Lakandula
| Lakan Dula | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakan (King) of Tondo. | |||||
| Reign | 1558 – 1571 | ||||
| Predecessor | Rajah Sulaiman I | ||||
| Successor | Rajah Sulaiman III | ||||
| Issue | Batang Dula Magat Salamat | ||||
| |||||
| House | Kingdom of Tondo | ||||
Banaw Lakan Dula (1503–1589), often referred to simply by his title Lakandula, and later baptized Carlos Lacandula, was the Lakan (ruler) of the pre-colonial Philippine Kingdom of Tondo when the Spaniards first conquered the lands of the Pasig River delta in the 1570s.[1] Another common variation of the name is Gatdula.[2] He is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Rajah Lakandula, but the terms "Rajah" and "Lakan" mean the same thing, making that variant of the name redundant.[1]
Along with Rajah Matanda and Rajah Sulayman,he was one of three Rajahs who played significant roles in the drama that was the Spanish conquest of the kingdoms of the Pasig River delta in the early 1570s.
Lakandula as a title for the rulers of Tondo
Banaw was the Lakan's personal name[3][4], and "Lakandula" was the traditional title used for the monarchs of the Kingdom of Tondo.[3][4]
In (Kapampangan, the word Lakan means "lord" and the word dula means "palace", such that the title literally meant "Lord of the Palace."[5]
In the Gatdula variant of the name, the word or prefix Gat is a shortened version of the Tagalog honorific "Pamagat", which at the time meant "nobleman," such that the variant literally read "Nobleman of the Palace", which meant essentially the same thing as the Kapampangan version.[2]
"Lakan" instead of "Rajah"
With the term "Rajah" and "Lakan" meaning the same thing, the "Rajah Lakandula" variation of the title was also never used in the original sources pertaining to Lakandula[6], and Philippine historian and national artist for literature Nick Joaquin takes pains to point out that the term Lakan, not Rajah, was used by the rulers of the Kingdom of Tondo.[1]
Life
The best way to describe the historical Carlos Lakandula is through the 1665 notarized document written as an endorsement of his great-grandson, Don Juan Macapagal, Master-of-Camp and Datu of Arayat:[7]
Don Carlos Lacandola, his great-grandfather, was Lord and principal of the town of Tondo, and other surrounding towns, whose natives paid him tribute and vassalage and other recognition as their natural lord, and when ships from China came to this bay, they similarly paid him duties and anchorage fees, he removing their sails and rudder for this purpose, and taking their merchandise by paying half its value at the time and the other half the next year, without any other natives being able to buy anything from the sangleyes but only from the said Lacandola, from which much profit, which he ceded at the coming of the Spaniards to these Islands, they collecting the said tributes and duties for His Majesty.
Lakandula played a crucial role in pacifying the last independent Luzon states in what is now the province of Pampanga, namely Lubao and Betis. He further helped the Spaniards in defending their foothold in the archipelago from the invading forces of the Chinese pirate Limahong.
Descendants
Lakandula was the most prolific of Luzon's ancient rulers. His descendants are spread out all across the Kapampangan Region during the Spanish colonial era.[7] He fathered at least four sons, namely Don Dionisio Capulong, the Datu of Candaba, Don Phelipe Salonga, the Datu of Pulu, Magat Salamat, the Datu of Tondo and Don Martin Lakandula who entered the Agustinian order as a lay brother in 1590.[7] He had one daughter by the name of Doña Maria Poloin who married Don Alonso Talabos.
Lakandula's sons and nephews were after implicated in the Revolt of the Lakans of 1588, a conspiracy meant to overthrow Spanish that was spearheaded by the former ruling class of the defeated Luzon Empire. His son Magat Salamat was executed by the Spanish authorities while the rest were executed.
Learning from this experience, his great grandson Don Juan Macapagal, Master-of-Camp and Datu of Arayat, aided the Spanish authorities in suppressing the 1660 Kapampangan Revolt of Don Francisco Maniago and the Pangasinan Revolt of Don Andres Malong, and the 1661 Ilocano Revolt. Because of his service to the Spanish crown, the Spanish authorities revived the special privileges offered by the Spanish crown to Lakandula and his descendants spread across the province of Pampanga.[7] A Gremio de Lakandulas was created in 1758 to safeguard the rights and privileges of the Kapampangan descendants of Lakandula.[7] During the British invasion of 1762-64, the descendants of Lakandula, now concentrated in the province of Pampanga, formed a company of volunteers to fight the British and were granted autonomy by Governor General Simon de Anda.[7]
Prominent Lakandula descendants of the 20th century include the former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal, father of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Philippine Senate President Jovito Salonga, pioneer Filipino industrialist Gonzalo Puyat, former Philippine Senate President Gil Puyat and international stage celebrity Lea Salonga.[7]
Legacy
- The Order of Lakandula is one of the highest honors given by the Republic of the Philippines. It is an order of political and civic merit, awarded in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.
- The BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4) was the a Destroyer Escort / Frigate and is the only ex-USN Edsall-class destroyer escort that served the Philippine Navy. She was also the flagship of the Philippine Navy from 1981 to 1988. Struck from the Navy List in 1988, she was still in use as stationary barracks ship in Subic Bay as of 1999.
- The Lakandula Elementary School and Lakandula High School were named after him.
See also
Publications
- Scott, William Henry, Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society, Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1994.
- Tolentino, Aurelio. 1914. Kasulatang Gintû. Manila: Imprenta y Litografia de Juan Fajardo.
References
- ^ a b c Joaqiun, Nick (1990). Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young. City of Manila: Anvil Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-9715693134.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b Scott, William Henry (1992). Looking for the Prehispanic Filipino. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-0524-7.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b Dery, Luis Camara (2001). A History of the Inarticulate. Quezon City: New Day Publishers. ISBN 971-10-1069-0.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b Scott, William Henry (1994). Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN 971-550-135-4.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Tolentino, Aurelio. 1914. Kasulatang Gintû. Manila: Imprenta y Litografia de Juan Fajardo.
- ^ Template:Tl icon Buhay Sa Nayon
- ^ a b c d e f g Santiago, Luciano P.R., The Houses of Lakandula, Matanda, and Soliman [1571-1898]: Genealogy and Group Identity, Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society 18 [1990]