The
Philosophy of the Filipino Kali Men
by Grand Tuhon Leo Gaje Jr.
To
authenticate written history of a country like the
Philippines is not just by reading all about what
is written and knowing the author’s biography.
For instance, in the Philippine history written by
Zaide, the Philippines was discovered by Spain in
1521, which is not true. Philippines composed of three
islands had existed long before 1521 namely Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao. The Dutch, Chinese traders were
already involved in the business of trading spices,
clothing and oriental rugs to be brought to China
and Europe by the Dutch. Commerce was the medium of
exchange between the Filipino traders, the Chinese
and the Dutch. As a matter of history, the first group
of Filipino migrants to Foonkein, China was the Ilongos
from Panay. Since the Filipinos by nature and special
expertise are seafarers, then their way of life was
on the ocean sailing from island to island.
Before the 1521, the islands were called the Maharlikas
with a set of government in the island of Panay in
a special land territory called Kalibo. Kalibo is
a unique name because it signifies the group of tribes
of Kali and the place of gathering was called Kalibohan.
Today, Kalibo is on of the provinces of Panay Island
to include Capiz, Iloilo, Antique and Guimaras Island,
which was part of the territory of Datu Kalantiao.
When the ten Datus fled from Borneo who belong to
the Sri Visayan Empire which was replaced by the Majapahit
Empire under King Maja Gada with their Kingdom in
Java Indonesia. These ten datus settled in Panay.
They settled in this place called Kalibo. From here
they established the government with their constitution,
the Code of Kalantiao which Datu Kalantiao of Kalibo
ruled the Province for several years up to 1520 one
year before the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu.
The ten Datus spread to several islands and spread
different influences, which was noted in the practices
of their culture, tradition and customs. The Code
of Maragtas was the law of marriage as the superior
law of the land, where one can have as many woman
provided the man can support the woman and the child,
if the man cannot support the woman and the child,
the chieftain of the village will summon the man and
the woman and in front of the man, the woman and the
child are beheaded. So the man has to think twice
before he gets another woman, it is an incentive but
also a preventive measure not for the man to commit
any mistakes of having a child with another woman
without sufficient support for the woman and the child.
It was in 1521, when Ferdinand Magellan landed in
the island of Cebu and was welcomed by Datu Humabon
unfortunately his visit was short-lived when he fought
Datu Lapu-lapu and got beheaded in the island of Mactan
in 1521.
From this year 1521 to the time the King Philip of
Spain named the island of Maharlikas, the Philippines,
Spain added the Philip-pines as their conquered territory.
Filipinos for nearly 400 years revolted against Spain
and Filipinos won the revolution against Spain forcing
the issue by selling the Filipinos to the Americans
at ($3.00) three dollars per head in the Treaty of
Paris of 1889. Filipinos didn’t stop their vigilance
but continued to stand against the Americans in 1900.
Fighting the Americans against the 38 Revolvers and
the Kruger Rifles, that made possible the development
of the 45-caliber pistol with stopping power, which
made the history for the Filipino gallantry. Now the
Japanese Imperial Forces occupied the Philippines
from 1942 to 1945. Filipino men fought side by side
with the Americans during the Death March, help Gen.
McArthur to escape via the backdoor and return to
the United States and nearly two years the Filipinos
sustained the battle against the Japanese by the use
of the bolo against the Japanese cruelties.
These historical events relates the manifestations
of the real true Filipino men endowed with the greatest
Philosophy: One must believe in life not death, One
must believe in success not failure, One must believe
in good health not sickness.
There are no options for Filipino fighting men in
war and in peace. The Philosophy to live is supremely
above anything else.
In the final analysis, to authenticate the real history
of the Philippines must be to research the past, the
present practices related to culture, tradition and
customs as experienced with the people’s lifestyle.
Because of the rising developments in technology and
changes in the social behavior of the present generation,
the true cultural values are diminishing and being
replaced by a foreign influence that greatly affected
the moral and family values of the Filipino people.
But regardless of these changes and sudden departure
from the past, what is not lost is the presence of
the Filipino fighting spirit with the capabilities
to rise into superbly guaranteed badge of courage
which every Filipino is gifted. With the greatest
philosophy that are found in the bloodstream of every
Filipino fighting men, there is a constant practice
of the Kali art as a physical manifestation of the
developing ability of a person to adjust into the
past which the cultural values are being revived.
It is only by physical involvement with the technology
of a blade fighter that the knowledge will be revived
and put into action as a major reviving spirit of
the Filipino Philosophy.
