Saturday, April 27, 2013

Celebrating Lapu-Lapu's Genealogy

April 27 marks an important event in the city of Lapu-Lapu, specifically, and for most of the Philippines, in general, Today is known as the Kadaugan sa Mactan - Victory in Mactan - the day that is considered by most Filipinos as the first successful act of defiance by a Filipino against a foreign invader. Today commemorates the defeat of Magellan at the hands of Datu Lapu-Lapu of Mactan.

The names Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan are perhaps two of the names that majority of Filipinos will never forget among the the pantheon of Filipino heroes and martyrs. Aside from the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Lapu-Lapu remains one of the few historical figures that Filipinos are proud of. After all, the story of the conquistador Magellan's death at the hands of Lapu-Lapu (or one of his men) is a story that is etched forever in the heart and mind of the Filipino people.

And yet no matter how enduring the legacy of Lapu-Lapu is he also remains one of the heroes in our history to have an incomplete story.

Little is known about Lapu-Lapu's beginnings. What we now know of him comes from Antonio Pigafetta's account of Magellan's voyage and eventual death in Cebu. After the Spaniards left Cebu following the death of their leader we know nothing about what became of the country's first hero. In fact, it is not even clear if his name was Lapu-Lapu or Caliph Pulaku. The latter name would indicate an Islamic root, and some historians have alluded to the possibility that Lapu-Lapu was a Moslem. 

Pigafetta's account calls him Cilapulapu, which, in my opinion, is actually "si Lapulapu" thus making his name Lapulapu. Despite the scarcity of records we can still piece together the life of Lapu-Lapu based on oral traditions. Various articles and essays have been written about him with stories taken from families claiming to be descended from Lapu-Lapu. The Pagobo and Baring families of Mactan and the Mundo family of Borbon, both in Cebu province, claim that they are modern-day blood relatives of hero of Mactan. Other oral traditions gathered through the years from various local sources have actually yielded more or less the same information as those coming from the families claiming to be Lapu-Lapu descendants.

In one online article it is said that Lapu-Lapu's father was called Kusgano and his mother was Inday Puti (clearly symbolic names, as Kusgano stands for strength while Puti pertains to purity). He also appears to have a brother called Mingming and a grandmother called Matang Mantaunas, said to be a very powerful ruler in her heyday. Later, Lapu-Lapu is said to have married a beautiful princess by the name of Bulakna (flowers), the daughter of another local chieftain. Their child was called Sawili and was said to be as brave as his father.

I also checked academic write-ups and found two. One was written by Heidi K. Gloria and the other one by Linda Kintanar Alburo. When I was working for UP Cebu's research arm way back 2002 I also read a research by one of my former professor, Ms. Fe N. Reyes, about Lapu-Lapu based on folklore. It is from their write-ups that I base this brief genealogy of Lapu-Lapu.
A simple family tree of Lapu-Lapu
According to the tales gathered by these writers, the tales about Lapulapu have unearthed a circle of names related to him, among them: Datu Manggal, his father; Matang Mantaunas, his mother; Malingin or Mingming, his daughter; Bulakna, his wife; and Sawili, his son. And while we would expect these oral traditions to put Lapu-Lapu at the forefront of the stories it is apparently Lapu-Lapu's father, Datu Mangal, who appears as the "lead" in most of these tales. These tales also appear to have better sources than the one earlier mentioned above.

These stories do not only tell about the quests Lapu-Lapu had to undergo in order to win the hand of Princess Bulakna, it also tells of the magical tradition that was apparent in the members of Lapu-Lapu's clan. Accordingly, Lapulapu possessed supernatural powers because of his father Datu Manggal’s anting-anting or talisman. Of course, no one was more powerful than the father as he also possessed the power of foresight as well as having a horse that could fly.

But back to Lapu-Lapu. Oral tradition states that though he successfully defeated Magellan, Lapu-Lapu did not come out of the battle unscathed. In fact, he had a serious enough knee wound which made him weak. Later, after a great whirlpool in Mactan, a miracle of the Sto. Niño restored the island and reconciled Lapulapu with Humabon.

Oral history further states that five months after the battle of Mactan, Lapulapu asked Rajah Humabon to help him return his family and himself to his native home, which apparently was Borneo. In the end, Lapu-Lapu left Cebu with three wives, eleven children and, twenty servants. His warriors and other followers to given to Rajah Humabon as a parting gift.

But there is also a more romantic end to Lapu-Lapu's life. It is said that sometime after the battle of Mactan, in his twilight years Lapu-Lapu and Bulakna decided that the time had come for them to leave the world and go on to the next. After making sure their son was ready to rule Lapu-Lapu and Bulakna entered a sacred cave and were never seen ever again.

In the future I would be adding an article on "possible" Lapu-Lapu descendants. While this would be hard to verify historically it would still be good to trace the genealogies of these families claiming descent from Lapu-Lapu.
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Sources:

1. Linda Alburo's write-up on Lapu-Lapu
2. Heidi K. Gloria's "The Legend of Lapu-Lapu: An Interpretation" published by the PQCS
3. Fe N. Reyes's research on Lapu-Lapu, published by the CVSC

65 comments:

  1. Hi my middle name is Lapulapu. My mother said my Lolo hailed from Mactan and migrated to Negros island as a sacada in an hacienda. I hope Lapulapu's descendants could be traced.

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    1. Then your clan is a Muslim or Moro...

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    2. Hasanodin Gayak, Lapu-lapu was a Pintados or Visayan, which was not a Muslim tribe. Sorry, but you need to check on an Unbiased History Lesson.

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    3. lapu lapu is indeed not a muslim, before they ate pork dog meat and drink palm wine.

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    5. Once my great grandparents own a lot lands in Mactan Island I wonder if Veloso is connected to Lapu Lapu

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    6. Muslim always claim that lapu-lapu was a muslim in order to deceive people and make us believe that islam is a great religion. In fact, muslim was the first invader after our ancient ancestors came and lived here thousands of yrs ago. Negritos were the first to migrate here,their descendants are the aetas. Next was the indo who migrated 5,000 yrs ago and lastly the malays migrated 2000 yrs ago. They're our true and original ancestors. Bukidnon, subanin, Kalinga, ilong go, igorot, ifugao and other native filipinos are the descendants of our ancestors.
      While lapu-lapu and his people which had a culture and tradition of putting tattoos on their body and wearing a fangled necklace was a symbol that they belong to our ancient ancestor like the ifugao.

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  2. Hi! My grandmother's maiden name was supposed to be Lapu-Lapu but was change instead into Campos to escape from the people of Mactan and migrated to the Negros Island, specifically Cauayan, our family (you can call it a clan) speak mostly Cebuano so I asked about it and they told me about our ancestors. I really hope its true.

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    1. Your Clan is Muslim or Moro...

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    2. Hello your grandmother and my grandfather are the same. They also change their surname into Casanillo to escape.

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    3. Our lolo told us the same story,their family name lapu lapu change to lequigan, hope to know more about our relatives

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    4. I was able to traced existing descendants of Lapulapu here on this link: My answer to Who are the descendants of Lapulapu? https://www.quora.com/Who-are-the-descendants-of-Lapulapu/answer/Laudy-Dorado?ch=15&oid=346576245&share=cfb6df87&srid=CWMjw&target_type=answer and I found out that the Campos family are indeed related to Lapulapu although through the lineage between the marriage of First Daughter of ex-president Carlos Garcia and a certain Campos. The children between the marriage of Garcia-Campos family will have the blood of Lapulapu however if purely from Campos clan, there will be no blood from Lapulapu.

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  3. Our lolo told us about our great grandparent was LAPU-LAPU but it was being changed to several family names including ours after the fall of magellan. There were at least 4-5 family names I recalled. Baguio, cabahug, baring and I forgot the others... He even had a family tree but so sad we couldn't find it anymore.

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    1. Dont forget Gallego and Allego , our greatgrandmother is Princess Bulakna

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    2. Dont forget Gallego and Allego , our greatgrandmother is Princess Bulakna

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    3. My aunt says that we are also descendants of Lapu-Lapu as a Caña family in Cebu and was changed into Cañosa,Cañares,Cañado,Gabisan and many others.Hope that some are replying this.

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    4. Where are you from UNKNOWN Feb. 23, 2016

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  4. Most of you who commented here and admitting you are descendant of Datu Lapu-lapu meaning you all must be a muslim or a moro...

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    1. We are moros or pagans before the spaniards brought christianity in the the Philippines. We are the great maharlikan country. Philippines got its name from King Phillip.

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    2. Nope, SiLapuLapu belonged to the Pintados clan, not Moros.

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    3. Pintados? may be you read it to Wikipedia not really well cited source.

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    4. Lapulapu is not a muslim, He was the Pintados leadet after his foster Father Kusgano died, he was the son of Sri Bantug and second wife Princess Bauga of Panay (Binokot Princess if Panay, daughter of Datu Lakas) and was adopted by King Datu Kusgano Mangal or Rajah Opong, Lapulapu was the half brother of Rajah Humabon (or Sri Hamabar)his son was Sawili or Datu Mangubat, the father of Alejandro Mangubat, ( w/ more other brother, Alejandro Mangubat has a daughter named Tomasa Mangubat married to Rito dela Serna, (w/ 5 siblings, one of them was PASCUAL MANGUBAT DELA SERNA, LEONCIA MANGUBAT DELA SERNA & OTHERS, 1. Pascual Mangubat dela Serna married to Alipia Ycong (have 5 siblings), one of them was Gregorio Dela Serna (and habe 6 siblings) 2 of them was RODRIGO DELA SERNA and and known to be PAPA JOSE DELA SERNA) half brother of Rodrigo dela Serna. Rodrigo dela Serna mar. To Conchita Sitoy (from Cordova Cebu)gheir eldest son is Ramon Sitoy dela Serna (King/Datu Kusgano Mangal Lapulapu 1X) Grand Chieftain of Mactan and Cebu Island of SRI VIJAYA LAPULAPU BISAYA PINTADOS TRIBE, while LEONCIA MANGUBAT Dela SERNA mar. To BARTOLOME MANGUBAT DIMATAGA was the ancestor of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte from his great grandmother ROSITA MANGUBAT DIMATAGA mar. To ALMENDRAS ( genealogy of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.......NOTE, walay muslim nga dunay mga tattoo sa lawas, nag areyos, nagbahag ug mokaon ug baboy ug moinom ug tuba...unya ang mga babaye sa unang panahon walay sinina sa ibabaw
      ..makita ra ang totoy...ang Ancestor ni Lapulapu mao ang INDIANIZED RAJAHNATE OF CEBU, ug natawo si Lapulapu sa SAWANG CALERO sa PASIL, CEBU....

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  5. Hi, my middle name is Lapulapu. My mother told me that we were Lapulapu's descendants. I made a research myself but the results are crude and blurred to me. My other relatives said that Lapulapu's tribe was not located in Mactan Island as what historian Gregorio Zaide wrote in his book.
    Here are some points shared to me by my uncles:
    1. Mactan has no single spring of water in the entire island so how could Lapulapu and his people survive in an place without water.
    2. There is a place called "Matan" in Camotes Islands, where springs of water are found and artifacts of the Battle between Spaniards and the natives were excavated such as rusted cannon balls, shields and swords of European origins.
    3. In Camotes Islands we we can easily find tables made of hard durable wood of antiquities and yet the island never grows trees of very hard quality.
    4. In Pegafetta's record, when Magellan sailed his galleons to fight Lapulapu it was written that they sailed in early evening with favorable winds and reached the island in early dawn.
    Ergo: How come Mactan Island today is disclared by historians as the place of Lapulapu where it can be easily reached by a simple paddled boat in an hour from Cebu main island?

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    1. Interesting. You should write further and explore this.

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    2. My relatives said my family from my father side descendants is also lapu lapu, my grandfather and my father also from cebu "BOOC CLAN"
      and "PULANCO CLAN" sabi nila iniba nalang ng mga ancestor namin yung mga Surname nila (apelyido) because they're afraid of Spaniards..

      Lapu-Lapu is also known under the names Çilapulapu, and Cali Pulaco

      Diba mag kahawig yung surname ng father ko (pulanco) sa name ni lapulapu na (pulaco)
      Yun lang po:-)

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    3. MACTAN until this day is inhabitable but a subterranean cave from Guadalupe Cebu to the Island is known. The Mangangatangs or Pirates doesn't live in the island but rest and just observe the trading in the nearby Cebu that passes by.
      Perhaps I've been to Camotes Island and their are errors and inconsistencies in our history like LIMASAWA island is really MASAU island the first Mass held in the delta river of BUTUAN CITY written by PIGAFETTA as MALHOU traced by its lattitude in the diary. Butuan then was bustling City.

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  8. Lapulapu was named after a fish because it is said that he incurred a skin disease like fish scales. He was a Mangangatang in the Celebes Sea in present day Indonesia. Piracy was his living. Si Lapulapu is proper name for leaders like Sir from the SRI VISJAYA empire. I disagree that their are surnames during that time. The people of Bohol were given the incentive by the Spaniards not to Hispanize their family names like Calungsod, Cabatingan, Duhaylungsod and any Visayan sound name.While Family names with first names as surnames like MARCOS, SANTIAGO, SAN PABLO, ELEAZAR came from the north or Luzon.
    When I asked UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS historian Mr. Pacaña and my uncle Dr. Momoy Fernan Bercero of Palompon State University, which comes first the Lapulapu fish or hero? They replied the fish. It is common for us to name names after animals. SILAPULAPU like Sir Lapulapu from SRI VISJAYA empire incurred a skin disease like fish scales with reddish skin most probably PSORIASIS.

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    1. During the 50's in the Visayas region the name Lapu-Lapu refered only to the Lapu-Lapu Chief of Mactan who fought and killed Magellan. The fish called lapu-lapu is called pugapo.It was only when I went to Manila in mid 60's that I came across the name lapu-lapu as a fish.

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    2. Thank you. Very interesting point. Im sure if eventually DNA us incorporated in this project, sine type of bloodline could be identified through genes. Genomes tell us so many stories.

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  9. My grandmother's great, great, grandfather is Lapu-Lapu. My grandmother's surname was Lapu-Lapu, but it was changed to Esnardo because the Spanish went to their house in Cebu and asked her father to change their last name in Spanish or else they will die. But we have a lot of relatives here in Davao City whose last name is still Lapu-Lapu. They didn't change it.

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    1. Great name, but sad was changed when woman married the name changed. A true hero blood can go by himself alone without nobody with ,still remain silent because besides a heroic name still life in danger.

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  10. i believe that Lapulapu (Caliph Pulaku) was a Muslim, so was Datu Maktam (in Muslim origin, Makhdum). Over the centuries, Makhdum was mispronounced as Maktam, hence the name Mactan.

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  11. The recent archeological findings in Camotes Island with a place much similar to Pigafetta's description Matan where fresh water exists. Spanish artifacts like cannons and weapons were excavated . 3 hours from Cebu City unlike Mactan Island. Opon is the name of Mactan Island for centuries . Takes only 30 minutes away from Cebu by boat . Datus unlike Sultans are not Muslims they are native Filipinos from Indonesia and Malaysia. Manila was a sultanate by Suleiman of Borneo

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    1. they are not Filipinos at the time if they were from Borneo

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  12. Many families claim to be descendants of Lapu Lapu, including mine, the Patalinghugs of Mactan. Similar to what has been posted here, my family's version of Lapu Lapu's genealogy is his children taking up different last names to escape Spanish persecution, which actually is not a far fetched possibility considering the extent of the Spanish authority and military capability during that time.

    I would assume that there were a lot less people during that time than there are today, and there could have been a 99% chance that everyone must have been related to each other, which would make native Visayan families genetically related to Lapu Lapu.

    Knowing that there isn't a piece of literature to verify every claim of relation to Lapu Lapu, I would go to bed thinking that indeed, I am a descendant of our great hero.

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  13. I advise to have DNA for all of the claimant to be lapu lapu. thats a wise decision.

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    1. That's a right way to identify now who are the descendants of LapuLapu,Yes im willing to have a DNA test,because my lolo is Apo Andres is his surename is Lapu Lapu he is afraid to die and to be killed he change his surename to Basañez.

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    2. My father in law's surname is also Basañez and we are informed that our ancestry was Apo Andres, may we know where your family came from?

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  14. I could still remember that when I was a young boy my grandmother, Elena Entong Robles, annually receives an invitation from the local government of Cebu to attend the April 27th celebration of the Kadaugan sa Mactan. She was among those are recognized as a direct decendants of Lapu-Lapu. Free round trip tickets are also provided courtesy of the Philippine Airlines.

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  15. Try to read the works of jovita abellana, on tracing the descendants of lapu lapu

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  16. My mother said we are the fifth generation of lapu-lapu's direct descendants, her Father who is my Lolo was born in Cebu. Lapu-lapu was originally from Opon, now known as Lapu-lapu City, one of her older sister (my aunt, deceased) can really tell the stories of what really happened during Lapu-lapu's reign. They change their last name to evade the spaniards, they change it to DIAZ, my mother's maiden last name.

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  17. Per research Lapu-Lapu knew queen of Sheba in the Bible which means cebu, so he was a oneness God believer not a muslim. Therefore the Lapu-Lapu one those royals that know God very well in addition hindi sila nakabahag they were royals.

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    2. In addition, my great grandfather was from Opon and Medellin Cebu and said Lapu Lapu was his relative also. In my opinion, the history of this great people Lapu Lapu is twisted and majority of Philippines history was erased by spanish friars. Spanish friars hide the truth regarding Ophir also known Philippines. Watch Solomon’s Gold in Youtube this documentary is compelling and the researchers cited very well to prove their argument.

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    3. I watched Solomon's Gold series, but when it linked to Tallado's claim as the owner of the Philippine islands I presume that this documentary is purely revision!!!

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  18. im a Pabilona clan i will defend my country and fights for the rights im not access to any Religious belief because There is no Religion higher than the Truth... always the Truth will set us free.. why we need Arguments for you have genes of the Defender Datu Lapu lapu... we are all maharlikans... unity is my virtue...I am a defender of my state...

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  19. INDOANIZED RAJAHNATE OF CEBU is a Hindu-Buddhist Animist Abba Anito Bathala is their God and King/Datu Kusgano Mangal or Rajah Opong was the Tribal leader of Pintados warrior of Cebu under SRI BANTUG reign, Sri Bantug abducted Princess Bauga and considered her as his younger wife (during their pangayaw to Panay Island). The mother of Rajah Humabon was an old woman named Marut. Then Princess Bauga delivered a baby boy( and was named latter as baby Lapulapu), and was offered to Diwata Ritual after 3 days from birth, but days after the diwata ritual Sri Bantug was being attacked by the Warriors of Datu Lakas and died, then they got back to Panay Princess Bauga while baby Lapulapu was being left behind the other room of Sri Bantug Palace..after the death of Sri Bantug, Marut confied to Kusgano that she planned to get rid of baby out of the Palace but Kusgano insisted to adopt bany Lapulapu and brought to Mactan placed inside a small basket brought by his slave Amang.....to be continued...

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  20. How about of Aliocod, Allocod and Alucod families from Bohol? Aliocod families are the majority common surnanes.
    May I ask if where the origin of Aliocod in Bohol or Visayas Area?

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  21. We are looking for Aliocod surname origin in Bohol, Philippines. We cannot find our ancestors in Bohol.
    Some of Aliocod relatives was changed their surnames during World War 2. The others are the surname became reverse.

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  22. May nagsabi matanda sa great grandparents namin na may dugong lapulapu dw kaming mga Fernan family pinalitan lng kac hinahanap nang mga kastila nuon. kac nahati nang 13 na apilyedo si lapulapu isa dw kami duon

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  24. Most people claiming they are descendants of lapu lapu. Maybe true but your lineage is from bulakna or cousins of Lapu lapu. If you go to Olanggo mactan there is Baring point and lapu-lapu's direct lineage are the Baring's. You can ask the locals there. :)

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  25. ano ang fullname ng asawa ng pinakabunsong kapatid nila ni lapu lapu?

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  26. You only base all of your research and analysis based on mortal claim, more on foreign findings. You disregard the local historical versions. And old name of Philippines is not Maharlika. You did not consider conducting research what is on KJV Bible that the old name of Philippines is included many times during Solomon's gold exploration. Widen your research not only human traditions. Do your cross reference between academic facts and Biblical Facts..... Thank you and Yah Bless you all..

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  27. We've just open a old chest of our great great grandfather that is forbidden to open because they said it have curse or something and no one attempt to until year at last after all generation that pass by we've shock and goosebumps when we've see what inside that chest is bamboos and inside of it is well preserve documents stating that we are direct descendants of Datu "Lapu-lapu". All of our grandfather didn't know this thing until the day we open that baul. They've just know that our great grandfather migrant from Cebu, he escaped to East Visayas far away from Cebu because of some death treat issue. The fun fact is the main city of cebu which is "Lapu-lapu City" the owner of that named from our great grand father who escaped from Cebu and it is verified on Cebu Municipality as well!

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  28. Hello everyone, my grand father told me before he died that we are the descendant of King Raja Lapulapu,they charge their Family name to MALINAO because the Spaniard's wanted them to kill, all the descendants of King Raja Lapulapu the descendants of King Raja Lapulapu has the True Blood of Royal Maharlikan people here in the Philippines. I want to know more regarding this matters. Thank you. I Happy to read that our President Rodrigo Duterte is a descendant of King Raja Lapulapu.

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  29. Reading these comments are quite fascinating, My middle name is also Lapu Lapu but it was also changed into 3 fake surnames ( i don't know how to spell them properly). Carillias, Caseñias, Casinilias because of the same reasons as you guys, My mom told me about it. My Mom's side has a big place on Mactan and there selling it. She told me that the owner of the place is her lolo. She told me it was worth 1Billion. When i go back to bohol ill make sure to ask more questions to my family about our family tree

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  30. I remember my great grandfather telling me the same story as a kid. We were descendants of LapuLapu, his family fled to different parts of the Philippines, changing their last name. Our last name is Tampus and all I know is he lived in Davao but he moved back to opon years before he died. He lived dirt poor in his last years but he had this huge land near sutukil which he sold (probably way cheaper than what it's worth) probably to get by. I never really paid attention to his stories as I was too young at the time to be interested on those kind of things until recently, I was building our family tree on Ancestry.com and I asked my dad if he knows any info that might help and he just told me(confirmed) that we are descendants of LapuLapu. I think it would be a good idea to make an FB page and those who took DNA tests to coordinate.

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  31. Good Morning, I've been more focused about my grandfather's story that Ochia's are one of the descendants of Lapu-lapu.

    Here's the story, Lapu-lapu change his name or family name to Ochia, because the Spaniards are looking for him, that's why he's never found from the Spaniards. I don't know if this true because it's only a grand elders story in my province, Maslog, Tabogon, Cebu.

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