Umalohokan

Umalohokan refers to the town criers of ancient Philippines Barangay. They were responsible for going around and making people aware of new laws and policies enacted by the Datu or cheiftain. [cite book|last=Agoncillo|first=Teodoro A. |coauthors=Oscar M. Alfonso, Milagros Guerrero|publisher=Malaya books|date=1970|pages=47|isbn=History of the Filipino people|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=VTwMAAAAIAAJ&q=Umalohokan&dq=Umalohokan&pgis=1|accessdate=2008-08-12]

Some historians, however, have a different interpretation. In cases of large scale disputes between Barangays in the Visayas, the respective Datus of the Barangays may elect a head Datu, called an Umalohokan, to serve as judge. The Spanish colonizers noted that elections were held in the Philippines before they arrived, specifically for this post. When the dispute was settled, the term of the Umalohokan was over. [cite web | last = Laput | first = Ernesto J. | authorlink = Ernesto J. Laput | coauthors = | title = Buhay sa Nayon | work = Pinas: Munting Kasaysayan Ng Pira-pirasong Bayan| publisher = | date = | url = http://www.elaput.org/pinsnyon.htm | format = HTML | doi = | accessdate = 2007-08-06]

References

*cite book
last = Scott
first = William Henry
authorlink = William Henry Scott
coauthors =
title = Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society
publisher = Ateneo de Manila University Press
date = 1994
location = Quezon City
pages =
volume =
edition =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 971-550-135-4