Friday, December 21, 2018

Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s Pintados national costume; Marinduque as Island of Pintados


Catriona Gray's Pintados bodysuit
Filipinos are still talking about the bodysuit worn by now Miss Universe Catriona Gray during the candidates’ presentation of their national costumes. Today it was discussed again in connection with the launching of the forthcoming Philippine Quincentennial Celebrations.


Catriona’s bodysuit was inspired by the Pintados (painted people) and represent Visayas, the headdress and beaded knee-high boots were inspired by the different tribes of Mindanao. The parol serving as her backdrop represents Luzon.

Aside from these, other features at the back of the parol paid tribute to other Philippine cultural elements, among them Marinduque’s Moryonan.

At 3 o'clock position are elements of Marinduque's Morionan
The Pintados bodysuit was inspired by a depiction in vivid color of an ethnic group that appeared in a manuscript written in 1590 called the Boxer Codex that contained illustrations of the Tagalogs, Visayans, Zambals, Cagayanes and others. Those illustrations utilized Chinese paper, ink and paints and may well have been drawn by a Chinese artist.

Pintados in Boxer Codex 1590

It is believed that the manuscript was written under the orders of the governor at that time, Governor General Gomez Perez Dasmarinas who arrived in the same year 1590. (Dasmarinas’ almiranta galleon, San Ildefonso, due to a very strong typhoon was grounded in Marinduque, remember? 
And that among the passengers of San Ildefonso was Padre Pedro Chirino the historian, remember?)

We know that Marinduque at that time was inhabited by Tagalogs and in some parts by Visayans who could have influenced the language they spoke.

Question: Were the inhabitants of the island of Malindug (Marinduque’s original name after the volcano), or their warriors engaged also in the body-painting traditions of the tattoed “Pintados” of the Visayas?

Without doubt, that's the case. We will find in Relacion (1582-1583) by Miguel de Loarca:
“Ysla de marinduq e. Entre la ysla de banton y la de lucon quarto leguas de banton y conco de la ysla de lucon esta la ysla de marinduq e. que tiene como veynte y seys leguas de box, y ocho de ancho aura en ella como mill hombres capul y ella son de Vn encomendero: son yndios pintados aunq e no es juridicion de cubu, arevalo ni camarines.”

Translation by Blaire and Robertson (The Philippine Islands 1493-1803):
“Island of Marinduque. Between the island of Banton and that of Lucon, four leagues from the former and five from the latter, lies the island of Marinduque. It is about twenty-six leagues in circumference, and eight leagues wide, and contains about one thousand men. Capul and this island are under the charge of one encomendero. The Indians are Pintados, although under the jurisdiction of neither Qubu, Arevalo, nor Camarines.”
Therefore, certain Indios living in Marinduque in those years bygone are Pintados (painted people)! But they were not under the jurisdiction of Cebu, Arevalo (Iloilo) nor Camarines. 

There’s also something very significant mentioned here: “Capul and the island are under the charge of one encomendero”.

Local accounts tell us that the first encomendero* in Marinduque was Pedro de Mena who was killed by the natives. But one encomendero who was listed as having 'owned the commission' of both Capul and Marinduque was Agueda de Contreras.

The island of Capul in Northern Samar

Where’s Capul? (see above map)
Capul is an island in Northern Samar. Pintados in those years of Spanish colonization were found in Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol and Eastern part of Negros. Today we know that Pintados Festival are celebrated in Leyte and Samar, to showcase their tattooed inhabitants.

A Torrijos Beach in Poctoy, Marinduque

As regards Catriona's national costume, one of the world's top islands called Marinduque in the heart of the Philippines is splendidly represented by unique cultural elements, the Parol, the Moryonan (aka Moriones) and Pintados.


(*Encomienda: Established as a right granted by the King in favor of a Spanish subject (encomendero) in order that he would receive the taxes or works that the subjects had to pay to the monarchy. In return, the encomendero had to take care of their well-being spiritually and earthly, ensuring their maintenance and protection, as well as their Christian indoctrination.)

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Old Fontana de Boac 1914, an Important Cultural Property

In those days and until today, fountains are objects of art and admiration. For the ancient Romans who believed that water was a gift from the gods, every water source even had its own god or nymph behind the gift.

Centuries thereafter, water channeled through aqueducts became a means for the religious powers to manifest their power on earth, such that family crests of the most powerful Popes are embellished onto many a Roman fountain.

Very recently, the National Museum of the Philippines declared among other sites, an old fountain in Camiguin, simply known as "the old Mambajao Fountain" an Important Cultural Property (ICP). The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 defines ICP as cultural properties “having exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines.”

Mambajao Fountain - Juliefe Cuenca

So what do we know so far about the old Mambajao Fountain?
There's very little information about this fountain found in Camiguin except that it was a '1914 water fountain located at Mambajao's town proper that also serves as their Rotunda'.

Old photo with Fontana de Boac, a landmark.

How about our Fontana de Boac?
The Mambajao Fountain is probably not much different from the once-upon-a-time greatly admired "Fontana de Boac" built in the same year (1914). Greatly admired because that was in the days of yore a popular site where locals, visitors and dignitaries had their souvenir photos taken. It stood right in the middle of the town plaza for all to see.



What else do we know about "Fontana de Boac"?
Not much really except for old, faded photos that remained after over a century, but thanks to the late historian and good Konsehal of Boac, Myke L. Magalang. He happened to write about the Boac fountain's 100th year of existence in an article he posted in his blog in 2014.

A.k.a. G. Nieva Public Fountain

Magalang found a paper written by Hamilton V. Miles, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers who presented details of the construction of two small water supply systems installed by the Insular Government in Boac and in Sariaya, Tayabas.

Miles noted that like many other towns on small islands,water is scarce, and it has been impossible to secure a well with sufficient flow to obviate the necessity of pumping. The Boac Waterworks System in the Boac poblacion was undertaken by virtue of the Insular Government Act No. 2059 in 1913.

At that time, Marinduque was still under the jurisdiction of Tayabas as a subprovince. According to Miles, the population of Boac including its barrios was 15,823, with the town proper having a population of 4,000.

Behind the founding of the Boac Waterworks System was Gregorio Nieva of Boac, then a member of the Second Assembly of the Province of Tayabas. Nieva obtained an Insular allotment of P5,000 by Act 2059, with the subprovince providing P2,500 more.

According to Miles, when the waterworks system was completed a balance of P 1,496.30 remained on hand out of the original P7,500. What did they do with the excess money to inspire the people more in those days of good governance and honesty? It was decided to install a fountain in the lower plaza with that money!


Miles wrote: "The pedestal was constructed of concrete by administration, while the life-sized statue of a Filipino child holding a fish, was cast in concrete by B. Nepomuceno, a Filipino sculptor located on Calle San Sebastian, Manila. It presents a very pleasing appearance."

The "Fontana de Boac" was finally finished in 1914. Magalang wrote that "In the bygone years, the public fountain became a symbol of aesthetics in the plaza and a landmark for group pictures during important events until it was moved to its current location in the 1970’s or 1980’s".



Magalang was quite emphatic: "The 'Fontana' is an important cultural property of the municipality of Boac. It needs repair and repainting, and maybe to be returned or re-installed in its rightful and prominent place in the plaza." 

Fontana de Boac today. Moved in front of the Marinduque Museum, not repaired.
Its full circular stairs buried under the ground. - Eli J. Obligacion

And we must add, as it is one such cultural object “having exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines”, it must really be declared - eventually by the National Museum of the Philippines as such. With the same importance and recognition that our local, provincial and national authorities concerned gave to "the Old Mambajao Fountain, Old Mambajao Municipal Building... together with 14 heritage houses in the province of Camiguin".

And by the way, how many heritage houses do we have in all of Marinduque after the endless cultural mapping that has gone on and on for years and years and years already?

Fontana de Boac - Eli J. Obligacion

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Boac Cathedral declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as Important Cultural Property


Declared as Important Cultural Properties are the cathedrals of Manila, Boac in Marinduque and San Fernando in Pampanga; the church complexes of Tondo, Pateros, San Juan Bautista in Quezon City, and Santa Ana in Taguig; and the post office, Aduana, customs and Muntinlupa penitentiary buildings

The Boac Cathedral. Declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as Important Cultural Property - Eli J. Obligacion


Important Cultural Property is a recognition given to any cultural property (objects or structure) "having exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significnce to the Philippines."

The National Museum of the Philippines has declared more than 40 sites in the country as National Cultural Treasures (NCT) and Important Cultural Properties (ICP), most of them coming from the island-province of Camiguin in northern Mindanao.

Declared national treasures are the archaeological sites in Camiguin: the Old Bonbon Church ruins in Catarman, Sunken Cemetery also in Catarman, and the Spanish-era watchtower in Guinsiliban.

The Sunken Cemetery was Catarman’s Spanish-era cemetery which sank underwater following the eruption of Mt. Vulcan in the 1870s.

Sunken Cemetery in Catarman, Samar - Roel Manipon

The image of Nuestra Señora dela Soledad de Porta Vaga in Cavite City (“including the intangible properties intrinsic to the cultural significance of the painting”), Pila Archaeological Site in Laguna, and San Pancracio chapel inside La Loma Cemetery bordering Manila and Caloocan, were also declared NCTs.

Declared ICPs are Manila’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral, El Hogar Filipino Building, Philippine Post Office, Bureau of Customs in Port Area, Aduana in Intramuros, Tondo Church complex and Tomas Pinpin Monument in Binondo.

Also declared ICPs are the centuries-old San Francisco Bautista Church complex in Quezon City, old Concepcion Mansion in Pasig (now Pasig City Museum), Pateros Church complex, Santa Ana Church complex in Taguig, Pablo S. Antonio House in Pasay, and national penitentiary main building in Muntinlupa.

Completing the Luzon ICP sites are the Pindangan Ruins in San Fernando City and San Juan Church in La Union, San Fernando Cathedral in Pampanga, Cuartel de Santo Domingo in Santa Rosa, Laguna, and Boac Cathedral in Marinduque.

In the Visayas, declared ICPs are heritage sites in Negros Occidental: the art deco Daku Balay, Negros Occidental Museum and Yulo Park in Bacolod City; Balay ni Tana Dicang and Lacson Mansion in Talisay; Ma-ao Sugar Central in Bago City; and the sugar simborios (smokestacks) of the province.

Likewise declared ICPs are the old Presidencia Building in Dumaguete City and the Santo Niño Church in Valencia, Bohol, famed for its wooden floor with herringbone design.

In Camiguin, the old Mambajao Fountain, Old Mambajao Municipal Building and the façade of the Santo Rosario Church in Sagay town have been declared ICPs together with 14 heritage houses in the province.

Old Mambajao Fountain, Camiguin - Revee Rapallo
The 14 ICP houses include those owned by the Borromeo, Bacut, Luspo, Neri, Nery, Nerio-Chan, Corrales, Corrales y Gamali, Francisco, Juni and Lim families, as well as the Catalino Chan and Eleuterio Chan ancestral houses.

Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, defines NCTs as cultural properties “possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is highly significant and important to the country and nation.”

The same law defines ICP as cultural properties “having exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines.” - Contributed

Also read:

The Historic Boac Cathedral

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Marinduque Sports Academy and Training Center Bill approved


In October the Philippine Sports Commission – Philippine Sports Institute (PSC-PSI) held a grassroots program at Marinduque State College simultaneous with the filing of Velasco's bill. Photo shows Cong. Velasco with officials of PSC and PSI with Philippines' 'Long Jump Queen' Elma Muros-Posadas


The House Committee on Youth and Sports Development approved Cong. Lord Allan Velasco’s House Bill No. 8317 creating a Sports Academy and Training Center in Brgy. Baliis, Municipality of Sta. Cruz, Province of Marinduque.

It will be recalled that under the bill the Marinduque Sports Academy and Training Center shall be the primary sports development and training center in the island-province in line with the continued promotion of physical education and holding of sports programs, league competitions and amateur sports.

Velasco is happy with the support garnered by H.B. No. 8317. “I am grateful for the approval of H.B. No. 8317 and the strong support that it received from my fellow Committee members. In a country where people love sports, especially basketball, it is about time that we establish a Sports Academy and Training Center in the Province of Marinduque”, he said.


“Along with the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC’s) Grassroots Program, this measure will help enhance the training programs and sports development in our province. Health and fitness are also priorities under the initiative and I hope that Marinduqueños will actively participate in the programs of the Sports Academy,” Cong. Velasco added.

Velasco plans to seek support from the Senate to ensure realization of this measure.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Marinduque Celadon Jar, ang dineklarang National Cultural Treasure

Marinduque Celadon Jar (Yuan)
Deklaradong National Cultural Treasure ang 
Marinduque Celadon Jar


Kung tutuusin, nagsisimula pa lamang tayong maunawaan ang di naisulat na mayamang kasaysayan ng Marinduque noong di pa ito nasasakop ng mga Kastila. Ang Marinduque na mula’t-mula pa ay may sariling pinagkakakilanlan bilang mga Tagalog.

May sariling tawag ang mga Tagalog sa mga taong iba ang wika: Samot o Samok. Tawag naman nila sa Intsik noon ay ‘Sanglay’.

Ngayon pa lamang natin mapapahalagahan ang naging papel ng islang-lalawigang Marinduque noong wala pang kasaysayan na naisulat, maliban sa naabutan nilang mga sumakop sa ating bansa.

Kayat nahuhukay na mga artipakto mula sa mga kuweba, parang, bundok, gubat, mga dalampasigan at karagatan ang mga bagay na may mahalagang naiiambag para higit nating maunawaan ang tungkol sa ating pinagmulan.

Sa panahon ngayon na may mabilis na pamamaraan na magagawa ng ating mga daliri para manaliksik at malaman pa ang mga ganitong bagay, mas mabubuksan ang ating mga isip – para tayo maging malaya sa pag-iisip. Hindi nakatali o nakakadena pa rin.


Ngayong unti-unting nagiging maliwanag na ang ating mahal na isla, na nasa gitna ng Pilipinas at nasa kalagitnaan pa rin ng sinaunang kasaysayan, marapat lamang na dapat pang payabungin ang unawa tungkol sa ating lahi.

Sa pagpapatuloy nga sa mga pag-aaral, maging ang mga naisulat ko na noong nakalipas tungkol sa maaaring kaugnayan ng Marinduque sa mga lost civilizations sa South America ay binibigyang pansin na rin (hanapin sa Internet ang Prehistory of Marinduque). Subalit medyo nalilihis tayo.

SA MAO-LI-WU, MARINDUQUE

Sa larangan ng arkeolohiya ay naitala na sa Marinduque naganap ang unang sistematikong paghuhukay sa ilang kuweba na nagresulta sa pagbawi mula sa lupa ng ibat-ibang mga artefacts. Mga artipakto na mahalaga di lamang sa atin kundi sa lahat ng mga Filipino.

Sa mga kuweba sa Marinduque ay hindi na bago na makakita ka ng mga kalansay ng mga sinaunang tao dahil ito ang naging libingan nila.

Kamangha-manghang sa Marinduque pa rin nagawa ang kauna-unahang underwater archaeology na nagresulta pa sa pagbawi ng mga porselanang pinggan, mga bangang may mga disenyo at libo-libong mga sinaunang bagay na kasing-tanda ng Ming Dynasty. Ngayo’y nasa mga museo at mga pribadong koleksyon ang mga ito. (Ang mga basag ay nasa Marinduque Museum na matagal ng inaayos kayat di ka makakapasok para bumisita).


Subalit, may isa pang nahukay na katangi-tangi sa ating kalupaan na dahil nga katangi-tangi ay naideklara ng pamahalaan na isang National Cultural Treasure.

Ano ito? Ito po ang tinatawag na THE MARINDUQUE CELADON JAR.

Mula raw ito sa Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368). Sa maikling paglalarawan ng National Museum ay ganito lamang ang nakasaad:

Ang Yuan Celadon Jar ay may isang katawan na may embossed na disenyong Chinese dragon na isa sa tatlo lamang na may ganitong uri sa mundo. (The Yuan Celadon Jar has a body embossed with Chinese dragon design which is one of the only three known of its kind in the world).

May kahirapang makakuha ng iba pang datos tungkol dito (maging noong minsang nabisita ako sa National Museum ay wala akong nakuhang karagdagang impormasyon).

Base lamang sa aking hindi pa gaano kalalim na pananaliksik tungkol sa misteryosong banga na ito ay ganito sa ngayon ang lumabas:

Noong 1961, may isinagawang systematic excavation si Alfredo Evangelista na dating taga-National Museum sa tinaguriang Pilapil Cave sa Marinduque. Ang mga nahukay dito ay may malawak na kaugnayan sa Sung at Yuan sherds at mayroon ding mga local artifacts. Tila dito lamang natala ang ugnayan ng Marinduque sa Yuan dynasty.

Matatandaan na ang mga naitalang pakikipagkalakalan ng mga taong Tsina sa Mao-li-wu ay naganap mula noong 1405 at ito ay panahon ng Ming dynasty.

Ang Yuan dynasty (1280-1368) naman ay nauna kaysa sa Ming (1368-1644). Kayat wala pang lumalabas na tala kung mayroon man kung papaanong nakarating sa Marinduque ang Marinduque Celadon Jar.
Kahilera sa listahan ng mga National Cultural Treasures na kasama ang Marinduque Celadon Jar ang Manunggul Jar ng Palawan (nasa larawan).


Palawenos display their pride for the Manunggul Jar in the Mimaropa Festival.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Google Earth confirms: Marinduque was Mao-li-wu (also called Ho-mao-li by the Ming dynasty Chinese)

Latitude and Longitude 13 ̊34’N, 121 ̊ 50’E. Photo by Google Earth.



Marinduque was Mao-li-wu and that’s fairly conclusive.

Research studies on the identity of Mao-li-wu (also called Ho-mao-li), were generally ambiguous and uncertain whether that name referred to Marinduque or Mindoro. This, even with Ma-i as the name the Chinese called Mindoro had been generally accepted for centuries and never mind the skeptics for now.

In Chinese records, the first appearance of the Philippines was in 971 (or 972), during the Song dynasty when Ma-i (Mindoro) was mentioned as part of the ‘jurisdiction’ of the “superintendent of maritime trade” in Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Mingzhou. In 982 traders from Ma-i brought goods for sale in Guangzhou (Canton).

Like what goods? Like aromatics, coral, pearls, sea-turtle leather, tortoise shell, sapan wood, and others.

A footnote in Scott says “Ma-i or Ma-it, seems clearly to be Mindoro: it was so known to early Spanish missionaries (chapter 36 of Juan Francisco de San Antonio’s 1738 Chronicas is entitled, “De la Provincia y Isla de Mait o Mindoro); the word is still used by Panay fishermen and Mangyans around Bulalakaw”.

Nevertheless, the following statement appeared in Scott that apparently was made by historians thereafter as their basis for repeating the same indecision on pinpointing Mao-li-wu without equivocation:

“On 17 October 1405, Luzon and Mao-li-wu presented tribute together with envoys from Java.  (Mao-li-wu, also called Ho-mao-li, was on either Mindoro or Marinduque, and its representative was a Muslim called Taonu Makaw.)”

But also in Scott, was cited specific books that contain "true facts" that “are available in careful studies" like JJL Duyvendak’s “The true dates of the Chinese maritime expeditions in the early fifteenth century,” T’’oung Pao, Vol. 34 (1939), and J. V. G. Mills’ Ma Huan/ Ying-yai Sheng-lan: “The overall survey of the Ocean's shores ” 1433 (Cambridge 1970).


That leads us to the last-mentioned book by Ma Huan edited by J.V.G. Mills where we find on the page titled "China in South Asia, 1433", the following that specifies the latitude and longitude of what's described as:

Sha t’ang ch’ien San Andres islands, 13 ̊34’N, 121 ̊ 50’E, off the north-western extremity of Mao-li-wu, Marinduque island, in the Philippine islands (Chang Hsieh, p 123)."

Screencap of the relevant page titled, China in south Asia 1433
So this blogger had to make use of Google Earth tools to scientifically validate the specified latitude and longitude coordinates based on centuries old data that predates Spanish colonization of the Philippines.  

And voila!  “The overall survey of the Ocean's shores" 1433 by Ma Huan was quite accurate! (See Google Earth screenshot). It readily points indeed to the uninhabited San Andres island off the north-western extremity of Marinduque in the Philippine islands!

Northern side of San Andres Island with rock shelters.
Photo: Eli J Obligacion

How was that arrived at by the ancient Chinese traders in the first place? The following editorial notes by JVG Mills clearly explain it all under 'Astronomy' and 'Compass'.


Here's a Google Earth photo again of Sha t’ang ch’ien, San Andres island in wider coverage that includes part of Lu-sung and Ma-i:


The uninhabited San Andres island and the white beaches of the populated Brgy. Silangan northwest of Marinduque. By Google.

Case closed.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Mahiwagang bundok sa Marinduque na naisulat na bago pa man ang pananakop ng mga Kastila

Ang mahiwagang tuktok na bahagi ng Mt. Malindig (Lo-Huang), na tinaguriang Makulilis Peak & Rockies. Precolonial era pa lamang ay naisulat na ito. Ming dynasty period.
Sa Mao-li-wu (Marinduque) ay may naisulat nung unang panahon tungkol sa pangangalakal ng mga taong Tsina sa ating panig ng mundo. Panahon ito ng Yong-le Emperor ng Ming dynasty.

May tinagurian silang isang “bantog na tanawin”. Ito raw ang Bundok Lo-Huang at sa tuktok daw nito ay may puting bato.

Sa Marinduque, ating magandang islang-lalawigan, ay iisa lamang ang maaaring pinupuntirya ng banyagang manunulat at ito ay ang Bundok Malindig. Lalo na at mayroon naman sa isang tuktok nito na ‘puting bato’ na nakabibighani kapag makita mo ng malapitan at maglakbay ka sa bahagi nito na sakop ng Torrijos.

Kung mahiligin ka namang maghalukay sa mga lumang paniniwala ng mga katutubong Marinduqueno, mga iningatang paniniwalang namana nilang nakatira malapit sa bundok ay maaaring maibahagi sa iyo ito. Ang kuwentong lihim tungkol sa isang lagusan doon papunta sa daigdig ng kababalaghan.




Ang kanilang paniniwala ay doon sa puting bato, Makulilis Peak (ang bansag dito sa ating panahon), nagsisimula ang isang mahiwagang lagusan. Sa kaisipan ng mga may ganoong paniniwala at kayang ipagtanggol ito, ay doon mismo sila nagtutungo para makasalamuha ang mga taong nakatira sa kabilang daigdig na iyon. Daigdig ng mga ginintuang palasyo, ginintuang caruaje, mga dwende, engkanto, engkantada, kasiyahan at kakaibang kapangyarihan.

Subukin mo kaya namang akyatin at makihalubilo sa kanila?



Mga larawan ng Makulilis Peak & Rockies sa bahagi ng Dampulan. Courtesy of Morion Mountaineers Sta. Cruz Marinduque.



Monday, December 3, 2018

Basahi: Nakakaintrigang kasaysayan ng pagpalit-palit ng kapalaran sa Mao-li-wu (Marinduque) noong unang panahon.


Ang trade route ng mga mangangalakal noong Ming dynasty period.
Talagang hagip ang Marinduque (Mao-li-wu). Tingning maigi.

Intriguing narrative on the changing fortunes of Mao-li-wu, Marinduque in pre-colonial period.


"Mao-li-wu", the pre-colonial place name for Marinduque by ancient Chinese dynasties is recorded in Chang Hsieh’s Tung His Yang K’ao.

Ito ang nakasaad doon (isinalin ko):

Mao-li-wu ang bansa ng Ho-mao-li. Ang lupain ay maliit at ang lupa ay tigang; ang loob nito ay bulubundukin, at sa kabila ng mga bundok ay ang karagatan. 

Ang dagat ay puno ng mga laman-dagat na lahat ng uri. Marunong din ang mga tao ng pagsasaka.

Sa ikatlong taon ng Yung Lo [1405] ang hari ng Mao-li-wu ay nagpadala ng Muslim, si Tao-nu-ma-kao bilang emisaryo upang ipresenta ang kanyang mga kredensyal; dumating siya sa korte at nag-alay ng mga handog na mga katutubong produkto.

Ang bansang ito ay kapitbahay ng Lu-sung (Luzon), kaya nga dumating siya kasama ang kinatawan ng Lu-sung. 

Portrait of the Yongle Emperor (ruled in 1402–24).
Ang hari ng Mao-li-wu ay nakipagkita sa kanya. (Wikipedia)

Paglipas ng panahon, ang lupa ay dahan-dahang naging mataba, at ang mga simpleng tao ay naging malikhain, kaya nga’t ang mga mandaragat ay may naging kasabihan, "Kung nais mo ng yaman, siguraduhin na pumunta sa Mao-li-wu, dahil ito ay isang napakahusay na lupain para sa ganoong kaliit na bansa. "

Mayroong ilang taga Wang-chin-chiao-lao [Maguindanao] na mga pirata sa mga dagat. Naglalakbay sila sa mga bangka gamit ang mga mahahabang sagwan na ang mga dulo ay parang biniyak na mga patola.

Paminsan-minsan, ang mga nagsasagwan ng banka ay napapapunta sa tubig pero nagiging doble ang bilis kapag ganito ang nangyari. Natatanaw sa laot ng dagat ang mga ito na animo ay tuldok lamang, pero minsan ang lahat ay nabigla, dahil biglang umatake ang mga pirata, kayat hindi nagawang tumakas at magtago ng mga tao, at wala ngang nakatakas.

Nagdusa ang Mao-li-wu dahil sa maraming mapanirang pagsalakay at maraming buhay na nakitil, kaya’t ito ay naging mahirap at kahabag-habag. Iniwasan tuloy ito ng mga barkong pangkalakal na nagpupunta roon dahil sa pagkatakot sa mga pirata, at naglalayag na lamang sila papunta sa iba pang isla.

Dito ay may bantog na tanawin. Bundok Lo-huang: ang tuktok nito ay may puting bato.


Sa isang tuktok ng Mt. Malindig ay may puting bato mandin. Makulilis ang tawag.
Paboritong lugar ito ng mga espiritista na naniniwalang ito ay lagusan papunta sa daigdig ng kababalaghan. Tanunga.

Photo: Morion Mountaineers Sta. Cruz, Marinduque

Mga produkto: Brazilwood (Sappanwood). "Seed flowers"
Sappanwood. Locally abundant throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes in dry thickets, parang, etc. Introduced, and probably of prehistoric introduction.
Dito kinukuha ang tangal para makulayan ang tuba.

Komersyo: Kapag nakita ng maliit na bansang ito (Mao-li-wu) ang mga barko ng taong Tsino, sila ay nagagalak at hindi kailanman nag-isip ng pagmamaltrato sa kanila, kaya napaka-mapayapa ang kalakalan.

Iranun/Ilanun pirate originally from Maguindanao (Wikipedia)

Para sa mga Chiao-lao (Maguindanao) naman na gumagawa ng pandarambong ay gusto nilang bisitahin ng ibang mga tao ang lupaing iyon, at para sa kanila (Chiao-lao) ang mga barko na pumupunta doon upang mangalakal ay tinatrato ng mahusay dahil ito ay diskarte ng mga taga roon pero lihim nilang plano na patayin diumano ang mga mangangalakal.

Pinagmulan: Filipinos in China before 1500, William Henry Scott


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Trivia: 'Mao-li-wu' ang Marinduque ayon sa Tsina taong 1405