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Write with me! Neph XY Chapter 5

 So, I'm writing a new story!

The title is Neph XY. You'll find out in a sec.

In 2035, creatures called Nephs came out of the sea and started to devastate humanity. Certain children started manifesting powers to defeat them. 

Now, in 2045, Neph attacks are more rampant. It was up to children to defend humanity. Stanzo, an angel-touched 17 year old has to train a bunch of orphans... Along the way, he is wavering. He's not particularly prayerful, but being called by a priest will change you. Having to lead orphans will change you. Fighting for the world will change you.

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Unmasking the Great Kingdoms of Ancient Philippines: The Rajanate of Tunduk

Madayaw, my peeps!

Today we will be talking about one of the oldest Kingdoms of the Philippines. This is the second part of the series so I will be putting the Video about the Namayan Kingdom down in the description. Please watch out for the third which is the Kingdom of the Tagalogs.

Don’t forget to follow my social media channels and of course, this channel. I’d love to hear from you so drop me a comment!

Let’s begin!

Tondo, Tundun or Tunduk was a major trading hub which centered around the Pasig Delta. It is within and around what is now Metro Manila.

The first mention of Tunduk was in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. The plate is dated to 900AD. It implied trade relations with this kingdom at that time. Nobody knows the exact date of the establishment of Tunduk but it had many names and changed many hands. As far as historians believe, Manila or Tondo is the oldest established Kingdom in the area.

In the 12^th Century, it was known that Tondo and China had a trade relationship. This would be the Ming Dynasty. All over the Philippines, many Ming Pottery have been excavated. Even after the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Rajanate of Tunduk was considered a major player in trade in the region. The sent envoys to China regularly.

When Tondo was established, it was considered a city-state. However, it was monarchial. What I mean is, it is unique in how it is run. Each barangays or balangays or districts had a datu. Among them was a Lakan or Raja who ruled all other datus. In a way, that is still being done. Each Barangays in the Philippines has a Barangay chairman or Cabeza. These local government is managed by a higher tier of leaders.

So, where exactly is Tondo? Oddly, its dominions do not cover present-day Tondo. That area is part of the Namayan. Parts of Manila, Bulacan, Caloocan would be part of this area.

The Rajanate of Tunduk was heavily influenced by the Majapahit Empire, The Kingdom of Brunei and Malaysians. The Majapahit Empire was a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist empire that was strong in South East Asia at that time. It stretched from Sumatra to New Guinea.

In 1500’s Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei wed his son Gat Lontok to Dayang Kalangitan, a Namayan Princess, and an alliance was formed through that marriage. By this time, the Namayans ruled Tonduk and all its surrounds and Sultan Bolkia didn’t want a war. Part of the Princess’ dowry was the territory of Seludong which is part of present-day city of Manila (not metro). Gat Lontok is a royal prince. The prefix Gat is still used today to denote a man of high regard. Quite like “Sir.” Dayang means Princess. Kalangitan is a Tagalog Word for Heaven. Her name means Princess of Heaven. In Seludong, a fort of wood and stone was erected to be the satellite trading post for Sultan Bolkia. They called the new fortress Kota Selurong. This will become Intramuros when the Spanish conquered it.

Dayang Kalangitan was a formidable lady and she was no damsel. Eldest daughter of Raja Gambang, who had no male heirs, she became a female Raja in her own right. Kalangitan co-ruled with Gat Lontok who became Raja Lontok. She was often noted to be the stronger ruler. In 1450 AD, she was widowed but continued to rule. Under her reign, The Kingdom of Tondo reached its Golden Age. The territories stretched from Cordillera to Bicol. She was also the last Buddhist Ruler of Tondo.

In 1470, Kalangitan’s reign was coming to an end. Kalangitan wed her daughter Panginoan to a prominent Namayan Prince named Bagtas or Balagtas to rule after her death. Panginoan and Bagtas ruled well and united the two kingdoms. However, in the 1500, the Sultanate of Brunei attacked Tunduk and put Kalangitan’s son Salalila as Raja. Bagtas and his wife were relegated to rule the Namayans. Thus the Namayans became their vassals instead. Salalila converted to Islam and adopted the name Sulayman, establishing the Royal House of Sulayman. However, it will be short-lived. The Rajanate of Tunduk and the Kingdom of Maynila became separate. The once unified kingdom split into three. The Namayans separated but still a vassal to Tunduk while Tunduk split to Tondo and Maynila. Later, there were some tensions with their heirs. Maynila was ruled by Raja Matanda whose name was Prince Ache, Son of Sulayman. His Son Sulayman III was his heir. In Tunduk, Lakandula, a cousin, ruled. When the Spanish came, they played against each faction and destabilized the rulers. Thus, the fall of the three kingdoms.

Fun Facts

The name of Tondo or Tunduk came from a River Mangrove of the same name. The name Maynila came from Nila or Indigo Plant which was growing abundantly at that time.

Manila only fell to the Spanish at the Battle of Bangkusay in 1571. By that time, the Kingdom of Tondo and Maynila were already in decline. Tariq Soliman, rumored to be Sulayman III’s son or grandson refused to surrender and accept Christianity. He died in battle ending the line of Sulayman. The Moors in Maynila and Tunduk were either expelled or killed.

Kota Selurung became Fort Santiago in honor of Santiago, the saint who conquered the Moors. Later that century, the wooden palisades were replaced with stone because Manila kept getting harassed by Limahong the Pirate.

Hat of the Day

I’m sketching the hat of the day instead of showing something from my collection. Our hat today is this European-inspired top hat. Many goods filtered to Manila from Europe during the Galleon Trade. Manila was such a melting pot that their taste in clothing became mixed. Apart from the European mixes, there were Indo-Chinese, Mexican and Aboriginal influences as well.

I hope you liked this video and please consider subscribing. This is the second in the series of Great Kingdoms of Ancient Philippines. I’ll be putting a link below to the video of the Namayan Kingdom. Like and follow my Social Media channels and please share my content. You may also comment on what you liked about the video and maybe what you want to see in the future.

Bye!

Facebook.com/authormaitarue

YouTube: Maita Unmasks History 

Instagram or Twitter: BabymoonMaita

Bye!

Unmasking the Great Kingdoms of Ancient Philippines: The Namayan Kingdom

Madayaw, my peeps!

I have a YouTube channel! It is called Maita Unmasks History! A channel dedicated to unmasking little-known facts in history. If you want to see more, just subscribe and follow my Channel. I have Historic Tidbits on Thursday on my Instagram.

Today we will be talking about one of the oldest Kingdoms of the Philippines. This will be a 3-part series so please watch out for the others.

My name is Maita and I hope you enjoy this.

Don’t forget to follow my social media channels and of course, this channel. I’d love to hear from you so drop me a comment!

The Namayan Kingdom became the dominant force in the Pasig Delta in the 10^th Century AD and ceased to exist in the 16^th Century just before the Spanish invasion. Where exactly is this Kingdom located? It is in central Luzon where present-day Metro Manila sits. Its capital was called Sapa, now Sta. Ana de Sapa, Manila, and it stretched all the way to Mandaluyong. Pasay takes its name from a prominent Namayan Princess, who inherited and reigned over what is now Pasay, Baclaran and Paranaque.

Also called the kingdom of Sapa or Maysapan, it was noted to be one of the older recorded inhabitants of Maynila. There were many kingdoms in Philippines around and before the Namayans. They traded with each other and often against each other. What is significant about the Namanyan is that the kingdom was divided into major barangays that still bear the name or is still recognized by the locals today. Some of those names are now major cities in Metro Manila.

• -          Maysapan (The Royal Seat of Sapa, now Sta. Ana)
• -          Meycatmon
• -          Calatondangan
• -          Dongos
• -          Dibag
• -          Pinacauasan
• -          Yamagtogon
• -          Malate
• -          Dilao (Now called Paco)
• -          Pandacan
• -          Sampaloc
• -          Pinaglamayan (Mandaluyong)
• -          Taytay
• -          Sampaloc
• -          Quiapo
• -          Pateros
• -          Taguig
• -          Paranaque
• -          Makati
• -          Pasay

The kingdom relied heavily on trade especially with China, Brunei and India. An influx of goods came in to the Pasig but the Tondo area was also known to produce goods for trades like Pina cloth, embroidery, masonry, tinapa or dried fish, cigars, bricks and sugar. Because the Namayans became a superpower, they monopolized the influx of Chinese goods entering the area.

Preceding the Rajanate of Tunduk, which had heavy Indian influences, The Namayans were mainly Muslim. Tunduk leaders follow a mix of Hindu-Buddhist beliefs. The Indo-Malayan blood of the Namayans or Maysapans still had some Indian-inspired beliefs but due to intermarriages with Bornean kingdoms and Sulu, they were Muslims by the 12^th Century.

Fun Facts!

So what else do we know of our long-gone ancestors? Apparently, they don’t wear bahag or G-strings. Many records describe the inhabitants as “Enlightened People.” They had sophisticated tastes. The ladies’ clothing styles were rich in design and very varied. This sketch is an 11^th century approximation of what a typical noble or royalty would wear. They had fabrics of cotton and silk coming from all over Asia. Embroidery and prints were a major trade in Namayan itself. These ladies would be at the height of fashion and due to the conservative nature of the Islamic faith, they would have long skirts and long blouses. Paper fans brought by Chinese and gold from the north were common accessories. Ladies had parasols or ornate sukud or Salakots to protect their skin from the sun. Even back then, we loved moon-white skin.

Hat of the day!

Since I am not at home, I have left my collections of hats. No worries. I’ll draw my hat of the day.

This is a S’loung. Mainly, it is a salakot covered with fabric, embellished and beaded. This headdress is worn by ladies of high birth to protect them when they go out. It was used not just to protect their skin from the sun but protect them from unwarranted attentions. It was said that envious people could send a curse to Princesses so their identity is hidden under the fabric. They either were carried by their bodyguards or guided by their maids.

I hope you liked this video and please consider subscribing. Follow my Social Media channels and please share my content. You may also comment on what you liked about the video and maybe what you want to see in the future. You can drop a comment or private message on:

Facebook.com/authormaitarue

YouTube: Maita Unmasks History 

Instagram or Twitter: BabymoonMaita

Bye!

The Seeker's Inn Excerpt

This is from Chapter 2 of the Seeker's Inn by Maita Rue
Music: Arpology from Longzijun.wordress.com/music
Pictures from pixabay.com
Reader: Emma from fromtexttospeech.com