Towards One Nation Truly Free and United

Freedom and democracy may mean one can become member and hold office simultaneously in multiple organizations. All NGOs allow that. Unfortunately, all political parties said to championing freedom and democracy will not allow anyone the liberty of joining and hold office in multiple parties.

Whilst every NGO works toward ‘win-win’ relationship with one another, political parties on the other hand would insist on ‘win-lose’ relationship against each other, because the other party has to lose for the other party to win an election, thus, causing rifts and divisions amongst the people, as well.

For the sake of national unity, freedom and democracy, perhaps, Registrar of Societies (ROS) should relegate all political parties back to normal NGO status, and to allow all NGOs participate in general elections. So that the more NGO one is accepted to join and mandated to hold high offices, the more chance one will win the seat in the general election from apparently stronger support from multiple organizations.

Perhaps, it helps to be prudent in minimizing election time, efforts and expenses that under such system one will not qualify to stand as a candidate for the general election unless one is shortlisted for having received minimum number of nominations from different NGOs. The number may be pre-determined by Election Commission (EC).

While, bearing in mind that all existing political parties are to be relegated to normal NGOs under the proposed new election system, and that the norms of all NGOs allow any member and office bearer the liberty of becoming member and holding offices in multiple NGOs at the same time, it is not impossible for there shall emerge one popular national leader who is elected Presidents or other lesser positions of many national organizations at the same time.

That leads to the possibility that the great number of all popular national leaders will receive unanimous nominations for the respective seats they are contesting to win the respective seats uncontested.

Such opportunities would drastically reduce election expenses. Especially if EC use Government’s allocated election funds to organize and sponsor election’s public rally on common stage at all election centres to be shared by all contesting candidates to hold political campaigns, speeches or debates.

Of course, all government-owned electronic media, especially state or district radios are in the position to allow and allocate ample and free air-time for all election candidates in the state or local district to speak or debate on radios to air their minds and attract votes.

Finally, on post-election, forming the Federal or the respective State Governments, the Federal Cabinet or the respective State Excos, shall be left alone to the respective elected representatives to decide and hold elections or selections amongst themselves.

It should be appreciated under the proposed alternative general election model, the bulk of the election and political campaign costs will be taken up by EC from Government’s general election funds. Candidates will be spared of huge costs.

Election model and system as practiced today all over the world that each candidate will require to come out with huge financial resources to ensure winning an election risks the danger of money politics and political corruptions.

We should not allow election model and processes where parties, or election candidates, will be indebted and prompted to seek ‘political sponsorship’ to create opportunities for undesirable elements, local or international, to ‘buy over’ any political party, to wrest control over partisan members who hold high office ‘to sell’ the Government by influencing Government’s policies and decision making for political and economic gains and interests as a ‘return’ to ‘investment’.

Ancestral Lineages of the Malays

Malay is a Race recognizable in Malayunesia (or Malay Archipelago) and found dominance in Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.

Indonesian Javanese (ancestral lineage of 88.6% Formosan, 1.9% Polynesian, 1.9% Micronesian, 3.8% Turkic, Others 6.8%)

Filipino (ancestral lineage of 82.1% Formosan, 10.3% Polynesian, 2.6% Micronesian, 2.6% Turkic, Others 2.6%)

Malaysian Malay (ancestral lineage of 66.7% Formosan, 11.1% Polynesian, 11.1% Micronesian, 5.6% Turkic, 5.6% Others)

Malays find and owe their ancestral lineages to Formosan (Taiwanese Aborigines), as well as Polynesian, Micronesian and Turkic. That Melayunesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia together form Austronesia that covers about half of the entire global area, sea included.

A typical Malay Race carries Formosan lineage (Y-DNA Haplogroup O) of between 66.7% (Malaysian Malay) to 88.6% (Indonesian Javanese), Polynesian lineage (Y-DNA Haplogroup C) of between 1.9% (Indonesian Javanese) to 11.1% (Malaysian Malay), Micronesian lineage (Y-DNA Haplogroup K) of between 1.9% (Indonesian Javanese) to 11.1% (Malaysian Malay), and Turkic lineage of between 2.6% (Filipino) to 5.6% (Malaysian Malay).

Formosan, or Taiwanese Aborigines (ancestral lineage of 100% haplogroup O)

Polynesian of Cook Islanders (ancestral lineage of Y-DNA haplogroup: 83.3% of C, 7.5% of K, 4.6% of O, 2.8% of R, 1.8% of P)

Micronesian (ancestral lineage of Y-DNA haplogroup: 65.6% of K, 18.7% of C, 9.4% of O, 6.3% of Others)

Melanesian of Western Papua New Guinea Highlander (ancestral lineage of Y-DNA haplogroup: 74.5% of M, 24.5% of C, 1.1% of O)

Turkic of Kyrgyztan (ancestral lineage of Y-DNA haplogroup: 65.4% of R, 13.5% of C, 1.9% of K, 7.7% of O, 11.5% of Others)

This Formosan or Taiwanese Aborigines lineage (Y-DNA Haplogroup O-M175 is also shared by other nationalities in Asia-Oceania region. Listed below are nationalities that carry 60% or more of Formosan or Taiwanese Aborigines lineage, while similarly carrying Y-DNA lineages of Micronesian (Haplogroup K), Polynesian (Haplogroup C), and/or Turkic (HaplogroupR):

1. Taiwanese – 92.3% Formosan, 3.8% Polynesian, 3.8% Micronesian
2. Vietnamese – 91% Formosan, 9.1% Polynesian
3. Chinese – 83% Formosan, 11.1% Micronesian, 5.6% Polynesian
4. Korean -  64% Formosan, 12% Polynesian, 8% Micronesian, 4% Turkic, 12% Others
5. Tongan – 60% Formosan, 23% Polynesian, 10% Micronesian, 8% Melanesian

Whilst Formosan or Taiwanese Aborigines carry 100% Haplogroup ‘O’ lineage, Polynesian of Cook Islanders were found to carry 83.3% Haplogroup ‘C’ lineage, Micronesian carries 65.6%  Haplogroup ‘K’ lineage, Melanesian of Western New Guinea Highlanders carries 74.5% Haplogroup ‘M’ lineage, and Turkic of Kyrgyztan carries 65.4% of Haplogroup ‘R’ lineage. That they too, amongst them, do carry Taiwanese Aborigine ancestral lineage of between 1.1% (Melanesian of Western New Guinea Islander) to  7.7% (Turkic of Kyrgyztan).

It is interesting to note that Micronesian, Melanesian (of WNG Highlander) and Turkic (of Kyrgyztan) amongst them do carry  Y-DNA Haplogroup ‘C’ ancestry – found dominant in Polynesian Cook Islander (83.3%) –  of  between 13.5% (Turkic of Kyrgyztan) and  24.5% (Melanesian of Western New Guinea Highlander).

Haplogroup C originated in southern Asia and spread in all directions. This particular ancestral lineage colonized Austronesia and Australia, north Asia, and currently is found with its highest diversity in populations of India, as well as Americas.

Apparently, the Malai (Malay) race of the Mala Land (Malaya) is a mixed race of ancestral lineages that are linked to Turkic Israelite’s race (Y-DNA haplogroup ‘R’); Formosan (Y-DNA haplogroup ‘O’), Micronesian (Y-DNA haplogroup ‘K’) and Polynesian (Y-DNA haplogroup ‘C’’) of south- east and east Asian race.

It is strongly believe that Polynesians are descendants of ancient Scythian or Scyths race.

That makes Malaysian Malay and Malaysian Chinese (who does not carry Y-DNA haplogroup ‘R’) very much related, whilst Malays are identical with the Japanese and the Korean (who both also carry Y-DNA haplogroup ‘R’ as well).

That ‘Malaysia is truly Asia’ is essentially based on ‘Malay is truly Asian’.

Haplogroup O-M175, which is the Haplogroup O defined by mutation M175 has various subclades as follows:

Haplogroup O1a-M119 (Austro-Tai): Found frequently among Austronesian peoples, Kradai peoples, and Ethnic minorities in China.

This lineage is presumed to be a marker of the prehistoric Austronesian expansion, with possible origins encompassing the regions along the southeastern coast of China and neighboring Taiwan, and is found among modern populations of Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania. The great majority of Y-chromosomes within Haplogroup O1 belong to its subgroup O1a (M119).

Haplogroup O2a-M95 (Austro-Asiatic): Found frequently among Austro-Asiatic peoples, Kradai peoples, the Khmers of Cambodia, Indonesians, the Balinese of Indonesia, Malays, and Malagasy, with a moderate distribution throughout South Asia, East Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia,

Haplogroup O2a1-M88: Found frequently among Hani, She people, Tai peoples, Cambodians, and Vietnamese, with a moderate distribution among Qiang, Yi, Hlai, Miao, Yao, Taiwanese aborigines, and Han Chinese.

Haplogroup O2a1a-PK4: Found with low frequency among Pashtuns, Tharus, and tribals of Andhra Pradesh.

Haplogroup O2b (SRY465, M176): Found almost exclusively among the Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian.

Haplogroup O2b1-47z: Found frequently among Japanese and Ryukyuans, with a moderate distribution among Indonesians, Koreans, Manchus, Thais, and Vietnamese.

Haplogroup O3a3b-M7 (Hmong-Mien): Found frequently among Ancient Daxi culture and modern Hmong-Mien peoples, with a moderate distribution among Han Chinese,Buyei,Bai, Mosuo, Tibetans, Qiang, Oroqen, Tujia, Thai, Orang Asli, western Indonesians, Malaysians, Vietnamese, and Atayal.

Haplogroup O3a3c-M134 (Sino-Tibetan): Found frequently among Sino-Tibetan peoples, with a moderate distribution throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia.

References:

‘Y-Chromosome Diversity Is Inversely Associated With Language Affiliation in Paired Austronesian- and Papuan-Speaking Communities from Solomon Islands’ By MURRAY P. COX* AND MARTA MIRAZON LAHR, Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY 18:35–50 (2006)

Return to Ancestral Homeland

This Y Haplogroups world map shows that Malays of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as the Han Chinese of South China, who all share the dominant Y-DNA Haplogroup ‘O’, are actually blood-brothers, so to speak.

This Y Haplogroup map, as the results of massive DNA sampling exercise from participating male population of the various countries and regions of the world, is about Y-chromosome (Y-DNA), inherited exclusively from father to son in an unaltered fashion for many generations, which allow geneticists to identify very old lineages and ancient ethnicities.

Apparently, the Han Chinese community in Southern China were immigrants, whose ancestors once lived in the Malay Archipelago. And that these Han Chinese arrivals in the 19th and 20th century into Singapore and Malaysia were actually a return to an ancestral homeland that had been long abandoned.

Now the Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese, or rather Chinese Malay, so to speak, may have the uphill task to learn to live with descendents of their Malay ancestors who had long been forgotten, and to relearn the ancestral Malay language and culture to be accepted as long lost relatives of the Malays.

My great grandmother, a Han Chinese, who came from Guangdong China to Malaysia to then converted to Islam and married to a Javanese from Indonesia to start a big family here, may well be the case of balik kampung (return to the homeland)!

Another map below depicts Y-DNA of Haplogroup O-M175 only, to show clearly Malay lineage and Homeland in South-East Asia and Malay migration (perhaps originating from the Philippines by sea) that extends deep into Asian Continent.

This haplogroup O-M175 appears in 80-90% of most of populations in East Asia and Southeast Asia, and it is almost exclusive to that region.  M175 is almost nonexistent in Western Siberia, Western Asia, Europe, and Africa and is completely absent from the Americas, although certain subclades of Haplogroup O do achieve significant frequencies among some populations of South Asia, Central Asia, Oceania, and Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

A broad survey of Y-chromosome variation among populations of central Eurasia found haplogroup O-M175 in 2.5% (one out of 40 individuals) of a sample of Tajiks in Samarkand, 4.5% (1/22) of Crimean Tatars in Uzbekistan, 1.5% (1/68) of Uzbeks in Surkhandarya, 1.4% (1/70) of Uzbeks in Khorezm, 12.5% (2/16) of Tajiks in Dushanbe, 1.9% (1/54) of Kazakhs in Kazakhstan, 4.9% (2/41) of Uyghurs in Kazakhstan.

Whilst Another Y-DNA Haplogroup map that comes with lineage frequency table provides the more detailed analysis of 28 selected population groups as follows:

To simplify lineage comparisons, I have replaced the haplogroup code with the nationality having the highest lineage frequency of that particular Y-DNA haplogroup, and  ranked them accordingly to produce following interesting results:

1. Taiwanese – 92.3% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 3.8% Cook Islander, 3.8% Solomon Islander
2. Vietnamese – 91% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 9.1% Cook Islander
3. Javanese – 88.6% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 1.9% Cook Islander, 1.9% Solomon Islander, Others 7.6%
4. Chinese – 83% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 11.1% Solomon islander, 5.6% cook islander
5. Filipino – 82.1% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 10.3% Cook Islander, 2.6% Solomon Islander, Others 5.2%
6. S. Bornean – 75% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 10% Solomon Islander, 5% Cook Islander, 10% Others
7. Malaysian  – 66.7% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 11.1% Cook Islander, 11.1% Solomon Islander, 11.2% Others
8. Korean -  64% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 12% cook islander, 8% Solomon islander, 16% others
9. Tongan – 60% Taiwanese (Aborigines), 23% Cook Islander, 10% Solomon Islander, 8% Western New Guinea Lowlander

It is established that Taiwanese Aborigines carry 100% Haplogroup O(M175), Cook Islanders carry 83.3% Haplogroup C(M130), Solomon Islanders (Malaita Province) carry 66.7%  Haplogroup K(M9*), and Western New Guinea Lowlanders carry 77.5% Haplogroup M(M4/M106).

Meanwhile, the fact that Chinese is ranked #4 behind Taiwanese, Vietnamese and Javanese, for instance, indicates there was a back-migration earlier to China from South East Asia.  Otherwise how come Chinese carry with them traces of  lineages similar to the general characteristics of South East Asians in respect of Solomon Islander and/or Cook Islander, apart from Taiwanese Aborigines.

References:

‘Y-Chromosome Diversity Is Inversely Associated With Language Affiliation in Paired Austronesian- and Papuan-Speaking Communities from Solomon Islands’, By MURRAY P. COX* AND MARTA MIRAZON LAHR, Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY 18:35–50 (2006)

‘DNA suggests China Chinese originated from Southeast Asia’, By Farhan Ali (2009)

‘Haplogroup O (Y-DNA)’, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

‘Y Haplogroups of the World’, Copyright © 2005 J. D. McDonald

The Wonders of Iwahig Prison

“You can help people change by restoring their dignity,” said Iwahig prison director.

Yes, indeed.

The Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan, Philippines is an active prison where 2,000 criminals who are serving time move freely about and around this fenceless and barrier-less correctional facility, without any intentions of escaping. Iwahig penal colony is in fact the biggest minimum-security prison in the world.

Not that they enjoy being detained, but the colony is surrounded by mountains that are known to be infested with killer malaria mosquitoes.

There’s no point escaping. Plus, prisoners are given vocational activities of their choice from which they can earn an income. While, if they so wish, they are allowed to bring their families to stay with them here in the colony during their time of sentence. Therefore, along with family members, Iwahig has about 4,000 residents.

This unparalleled prison system seems to work since there had not been any attempts to escape. All the more so when prisoners are released as productive to become contributive citizens to society. However, many of them have decided to remain and start a new life here in Palawan after serving their time.

Amazingly, Iwahig prison is a popular tourist destination in Philippines. Not only for its historical significance but availability of unique and cheap source of souvenir items from hand-carved wood craft that has eventually turned into popular export items, iconic of Philippines. One of the most popular souvenir items amongst tourists of Iwahig prison is animal keychains made from recycled plastic cups. They also sell bracelets, trinkets and arnis (wooden weapons similar to the clubs used by English policemen).

In fact the prisoners themselves are the factors that draw in visitors by virtue of their amazing personality. Although this is the safest prison in the country, it is still a prison and the inmates are still convicted criminals. Tourists still hesitate walking inside the colony. It’s not unusual to see one or two members of a visiting group decide to stay inside their vehicles outside the colony, afraid to step inside.

The brave ones who do get to visit Iwahig are amazed to see how friendly and accommodating the inmates are. They are too willing and eager to share their life stories, offer to be taken photographs with, and sell their handicrafts. It is quite an experience spending time with them.

Iwahig Penal Colony is just 30 minutes away from downtown Puerto Princesa, 16 kilometers to the south, and may be reached by jeepney or tricycle.

Source:

http://www.puertoprincesahotels.org/puerto-princesa-attractions/five-reasons-why-iwahig-penal-colony-is-a-tourist-destination

Enrique de Malacca

Enrique de Malacca, or Enrique de Butuan?

by: Rene C Vargas

Magellan was astonished. He was surprised to hear his slave, Enrique, addressing the natives of Masao (or was it Limasawa?) in the local dialect, and the natives appeared to understand him, and they replied in the same tongue.. Pareho toni sila hong sinultihan.

The historic encounter happened in the last week of March 1521. If the contact was indeed in Masao, Butuan, then, was Enrique a Butuanon? Was Enrique de Malacca therefore Enrique de Butuan?

Thanks to Laurence Bergreen and his book Over the Edge of the World (Perennial/HarperCollins 2004). We will see later that Enrique could in fact also be the first person ever to circumnavigate the world – a distinct feat and a great honour for a Butuanon and for Butuan. We shall also find out later, however, that there was dark side in the life of the enigmatic Enrique.

WHO WAS ENRIQUE?

Enrique de Malacca

Magellan had acquired the slave ten years earlier in Malacca, and there he was baptized Enrique. He has followed his master Magellan ever since, all the way across Africa and Europe.

If Enrique had originally come from the Philippine islands, was captured as a boy by slave raiders from Sumatra,, and sold to Magellan at a slave market in Malacca, the chain of circumstances would account for his understanding the local language. This saga of Enrique is of immense historical significance.

Upon his arrival with the Spanish explorers in Masao (di taya Limasawa?), he had completed sailing around the world and came back to where he was from – the first person ever to do so – while the Spanish explorers were only halfway through in their journey.

Enrique was therefore the first person to have circumnavigated the world. He was the first person to have sailed westward and arrived home in the east from where he started. Enrique was the first person to have proven that the world is not flat, but in fact is round. This much is clear: if Enrique was not a Butuanon, he must have been a Bisaya.

AFTER MAGELLAN WAS KILLED, WAS ENRIQUE NO LONGER A SLAVE?

Enrique fought with his master on the beaches of Mactan against Lapulapu. He was wounded, Magellan was killed. The infamous date was April 27, 1521.

Magellan had provided in his will that Enrique shall be granted full liberty in the event of his death. He wrote:

 I declare and ordain as free and quit of every obligation of captivity, subjection, and slavery, my captured slave Enrique, mulatto, native of the city of Malacca, of the age of 26 years more or less, that from the day of my death thenceforward forever the said Enrique may be free and manumitted, and quit, exempt, and relieved of every obligation of slavery and subjection, and that he may act as he desires and sees fit.

Magellan further provided a bequest of 10,000 miravedis (one miravedi equals 12 modern cents) to Enrique.

Now that his master, Magellan, was dead, Enrique proclaimed loudly that at last he was now a free man, at long last he was relieved of the yoke of slavery.

But, the new leaders of the Spanish armada wanted to keep Enrique a slave forever, Magellan’s will notwithstanding. Their intransigence forever altered the course of history.

ENRIQUE IS BETRAYED, ABUSED AND DECEIVED.

The new leaders of the expedition, accustomed to the slave’s unquestioning subservience, and still in need of his linguistic and diplomatic skills, insisted that he continue to obey orders and remain a slave.

Enrique, coming to his own after years of servitude, stubbornly refused to yield to anyone’s authority. He was a free man, or so he thought.

Pigafetta recorded that Duarte Barbosa, now co-commander of the armada, told Enrique in a loud voice that, although his master was dead, he would not be set free or released, but that when they reached Spain, he would still be the slave of Madame Beatriz, Magellan’s wife. Pigafetta likely covered up a considerable amount of verbal abuse on Enrique.

Sebastian Elcano’s account of the confrontation was that Juan Serrano, the other co-captain of the expedition, abused Enrique, harshly reprimanding him in bitter words, that he was still a slave and that he would be whipped if he did not obey orders.

Enrique at first sulked, withdrew to his bunk, and wrapped himself in a blanket. Then he became enraged. Ire overtook his heart. He furiously stalked off the ship.

Pigafetta believed that Enrique, after leaving the ship, sought out King Humabon of Cebu, to scheme against the armada. He believed that Enrique told Humabon that the Spanish armada was about to depart, and that Humabon could gain all the ships and all the merchandise aboard if they act promptly. And so they hatched a conspiracy against the Spaniards.

Elcano recorded a similar story: Enrique, deeply hurt and feeling deceived, secretly spoke with the Cebuan King Humabon, telling him that the Castilians were endlessly greedy and that they would soon come and arrest him.

Enrique convinced the Cebuan King that the Castilians had been plotting against Humabon, and that there was no other solution for them but to plot back against the Spaniards.

Furthermore, after the Castilians’ departure, Humabon would have to contend with Lapulapu of Mactan. Because Humabon sided earlier with Magellan, it was only a matter of time before Lapulapu would come after him.

There was moreover intense pressure from many of the island’s men who fiercely resented the way their women had been treated by the Europeans.

THE MASSACRE OCCURRED 4 DAYS AFTER MAGELLAN WAS SLAIN.

It was on a Wednesday, the first of May 1521, barely four days after Magellan was killed in Mactan, that Humabon invited the armada’s leaders to a feast, a promise of a lavish meal, and a promise of gifts of jewels and other presents which Humabon wished the fleet to present to the King of Spain. Hong mikasabot, klaro nga libah ini, pero waa ba makasabot ang mga Katsila.

A large contingent attended, in all about a quarter of the entire crew. Pigafetta was unable to go to the feast because of the wound from a poison arrow he received in the battle of Mactan. Gines de Mafra, among those who remained on board, described and entered into historical records the rapidly unfurling events leading to the bloody massacre – the murderous chaos engulfing the sailors on shore:

 As the banquet was about to end, armed people emerged from the palm grove and attacked the Spaniards, killing 27 of them, and capturing the priest and Juan Serrano, who was an old man (and the new co-commander who had threatened to whip Enrique). Others swam back to the ships and, helped by those aboard, cut the cables and set sail; as the barbarians were gorging on the killing.

 The natives brought Juan Serrano to the shore and said that they wanted to exchange him for ransom. The old man implored our men with words and tears, asked for sympathy for his old age and pleaded that we not become accomplices, lest his days end in the hands of such cruel barbarians.

 The ransom was discussed and they asked for an iron gun; this was sent to them on a skiff. The Indians asked for more, and no sooner would our men grant their request than the Indians would reply asking for more, and this continued until, realizing their intention, those aboard the ships did not want to remain there any longer, and said to Juan Serrano that he himself could very well see what was going on, and how the Indians. words were all but pretense.

Serrano begged his crew members to come to his rescue, but they refused. Pigafetta was appalled by the cowardice of the crew for refusing to mount a rescue. He wrote that Juan Serrano, weeping, said that he would be killed as soon as they sailed. But the ships did sail away.

He must have squirmed as he endured the agony of watching the fleet that he was co-commander of, weigh anchor and leave without him.

The crew’s last sight of Cebu was a frightening nightmare, they saw the enraged islanders in a frenzy of tearing down the cross on the mountain and smashing it to bits.

Enrique had his revenge. The Castilians had miscalculated. They had under-estimated the ire and vengeance oozing out of every pore of the man subjected to abuse, deceit and injustice. They realized too late that trinkets, bells, mirrors, and other gifts had not bought the loyalty and subservience of the natives. It was an error of historic proportions. Yet today, the lessons of history still appears unheeded, similar errors still occur.

MORE SPANIARDS WERE KILLED IN CEBU THAN IN MACTAN.

Twenty-seven men were killed in the Cebu massacre, while only 8 Castilians, including Magellan, were slain in Mactan. Thirty-five Spaniards were killed in a span of 4 days.

Eight survivors of the massacre were captured, making a total of 43 Spanish hands lost that week. They were sold off later as slaves to the Chinese merchants who regularly visited Cebu

During the battle of Mactan between the forces of Magellan and Lapulapu, four of Humabon’s men who came to the aid of the Spaniards were also killed, not by Lapulapu’s men but by friendly fire from mortars on board the Spanish ships. Fifteen of Lapulapu’s men died in the encounter.

Bati ko, the Cebu tragedy could have been avoided had the Spanish conquestadores respected the rights of a freed slave. The massacre that followed was an inevitable and tragic consequence of an injustice done to a lowly man however uncivilized.

The epic voyage of exploration had left Spain on August 19, 1519 with 260 intrepid adventurers aboard 5 ships; only 18 returned on September 6, 1522 aboard one battered ship.

THE ENIGMATIC ENRIQUE.

Even as Enrique has since disappeared from history, the question lingers: who was Enrique? He could be Enrique de Malacca, Enrique ang Butuanon, Enrique de Limasawa, Enrique de Cebu, or Enrique nga Bisaya.

But never could he be Enrique de Filipinas. There was no Philippines at that time. Our archipelago then was named Lazarus by Magellan, claiming the country for Spain’s King Charles. It was not until 22 years later that our country was renamed Las Islas Filipinas, after King Philip, by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos.

Malaysia: The Bigger Picture

In this 19^th century map of Asia, Malaysia – as it was known to the world then – was the whole region of Malay Archipelago encompassing the modern nations of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Indonesia.

There was an original plan for a united state based on the concept of the Malay race attempted by Wenceslao Vinzons during the Commonwealth government in the Philippines. There he espoused a United Malay race – his Malaya Irredenta ideal. It was in realization of Jose Rizal‘s dream of bringing together the Malay peoples, seen as artificially divided by colonial frontiers.

On June 1963, the Philippines’ president, Diasdado Macapagal, convened a meeting of senior ministers from the three neighbouring countries of Malaya, Philippines and Indonesia to form Maphilindo and advanced a plan for a confederation of nations of Malay origin. Dr Subandrio, Indonesia’s foreign minister, supported the scheme and Malaya’s deputy prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak, endorsed the concept. A meeting of heads of government followed at the end of July which upheld the scheme but apparent reconciliation did not last.

It was unfortunate that Jose Rizal’s dream shattered when Malaya went ahead with the formation of Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 bringing Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore into its realm – when it could have been a confederation of Malay States of the Malay Archipelago that include Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei as well.

Top Ten Languages Spoken in the World

1. Mandarin – Number of speakers: 1 billion+ 

The most widely spoken language on the planet is based in the most populated country on the planet, China. Beating second-place English by a two to one ratio, but do not let that lull you into thinking that Mandarin is easy to learn. Speaking Mandarin can be really tough, because each word can be pronounced in four ways (or “tones”), and a beginner will invariably have trouble distinguishing one tone from another. But if over a billion people could do it, so could you. 

2. English – Number of speakers: 508 million

While English does not have the most speakers, it is the official language of more countries than any other language. Its speakers hail from all around the world, including the U.S., Australia, England, Zimbabwe, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, South Africa and Canada. And you probably feel pretty comfortable with the language already.

3. Hindustani – Number of speakers: 497 million

Hindustani is the primary language of India’s crowded population, and it encompasses a huge number of dialects (of which the most commonly spoken is Hindi). While many predict that the population of India will soon surpass that of China, the prominence of English in India prevents Hindustani from surpassing the most popular language in the world. If you are interested in learning a little Hindi, there is a very easy way: rent an Indian movie. The film industry in India is the most prolific in the world, making thousands of action/romance/ musicals every year.

4. Spanish – Number of speakers: 392 million

Aside from all of those kids who take it in high school, Spanish is spoken in just about every South American and Central American country, not to mention Spain, Cuba, and the U.S. There is a particular interest in Spanish in the U.S., as many English words are borrowed from the language.

5. Russian – Number of speakers: 277 million

One of the six languages in the UN, Russian is spoken not only in the Mother Country, but also in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the U.S. (to name just a few places).

6. Arabic – Number of speakers: 246 million

Arabic, one of the world’s oldest languages is spoken in the Middle East, with speakers found in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. Furthermore, because Arabic is the language of the Koran, millions of Moslems in other countries speak Arabic as well. So many people have a working knowledge of Arabic, in fact, that in 1974 it was made the sixth official language of the United Nations.

7. Bengali – Number of speakers: 211 million

In Bangladesh, a country of 120+ million people, just about everybody speaks Bengali. And because Bangladesh is virtually surrounded by India (where the population is growing so fast, just breathing the air can get you pregnant), the number of Bengali speakers in the world is much higher than most people would expect.

8. Portuguese – Number of speakers: 191 million

In the 12th Century, Portugal won its independence from Spain and expanded all over the world with the help of its famous explorers. Because Portugal got in so early on the exploring game, the language established itself all over the world, especially in Brazil (where it is the national language), Macao, Angola, Venezuela and Mozambique.

9. Malay-Indonesian – Number of speakers: 159 million

Malay-Indonesian is spoken in Malaysia and Indonesia. Actually, there are many dialects of Malay, the most popular of which is Indonesian. But they are all pretty much based on the same root language, which makes it the ninth most spoken in the world. Indonesia is a fascinating place; a nation made up of over 13,000 islands. It is the sixth most populated country in the world. Malaysia borders on two of the larger parts of Indonesia (including the island of Borneo), and is mostly known for its capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

10. French – Number of speakers: 129 million

Often called the most romantic language in the world, French is spoken in tons of countries, including Belgium, Canada, Rwanda, Cameroon and Haiti. Oh, and France too. 

 

October 5, 2007

“How Malay was named”

History saw Perak as one of the earliest state in Peninsular Malaysia to be colonized by the British. Apparently Perak spoken dialect had found an extreme influence on the colonial master that “sungei” – the way Perak folk pronoun “sungai” (Malay for river) – had been adopted in the official naming of towns associated with river to be found in Perak, Penang and Pahang.

It follows that “Malay” – the name coined by the British during the colonial days to describe the natives of this part of the region – could trace its origins from this state of Perak itself.

Like it or not, the British colonial master had described Malay as “malas” (Malay for lazy). Though debatable, it provides us with interesting clue into the origins of the term “Malay”. Malays were never the lazy lots for they had worked hard and had fought hard to drive the colonial masters away from their beloved country.

Associating Malay with “malas” were never originally meant to be Malays were lazy. Nevertheless, “maleh” – the Perakian tongue for “malas” – being an extremely popular slang spoken by Perak folks had somewhat caught the colonial master imagination into naming the folks “Malay” – the English tongue for “maleh” with the silent ‘h’.

Blame not the British, for if one were to spend some time listening to the conversations of local folks in Parit, Kuala Kangsar, Teluk Intan, Sungkai and the like, one will encounter “maleh” (meaning fed-up, frustrated or sick-and-tired to local folks) being used freely in almost any occasion at all.

On final note, should Kedah had been the British choice instead of Perak, the Malays could have end up with the name “apa nama” instead… (LOL)

 

“The Origins of MAT SALLEH”

It is believed that the first Malay encounter of "orang putih" or originally called "benggali putih" were perhaps the Spaniards or Portuguese sailors who dropped off at Malaysia ancient international seaport, Malacca, at the onset of East India Company doing trading with the Malay Peninsula.

They were definitely a bunch of unruly, drunken, noisy and loud-talking people. So, when the locals asked the English-speaking Benggali harbour master who those sailors were, he simply described them as "mad sailors" which sounded more like "mat salleh" to non-English educated Malays.

Since then, and until today, the "orang putih" is (better) known as "mat salleh" (the Malay tongue version of "mad sailors") amongst the Malays.