Kingdom of Namayan
Encyclopedia
The ancient Kingdom of Namayan, alternately referred to as the Kingdom of Sapa, Maysapan or Nasapan after its capital which goes by those names, was one of three major kingdoms that dominated the area around the upper portion of the Pasig River and the coast of Laguna Lake in the Philippines before the arrival of Spanish colonizers in the 16th century.
Namayan is said to be the oldest of the three kingdoms, pre-dating the kingdoms of Tondo
and Maynila. Formed by a confederation of barangay
s, it is said to have achieved its peak in 1175.
These were:
Moreover, administrative and political records of Spanish Manila indicate that these settlements mentioned as territories of the Kingdom of Sapa were recorded in 1578 as parts and visitas of Sta. Ana de Sapa.
The capital, Sapa, would later be called Maysapan, and then Santa Ana de Sapa, and is known today simply as Santa Ana, a district of the City of Manila.
Fr. Huertas notes that "this town takes its name from the titular saint and the addition of Sapa for its having been established in a site immediately upon an estuary or rivulet proceeding from the Pasig River, which the natives call Sapa and the name of the town itself."
.
slave-wife. The child, named Pasay, inherited the territory known today as the territories of Culi-culi, Baclaran
and the modern city
which still bears the name of this individual. There is some discrepancy as to whether Pasay was a son or daughter, with some legends referring to "Dayang-dayang Pasay" ("Princess" Pasay).
missionaries chose to build their church, and eventually another settlement, some distance away from the ancient town. The result is that the present-day Santa Ana is no longer located at the original site of the capital of Namayan. This has raised some questions about pre-colonial graves that have recently been excavated near the Santa Ana church. A street named Lamayan (Tagalog
for "the place where a wake
was held") is said to be the site of the ancient capital where Lakan Tagkan and Buwan once ruled.
During the Spanish colonial era, Santa Ana was a fishing village that had other industries including carpentry, masonry, piña (pineapple cloth) embroidery, as well as the production of tinapâ
, cigars, bricks, sugar, and bread.
Namayan is said to be the oldest of the three kingdoms, pre-dating the kingdoms of Tondo
Ancient Tondo
Tondo, was a Philippine fortified kingdom which was located in the Manila Bay area, specifically north of the Pasig river, on Luzon island. It is one of the settlements mentioned by the Philippines' earliest historical record, the Laguna Copperplate Inscription...
and Maynila. Formed by a confederation of barangay
Barangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s, it is said to have achieved its peak in 1175.
Territorial range
Namayan's territory has been described bordering Manila Bay, the Pasig river, and Laguna Lake. A more precise description of Namayan's administrative area is given by Franciscan scholar Fr. Felix de Huerta, who, noting that Namayan was a confederation of several barangays, identified these component communities as they were named during the mid 19th century.These were:
- Meycatmon,
- Calatondangan (or Kalatundungan),
- Dongos (or Dungos),
- Dibag,
- Pinacauasan,
- Yamagtogon,
- Maysapan (now Santa AnaSanta Ana, ManilaSanta Ana is a district of the City of Manila in the Philippines, located at the southeast banks of the Pasig River, bounded on the northeast by Mandaluyong City, Makati City to the east, southwest is the Manila district of Paco, and to the west, Pandacan....
), - MalateMalate, ManilaMalate is an old district of the city of Manila in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The district is located at the southern end of the city of Manila, bordered by Pasay City to the south, by Manila Bay to the west, by the district of Ermita to the north and by the districts of Paco and San Andres to...
, - Dilao (PacoPaco, ManilaPaco, is a district of Manila, Philippines. It is located south of Pasig River, and San Miguel, west of Santa Ana, southwest of Pandacan, north of Malate, northwest of San Andres, and east of Ermita. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 64,184 people in 13,438 households...
), - Pandacan,
- QuiapoQuiapoQuiapo may refer to:*Quiapo, Chile a location in Arauco Province*Quiapo, Manila in the Philippines...
, - SampalocSampaloc, ManilaSampaloc is a district of Manila which is primarily a residential and educational center. Part of the Malacañang Palace is located in Sampaloc. The University of Santo Tomas, University of the East Manila are part of the University Belt to name a few, the famous Dangwa flower market at Dimasalang...
, - San MiguelSan Miguel, ManilaSan Miguel district is a primarily middle-class residential area of Manila. Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the President of Republic of the Philippines, is located in San Miguel district. Just outside Malacañang Palace's gates lies Mendiola Street, the avenue where most mass protest...
, - San Juan del Monte,
- San Felipe Neri (now Mandaluyong),
- San Pedro de Makati and
- TaytayTaytay, RizalThe Municipality of Taytay is a first class, urban municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. It is currently the third second most populous town in Rizal after and Cainta. Taytay serves a the gateway of West Rizal to the cities of Pasig and Taguig...
.
Moreover, administrative and political records of Spanish Manila indicate that these settlements mentioned as territories of the Kingdom of Sapa were recorded in 1578 as parts and visitas of Sta. Ana de Sapa.
The capital, Sapa, would later be called Maysapan, and then Santa Ana de Sapa, and is known today simply as Santa Ana, a district of the City of Manila.
Fr. Huertas notes that "this town takes its name from the titular saint and the addition of Sapa for its having been established in a site immediately upon an estuary or rivulet proceeding from the Pasig River, which the natives call Sapa and the name of the town itself."
Rulers of Namayan
Fr. Huertas also recorded the history of Namayan's rulers. It had been ruled from Sapa by Lakan Tagkan (Lacatagcan, Takhan), and Lady Buan. Their known issue was five individuals of whom the principal was named Palaba. Palaba sired a son named Laboy who, in turn, had a son named Calamayin whose own son was christened Martín when he converted to CatholicismCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
.
Other notable heirs
Of perhaps greater interest, however, is Tagkan's child by his BorneanBorneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
slave-wife. The child, named Pasay, inherited the territory known today as the territories of Culi-culi, Baclaran
Baclaran
Baclaran is a barangay located on the border of Parañaque and Pasay in Metro Manila, Philippines.The area is well-known for the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help also known as the Redemptorist Church or Baclaran Church, dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. There is also a...
and the modern city
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
which still bears the name of this individual. There is some discrepancy as to whether Pasay was a son or daughter, with some legends referring to "Dayang-dayang Pasay" ("Princess" Pasay).
After colonization
When the parish of Sta. Ana de Sapa was founded in 1578, FranciscanFranciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionaries chose to build their church, and eventually another settlement, some distance away from the ancient town. The result is that the present-day Santa Ana is no longer located at the original site of the capital of Namayan. This has raised some questions about pre-colonial graves that have recently been excavated near the Santa Ana church. A street named Lamayan (Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
for "the place where a wake
Wake
A wake is the region of recirculating flow immediately behind a moving or stationary solid body, caused by the flow of surrounding fluid around the body.-Fluid dynamics:...
was held") is said to be the site of the ancient capital where Lakan Tagkan and Buwan once ruled.
During the Spanish colonial era, Santa Ana was a fishing village that had other industries including carpentry, masonry, piña (pineapple cloth) embroidery, as well as the production of tinapâ
Tinapa
thumb|TinapaTinapa is the Filipino term for fish cooked or preserved through the process of smoking. It is a native delicacy in the Philippines and is often made from milkfish, which is locally known as bangus...
, cigars, bricks, sugar, and bread.
Additional reading
- Nick Joaquin's Almanac for Manileños
- The River Dwellers by Grace P. Odal