By: Timuay Labi Sannie Bello
Supreme Chief
Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG)
PC Hill as we know it does not mean Philippine
Constabulary but Pedro Colina Hill.
Pedro Colina was how the Spaniards baptized a man known as Mokolina. In those days it was difficult to pronounce
the name of the man, but he had a son named Kolina. This man was referred to as Mo Kolina, meaning the father of
Kolina. Mo is the equivalent of Mac
or Fitz which means son of.
The Spaniards always have a first name and a surname so they must have
thought that Pedro is a good choice for a name.
Pedro Colina is a direct descendant of
Mamalu who lived in Banobo (near crossing Simuay). Mamalu is one of three siblings named Ado,
Amil and Salabanun. Amil and Salabanun
converted to Islam when Shariff Kabunsuan came; Ado did not convert and
sidestepped to Tawan-tawan. Tawan-tawan
is PC Hill.
When Shariff Kabunsuan asked Amil and
Salabanun where Ado is, they told him he is in Tawan-tawan. Shariff Kabunsuan instructed Amil and
Salabanun to bring Ado the Quran and some cooked rice to conduct a kanduli (prayer). Amil and Salabanun did not tell Ado what the
rice was for; because they believed that once Ado will eat the rice he will
already become a Muslim. They told Ado
that the rice was their baon (packed
meal).
Ado received the Quran, separated the
pages and tossed it to the wind.
Immediately the pages became wild doves (Teduray – lamugén; Visayan – alimukon). Ado declared that the lamugén will be his Quran or Bible, some sort of reference for
spiritual messages.
Generations after, to this day every
time the lamugén will make a sound,
we believe there is a message. There are
eight (8) sounds that bring bad news; and four (4) that bring good news. They also see what direction the sound comes
from; and the best news is when the sound comes from directly over one’s head.
Along with the Quran and the rice,
Amil and Salabanun also gave Ado a pencil.
Ado broke the pencil into several parts and threw it to the ground. Immediately when it touched the soil it
became térékték (lizards). The térékték
are also messengers, so that if they make a sound before you leave for
somewhere, better reschedule or something will happen along the way.
Amil and Salabanun called Ado Mamalu,
because he was not baptized into Islam; and that he was uncircumcised.
Malo-malo in Maguindanao means not full-fledged.
Being a descendant of Mamalu, Mokolina
oversaw the sulagad of the
tribe. The sulagad is the communal farm.
It stretches from Tawan-tawan, south to Kroon Slongon (now Gov Guttierez Avenue; same call it old airport)
and west to térbér (now Esteros).
It was a time when the Teduray were
flourishing in numbers. They already had
many fagarí (suki or constant customers).
The first tabú (exchange of
goods) was done in Daobab (original
name of Tamontaka. It is at the lower
stream from what is now the Datu Odin municipal sub-office beside the bridge). Many
boats docked at Daobab.
The first Catholic Church was built at
the time of Roales, a retired Spanish soldier who planted more coconuts. He originally docked in Bongo Island; but
when he saw Kusiong (it was not yet named such then), he thought it was a
better place to settle in.
Roales also brought with him his
nephews, Martinez and Blanco. He also
brought with him workers from Luzon, most of whom were prisoners of the Spanish
government. Roales also traded at Daobab.
Life was harmonious in those times among the Tedurays, the Maguindanaon
and the Chinese.
The Teduray continued to
flourish. The tribal governance was
established in Awang by Diwan as Timuay.
Bandara was his Titay Bleyen (deputy) while Tumanggung was the fagilidan (justice officer).
The installation of the Baglalan
(Council of Elders) was also done in Awang.
Olubalang was in charge of
defense. The fénguléntifén took care of the coastal area; while the féngimbururén took care of the banks of
Pulangi.
When the Americans came, they made
Diwan the President of the Cotabato Empire.
He was the Tribal Leader, whom the Maguindanaons also have a deep
respect. The Maguindanaons in those
times respected the Teduray. The title
of the datu only came later. ‘Presidente’ Diwan settled many conflicts.
An American by the name of Irving
Edwards married a Teduray lady from the Tenorio family. Upi was not the center before. Edwards established a settlement school in
1919, what is now known as Upi Agricultural School (UAS). Tedurays were paid ten centavos per day to
cut through mountain rock using chisels, picks and shovels. So you now have a road from Awang, Labungan,
Kibleg.
* * * * * *
As told to Aveen Acuña-Gulo, IPDEV
Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao
21 November 2014
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