THE BORNEO IDENTITY

"Due to the rapacity of the ruler of Borneo, named Datu Makatunaw, ten datus ventured to escape his grasp by boarding their long ships called barangays in order to seek out new lands. These men, whose names were Datu Bangkaya, Datu Puti, Datu Sumakwel, Datu Paiborong, Datu Paduhinogan, Datu Dumangsol, Datu Libay, Datu Dumangsil, Datu Domalogdog, and Datu Balensuela, eventually became the founders of the pre-colonial Philippine civilization. Upon sailing the seas, they in time reached a couple of islands in the Philippines called Panay and Sinugbuhan. These islands were under the rule of an Aeta “big-man” named Marikudo.

Aetas

These pygmy-like bands that practiced hunting and gathering as well as slash and burn farming (kaingin), was initially in terror of the Borneans. However, Datu Puti, who was the leader of the group, sought a peaceful alliance and was therefore welcomed by the Aetas. Immediately, they forged trade relations with the natives exchanging their combs, hatchets, knives and copper swords (called kris) to the Aetas’ deer horns, boar teeth, bamboo baskets, and various maritime products.

To commemorate the new alliance, Marikudo invited his new associates for a feast under the thick, broad branches of his dapdap and the bounteous food was laid on banana leaves. The Borneans came wearing splendid accoutrements. The men wore kerchiefs wound 4 times around their heads, grandiose jewelry, sleeveless and collarless vests and various shirts.

The women wore their hairs parted in the middle and knotted in two like horns of a cow’s calf perched on each ear. They had long sleeved blouses and they had long, ornately colored skirts called tapis.

In this feast, the Datus negotiated the purchase of land and since the Aetas thought that the island was too large to farm, they agreed. The Aetas, who preferred the cover of forests and mountains, retreated to such areas (where they can still be found today), while the Datus divided portions of the island and thus founded the various clans of the Philippine culture."

This story written in Philippine History books and taught in Kasaysayan, Sibika at Kultura (History, Social & Culture Studies) classes in the elementary grades  had instilled in my young mind a fascination to travel to the land of Borneo and see where these mighty datus originated from.

At Art Class in grade school, we would be asked by our teacher to draw the barangays(boats) used by the datus on their journey accross the Sulu Sea to Panay island, where we would put different bright vertical colors on the sails  typical of the sails of the Moro and badjao boats, and  complete the drawing with blue colors and contour lines to indicate waves on the ocean path of the datus on voyage. And while I was drawing, I aspired that one day, I will travel to the land of BORNEO as a sailor or trader. Today, I'm about to fulfill this travel wish not as a sailor or trader, but as a simple travbuddy.