Ancient Tondo

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The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (900 A.D.)

right|frame|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."

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. cite web
last = Morrow
first = Paul
authorlink = Paul Morrow
title = The Laguna Copperplate Inscription
date = 2006-07-14
url = http://www.mts.net/~pmorrow/lcieng.htm
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-02-05 ] 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, but it has also been suggested that Pailah refers to the town of Pila, Laguna. [cite web
last = Tiongson
first = Jaime
authorlink = Jaime F. Tiongson
title = Pailah is Pila, Laguna
date = 2006-11-29
url = http://blog.bayangpinagpala.org/2006/11/pailah-is-pila-laguna.html
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-02-05 verify credibility|date=August 2008 ] 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. cite web
last = Santos
first = Hector
authorlink = Hector Santos
title = The Laguna Copperplate Inscription
date =1996-10-26
url = http://www.bibingka.com/dahon/lci/lci.htm
format = HTML
doi =
accessdate = 2008-02-05 ]

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

The next historical reference to Ancient Tondo can be found in the "Ming Annals" ( [http://www.yifan.net/yihe/novels/history/msqztyz/ms.html 明史] ), which record the arrival of an envoy from Luzon to the Ming Dynasty (大明國) in 1373 AD. [ [http://www.yifan.net/yihe/novels/history/msqztyz/ms.html 明史] ] Her rulers, based in their capital, Tondo (zh-tp|t=|p=dōngdū) were acknowledged not as mere chieftains, but as kings (). [ [http://www.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/directory/sumita/5A-161/index.html 東西洋考] ] .

This reference places Tondo into the larger context of Chinese trade with the peoples of the Philippine archipelago.

Theories such as Wilhelm Solheim's Nusantao Maritime Trading and Communication Network (NMTCN) suggest that cultural links between what are no China and the nations of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, date back to the peopling of these lands. [cite book | last = Solheim | first = Wilhelm G., II | authorlink = Wilhelm Solheim | coauthors = | title = Archaeology and Culture in Southeast Asia: Unraveling the Nusantao | publisher = University of the Philippines Press | date = 2006 | location = Diliman, Quezon City | pages = 316 | isbn = 971-542-508-9 ] But the earliest archeological evidence of trade between the Philippines and China takes the form of pottery and porcelain pieces dated to the Tang and Song Dynasties. cite press release | title = Embassy Updates: China-Philippine Friendly Relationship Will Last Forever | publisher = Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of the Philippines | date = October 15 03 | url = http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceph/eng/sgdt/t83710.htm | accessdate = February 5, 2008 ] As the LCI points out, Tondo already existed at this time, and the archeological evidence indicates that both it and Namayan was part of this trade. Fact|date=October 2008

The rise of the Ming dynasty saw the arrival of the first Chinese settlers in the Philippines. They were well received and lived together in harmony with the existing local population - eventually intermarrying with them such that today, numerous Philippine people have Chinese blood in their veins.

This connection was important enough that when the Ming Dynasty emperors enforced the Hai jin laws which closed China to maritime trade from 1371 to about 1567, trade with the Philippines was officially allowed to continue through the seaport at Fuzhou. cite book | last = Ebrey | first = Patricia Buckley | authorlink = Patricia Buckley Ebrey | title = Cambridge Illustrated History of China | publisher = Cambridge University Press | date = 1999 | location = | pages = page 211 | isbn =052166991X] Aside from this, a more extensive clandestine trade from Guangzhou and Quanzhou also brought in Chinese goods to Luzon.cite book|last= San Agustin |first= Gaspar de |authorlink= Gaspar de San Agustin |others=Translated by Luis Antonio Mañeru |title= Conquistas de las Islas Philipinas 1565-1615 |edition= 1st bilingual ed [Spanish and English] |publisher=Pedro Galende, OSA |location= Intramuros, Manila, 1998 |language= Bilingual (Spanish and English)]

Luzon and Tondo thus became a center from which Chinese goods were traded all across Southeast Asia. Chinese trade was so strict that Luzon traders carrying these goods were considered "Chinese" by the people they encountered.

Attack by Sultan Kingdom of Brunei (1500 A.D.)

Tondo became so prosperous that around the year 1500 AD, the Kingdom of Brunei under Sultan Bolkiah attacked it and established a city with the Malay name of "Selurong" (later to become the city of Maynila)*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 ] cite web
url = http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Coast/7446/Ragam.htm
title = Ako'y Si Ragam (I am Ragam)
accessdate = 30 September 2008
last = del Mundo
first = Clodualdo
authorlink = Clodualdo del Mundo Sr
date = September 20, 1999
format = html
work = Diwang Kayumanggi] 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.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] ]

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. [cite web
last = Gardner
first = Robert
authorlink = Robert Gardner
title = Manila - A History
work = Philippine Journeys
publisher =
date = 1995-20-04
url = http://www.aenet.org/philip/manila.htm
format = html
doi =
accessdate = 2008-02-05 ]

Historical theories associated with Ancient Tondo

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, with varying levels of credibility.

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" [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = siuala ding meangubie | coauthors = | title = The Luzon Empire (呂宋國) | work = 呂宋國: Historical links between Kapampangan and China | publisher = | date = December 08, 2007 | url = http://lusung.blogspot.com/ | format = html | doi = | accessdate = February 5, 2008 ]

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. [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] .]

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. [http://www.geocities.com/globalistmanifesto2/lakandula.html]

David Dula y Goiti, a grandson of Lakan Dula with a Spanish mother 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. 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. [http://www.geocities.com/globalistmanifesto2/lakandula.html]

References

Additional reading

LCI Era

*cite book
last = Joaqiun
first = Nick
authorlink = Nick Joaqiun
coauthors =
title =Culture and History
publisher = Anvil Publishing, Inc.
date = 1988
location = Pasig City
pages = 411
volume =
edition =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 971-27-1300-8
*cite book
last = Jocano
first = F. Landa
authorlink = F. Landa Jocano
coauthors =
title = Filipino Prehistory: Rediscovering Precolonial Heritage
publisher = Punlad Research House, Inc.
date = 2001
location = Quezon City
pages =
volume =
edition =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 971-622-006-5
*cite book
last = Scott
first = William Henry
authorlink = William Henry Scott
coauthors =
title = Looking for the Prehispanic Filipino
publisher = New Day Publishers
date = 1992
location = Quezon City
pages =
volume =
edition =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = 971-10-0524-7
*Citation
last=Ongpin Valdes
first=Cynthia
author-link=Cynthia Ongpin Valdes
date=
year=
contribution=Pila in Ancient Times
contribution-url=
editor-last=
editor-first=
title= Treasures of Pila
edition=
place=
publisher=Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc.
publication-date=
volume=
pages=
id=
url=
isbn=
*Citation
last=Santiago
first=Luciano
author-link= Luciano Santiago, MD
date=
year=
contribution= Pila: The Noble Town
contribution-url=
editor-last=
editor-first=
title= Treasures of Pila
edition=
place=
publisher=Pila Historical Society Foundation Inc.
publication-date=
volume=
pages=
id=
url=
isbn=

Bolkiah Era

*Citation
last =
first =
author-link =
title = National Day of Brunei Darussalam (Editorial)
newspaper = Manila Bulletin
pages =
year = 2005
date = February 23 2006
url =http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/02/23/OPED2006022356993.html
*cite web
last = Laput
first = Ernesto
authorlink = Ernesto J. Laput
coauthors =
title = The first invader was a neighbor: Ang Unang Conquistador
work = Pinas: Munting Kasaysayan ng Pira-pirasong Bayan
publisher = elaput.com
date =
url = http://www.elaput.org/portslam.htm
format = HTML
doi =
accessdaymonth = February 5 2008

panish Era

*cite web
last= Alabastro
first= Tony
authorlink = Tony Alabastro
title= Soul of the Walled City (Brief History of Intramuros)
work=
publisher=
date=April 29 2002
url=http://www2.seasite.niu.edu/tagalogdiscuss/_disc2/000006b3.htm
format=html
doi=
accessdaymonth = 5 February 2008
*Citation
last = Flores
first = Wilson Lee
author-link = Wilson Lee Flores
title = Proud to be a Tondo Boy
newspaper = The Philippine Star
pages =
year = 2005
date = February 22 2005
url =http://www.manila-map.com/history.html
*cite book
last = Joaquin
first = Nick
authorlink = Nick Joaquin
title = The Aquinos of Tarlac: An Essay on History as Three Generations
publisher = Solar Publishing Corporation
date = 1983
location = Manila, Philippines
pages =
url = http://maxpages.com/tarlac
doi =
id =
isbn =