Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History

What was the consequence if a slayer could not pay the blood price?

Why was arbitration used in Philippine cultures that were never conquered by the Spaniards?

What is one reason provided to dispute the existence of a Kalantiaw legend?

What was Digno Alba's role in the search for Kalantiaw in local folklore?

Why did public authority impose the death penalty only when both the slayer and slain were commoners?

Why did some Filipinos claim that Kalantiaw had long been a part of Visayan culture?

Why did some detractors link Datu Kalantiaw's existence to Filipino savagery?

Why were there no legends of Kalantiaw before the 20th century?

'Kalantiaw Code' reflected which aspect of Filipino culture according to some admirers?

What did Spaniards do if they were aware of legends regarding Datu Kalantiaw?

Datu Kalantiaw and the Prehispanic Period

The Maragtas tale is a story about the Ten Bornean Datus, who fled from Borneo to escape from the cruel Sultan Makatunaw and settled in the island of Panay.
The leader of the expedition, Datu Puti, sailed on a vessel called Balangay, which is the root word for the term Barangay.
The Datus offered a golden salakot to the Negrito chieftain's wife, Maniwantiwan, and were permitted to inhabit the island.
Datu Sumakwel became the leader of the Datus, and his descendant was Datu Kalantiaw of Panay.
Datu Kalantiaw enforced a code of rules, known as the Code of Kalantiaw, which specified civil behavior, formulation of laws, and the administration of justice.

The Code of Kalantiaw

The Code punished offenses against anitos, diwatas, venerated trees and animals, and clay idols.
The Code shows that Datu Kalantiaw was an animist, not a Muslim.
The Code has a similar meaning to the modern Malay term "Bendahara", which means "prime minister" or second in power to the top datu.

Debunking the Legend of Kalantiaw

The story of Kalantiaw is not supported by historical evidence and is likely a myth.
The Spaniards never recorded any Filipino legend about Kalantiaw.
There were no legends of Kalantiaw before the 20th century.
Aklanon historian Digno Alba searched for Kalantiaw in local folklore in the 1950s but did not find him.

Critique of the Legend

Many unidentified writers have created contradicting stories about Kalantiaw, including claims of a dynasty of rulers named Kalantiaw.
The details of Kalantiaw's life, including his birth, rule, and death, are not supported by historical evidence.
The story of Kalantiaw is likely a myth created in the 20th century.

Test your knowledge about the dissertation by a University of Santo Tomas scholar that debunks assumed prehispanic materials such as the Maragtas tale and the Code of Kalantiaw. Learn about the Ten Bornean Datus' escape from Borneo and their journey on a vessel called Balangay.