The book chronicles the arrival of the early Muslim missionaries in Mindanao.
by Datuk Ben-Oliver M. Matias
The historic Manila Hotel recently served as the backdrop of an equally historic event, the gathering of foreign history scholars and traditional leaders of Mindanao for the 3rd Royal International Interfaith History Convention held last November 2024. Part of the ceremonies were public lectures and the launching of The Roots: Sejara Raja Raja Melayu Sejati Di Mindanao Darussalam (The History of the True Rulers of Mindanao Darussalam Negara Filipina).
Authored by HRH DYAM PSB Tengku Syarifah Marieta Nor-Aisha P. Mindalano-Adam H.D. (the Maharanee Permaisuri Sri Kandi Agong of Mindanao Darussalam), the book chronicles the arrival of the early Muslim missionaries in Mindanao including the brothers Syarif Ali Maraja and Syarif Hassan, founders of the sultanates of Mindanao (Maguindanao) and Sulu, respectively.
“For more than a century, a forgotten kingdom in Mindanao had been obscured in Philippine history. Its catastrophic consequence led to the incorrect depiction of how Islam spread in pre-colonial Mindanao and the proliferation of royal claimants with questionable ancestry. Virtually unrecognized were the early missionaries and the ruler of Mindanao (Maguindanao), the Maharaja Tabunawai,” said Maharanee Permaisuri, president of Pertubuhan Bangsa Melayu Filipina (PBMF) and Pertubuhan Warisan Bangsa Melayu Filipina (PWBMF).
During the lectures, Malaysian Prof. (Tun) Suzana binti Hj Othman and Indonesian Prof. (Tun Guru) Fekri Juliansyah, PhD. affirmed that early missionaries Syarif Auliya (also known as Maulana Ibrahim Asmoroqondi in Tuban/ Karim Al-Makhdum in Sulu) and Syarif Kabungsuan were brothers to debunk the popular narrative. Their father was Sayyid Jumadil Kubro but from different mothers. The two history scholars also confirmed the genealogy of Maharaja Tabunawai and his brother Rajah Kecil Mamluk as the sons of Syarif Ali Maraja and Tengku Putri Paramisuli as published in The Roots.
The 200-page coffee-table book aims to correct the century-old misinformation about the mythical origins of Maharaja Tabunawai and his purported surrender to a newcomer missionary. It also identified the early Islamic missionaries including the brothers Syarif Ali Maraja and Syarif Hassan, the founders of the sultanates of Maguindanao and Sulu, respectively. The restored historical narrative was presented by means of genealogies, archaeological objects, and heritage sites in Nusantara countries.
Research work started in 2015 and was only completed in 2024. The book was a testament to the passion and dedication of the husband and wife team of the late HM DYMM PSB Hadji Datu Abdullah Lihondo Esmael bin Muhammad Maulana Al Qadhi Adam (the Maharaja Tabunawai VIII of Mindanao) and Maharanee Permaisuri to restore and the honor and dignity of their clan.
Published by Roy C. Espinosa of Fil-Arts, the editorial team is composed of editor Dr. Carlos C. Tabunda Jr., managing editor (and former Manila Bulletin writer) Ben Matias, and researchers Datu Azmir Muizz V. Mindalano and Datu Sukarno Usman Budi. The Roots’ author was a former division chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Bureau of Cultural Heritage and a multi-awarded advocate of Malay heritage in the Philippines.
