The Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion of the Ancient Kingdom of Tondo Manila, Philippines

A speech delivered by Prof. Sofronio Dulay l, the 5^th Hereditary Leader of the Dulay Mendoza Clan of Marikina Valley, a cadet branch of the Lakan Dula lineage, on March 17, 2018 at the Luneta Park in Manila, Philippines.

Good afternoon to the Arnis Grandmasters, Lakans, Participants and Organizers of the 9^th Filipino Martial Arts World Festival 2018.

We say this welcome in behalf of the descendants of Lakan Bunao Dula, the last king of the ancient Kingdom of Tondo Manila.

The civilization of the Philippines started from the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean into our shores and rivers, along with the emergence of other civilizations of the world. In January 2018, it was announced that modern human finds at Misliya cave, Israel, in 2002, had been dated to around 185,000 years ago, the earliest evidence of their out of Africa migration. The earliest homo sapiens (AMH) found in Europe are the "Cro-Magnon" man, beginning at about 40,000 to 35,000 years ago. At around the same time, the human beings already existed in the Philippine archipelago as evidenced by the Tabon and Callao men.  Archaeologists believe that the 67,000 years old Callao man discovered in a Philippine cave near the Pacific Ocean could be the oldest human in Asia Pacific alongside with the Australian findings that the Polynesians may have the Philippines as their homeland. The earliest men of Israel and the Philippines might have been already in contact long before men in Europe emerged,  that is why there are the current findings that the Philippines is actually the Ophir that was mentioned in the Bible. An ancient and prosperous settlement in the Pacific, Laoang Isands in Samar  (derived from Samaria) at the far end of the Kingdom of Tondo was populated by a mysterious warlike tribe headed by Datu Iberein (a Hebrew name), according to a book written by historian William Henry Scott. 

The Kingdom of Tondo Manila is the earliest Kingdom of the Philippines with historical records dating back to 900 century, way ahead than the Muslims, Spanish, Americans and Japanese occupations of the country. The oldest monarchy in the world is the Yamato dynasty of Japan which traces its origins back to 660, making it the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy. They are only a couple of century ahead of the Kingdom of Tondo Manila.

The head of our kingdom is called Lakan, or the "paramount ruler". Arnis was the  martial arts of our ancient kingdom and one of the present - day advocates of the art is my cousin and fellow Lakan Dula descendant Samuel Bambit Dulay;  the art is as ancient as the “tinalak” cloth weaving championed by another dear cousin Lang Dulay; and Baybayin alphabet being championed at present time by my fellow Lakan Dula descendant in Marikina Valley, Pastor Jay Enage.

Because all of you are the gurus of Arnis all over the world, our ancient Kingdom bestowed upon you the Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion, and later on this evening you will be invited to a “Dine with the Ancestors Ritual” over antiques plates that has been passed on to us from the ancient household of Lakan Dula -- as a sign of the ancient Philippine Kingdom giving all of you a warm welcome; and commanding you to be the Lakans or paramount rulers of warriors in your own settlements in your part of the world.

The ablest warriors of our ancient Kingdom have mastered Arnis through trainings and actual battles. They are the leaders of our people, headed by our Lakan.

With the Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion, you are the paramount leader of warriors who have gained the mastery of Arnis through discipline, training and creativity right in your own homeland.

Welcome to all of you and congratulations.

Giving of Medallions to selected Arnis Guru coming from different parts of the World. The highest award given to blackbelters of ancient Filipino martial arts, Arnis, is a Lakan Bunao Dula Medallion. The awarding ceremony was done at the Luneta Park with Prof. Toti Dulay, a descendant of Lakan Dula, giving the inspirational message and presiding over the awarding of medallions. The following Dalubhasang Rank Arnisadores were the awardees: Samuel Bambit Dulay (a descendant of Lakan Dula),Dieter Knuettel, Juerg Ziegler, Brian Zawilinski, Paulo O. Motita ll, Mildred Nakamura, Rodini Boyugan, Dennis Santos,  Chona Enriquez, Jorge Karpa, Marcelo Oyales, Henry Burbano, Tek Victoria, Rene Sorezo, Michael Darcy, Laurent Hit, and Jason Bassels. Later in the evening, Prof. Dulay presided over the "Dine with the Ancestors Ritual" among the awardees and special guests. The ritual is historically done exclusively among the living descendants of Lakan Dula in the Dulay Mendoza House in Marikina Valley but this ritual broke a tradition for the first time when it was done among the Arnis advocates and grand masters of the ancient Filipino martial arts worldwide -- done in an undisclosed historical restaurant somewhere near the ancient Kingdom of Tondo.