http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urduja
quote:
Urduja (ca. 1350 C.E - 1400 C.E.), is a legendary warrior-princess who is recognized as a heroine in Pangasinan, Philippines. The name Urduja appears to be Sanskrit in origin, and a variation of the name "Udaya," meaning "arise" or "rising sun," or the name "Urja," meaning "breath." A historical reference to Urduja can be found in the travel account of Ibn Battuta (1304 - possibly 1368 or 1377 C.E.), a Muslim traveler from Morocco.Contents
1 Ibn Battuta
2 Research
3 Animated film
4 See also
5 References
6 External links


[edit] Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta described Urduja as the ruler of Kaylukari in the land of Tawalisi. After reaching Samudra in what is now Sumatra, Ibn Battuta passed by Tawalisi on his way to China. Princess Urduja was described as a daughter of a ruler named Tawalisi of a land that was also called Tawalisi. The ruler of Tawalisi, according to Ibn Battuta, possessed many ships and was a rival of China, which was then ruled by a Mongol dynasty.[1] Ibn Battuta sailed for 17 days to reach China from the land of Tawalisi.[2]

Ibn Battuta made a pilgrimage to Mecca and he traveled to many other parts of the Islamic world. From India and Sumatra, Ibn Battuta reached the land of Tawalisi. Ibn Battuta described Urduja as a warrior princess whose army was composed of men and women. Urduja was a woman warrior who personally took part in the fighting and engaged in duels with other warriors. She was quoted as saying that she will marry no one but him who defeats her in duel. Other warriors avoided fighting her for fear of being disgraced.[3]

Urduja impressed Ibn Battuta with her military exploits and her ambition to lead an expedition to India, known to her as the "Pepper Country." She also showed her hospitality by preparing a banquet for Ibn Battuta and the crew of his ship. Urduja generously provided Ibn Battuta with gifts that included robes, rice, two buffaloes, and four large jars of ginger, pepper, lemons, and mangoes, all salted, in preparation for Ibn Battuta's sea-voyage to China.[4]

[edit] Research

Modern research indicates Ibn Batutta's story of Urduja to be pure fiction and the land of Tawalisi to be similarly fictitious. [5]

However, in the late 19th Century, Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines, who was also a respected scholar but who did not have access to the sources William Henry Scott accessed, speculated that the land of Tawalisi was in the area of the northern part of the Philippines, based on his calculation of the time and distance of travel Ibn Battuta took to sail to China from Tawalisi. In 1916, Austin Craig, a historian of the University of the Philippines, in "The Particulars of the Philippines Pre-Spanish Past," who also did not have access to the sources William Henry Scott accessed, traced the land of Tawalisi and Princess Urduja to Pangasinan. Philippine school textbooks used to include Princess Urduja in the list of great Filipinos. In the province of Pangasinan, the capitol building in Lingayen is named "Urduja Palace." A statue of Princess Urduja stands at the Hundred Islands National Park in Pangasinan.

The description of Princess Urduja's gifts of rice, buffaloes, ginger, pepper, lemons, mangoes, and salt fits Pangasinan perfectly because of the abundance of those products in Pangasinan. The closely related Ibaloi people have an oral tradition of a woman named Udayan who ruled an ancient alliance of lowland and highland settlements in Pangasinan and the neighboring province of Benguet. Ibn Battuta also mentioned that Urduja had some knowledge of Turkish. During the time of Ibn Battuta period, the influence of the Turkish Ottoman Empire was on the rise.

Ibn Batutta's travel account suggests that he also saw elephants in the land ruled by Urduja. Elephants can still be found in Borneo, and may have been gifts or traded in Pangasinan in earlier times. Ancient Malayo-Polynesian sailing vessels, like the ones used by the ancient Bugis and those depicted in the Borobudur bas-reliefs, were capable of transporting heavy cargoes, including elephants. There are depictions of such ancient ships in maritime Southeast Asia transporting several elephants for trade.

In Pangasinan, Urduja has been depicted as the only daughter of a Rajah whose sons lost their lives defending their agricultural settlements in the Agno River valley and sea trade routes to their Srivijaya and Champa allies. Urduja was trained in the art of war since she was a child, and she became an expert with the kampilan and a skilled navigator. She commanded a fleet of proas to protect their maritime trade networks against pirates and threats from Mongol ruled China. With her beauty, she attracted many suitors.
end of quote

Dr Jose Rizal on Tawalisi ... http://www.urduja.com/princess.html
quote:
The Philippines' national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, in Dr. Austin Craig's 1916 paper
"Particulars of the Philippines' Pre-Spanish Past" was quoted as saying in one of his letters: "While I may have doubts regarding the accuracy of Ibn Batuta's details, I still beleive in the voyage to Tawalisi". He went as far as to calculate the distance and time of travel from the port of Kakula. Rizal's commentary was triggered by a scholar, Sir Henry Yule, who wrote in his time that: "Tawalisi may be found only in a Gulliver geography."
end of quote

Kingdom of Luzon with its eastern capital Tongduk and Urduja: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Tondo
quote:
Tondo achieved its greatest power during the reign of Rajah Lontok and his consort Dayang Kaylangitan believing that she bore her talents from her Tawalisi princess, Urduja which happened to be her ancestor through his father Rajah Gambang.
end of quote

http://www.thedigitalpinoy.org/thread/11/3523?nav=last
quote:
In Rihlah, the travelogue written by Ibn Battuttah, the name of the princess is written in Arabic consonants equivalent to English GTRDJ or WHRDJ which was read by Dr. Jose Rizal and other authors during his time as Wahi Arduja and later it is read as Urduja. But this is wrong. the princess referred to was the princess of Java (Jawa/Zabah in Arabic; Mul-jawa is referring to Sumatra) named Gitardja, the daughter of Singosari princess Gayatri and Raden Vijaya (read in Chinese as Shih-lih-fu-shih or Ta-wa-lih-shih, Battuttah's Tawalisi). Ibn Battuttah was widely known then as Sultan Bakhei in the area. This (Sri/Dyah) Gitardja assumed the imperial title Tribuana Tunggadewi when she assumed the throne in 1328 as a virgin Madjapahit Empress after the assassination of her half-brother Jayanagara. She reigned as queen until 1350. She turned over the crown to her son Hayam Wuruk...
The first story is about Princess Gayatri of Java taken by Marco Polo to China and presented her to Kublai Khan as Chu-ko-Chen (Chou-kou-Tien) who is destined to be wed to Arghun Khan of the Il-Khannate empire but in the course of event she is taken by Raden Vijaya of Sumatra as wife forcing Marco Polo to find a replacement for her. The second story is about Gitardja, her war, her love story, and her reign with Gadja Mada, her Prime Minister whom she loved dearly. And the third story is about Leila Manchinai, a Madjapahit princess who is born in Banjarmasin (in Borneo) in the middle of a battle between the army of the Bornean Sultan Sulayman (known also as Makatunaw) and the rebel rajahs led by Rajah Puteh. She, as a baby, is left in a prau used by the fleeing merchants who escaped with the fleeing rajahs to the Philippine islands. The prau upon reaching the Sulu Archipelago meets a storm forcing the merchants to go inward to Agusan River where it is fatally hit by the storm. But the baby Leila Manchinai is washed ashore in the river bank and saved by the bamboos. She is eventually found by the woman Tabunaway and her brother Mamalu. This Tabunaway (Putri Tuniña) is married to an Arab Shariff Muhammad Kabungsuwan who became the first Muslim sultan of Sulu. The Sultan of Sulu then had an expedition to Manchina (the old name for Northern China while China is referring only to Southern China at that time) to pay homage to the Ming emperor. The girl Leila Mancinai is presented to the Ming emperor as a gift and the emperor adopted her as his daughter. This princess, turned a lovely lady, goes back to Sulu with her "younger brother" Kali Pula (Antonio Pigafetta's Cilapulapu), the real son of the Sulu Sultan. Bolkeiah (Rajah Baginda/Nakoda Ragam/Parameswara, the one referred by Antonio Pigafetta as Rajah Humabon, pronounced "Umabong") fell in love with Leila Manchinai. After a lot of tests/tasks, Bolkeiah wins the hand of Leila Manchinai but they have found out that they are brother and sister. This Leila Manchinai is often referred as Putri Paramisuli, Hang Liu, Hang Li Po (Hang-cheu-fu, the previous name of Peking or Beijing or the Tagalog phrase, "Sangli po" which means a Chinese mestiza), Ming, and Amihan (the Queen Juana of Cebu and the Layla Manjanay of the Tausugs in Sulu. It tells also about the conflict between Bolkeiah and Kali Pula over the Sri Vijayan throne, the battle of Mactan in Asian context, and the death of Bolkeiah and Leila Manchinai (Malay-Arabic for Northern Chinese Princess). I hope that you will be enlightened. And I want you to remember that during that era Southeast Asia was a one vast empire divided by many kingdoms and not by countries as we often interpret it.

comment:
the author haven't possibly heard the possibility that zabag or Javaka is not Java but Savaka which is a Sanskrit word for people of Sabang, or People of Sapa as in Kingdom of Sapa or Lusung Kingdom as it was known later. Now we have pieced the puzzle, reconciling Rizal works as well as other authors.

Indian empires of the 12th century
http://asiapacificuniverse.com/pkm/presterjohn.htm
Was there any historical empire of the 12th century that indeed extended over the Three Indias?

There was one maritime empire that could possibly fit if one only sees the dominion extending to parts of the Three Indias. It was known in Chinese texts as Sanfotsi and among the Muslims as Zabag.

Sanfotsi/Zabag could fit the bill if one accepts the historical texts at their word, which not all modern scholars are willing to do.

Chinese geographical texts like the Chu-fan-chi (1225) of Chau Ju-Kua mention that Sanfotsi ruled over numerous kingdoms within insular and mainland Southeast Asia. They further extend the rule of this kingdom to Si-lan or Ceylon.

The Muslim geography of al-Masudi confirms this latter claim when it states that Zabag, widely considered the equivalent of the Chinese Sanfotsi, ruled over Sirandib, the Arabic name for Ceylon.

Furthermore, the geography of Ma Tuan-lin (circa 1200) states that Chou-lien, was a vassal of Sanfotsi, verifying the same claim in the Sung-shih (960 - 1279). Chou-lien was the Chinese name for the Chola empire of India3. Again, the Chinese claim is verified by Arab geographers who state that Kalikut was among the dependencies of Zabag.

The Chola emperor Rajendrachola claimed to have made some conquests himself in the East Indies. However, his statements have no support from independent sources, i.e., Chinese, Muslim or other historians. Even Rajendrachola's son only claimed one of these victories -- that of Kadaram, possibly the state of Kataha in Malaysia.

The Chinese and Muslim accounts gain support from substantial evidence of royal influence from insular Southeast Asia in India at this time. Pali texts from 13th century Ceylon mention "Savaka" princes on the island.

As mentioned earlier, Sanfotsi/Zabag was known by the Indians as Suvarnadvipa:

"the eastern islands in this ocean (Sea of Champa), which are nearer to China than India, are the islands of Zabaj, called by the Hindus, Suvarnadvipa, i.e. the gold islands... because you obtain much gold as deposit if you wash only a little of the earth of that country."

(Al-Biruni, 1030 AD)

The monarchs of Suvarnadvipa were very active among the Cholas. In 1005, a Suvarnadvipa king built a Buddhist vihara in the Chola state, which the Chola king granted revenues4. In 1014-1015, gifts were sent for a Hindu temple5, and again in 1018-10196. In the 1080s, the king of Suvarnadvipa built the foundation for a Buddhist temple in South India7.

If we accept the historical claims of the Chinese and Muslim texts, then two of the three Indias would be covered so far. Or at least we can say that Sanfotsi/Zabag extended over significant parts of these two Indias. But what about the third India in East Africa?

We know that at an earlier period, Austronesian seafarers from insular Southeast Asia settled on the island of Madagascar forming the Malagasy-speaking population of the island. However, not many people are aware of the fact that during the medieval period, both regions maintained substanial contact with each other.

The Book of the Wonders of India, written by a Muslim author mentions in 945 an expeditionary raid off the East African coast by a fleet of 1000 ships from the East Indies. Centuries later in 1154, the Arab geographer Idrisi wrote in Kitab Rujjar that "the people of the isles of Zabag come to the land of Zanj on small and large ships...for they understand one another's languages." He also states: "The residents of Zabag go to the land of Sofala (near Beira, Mozambique) and export the iron from there supplying it to all the lands of India. No iron is comparable to theirs in quality and sharpness."

Idrisi, whose patron was Roger II of Sicily, also states about trade expeditions to Zanj: "The people of Komr (Khmer) and the merchants of the land of the Mihraj (ruler of Zabag) come among them (the Zanj) and are well received and trade with them."

Tanzanian traditions suggest that there was a settlement around Pemba and Zanzibar of a people they called the Debuli from �Diba� and Jawa8. They were supposed to be responsible for planting the coconut palms and mangoes along the Tanzanian coast. As we will examine in the section on the spice routes the relationship between the Tanzanian coast and the East Indies may extend back into deep antiquity. There are different theories as to where Diba and Jawa refer, but one possibility is that Diba is a form of Dabag, thought to be a Nestorian corruption of Zabag. Jawa can refer to any number of East Indian locations such as Java, Sabah, Davao, Toubok, etc. The Debuli were said to be a seafaring people whose ships had sails of coconut palm fiber.

That the kingdom of Sanfotsi/Zabag extended over a vast region that might be said to span the "Three Indias" we have this quote from Mas'udi:

"In the sea of Champa (eastern South China Sea) is the empire of Maharaja, the king of the islands, who rules over an empire without limit and has innumerable troops. Even the most rapid vessels could not complete in two years a tour round the isles which are under his possesssion. The territories of this king produce all sorts of spices and aromatics, and no other sovereign of the world gets as much wealth from the soil."

(Mas'udi, 943)

http://asiapacificuniverse.com/pkm/lockingdom.htm
quote:
In the previous articles we have attempted to show the general location of medieval Sanfotsi/Zabag, which we also equate to Shambhala of the Tibetan texts and Prester John's kingdom as mentioned in the medieval letters.

Now we will try to narrow down the location. As already mentioned, we believe the principal port of Sanfotsi/Zabag was Lingayen in the Philippines. In the Chinese records, the name is rendered Ling-ya-mon and located about a month's sea journey due south of Tsu'an-chou.

Lingayen is located in northwest Luzon in the province of Pangasinan and is perfectly situated as a transit route for trade between China and points south and southeast, including the clove and nutmeg-bearing regions of Toupo.

However, the actual location of the king of Sanfotsi/Zabag may have been different than Lingayen. Indeed, Ling-ya-mon was said to be a port of call before entering Sanfotsi proper.

The capital of the empire was described by both Chinese and Muslim writers as a sort of Venice of Southeast Asia, with people living on boats or homes built over the water. The capital furthermore appeared to be located in a delta area frequented by ships. According to Abu Zayd the city of the Mihraj, the ruler of Zabag, was situated on an "estuary resembling the Tigris River which passes Bagdad and Basra, and brings in salt water during the high tide and sweet water during low tide."

Sulayman said that the capital of the Mihraj was located at a freshwater port easily accessed from the sea. It was also said to "face" the southern coast of China, i.e. it's location would be on the western side of an island opposite (east/southeast of) the south China coast.

The nearest delta area to Lingayen is the Pampanga River system that runs into the northern Manila Bay. The area was highly influential during the Spanish conquest of the Philippines, and was the scene of heavy resistance that eventually forced the Spanish into a pacification treaty.

When the Spanish arrived in the Philippines, related peoples lived from the Pampanga River delta region northward to the Gulf of Lingayen. The people living in the region were still at that time conducting long distance trade throughout Asia.

While the delta towns of Macabebe, Lubao and Betis boasted strong rulers and garrisons, there is evidence that in earlier times a flourishing trade center existed further north.

Prior to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo around the 14th century, the area around San Marcelino and Porac in the north had connection with the sea. In 1992, after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, evidence of a trading post including an old boat hull associated with Chinese ceramics and stone anchors was found. Interestingly, these finds are in a region known by the name Sambal1.

According to geologists, before the medieval eruption of Pinatubo the sea extended much closer to this region and presumably as the lahar filled in the existing areas southward the delta civilization moved accordingly to maintain their maritime trading enterprise.

However, the eruption apparently brought the trading civilization to a temporary halt around the 14th century. The dating corresponds very well with the time that Sanfotsi drops out of sight from Chinese historical literature.

The descriptions of Zabag tell of a constantly erupting volcano near the kingdom. Something similar may be hinted at in the letters attributed to Prester John which speak of rivers of sand or stone flowing from a mountain range into a sea of sand/stones. The description resembles what happens when lahar flows from a volcano to the ocean creating what looks like a "sea of sand."

The resemblance of the name Sambal to Shambhala has additional geographical significance in that the area consists of a mountainous range. The snow-covered peaks of Shambhala even have a possible explanation. The modern eruption of Pinatubo left the Sambal mountain peaks capped with grey/white layers of volcanic ash given a resemblance of snow. This might explain how Shambhala could at the same time have snow-covered peaks and lush tropical vegetation.

Chau Ju-Kua mentions that most people in the region had the surname "Pu." In the Pampanga region, the honorific "Apu" is used before someone's name as a sign of respect. The Chinese whose own surnames come at the beginning of their names might have confused the honorific with a surname.

The medieval texts state that Sanfotsi/Zabag like Toupo to the southeast consisted of a loosely confederated kingdoms that bonded together for specific purposes. Interestingly, the system in this region at the time of the Spanish arrival consisted of autonomous datus and rajas. These independent entities though consulted with a special authority accepted by all when it came to making new laws or addressing regional security concerns. This authority not only approved new laws by the datus and rajas but also the regulations of the native priests. Thus, he combined both temporal and sacredotal powers.2

There is substantial archaeological and linguistic evidence of Indic and specifically Buddhist influence in the Luzon region in general although admittedly much more work needs to be done. Most interesting are the examples of Tantric jewelry that have been discovered in the Philippine region.

And there still needs to be confirmation regarding influence of Nestorian Christianity in this area.

However, from the geographical and historical aspects, the Sambal region and the Pampanga River delta are the best bets for the location of the capital of Sanfotsi/Zabag with Lingayen as it's main port.
end of quote

reading that stuff from Manansala actually got me started getting interest history - not that i would believe everything he wrote

The only thing running against Urduja and Tawalisi being in the Philippines are the Elephants - and they could have been transported by boats.

BTW i read a book called "Brains of the Nation" about the ilustrados Pedro Paterno, Pardo de Tavera and Isabelo de los Reyes. i think all their historical writings and literature (even if they are speculative) should be translated to English and Tagalog. Too bad they are not available

Political Clans were always there in the philippines....

I really believe that the Ibn Batuta's account was exaggerated but Urduja's real name is Debuca,Philippine Languages normally have a four vowel system some reduced it to three....

I think If the spanish never conquered luzon or the colonization of spaniards was stopped earlier or if luzon was heavily islamized this will be the demographics of Luzon,the majority of luzonites speaking Ilocano and Tagalog in in the present will never happen,instead it will favor Kapampangans.

Why Debuca?

Kapampangans would have been most powerful on Luzon.

Do you know more about the story that they are supposed to descendants of Alexander the Great? The Malaysians also have legends of "Skander Muda" as ancestor to their Sultans - Story of Hang Tuah.

http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Princess_Urduja
Debuca is her true name for ibalois...

Yes,Kapampangan would be the most known language in Luzon if we are Islamized...

Kapampangan is one of the most mature languages/dialect chains in the philippines Tagalog and Ilocano still did not exist when Kapampangans started to trade with china,java and india,which Katagalugan,a forumer here said.....

here's the google book link for ibn battuta scroll down the next few pages for the urduja meeting!

Google Books

Here's the reference from Antonio Galvanos History (1555) from where i got my avatars name from

Google Books

It is very different from the account of the Ibalois

http://www.urduja.com/princess.html

Actually, the Bisayans of Borneo of the Brunei Sultanate and Tausugs of the Sulu Sultanate and Malaccans(Malaysia) and even the Bisayans of the Visayan isles could contend that they or atleast their sultans or rajas are/were descended from Alexander the Great.

Sultan Bolkiah or Nakhoda Ragam of Borneo aka Raja Baguinda of Sulu or Haring Araw of Borneo(by Henson and N.Joaquin)was the singing sultan who claimed he was descended to the Alexander the Great. Not only that he bragged that from his lineage ran the blood of the great prophet of the Mohammedans and of the Chinese(he wore the imperial clothes). But he was proud most of all that he was a Bisaya(Vijaya?) and he wore the Bisayan Chawat(bahag).

http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Coast/7446/Ragam.htm
quote:
Ako si SULTAN BULKEIAH sa BORNEO, na naghahari mula sa lungsod ng kapayapaan, Dares Salam, sa dalampasigan ng Brunei. Sa MAGUINDANAO at sa SULU, na kinakikitaan ng unang liwanag ng walang katulad kong asawa, Emperatris Lela Men Chanei, ay tinatawag akong RAJA BAGINDA...
Makalawang ulit nang sinalakay ng aking hukbong-dagat ang SELURUNG, na tinatawag ninyong LUSUNG, at ngayon ay ako ang nagwagi at nakapanakop. Ang mapanghamig na si Datu Gambang, ang inyong yumaong puno, ay wala na, at ang isang prinsesa mula sa kanyang angkan ay aking pinakasalan upang maipagpatuloy ang dinastiya ng Pasig.alamin ninyo na ako'y kalipi ng dakilang ISKANDER, ang ALEXANDER ng malayong Europa, na ang reyna'y anak ni Porus, ang lalong matapang na Indio, kahinlog ni Sang Sapurba na nagtawid-dagat sa JAVA at ang mga kaanak ay namuno sa JOHORE(Singapore), pook na pinangyarihan ng pagkuha sa maharlikang prinsesa upang maging kaisangpuso ng aking kanunu-nunuan, Tuan alak ber Tatar. Sa aking mga ugat ay nananalaytay ang dugong Arabe ni Hassim, ang tunay na propeta na maawain at mapagpaumayang Allah. Nasa-akin din ang dugonf Intsik, dahil sa isang prinsesa ni Kina Balu, at sa loob ng limang daang taon ay laging suot ng mga hari ng Brunei ang dilaw na kasuutang imperyal bilang pagkilala ng emperador ng CHINA. Malaon na kaming nag-iingat ng mobat at mga batingaw mula sa MALACCA at MENANGKABAW, mga palamuting pangmaharlika ng mga Indio at Islam.
at ikinararangal kong masabing sa aking mga ugat ay dumadaloy ang dugo ng isang B-I-S-A-Y-A-. Tuwing dadalaw sa aking kaharian ang mga sugong Intsik at Arabe, ang pinakamahalagang palamuti nila'y ang mahabang CHAWAT...
Mula sa MALACCA hanggang MANILA ay kilalaang lahat ang pangalang NAKHODA RAGAM na kanilang pinanganganinuhan, sa kabila ng aking pagiging maharlika.---END OF QUOTE---

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanate_of_Malacca
quote:
Parameswara founded Malacca around 1400. He was a Hindu Srivijayan prince and Sejarah Melayu mentioned that he laid claims of being descended from the Macedonian King Alexander the Great / Iskandar Zulkarnain, a common practice in ancient historical writing to link a person to a legendary or mythical figure as a way of extolling their greatness. When Parameswara became the ruler of Palembang, the Srivijaya Empire was already in decline. In 1390s, Majapahit sent thousands of ships to attack Palembang. Parameswara had fled his palace and eventually reached Temasek island which was headed by a Srivijayan descendant. However, Temasek had been a vassal of Majapahit since 1365. After several days, Parameswara was betrayed by his relative and he had to kill him. Parameswara then ruled Temasik for about 4 years, where he was finally attacked by the Majapahit armies when one of the ministers opened the gates for Majapahit armies to attack the palace. Parameswara fled north to Muar before founding Melaka in 1400. In 1409, Parameswara assumed the title Sultan Iskandar Shah due to his marriage to a princess from Pasai. His marriage to the Muslim princess encouraged a number of his subjects to embrace Islam. According to the Sejarah Melayu, legend has it that the king saw a mouse deer outwit a dog when he was resting under the Melaka tree. He took what he saw as a good omen and decided to establish a capital for his kingdom there. Today, the mouse deer is part of modern Malacca's coat of arms.
---end of quote---
An uriginal like me by the name of nibiru claimed that Nakhoda Ragam was one and the same with the Parameswara of Malacca Sultanate and Raja Humabon of Cebu. His article include to explain the identity of Princess Urduja. But erred that Zabag is Java when it is supposed to be Savaka a sanskrit word meaning people of Sapa or Saba-h as in Sabah? or the Kingdom of Sapa. It's likely that Parameswara was a forebear of Nakhoda Ragam and not the same as. Raja Humabon to be the same as Nakhoda Ragam is most likely possible. Will do more research on this.
link... http://www.thedigitalpinoy.org/thread/11/3523?nav=last
quote:
In Rihlah, the travelogue written by Ibn Battuttah, the name of the princess is written in Arabic consonants equivalent to English GTRDJ or WHRDJ which was read by Dr. Jose Rizal and other authors during his time as Wahi Arduja and later it is read as Urduja. But this is wrong. the princess referred to was the princess of Java (Jawa/Zabah in Arabic; Mul-jawa is referring to Sumatra) named Gitardja, the daughter of Singosari princess Gayatri and Raden Vijaya (read in Chinese as Shih-lih-fu-shih or Ta-wa-lih-shih, Battuttah's Tawalisi). Ibn Battuttah was widely known then as Sultan Bakhei in the area. This (Sri/Dyah) Gitardja assumed the imperial title Tribuana Tunggadewi when she assumed the throne in 1328 as a virgin Madjapahit Empress after the assassination of her half-brother Jayanagara. She reigned as queen until 1350. She turned over the crown to her son Hayam Wuruk. I already have a complete research on this matter. I am using the said research for a Filipino trilogy for TV series that I am writing right now which is entitled, "Perlas Ng Dragon". The first story is about Princess Gayatri of Java taken by Marco Polo to China and presented her to Kublai Khan as Chu-ko-Chen (Chou-kou-Tien) who is destined to be wed to Arghun Khan of the Il-Khannate empire but in the course of event she is taken by Raden Vijaya of Sumatra as wife forcing Marco Polo to find a replacement for her. The second story is about Gitardja, her war, her love story, and her reign with Gadja Mada, her Prime Minister whom she loved dearly. And the third story is about Leila Manchinai, a Madjapahit princess who is born in Banjarmasin (in Borneo) in the middle of a battle between the army of the Bornean Sultan Sulayman (known also as Makatunaw) and the rebel rajahs led by Rajah Puteh. She, as a baby, is left in a prau used by the fleeing merchants who escaped with the fleeing rajahs to the Philippine islands. The prau upon reaching the Sulu Archipelago meets a storm forcing the merchants to go inward to Agusan River where it is fatally hit by the storm. But the baby Leila Manchinai is washed ashore in the river bank and saved by the bamboos. She is eventually found by the woman Tabunaway and her brother Mamalu. This Tabunaway (Putri Tuniña) is married to an Arab Shariff Muhammad Kabungsuwan who became the first Muslim sultan of Sulu. The Sultan of Sulu then had an expedition to Manchina (the old name for Northern China while China is referring only to Southern China at that time) to pay homage to the Ming emperor. The girl Leila Mancinai is presented to the Ming emperor as a gift and the emperor adopted her as his daughter. This princess, turned a lovely lady, goes back to Sulu with her "younger brother" Kali Pula (Antonio Pigafetta's Cilapulapu), the real son of the Sulu Sultan. Bolkeiah (Rajah Baginda/Nakoda Ragam/Parameswara, the one referred by Antonio Pigafetta as Rajah Humabon, pronounced "Umabong") fell in love with Leila Manchinai. After a lot of tests/tasks, Bolkeiah wins the hand of Leila Manchinai but they have found out that they are brother and sister. This Leila Manchinai is often referred as Putri Paramisuli, Hang Liu, Hang Li Po (Hang-cheu-fu, the previous name of Peking or Beijing or the Tagalog phrase, "Sangli po" which means a Chinese mestiza), Ming, and Amihan (the Queen Juana of Cebu and the Layla Manjanay of the Tausugs in Sulu. It tells also about the conflict between Bolkeiah and Kali Pula over the Sri Vijayan throne, the battle of Mactan in Asian context, and the death of Bolkeiah and Leila Manchinai (Malay-Arabic for Northern Chinese Princess). I hope that you will be enlightened. And I want you to remember that during that era Southeast Asia was a one vast empire divided by many kingdoms and not by countries as we often interpret it.
---end of quote---

what about the Nestorians in the Philippines?

Skander Muda would fit nicely, since Philipp = Father of Alexander the Great? What a coincidence

Did that progress ?

ha, Pedro paterno who speculated that the Philippines is tarshish and ophir. He's in good company like fray colin, magellan and barbosa link http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/9845/zany.htm


experts say there must some semblance of nestorian adding up to the indigenous syncretic beliefs in the philippines, explaining the quick conversion from islam, hindu and animistic beliefs into embracing the Cross planted by the conquistas and thus explaining also how in just a short time of previous intense opposition initially to the spanish conquest in one side into almost rabid loyalty with the Spanish Crown and Catholic faith in repelling various foreign invasions in the other side.

Ha ha. Philip= Father of Alexander
Some would say Pilipino as Pinili at Pinino, Chosen and Purified. And Philip as in the disciple of Christ. ha ha

About the movie, hope it push through. But ironing out some inconsistencies and that guy must do more research like going over in this forum as there are some errors still. ha ha

This is further evidence that the Philippines is the Resurrected Atlantis and the New Jerusalem promised to the people of auld. This will unite our world into one, because the historical circumstances surrounding us is faar too miraculous to behold...

And too many famous people think this so: Ay colin, Magellan, Barbosa, the Popes of the 16th Century, Jose Rizal & me...

Don't forget that the brand of Catholic Hispanisicm imbued in us was of the Latin-American kind, we being a part of Nueva Espana (New Spain) proper. The nobles sent here in the 15th century, although predominantly Spanish in nature had already inter-bred with the subjugated princes of the Aztecs and Incas since they were sent here from Mexico. And since the Philippines was already a religious melting pot before that, this new introduction mingled the lines far more, therefore what runs in the veins of the current Philippine Principalia is the completion of all humanity itself. Our Ilustrados claim descent from the noble families of the Aztecs, Arabs, Africans (From the Berbers who went here), Chinese, Spaniards, Hindus, Malays, Melanesians and even ancient bloodlines from the original Atlanteans.

With this in mind...
The Philippines should have our several extinct Royal Houses revived especially the House of Tupas (Mine)
And have our own National Universal Religion
And a huge bad-@$$ Temple
And I shall be the supreme Priestess
There shall be fertility rituals every Wednesdays and Saturdays
And I shall rule over a harem of handsome, hardy & handpicked, man-concubines
And there shall be sacred orgies during Sundays

^_______________^

haha. the first time Urduja was placed into Philippines was from Nationalist Jose Rizal, who used only the context of estimating Battuta's travel to Northern Philippines. Even Scott who debunked the Kalantiaw bs don't believe in her actual existence.

Haha, as for the rest of the articles...Prester John and Shambala...lol. It's like that historian who tried to say the Japanese were the lost tribe of Israel. lol.

Scott was not infallible. And why would Jose Rizal would waste his time about Battuta's travel if he didn't believe it except for the gross exaggerations. Urduja, of course was not the real name. The name of the princess is written in Arabic consonants equivalent to English GTRDJ or WHRDJ which was read by Dr. Jose Rizal and other authors during his time as Wahi Arduja and later it is read as Urduja.



It's like comparing apples with oranges... Ha ha
I respect your subjective opinion. If that subjective opinion is coming from gutfeel, I doubt it. However, you must respect the guy's extra effort and scholarly research.
To give what is due...
I need your objective assessment. What are your basis?
And not just biases. Anyways you have different vantagepoints, the guy is not only scholarly and objective... He is intuitive.

Haha, Scott was more a modern historian than most blooded Filipino historians and at least coming from the outside in, less bias. (in terms of history and not political views of course). Of course Jose Rizal (a Nationalist...which is vital clue) is a scholar but he had no access to even close to what Scott had (e.g. later finds etc.). And if you scrutinize Rizal's claim really all it is estimation. There was no prior or physical claim ... he started from the batttuta's tale to the Philippines than Philippines to the tale. As for her name, well you are right, but it doesn't prove anything neither whether she exist or she is from the Philippines.

Subjective? And all these crazy conjectures about shambala and prester john being Filipinos aren't. The funniest this is there are not even real proof that either Shambala or Prester John existed how much more that they exist in the Philippines.

The problem with Philippine scholasticism (and Filipino people in general) is the lack of scientific and professional attitude. Meaning they'd believe it if someone presented a semi-believable claim (it is the same with politics and society). I mean the Kalantiaw and Tasaday? Embarassing! Filipinos do backward believe first then scrutinize later, than of course what real scholars do, scrutinize first believe later.

Ha ha.
Now you are giving tirades at Filipino or Oriental way of thinking versus western way of thinking or Filipino scholars versus Caucasian scholars. Obviously, you can't give professional point by point discussion of those mythos which have kernels of truth hidden that only an intuitive individual can find, and a scholar can further give objective evidence by scrutinizing available artifacts and documents using western approach. The key here is Holistic thinking, oriental and western ways of thinking merged for a complete picture.
Basically, you haven't given any valid points yet. Those are Mythos alright if that's what you mean but myths have hidden truths to those who care to seek it.
Like the mythical Philosopher's stone of the western occultist, to the untrained eye this is myth, but to the seeker of truth, it is real.
PresterJohn or the King Solomon's Mines, Shamballah are medieval and mytical stuffs but you can scrutinized objectively the reality of these things using western tools. That's what the author of those articles had done. That there was indeed a historical figure but you know of course how medival writers tend to exaggerate but closer scrutiny, will give you a finer picture. Instead of debunking immediately and giving unprofessional tirades that this is crazy stuff, read the arguments first.
Are you a filipino by heart? Have you lost touch with your Filipino soul?


In the words of UP Prof. Grace Odal regarding myths and Lemuria... http://alamat.cas.upm.edu.ph/background.html :
There is a great need to rediscover the meaning and significance of myths and symbols for the present times - in line with the transformational, liberating and empowerment projects of individuals, communities, nations and global societies. The myths when reclaimed can be powerful enough to liberate and empower people so that they could collectively direct their efforts towards the realization of a cultural renaissance in various countries, for individual, social and national transformation. Specifically, the myth indicating that the Philippines was once a part of a lost primordial motherland - popularly known as �Mu� (1) and later as �Lemuria� (2) � is still alive in some sectors today, especially in the island peoples of insular Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, including pockets of esoteric, cultic, and folk religious groups. Whatever is the name of this great land, and whether or not this phenomenon of people�s collective memory of this vanished land is based on actual reality or not, is subject for further study. However, whatever is the case, it remains to be seen that the existence of these myths as a living reality for some people is an indication of a great potential and hidden non-material resource of countries that have never really been tapped and fully manifested for development and transformational purposes. The myths indicate that the Philippines and the rest of the Southeast Asian region, were once a part of a great and ancient cradle of civilization that vanished, and survived in many forms : as a folk memory, and carried over by oral traditions from generation to generation; as artistic, religious, linguistic and cultural forms whose full import has been lost; and as hidden knowledge and esoteric teachings of the shamanic traditions, guarded by descendants and disciples of pre-colonial priests, but marginalized and demonized by the dominant religions - usually manifesting today in cultic groups found in secluded and marginalized areas of the country, especially by those living in communities near mountains and coastal areas.---end of quote---

^tirades? me? read your paragraphs. It's nothing to do with "Caucasian" way of thinking (it's not racial nor cultural). It's scientific, professional and scholarly. I don't know if the bachelor's you all got are from accredited schools, lol, but I'm pretty sure my diploma isn't a sham. To say it as White vs. Oriental is the same as saying scientific approach is white, thus science must be "caucasian".

And what objective evidence? These are myths with no physical or real evidence. Prester John? Almost all Western-Medieval historians and scholars believe he is a myth. You know how the medieval Europeans got a whip of this story? The Prester John story came only from one source: a medieval knight crusader who was given this wild story by some merchant in the Levant. One source, there were no earlier nor local (Middle Eastern) basis for the story.

Most of these "evidence" are just a bunch of stories and possibilities tied together like a Dan Brown novel, little hard facts, but its sensationalism sells...like how tabloid sells more than real newspapers.

And it has little to do with me losing my imagination/soul, and appreciation for cultural myths...but when you mix reality and bull$hit, that's when we should lose respect and acquiescence. Keep the cultural anthropology separate from history. Those are two different things.

Knowledge is different from wisdom.
There are higher realities and truths which mere transference of knowledge would not give you an access to such. Filipinos are usually intuitive compared to the westerners. They may not have the finest education like the aeta for e.g. but they are purveyors of wisdom.
I would not go down to the level of trying to prove how high my educational attainment is.

You can slam me as crazy etc. but I am quick to defend the findings as well as the character of Pol Kekai Manansala, whom Prof. Grace P. Odal held so highly. Stephen Oppenheimer as well as Wilhelm Solheim with PKM all talked about these myths as realities with scientific tools in the last concluded International Conference attended by DECS officials and public school teachers. There is a renaissance of interests on this topics.

PKM just speculated on these things but you can't discount those documents, early chinese and arab writings about Sanfotsi or Shilifoshi or Zabag or Zabaj as unreal or mythological.

I respect your opinion. All points well taken.

Pagpaumanhin kung may nasabi man akong masakit. Shanti! Peace!

^well I'm not slamming you, I'm slamming these claims. If you suppose people just believe any claim its ridiculous. One thing with knowledge and wisdom is not only the facts (the dates, the names, the memorized lines...) but more importantly is HOW to acquire and HOW to measure, standardize, these into sciences. Meaning it's not just the the equation of Newton's Laws, but how we got to Newton's equation and why we still use it. Scholasticism suggest that laws and theories are measured not by how much they are proven right, but when they are proven wrong.

Same goes with history...we can't simply call mythos with little evidence of existence as 'historical' proof. We got to give measure with how they are acquired, first second or third claims, physical proof etc. The danger of loosening standards are substandard results (I mean the Kalantiaw myth made a fool out of everybody! and these were from scholars whom we respected...once)

Hey this is ineteresting Zabag sound like Sabah and there're pygmies elephant in Sabah. Plus the house of Bolekiah probably is one of the Dayak Iban royal houses. Other royal house for the iban include Ngumbang, Ningkan and Jugah. In fact there lots of Iban with Bolekiah as their sir name.

Other noteable facts the animist Iban have try many times to reclaim Brunei back during the 17ce and 18ce. The most notable fact resulting from this was marauding Sea dayak/ iban pirates capturing Brunei and Sulu flag ships even taking hostage the sultan of Brunei. In fact until now Brunei most price royal pieces are the mandau sword and shield which look like your typical dayak shield which predate the islamic era.

For Bruneian they actually have two main spoken language the Malay and Kedayan Language which is their dayak roots and Malay their Islamic roots.

The Suluk/sulu in fact like Bruneian are Borneoan who mainly dwell in the coastal area where contact with arabs are frequent convert to islam. Like wise their interior cousin/ other royal house remain staunch animist.

Back then, (13-15th Century) Kingdoms of Brunei & Manila were probably considered as one = Zabag !

The prehispanic pangasinense language is the ancestor of ibaloi and pangasinan,the pangasinense and kapampangan were both have contribution to the ruling class of the luzon kingdom,in fact both Solaiman and Lakandula are descended from Deboxah/Urduja.

Parang Ferdie at Imelda tandem si Dayang Kaylangitan at Rajah Lontok,Dayang Kaylangitan is was assigned to Namayan(modern metro manila) like the way Imelda Marcos is the governor of metro manila during the marcos times.






that is because manila was co-governed by luzon kingdom and brunei in the same way that Clark and Subic were made bases of americans because the last ruling dynasty of Luzon is Soliman is installed by the Borneans