SUPREME COUNCIL OF DATUS- ALIMAONG
Since time immemorial, as far as our great, great ancestors can recall, the confederacy of Tribal Warriors (ALIMAONG, BAGANI, MANGAYAW, BATA- RATO, ALAMARA, KUYOG, etc.) dated back after the coming of the ten (10) Datus of Borneo during the first century of the Christian Era, a confederate in Borneo and Malaysia known as the confederation of SRI-VIJAYANS (VISAYAS).
Our great-great ancestors came from the Visayas especially from Cebu, Mactan and neighboring islands.They migrated to Mindanao (Mangdanaw) or “Dakung Yuta” only during the time when Spanish conquestadores arrived in Cebu particularly during the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1565 whose mission was to recover the remains of Fernando de Magallanes, who was killed by our famous Tribal Warrior, KALI PULAKO known in history as LAPU-LAPU.(It was the American historian Blair & Robertson who changed Pulako into Lapu-lapu. Pulako means “PULAHAN AKOH” or “Tribal Warrior”.
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi pretended to make friends with the different ethnic tribes of Cebu then headed by DATU TUPAS, a nephew of RAJAH HUMABON. But in reality his plans was to colonize the whole archipelago, seeing the great wealth the islands posseses. This is the reason why our great ancestors migrated to Mindanao and few remained in the Visayas and shy-away from the Spanish authorities being a freedom loving people.
The famous battle fought by these Tribal Warriors was in April 27, 1521 (as chronicled by Piggaffita) known as the “Battle of Mactan” led by Kali (Chief) Pulaku (Lapu-lapu) of the Higadnon Tribe. After that famous battle, almost all of the tribes in Mactan had already evacuated to safety to nearby islands especially in Sogod Cebu, Camotes Island, Bohol, Leyte, Siquijor, Negros and Panay for fear of reprisals from the Spanish colonizers who brought with them heavy cannons and powerful firesticks(muskets). Majority of these Tribal Warriors and their kindreds escaped to MANGDANAW(Mindanao) known as “Dakung Yuta” and continued confederating themselves in the defense of their respective tribes. In 1563, one of them was the famous DATU PAGBUAYA from Bohol who settled to Dapitan with tribes from Panglao, Baclayon, Lobok and Dawis.
Majority of these Higadnon Tribes who had settled in Mindanao had inter-marriages with the tribes of mountain ranges known as GAON. Because of these inter-marriages, the chieftains made an agreement amongst themselves called TAMPODAs to unite the coastal living people(Higadnon) and the mountain people(Gaon) so as not to lose their identity of their original tribes. Thus, the present day word HIGA-ONON. Their Tribal Warriors were then called “ALIMAONG” in honor of a mythical bird which guard the tribes in times of calamity, disaster and crisis.(Visayan Tribal Warriors were called ”PULAHAN” & upon reaching Mindanao they used ALIMAONG to deceive their enemies and using “Temory” as a means of communication).
Before Kali Pulako became the chieftain of Mactan Island excluding Cordova (southern part of the island) which was ruled by another DATU ZULA, Mactan Island was ruled by his father, DATU MANGAL or RAJAH KUSGANO and his wife MATANG MATAUNAS (that is where Mactan Island got its name), together with their Tribal Chieftains in the different coastal areas of the island. Cebu is being ruled by RAJAH HUMABON. The following are the respective Datus and their area of jurisdiction known as the COUNCIL of DATU MANGAL:
- DATU SAMPANG BAHA- together with his petty chiefs ruled Pusok including Basak. Sometimes called Sagpang Baha. He was known for his exceptional strength of reversing the flow of water of any river or any onrushing flood by a mere slapping of his palm.
- DATU UMINDIG- together with his petty chiefs ruled Ibo. The oldest of the chieftains. He was the champion in wrestling and can use the Kampilan(Indonesian sword) with ease to defend himself from attacks.He was the instructor of Kali Pulako in wrestling.
3. DATU MANGTAUNAS- ruled Buaya. He excelled in the Art of Arnis and was the instructor of Kali Pulako.
4. DATU BUGTO PASAN- ruled Punta Engano. He can shot an arrow with deadly accuracy. He can break a rope as big as wrest of an adult person.
5. DATU EMING-ING- ruler of Agus (inland near Cordova). Expert in arnis and wrestling.
- DATU TINDAK BUKID- ruler of Marigondon. He has a tremendous strenght that he could sweep and demolish a mountain by just one kick.
7. DATU BALI ALHO- ruler of Maribago. The youngest of all the Tribal Chieftains of Mactan Island. He has an unusual strength that can break a pestle (alho) by his bare hands without even straining himself.
The different ethnic tribes of Visayas and Mindanao principally the HIGADNON, the Manobos and Subanen were all scattered in the different islands and barangays. The Datus, Rajahs, Timuays maintained discipline among their own tribes and they were not so united with other tribal leaders not like today. The people living near the rivers and river banks maintain their tribal identity as Subanon or Subanen. Other highlanders remain the same such as Manobos, T’boli, B’laan, Mansaka, Mamanwa, Ati, Eskaya, Magahat, Tiduray, etc.
Forty-four years later, in 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi came back to the Philippines at the time when Tupas was the King of Cebu. King Tupas was the last King of Cebu. He inherited his kingdom after the death of his father in 1562. His father, Sharif Maka-alang Sarriparra was protecting Bohol that was then under attack by the group of Sultan Hairun of Ternate, aided by the Portuguese. When he reigned as King of Cebu, he formed the “Pinatikang Manggugubat”, composed of 500 tribal warriors, who were referred to by the Spaniards as “Quinientos Pintados”, i.e. the five hundred tattooed men. (The more tattoos a warrior had, the braver he was).
The “Quinientos Pintados” of Tupas were the protectors of Cebu. Even Sultan Hairun of Ternate avoided attacking Cebu because of the reputation of Tupas’ five hundred tattooed men, locally called “Sugbo Panalipdan-Pakamatyan”.
King Tupas, having learned earlier from his friends and relatives in Bohol that Legazpi planned to attack Cebu, Tupas proceeded to prepare his men and women for the coming battle. Some Tupas relatives in Cebu fled to Leyte, Negros, Panay, and Mindanao. Those who remained in Cebu changed their names and religion to avoid the cruelty of Juan de Salcedo, the nephew of Legazpi who assumed command after Legazpi died from heart attack.
King Tupas with his wives and his heir Pisunkan, escaped to Mindanao and joined with his half-brother and other tribes. He changed his name to Datu Bangkaya and jointly ruled with his half-brother, in the PULANGI River(Pulahan+ Sangi [red river]) or “RIVER OF THE HOLY WARRIORS” in Mindanao. Bangkaya became sole ruler when his elder brother died. He pretended that he died in 1578, just to misguide the Spaniards who wanted his neck. Datu Bangkaya, formerly King Tupas, died in his old age in the Pulangi river in Mindanao as a Moslem. His heir Pisunkan adopted a name of Sharif Dimansangkay.
These Indigenous People (IPs) were recognized, respected and protected by the Philippine Constitution and have special privileges. During the time of the late President Diosdado Macapagal, he created a Commission on National Integration (CNI) headed by Sultan Deron Samporna, whose tasks is to integrate all the different ethnic groups into the mainstream of society. When President Ferdinand Marcos issued the Presidential Decree 1414 creating the Presidential Assistance for National Minorities (PANAMIN) in order to consolidate all the different ethnic groups in the Philippines, several Datus, Timuays, Rajahs of Visayas and Mindanao organized the Supreme Council of Datus-GIPOLON, whose task was to participate actively in the socio-economic development program and peace and order campaign of the government. Our tribal people penetrated into the different hinterland barangays of Visayas and Mindanao to bring the cultural people closer to the government without any remunerations, consolidating them and teaching them on spiritual upliftment, moral values, medical mission by using herbal medicine, modern agriculture, diversified farming and fishing. Most of all on the preservation of mother nature earth.
Under Executive Order 122-C of President Corazon Aquino, the PANAMIN was abolished and changed to Office for Muslim Affairs-Cultural Communities(OMA-CC) and later on became the Office for Northern Cultural Communities(ONCC) and the Office for Southern Cultural Communities(OSCC). Under RA 8371 known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997(IPRA), ONCC and OSCC was merged and became the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF DATUS-ALIMAONG known as the Citizens’ Soldiers of the Cultural Communities was reformed from the Supreme Council of Datus-GIPOLON, to continue the task in aid to the government. It is a confederacy of the different tribes of the archipelago. Its mandate is to protect, preserve and develop our ancestral domains, culture, tradition and institution. Being the protector of our cultural people, we also participate actively in the socio-economic and peace and order campaign of the government. During Martial Law years, the Alimaongs had participated in OPLAN White Dove, under Task Force Kaunlaran, IV PC ZONE. To this day, these tribal warriors had participated in the various military campaigns such as Operations Plan (OPLAN) Lambat Bitag, PNP OPLAN PAGLINGAP, PARTICIPATED IN THE JOINT TASK FORCE “COMET” to address the problem of ABBU SAYYAF and AFP Internal Security Operations PLAN 02-01 “Bantay Laya” and “Balangai”.
In addition to the government’s thrust on peace and order, we also monitor the illegal fishing of our local fishermen with our own Bantay Dagat without any centavo from the government and private funding. We report these illegal activities to authorities concerned, so do with illegal logging in some areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
Education is our only tool for development and globalization, so we encourage our tribesmen to go to school. For those who can not afford, the Supreme Council recommends them for scholarship from any charitable institutions, schools and other non-government organizations….
To this day the confederacy of the different Tribal Warriors continue in the defense of their ancestral domains, beliefs, customs, traditions and institutions.
Misamis Oriental used to be part of Cebu. In 1818, it became a “conregimento” made up of 4 “partidos” or divisions; namely, Partido de Misamis, Partido de Dapitan, Partido de Cagayan and Partido de Catarman. The name “Misamis” comes from the word “KUYAMIS,” a local variety of sweet coconut. The province’s original inhabitants were Bukidnons and the Manobos. They were driven into the interior when Visayan settlers arrived. During the later part of the 19th century, Misamis was one of the 6 districts of Mindanao, and later, one of the seven districts in Mindanao and Sulu at the close of the Spanish era with Cagayan de Misamis, now Cagayan de Oro, as its capital. When it was still part of the district of Cebu, there were 12 Spaniards and 9 Filipinos who successively served as “GOVERNADORE” with Mayor Carabello as the first governor in 1874.
The earliest known settlers of the territory were the Negritoes and the Higadnons (people living in the coastal areas of the Visayas). Centuries later, Austronesian colonists fought the natives for the control of the rich Cagayan River coastal plains. The struggle for possession has finally won the native Visayans, who were highly spiritually guided and highly skilled in the art of Kali(native stick fighting), Kontao (native martial arts being taught only to the royal families) and Bono (native combat judo) over the Bukidnons. In the 1500s most of the Mindanao area had fallen under the Muslim and the inhabitants were converted into Islam through trading and cross marriages.
As part of Mindanao, the Higaonon natives of the territory (Higadnon native who have cross marriages with the people of mountain ranges known as Gaon), cross marriages with the natives of the Visayas, live in an atmosphere of justice and tranquility because of the “ TAMPUDA HA APAT HA PASAGI TA PUSOD TA DAGAT-1419” (Peace Treaty of Four Rulers in Central Mindanao). Central Mindanao was ruled by Datu Man-utob, a wise and brave ruler. He was such a respected ruler that all the Datus under him were all in awe of him. Even the datus of Cagayhaan (now Cagayan de Oro City) ruled by Datus Abaga, Binandina and Ganza, Datus Tombalan, Mansingkatol, Manimohod, Mansihabo, Tingkayogan, Yagoma, and Magoliok, all of Tagoloan and of Maguindanao and Dagsaan (now Lanao) respected and feared him. He was so well known that even Sultan Kabungsuan and other Muslim leaders visited him at his domain in Tikalaan several times to establish good relationship during the propagation of Islam. The Muslims were already well established in Maguindanao, Lanao, Sulu and Tagoloan. Datu Man-utob was so well known that even Sultan Kabungsuan and other Muslim Leaders visited him at Tikalaan several times to establish good relationship during the propagation of Islam. During this time, Mindanao tribal wars were prevalent. The inhabitants in the coastal areas could not go up to the mountains for fear of ambush and killings; neither could the inhabitants in the mountains go to the coastal areas. Datu Man-utob acceded to the call for peace among the rulers of Mindanao. He hosted a peace treaty at Tikalaan called TAMPUDA HA APAT HA PASAGI TA PUSOD TA DAGAT (a native term meaning “Peace Treaty of Four Rulers in Central Mindanao”). The terms of the treaty was specific- to achieve peace for them to live in an atmosphere of justice and tranquility. Transgressors were dealt with accordingly.
Further, intermarriages between their people were encouraged.
All of these were recorded in the Sila-sila(tarsila) of the Maranaos, the Skrit of the Maguindanaos and the Halads(salsila) of the Higaonons.
Not long after the peace treaty in Tikalaan, the Spaniards came to Cagayan de Oro to establish their seat of government. Likewise, they came to Tikalaan where they gave the reigning datu a Spanish Flag and a Cabo Negro cane.
However the inhabitants were subservient to foreign domination, hence, there was no known occurrence of any serious trouble between them.
Sometime in 1902, the Americans arrived in Cagayan de Oro. The American regime encouraged the people to participate in running the government thus, in 1904 Datu Mansayagnon was appointed 1st Mayor of Talakag. In 1906. Amay Tigsay was appointed Mayor of Talakag and he continued to hold office at Patpat until 1910. Jose Levanta, son of Mansayagnon, was elected Mayor and was in office until 1918.
Further, intermarriages between their people were encouraged.
Other Cross-Marriages in Mindanao:
The PULAHAN/ALIMAONG WARRIORS of King Tupas with the different tribes in Mindanao. The Maranao Tribes with the Higaonon Tribes, the Maguindanaon with the Manobo and other tribes.
…….THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURE,,,THE SPIRIT LIVES ON,,,,, FOR OUR COUNTRY TO GROW, IT MUST HAVE NEW PATRIOTS, NEW IDEAS, NEW SACRIFICES TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE NEXT CENTURY…
”A Tribal Government” that is to withstand the test of time rather than one that merely satisfies the need of the moment, it must be built upon firm moral foundations. Certainly it must not be based upon the domination of the powerful over the weak, the wealthy over the poor, but one founded on a vision of common humanity or to use the Quaranic Expression, UMMATAN WAHIDATAN…
(sgd)APO AMAY(Grand Chief) TAWAHIG
(Engr. Roderick D Sumatra, GSC)
National Chairman
SUPREME COUNCIL OF DATUS – ALIMAONG
31 December 2002