I – Juander of GMA 7 Features the last King of Tondo

On September 8, 2017, a top rating public affair program of GMA 7 popularly known as "I – Juander" presented an episode on the last King of the Kingdom of Tondo Manila, Lakan Bunao Dula. GMA is looking for descendant of Lakan Dula who will tell the research about the history of the Kingdom of Tondo, about the life of Lakan Dula and about some historical places in Tondo. They called up the hereditary leader of the Dulay Clan of Marikina Valley. He refused because he is not a historian but a management professor. Instead he referred the TV network to CHED Chairman Popoy de Vera, a history graduate, who also refused; and to Delmar Taclibon, a PhD graduate who did not answer the call of the network. The GMA went to other historians but requested for an interview with the Dulay Clan leader in Marikina to get the point of view of the descendants, who finally agreed.

"I -Juander" is a local TV show in the Philippines which airs every Wednesday at 8:00PM to 9:00PM on GMA News TV Channel 11. Featuring trends in the society and interesting lifestyle topics, veteran GMA reporters Susan Enriquez and Cesar Apolinario try to answer what makes us Filipino by demystifying and investigating the origins of different aspects of Filipino culture. The show is both fun and informative, one that suits all ages. Susan is chiefly known for two things: her fast-paced yet meaty reporting (a skill she picked up from working in radio) and her down-to-earth, likeable personality. With her experience in radio and television reporting, six years of hosting the magazine program ‘Kay Susan Tayo!’ and her current stint as co-host of “I Juander,’ it’s hard to imagine she was ever disliked. But her success today is the product of hard work and determination in the face of immense difficulties. On the other hand, first-time director and GMA News reporter Cesar Apolinario beat the likes of Joey Reyes and Joel Lamangan for the Best Director award for his debut film Banal in the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night. 

The interest shown by national media on the Kingdom of Tondo and its last King, Lakan Bunao Dula is an indication that the Filipinos wanted to dig more about its pre – Hispanic past.

Lakan Bunao Dula (royal title: Lakan; first name: Bunao; surname: Dula) was a native muslim king of Tundun (a large area covering most of what is now present-day Metro Manila), when the Spanish colonization of the Philippine Islands had begun. He was born on December 16, 1503 and died on March 21, 1589 of old age. He ruled a community of Muslim people who lived north of the Pasig River.Lakan Dula was one of three Muslim chieftains in the Manila during the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors led by Martín de Goiti, and Juan de Salcedo in 1570. Lakan Dula was the regnal name of the last Lakan (king or paramount ruler) of the pre-colonial Kingdom of Tondo when the Spaniards first conquered the lands of the Pasig River delta in what is now the Philippines in the 1570s.

        The firsthand account of Spanish Royal Notary Hernando Riquel says that he introduced himself to the Spanish as "Lakan Bunao Dula", indicating that his given name was "Bunao". He later converted to Christianity and was baptised Lakan Carlos Dula. Two among his children were bestowed to inherit the royal surname Dula, the eldest and heir apparent Batang Dula, and Martin Lakan Dula. The rest adopted different native sounding surnames. Another common variation of the name is Gat Dula (alternatively spelled as a single word, Gatdula). He is sometimes erroneously referred to as Rajah Lakandula, but the terms "Rajah" and "Lakan" have the same meaning, and in this domain the native Lakan title was used, making the use of both "Rajah" and "Lakandula" at the same time redundant and erroneous.