The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine ExpeditionCole, Fay-Cooper
History
The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition
Cole, Fay-Cooper
Ethnology -- Philippines -- Mindanao Island
The genealogy of the Bagobo rulers is traced back through ten
generations. The first ruler of whom there is record was Salingolop,
during whose reign, it seems, the Spaniards first came to the
Philippines. According to the tale[4] "Salingolop was a man of great and
prodigious force, and as tall as the Lauan, which is the tallest tree in
these forests. He had three sons called Bato, Sipongos, and Calisquisan,
and a daughter named Panugutan. When the Spaniards arrived at Manila,
and found that there existed a man so tall and powerful, they sent a
battalion of soldiers. They disembarked on the shore of Bimigao near
Daron, and ascended the mountain where Salingolop lived. He was not
found, because at the time he was on the other side of the mountain
hunting wild boars, and the soldiers returned to the shore, taking
Panugutan as a hostage. Salingolop, having found out what had happened
descended the mountain alone to fight the soldiers which were there.
These fired on him, but in vain, because the balls could make no
impression. On seeing this, they dropped their rifles and with bars of
iron they struck him on the legs, trying to overthrow him. As he fell on
the side towards the sea, the noise of the waves, it is said, reached to
the Cape of San Augustin. They cut off his head and, as he lay dead,
they cut off his legs that he might not arise again. The Spaniards
returned to Manila, taking with them Panugutan; she married in Manila a
Spaniard, by whom she had two children, who later returned to these
parts and were well received, being considered not only as friends but
as brothers of the Bagobo."
[4] Recorded by P. Juan Doyle, S. J.
Salingolop was succeeded by his son Bato who, in turn, was followed by
Boas, Basian, Lumbay, Banga, Maliadi, and Taopan. Until we come to this
last mentioned ruler we learn little more of importance, but at the
beginning of his rule, we learn that the Bagobo had become a powerful
people. Under his leadership they made frequent forays into neighboring
districts and returned with many slaves and rich loot. The _datu_[5] was
noted as a brave warrior, but in addition to this he was a wise and just
ruler, greatly beloved by all his people. When he died more than one
thousand of his subjects attended the funeral which lasted ten days. On
the last day the house was decked, inside and out, with red and yellow
flowers; many valuable gifts were placed beside the corpse, and the
place was then abandoned.
[5] The Moro name for chief or ruler. The Bagobo name is _lagaimoda_ or
_matanem_, but the Moro term is in general use.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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