Jubilee M.

Tiongson-Mission Practice Court I

Atty. Josefe S.Ty Summary & Reflection Paper

HISTORY OF BUTUAN SUMMARY Located at the Northeastern part of Agusan Valley sprawling across the Agusan River is Butuan City, known for its colorful history and culture. BUTUAN is a term believed to have originated from the sour fruit Batuan. Others opined, it came from a certain Datu Buntuan, a chieftain who once ruled Butuan. Scholars believed, it came from the word But-an, which literally means a person who has sound and discerning disposition. Whichever theories appear credible depends on the kind of people residing in Butuan, for whatever is said about them, Butuan continues to live on. As early as the 10th century, according to the Chinese Song Shi (history), people from Butuan had already established trading relations with the kingdom of Champa of what is now South Vietnam. During those days, Butuan was rich in gold, beeswax, cinnamon. People were engaged in the production of articles like pottery, metal and wood implements and ornaments and bark cloth. The economy was boosted by a flourishing trade and commerce through the barter system. It is noteworthy that Butuan is a land of gold according to Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan's expedition of whose king he met during their visit in Mazua island where pieces of gold of the size of walnuts and eggs were found by sifting the earth in that island. The king had three spots of gold on every tooth and his teeth appeared as if bound with gold. The discovery of the 9 Butuan boats or known as balanghai boats, with about 50 thousands archaeological relics and cultural materials (numerous porcelain jars, pots, plates, golds, etc.) excavated in Libertad, became the best evidence to prove that Butuan established trading relations in Asian countries, and even reaching beyond uncharted seas in the globe. One of the balanghai boats was dated 320 AD (well its moving closer to the life of Jesus Christ!), and is now placed in National Museum, Manila, while the others, dated up to 10th AD, and now placed in Balangay Shrine Museum, Butuan City. The numerous porcelain jars and artifacts discovered were originated from the Chinese (10th15th AD), Khmer/Cambodian (9th-10th AD), Thai (14th-15th AD), Pre Thai Satingpra (9th-11th AD) and Haripunjaya (8th-9th AD), Pre-Trade Vietnamese (11th-13th AD), and Persian (9th-10th AD). Some of these relics are now placed at Butuan National Museum in Butuan City. While the others can be found to some private individuals who are were involved in illegal digging activities at the height of archaeological excavations in 1976, but lucky enough to find some rare pieces, and sold to private collectors. Sri-Viyajan Empire of Sumatra and The Sung Dynasty in China had the greatest impact on the fortunes of ancient Butuan. However, when Sri-Viyajan was replaced with Madjapahit Empire and Sung Dynasty was weakened by continuous wars and invasions, but most of all the arrival of Magellan exploration, Butuan began a long slow decline and new trading ports in the Philippine islands began to eclipse. Another major reason to its economic downfall was the imperial greed for possession and power which clashes the Christian message of charity and goodwill. Before Magellan left Butuan, a mass was held in Mazaua Island offered by Fr. Pedro Valderrama on March 31, 1521 in the presence of two Butuanon kings, and later on, became the celebrated First Easter Mass in the Philippines (contesting Limasawa of Leyte as disproved by Geomorphologists and Archeologists). According to the Chinese Soong Shi (history), Butuan has recorded the first appearance of the Butuan Tributary Mission at Chinese Imperial Court on March 17, 1001 AD, that is 50 years earlier than Manila.

Jubilee M. Tiongson-Mission Practice Court I

Atty. Josefe S.Ty Summary & Reflection Paper

One notable events is the discovery of Golden Tara (in the picture above) in 1917, a 21-carat gold Buddhist figurine which is the earliest known image of Sailendra Period of Sri Vijayan in the 10th AD is now placed in Chicago Field Museum of Natural History. Butuan is the first site of the formal evangelization of Mindanao on September 8, 1597 as the Jesuits built the first Catholic Church in Mindanao, and now it is the oldest church ruins in Mindanao as it was burned by Moro pirates in 1753. It was in Butuan where the first and formal hosting of the Philippines flag and the playing of the music of the Philippine National Anthem in Mindanao on January 17, 1899. REFLECTION After reading the book entitled "Butuan of a Thousand Years written by Greg Hontiveros, and other articles pertaining to Butuan's History, now I will personally say that In the beginning there was no Philippinesbut there was Butuan. Prior to Spanish colonization, the writer never mentioned of any killings neither scarcity of basic needs thus, I presumed that during that era, poverty did not exist. It was only during Hispanic era that people started to rise up against the priests and authorities for they were being oppressed and abused. It is noteworthy, that when Magellan anchored their ship in the island of Butuan, the natives instead of being protective of their native land, were just enticed by a red cap and few other things which Magellan gave them. Because their minds were fully occupied with business, they failed to discern whether such gesture of giving things by Magellan were still in the concept of trade and commerce or a subtle manner of invasion. In fact, the king himself gifted Magellan with a bar of massy gold and a basked full of ginger. To assure that Spaniards came as a friend, Magellan did an impressive of his military and technological show, to which the king was tremendously impressed. These events made an opening for Spanish colonization. Hypocrisy and deception were some of the methods used by Spaniards to invade Butuan. In page 59 paragraph 1 of this book states that," Here was the Christian Pigafetta in a banquet and eating pork on Good Friday." (emphasis supplied). Imagine, we were taught by our forefathers not to eat pork during Holy Week but here comes Pigafetta who was so called Christian, ate pork on Good Friday, this is hypocrisy and deception. Another thing, Magellan and his company arrived in Butuan on the 28th of March, 1951 which was Holy Thursday and conducted a religious service on the 31st of March, 1951 while Magellan bade his men to make a cross. The two kings kissed the cross as the Spaniards did and Magellan explained to them that the cross was an insignia of the Spanish Empire. Do you agree that the meaning of the cross is an insignia of the Spanish Empire? Is this what the scripture says? Were not the Butuanons deceived? As the sailors and natives became more familiar with each other, there was much haggling for the barter of each other's goods. Look, according to Hontiveros, the author of this book, Magellan played his shrewdness to the hilt and did not allow the exchange, reasoning that those people should know that they prized and held in more regard in their merchandise than their gold. Is this the gesture of a genuine Christian? I believe it's not. Therefore, as can be gleaned in the few days of Magellan's fellowship with Butuanons, the true spirit of Christianity was not brought by them. It is very apparent based on my reading that they used Catholicism not to transform the society but for invasion purposes.

Jubilee M. Tiongson-Mission Practice Court I

Atty. Josefe S.Ty Summary & Reflection Paper

The response of the two kings who just simply adopted the Spanish faith without digging into it is inherited by Butuanons and is manifesting up to present. Imagine, our dialect is bisaya but while roaming around the vicinity of Butuan and conversing with people particularly with fastfood chain's crew, some private establishments employees and salesladies, are using tagalog instead of being proud of our own dialect. See, Butuanons are remiss of small things. How much more of bigger things? Nowhere to be found in my readings that Butuanon fought to regain their freedom back. Encomienda system was established yet Butuanons never showed a vehement opposition to it. Priests who ruled them were in fact had misunderstanding because of greed of possession and power. Still, Butuanons were silent.. Sigh We had been politically led by a family for the past 18 years whose protection is for their personal interest, yet Butuanons are just silent to it. We are indeed remiss of our duty to stand for what is right. Justice in Butuan is not quite different from other places since we have a uniform laws and court procedures all throughout the country. However, a litigant can only savor the true justice if either both are rich and poor, that is rich vs. rich or poor vs. poor. If one party is less in resources and the other has more, expect that the scale will tilt to the latter unless there is divine intervention. No wonder why until now the City of Butuan is struggling for economic development. This is not entirely a mistake of leadership but Butuanons, although not all, are kind of people who do not put the knowledge gained into practice. They love compromises to save and to protect their own interest. Influential people though their acts are obviously punishable under our laws yet obtain their liberty because of money. I am constantly praying that every Butuanon will make a change for the advancement and development of our City and that all of us will contribute and cooperate for a better Butuan. Change begins not from the outside but from within. May every Butuanon find courage to fight for what is right.