawan (Ophir), saved more than thousand Jews from Europe to be butchered by the Nazis by accepting them into the Philippines and settling them in his properties in Marikina Valley....and the rest is history...
The Royal Houses that Comprise the Council of the Principalia
Prof. Sofronio Dulay | The House of Lakan Dula of the Lakanate of TondoDr. Delmar Taclibon | The House of Magat Salamat of the Lakanate of Tondo
Dr. Cecille Cayetano | The House of Capulong of the Lakanate of Tondo
Jy Macam | The House of Gatbonton of the Lakanate of Tondo
Andrew Miranda | The House of Gatchalian of the Lakanate of Tondo
Rajah Junbert Guigayuma | The House of Tupas Humabon of the Lakanate of Cebu
Apo Remedios Cabate-Cabral | House of Cabailo of the Kingdom of Palawan
Rev. Fr. Lito Villegas | Spiritual Adviser, Principalia Council | Parish Priest, Sto. Nino de Tondo
The Philippine Catholic Church Formally installed the Regents of the Principalia Hereditary Council of the Philippines in a conservative Catholic Rite in the Sto. Nino de Tondo, the ancient Palace of the Last King of Tondo, Lakan Bunao Dula
The Church and state has always been in constant friction in the Philippines despite the fact that even the Bible says that give unto Caesar what is to Caesar, and give unto God what is to God. In Cebu, the Philippine Government is celebrating the 500 years anniversary of the Victory of Mactan, where the native royalty of Lapu Lapu defeated the forces of the Kingdom of Spain led by Magellan. On the side of the Roman Catholic Church, they are celebrating the 500 years of Catholic faith in the Philippines. But somewhere in the seat of the Kingdom of Tondo in Manila, the unity of the church and state is being celebrated today, December 15, 2019, on the occasion of the anniversary of the baptismal of the last King of Tondo, Lakan Bunao Dula into the Catholic faith, the Church installed the Grand Patriarch and his Council of the Principalia Hereditary Council of the Philippines, an association of the descendants of Lakan Dula represented by the Patriarch of the three Royal Houses, namely; the Prof. Sofronio Dulay of the House of Dula as the Hereditary Grand Patriarch, Patriarch Dr. Delmar Taclibon of the House of Magat Salamat and Matriarch Corazon Siya of the House of Sumakwel of the Madja-as Confederation as members of his Council. Other patriarchs and matriarchs of the native royal houses may also be inducted into the council in the future namely; Dr. Julian Canonoy of the House of Lapu Lapu, Dr. Cecille Cayetano of the House of Capulong, Andrew Miranda of the House of Gatchalian and Jy Macam of the House of Gatbonton.The Sto. Nino de Tondo Church is the ancient Palace of the Lakan Bunao Dula, the last King of Tondo before the Philippines was totally subjugated
by the Kingdom of Spain. The Church in - house historian by the name Jr. Susi, who was also interviewed by broadcaster Maan Macapagal in a national TV, I - Witness, retold the history of the ancient palace and the Church during the Dine with the Ancestors Ritual of the Principalia Hereditary Council before the installation of the Grand Patriarch and his Council. Susi mentioned historian Nick Joaquin’s writings that with the death of Lakan Dula, the Kingdom can never be surrendered to the Kingdom of Spain but instead left to the care of the Sto. Nino de Tondo, a symbolism that the native Kingdom was never been captured and humiliated by any other Kingdom. Prior to that, Lakan Bunao Dula was baptized as Lakan Carlos Bunao Dula, in honor of the King of Spain. The circumstances why the Palace became the property of the Catholic Church was not yet clear historically but a priest in the Church said that as per oral accounts, the children of Lakan Bunao Dula led by his eldest son and heir apparent Batang Dula donated the Palace to the Church with the hope that it will become the Church of Sto. Nino de Tondo. Apparently, the Catholic hierarchy gave several tracts of hacienda to the descendants in exchange for the palace – some of these are found in Candaba and Candola in Pampanga and Candawid in Northern Samar. The installation of the Grand Patriarch and his Council started with a short meeting and the Dine with the Ancestors Ritual in a secret chamber of the the Sto Nino de Tondo Church. The “Dine with the Ancestors Ritual” has been a tradition of the descendants of Lakan Dula at the House of Dulay Mendoza in Marikina Valley for so many years. The ritual includes dining of grapes placed in two 16th century plates that were part of the Lakan Dula household, bottles of red wine whose names are hard to pronounce, beside an old bayonet used by Ceferino Rivas Dulay, the 4th hereditary leader of the Dulay Clan of Marikina, while he was still a guerilla fighting the Japanese forces, and a candle being lighted in a classic lamp given by a friend to the House of Dulay Mendoza. When the group of Timothy (who decided to change his name to Pedro during the ritual) of the You Tube’s God Culture fame visited the House, they requested for a Havilah Version of the Dine with the Ancestors Ritual which included a tour at the OLA Church, Shoe Museum, Kapitan Moy and in the nearby tomb of the Jewish – blooded wife of the clan leader Ceferino -- Juana Mendoza Cerbito. After the Dine with the Ancestors Ritual, a former Parish Priest of EDSA Shrine Rev. Father Arnel Calata, Jr. who was assigned to Sto. Nino de Tondo 6 months ago, and the principales proceeded to the mass and the three principales where given the front seat in the mass traditionally reserved for the Lay Minister of the Holy Eucharist. In the mass, Fr. Calata cited the history of the Sto. Nino de Tondo being the ancient Palace of Lakan Bunao Dula, and introduced to the devotees the three Lakan Dula descendants one by one, amidst clapping of hands from the mass attendees. Fr.Calata also mentioned that in that day’s special anniversary of Lakan Dula’s baptismal to the Catholic Faith, Grand Patriarch Dulay representing the House of Dula, Patriarch Taclibon of the House of Magat Salamat and Matriarch Corazon Siya of the House of Sumakwel of the Madja – as Confederation will be officially installed as the regents of the Principalia Hereditary Council of the Philippines. The three were requested to offer the mass: Dulay carried the body of Christ (Holy bread), Taclibon carried the blood of Christ (holy wine) and the Matriarch Corazon Siya and Arlene Uy Corral carried the envelopes containing the money donations to the Church from the House of Magat Salamat and House of Dula respectively. After the mass, the three hereditary leaders were led into the secret chamber of the Church for the formal induction. A Church blessing citing verses from the Bible, and furthermore, Fr. Calata blessed the three regents with the Holy Water for a successful stewardship of the council. The Dine with the Ancestors Ritual was continued in the chamber, this time with the presence of Bambit Dulay and his wife, a world renowned arnis guro, and selected residents of Tondo who ware direct descendants of Lakan Bunao Dula, mostly relatives of barangay Kagawads and a retired city hall employee. The descendants and the parish staff of Sto. Nino de Tondo dined in a sumptuous merienda, drinks, grapes and red wine. The event was covered exclusively by Kalinangan TV of Rjhay Laurea for You Tube audiences and were posted at the FB groups and pages like Rajahnate of Metro Manila, Maharlika, Dulay Tribe, Marikina News, House of Capulong, Descendants of Lakan Dula, KAANAK NG MGA BAYANI, KATIPUNERO AT REBOLUSYONARYO and many others FB groups and websites related to the ancient native royalties and principalia families in the Philippines.Alphabetical List of Well - Known Principalia Families in the Philippines
Adrian of Donsol Sorsogon
Aguinaldo of Kawit Cavite
Alcazar of Argao Cebu
Alzate of Bucay Abra
Andal of Mindoro
Aricayos of Tuy Batangas
Arrozal of San Fernando Pampanga
Balderas-Baviera of Banate Iloilo
Ballesteros of Salapsap Pangasinan
Base of Malitbog Southern Leyte
Buaya of Carles Iloilo
Cahupa of Nagcarlan Laguna
Capulong of Pampanga
Casilao of Batangas City
Catigbac of Lipa City Batangas
Conlu of Victorias City Negros Occidental
Contreras of Mindoro
De Castro of Baliuag Bulacan
De Castro of Magallanes Sorsogon
De Los Reyes of Bauang La Union
De los Santos of Bacolod CityDe Ocampo of Guimba EcijaDimabiling of Indang Cavite
Dulay/Dula of Tondo, Marikina, Samar and La Union
Dumandan of Marikina
Durias of Jimenez Misamis Occidental
Eduarte of Dolores Abra
Elias of Sorsogon City
Fernandez of Talisay City Cebu
Gallanosa of Sta. Magdalena Sorsogon
Gatbonton of Pampanga
Gatchalian of Bulacan
Jakosalem of Dumanjug Cebu
Kahupa of Liliw Laguna
Kiram of Sulo
Lopez of Iloilo
Lucero of Argao Cebu
Macapagal of Pampanga
Magbitac of Angono Rizal
Magdami of Tiaong Quezon
Makaraeg of Villasis Pangasinan
Marcos of Tagbilaran Bohol
Masigan of Cabagan IsabelaMelegrito of Gerona Tarlac
Mendoza of Marikina and Samar
Mercado of Binan Laguna
Miguel of Tarlac City
Miranda of Angeles City Pampanga
Mojica of Cavite
Monaksa of Silang Cavite
Morales of Rosario BatangasMunoz of Nueva Ecija
Ninofranco of Ternate Cavite
Pangalilingan of Cuyapo Pangasinan
Pascasio of San Antonio Zambales
Poblador of Zarraga Iloilo
Punungbayan of Calaca Batangas
Quiaoit of Batac Ilocos Norte
Quilangit of Silay City Negros
Rafael of Ibaan Batangas
Ramo of Corella Bohol
Rodrigo of Malolos Bulacan
Salonga of Rizal
Salamat of Bulacan
Santiago of Pasig
Sauza of MarikinaSoliman of Pampanga
Sta. Ana of Cainta and Pasig
Sumulong of Antipolo
Timbang of Las Pinas
Udtohan of Sogod Cebu
Valenzuela of Barasoain Bulacan
Valmonte of Gapan Nueva Ecija
Ventura of Dinagat Surigao del NorteVillas of Antequera Bohol
Vinoya of Vintar Ilocos Norte
Note: The first gobernadorcillos of every towns and cities of the the Philippines are the probable principalia of the locality because they are the transition from native kingdom to the Spanish administration.