Putri Aizian Utto Camsa

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INTRODUCTION -

                                     Sultanate of Buayan

Located at the fertile upper valley of Pulangi in southern Mindanao, the Sultanate of Buayan was created in circa 1668 when the Sultanate of Maguindanao was subdivided to four smaller sultanates namely Maguindanao, Buayan, Kabuntalan and Ganassi. It has rich agricultural lands, primarily because of the Pulangi River which washes its soil, enabling the sultanate to sustain a great number of non-Muslim Malay tribes.

Rajah was the title used by the local ruler of Buayan sultanate. They retain the said title to emphasize that the domain dates back to the Sri Vijaya and Majapahit empires. During the rule of Datu Buisan, father of Sultan Kudarat (Qudarat), Maguindanao dominated the Muslim-Mindanao regions, overshadowing Buayan. The sultanate almost regained its old status when it defeated the Spanish forces in the area in the late 1890s. Datu Ali, the Rajah Muda of Buayan, was about to merge Maguindanao and Buayan when he was unfortunately killed by the Americans primarily because of Moro treachery. Upon the death of Datu Utto (old rajah) and Datu Ali (young rajah), the people from Maguindanao and Buayan weakened and non-royal Moro Chinese datus took the ruling power in Pulangi and allied with the American forces.

                                           History

1. 1. Pre-Spanish

In the early 15th century, Sharif Muhammad Kabungsuan, an Arab-Malay preacher from the royal house of Malacca, arrived in what is now Malabang, introduced Islamic faith and customs, settled down with a local princess, and founded a sultanate whose capital was Cotabato. The other center of power in the area, Buayan, has an even longer history dating back to early Arab missionaries, who, although not able to implant the Islamic faith, introduced a more sophisticated political system. In Buayan, the transition to Islam took a longer time. Spanish chronicles reveal that Buayan, and not Cotabato, was the most important settlement in Mindanao at that time.

1. 2. Spanish times

In 1579, an expedition sent by Governor Francisco de Sande failed to conquer the Maguindanao. In 1596, the Spanish government gave Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa the sole right to colonize Mindanao. He met defeat in Buayan, and later, was killed in an ambush by a Buhahayen named Ubal. His forces retreated to an anchorage near Zamboanga. The rise of the Maguindanao-Cotabato power came after the defeat of Datu Sirongan of Buayan in 1606. From 1607 to 1635, new military alliances were formed, this time with Cotabato. By the 1630s, Cotabato had become a coastal power. In the early 17th century, the largest alliance composed of the Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug, and other Muslim groups was formed by Sultan Kudarat or Cachel Corralat of Maguindanao, whose domain extended from the Davao Gulf to Dapitan on the Zamboanga Peninsula. Several expeditions sent by the Spanish authorities suffered defeat. In 1635, Captain Juan de Chaves occupied Zamboanga and erected a fort. This led to the defeat of Kudarat's feared admiral, Datu Tagal, who had raided pueblos in the Visayas. In 1637, Governor General Hurtado de Corcuera personally led an expedition against Kudarat, and triumphed over his forces at Lamitan and Ilian. Spanish presence was withdrawn in 1663, providing an opportunity for Kudarat to re consolidate his forces.

From 1663 to 1718, Maguindanao influence extended as far as Zamboanga in the west, Cagayan de Oro in the north, Sarangani in the south, and Davao in the east. In 1719, the Spaniards reestablished control with the building of the strategic Fort Pilar in Zamboanga (Miravite 1976:40; Angeles 1974:28; Darangen 1980:42-45). The 1730s saw the weakening of the Maguindanao sultanate, as it struggled with civil war and internal disunity. Spanish help was sought by the besieged rajah mudah (crown prince), further destroying the prestige of the sultanate. Thus, Cotabato power became increasingly dependent on Spanish support. This deepening compromise with Spain led Cotabato to its downfall. Fearing Buayan's reemerging power, Sultan Kudarat II finally ceded Cotabato to Spain in return for an annual pension of 1,000 pesos for him, and 800 pesos for his son. Buayan, under Datu Uto, had, by the 1860s, become the power of Maguindanao. In 1887, General Emilio Terrero led an expedition against Uto; although, he was able to destroy the kota (forts) in Cotabato, he was unable to enforce Spanish sovereignty (Miravite 1976:42; Ileto 1971:16-29). In 1891, Governor General Valeriano Weyler personally led a campaign against the Maguindanao and Maranao. In the next few months, Weyler erected a fort in Parang-Parang, between Pulangi and the Ilanun coast. This effectively stopped the shipment of arms to Uto, who died a defeated man in 1902.

                             History of 3 Sultans of Buayan

Sultanate is a the system of governance that has been practiced by the Muslim (Moro) people long before the coming of Islam in Mindanao and Sulu in 1340 and Christianity in Cebu and Limasawa in 1521. This Sultanate is composed of several principalities ruled by datus.

At first, the Island of Mindanao was ruled by a Sultan known as Sultan sa Maguindanao with a Seat of Sultanate of what is now known as Cotabato City. As time goes on, it was moved to Katuli/Salimbao at Nuling now Sultan Kudarat Municipality. This sultanate split into two when the people of the upstream (Sa Raya) and the lower stream (Sa Ilud) have some differences, paving the way for the establishment of the Sultante of Buayan and the Sultanate of Maguindanao (Cotabato).

I would liked to make a brief presentation of some important episodes of the Sultanate of Buayan, emanating from the reign of Sultan Mohamad Anwaruddin Utto otherwise known as Datu Utto and Datu Sa Sapakan, Sultan Kudanding Camsa and Sultan Akmad Utto Camsa.

ALMARHUM SULTAN ANWARUDDIN “UTTO”

He fought the Spaniards in many battles to defend his capital Bakat several times, but lost it eventually in 1886,

He signed a peace treaty with the Spaniards in 1887.

“Feared Idol & A King with many Tyrannical Rivals”

Reigned: 1862 – 1888

Date of Birth: -

Place of Birth: Buayan, Maguindanao

Date of Death: 1888

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ALMARHUM SULTAN KUDANDING CAMSA

He is a lover of peace, although he had been dubbed as a fugitive man. He never provokes, but he fought when provoked.

He is an epitome of a democracy within an authoritarian rule because he always based his decision upon the opinion of the majority. He practiced a consultative rule rather than a dictatorship.

“The Champion of the common people”

Reigned: 1940-1986

Date of Birth: 1890

Place of Birth: Buayan, Maguindanao

Date of Death: January 4, 1986

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ALMARHUM SULTAN AKMAD UTTO CAMSA

He was enthroned as Sultan of Buayan on October 1, 1990 and was also recognized as the Prime Sultan of the Sultanate of Buayan.

A year after his enthronement, he was appointed by the President of the Philippines as a member of the Council of Elders and advisers, representing the Buayan Sultanate.

“The Hero of Buayan”

Reigned: 1990-2007

Date of Birth: March 25, 1945

Place of Birth: Kolombog, Isulan

Date of Death: August 30, 2007

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