Sri Lumay

Sri Rajahmura Lumaya, known in his shortened name Sri Lumay, was the first Rajah and the founder of the Indianized kingdom of historic polity of Cebu. According to the epic '' Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik'', a Bisayan epic story, Sri Lumay was a half-Tamil and half Malay from Sumatra. Sri Lumay was the grandfather of Rajah Humabon. He may be called a ''semi-legendary'' figure, as he is found only in the oral traditions in the Visayan epic story of Aginid.

Sri Lumay, ancestor of Rajah Humabon, a half-Malay and half-Indian from Sumatra established Cebu as an Indianized monarchy, and sired at least four known sons, namely Alho, Ukob, Parang the Limp, and Bantug (father of Rajah Humabon). Sri Alho ruled a land known as ''Sialo'' which included the present-day towns of Carcar and Santander in the southern region of Cebu..

Legendary accounts

Sri Lumay, or Rajahmura Lumaya, established his kingdom in Cebu, which he himself ruled with his son, Sri Alho and Sri Ukob; they ruled the south known as Sialo, which included covered an area including Singhapala (present day Mabolo in north part of Cebu City) to Carcar-Valladolid (on the centraleast coast of Cebu Island) and beyond up to Santander (southern end of Cebu Island, 200 km from Mabolo).

The account of ''Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik'' is about Sri Lumay who settled in Sugbo with his son, Sri Alho, ruling the south known as Sialo which included Valladolid, Carcar, up to Santander. Sri Lumay established the city of Singhapala that become the capital of the rajahnate and what is now part of Mabolo in the northern district of Cebu City.

Battle campaigns

Sri Lumay fought the '' Magalos,'' or destroyers of peace, Muslim Moro warriors coming from Mindanao, who had been raiding the island of Cebu in search for precious items like gold or ceramics and slaves. Sri Lumay was noted for his strict policies in defending against Moro Muslim raiders and slavers from Mindanao. His use of scorched earth tactics to repel invaders gave rise to the name Kang Sri Lumayang Sugbu (literally "that of Sri Lumay's great fire") to the town, which was later shortened to Sugbu ("scorched earth").

In other folk stories, the problem about the ''Magalos'' where already an issue since the time of early Malay settlers during the time of the legendary Datu Daya who build a watch tower to watch the community against the upcoming raids.

Death

He died in battle, fighting with the Muslim Moro pirates known as magalos from Mindanao.

Sources

The Aginid epic mentioned Sri Lumay, his works, where he came from, and how he established the monarchy:

Issue

* Sri Ukob, ruled the north, known as Nahalin, which includes the present towns of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao, Carmen, and Bantayan.
* Sri Alho ruled over Sialo, which includes the present-day towns of Carcar and Santander in the southern region of Cebu.

See also

* Datu Daya - a legendary chief who was one of the early settlers in northern Cebu.
* Cebu (historical polity)
* Singhapala - the ancient capital of old Cebu
* Rajah Humabon
* Cebu City
* Lapulapu
* Ferdinand Magellan

References

External links

* http://www.cebu-bluewaters.com/early-cebu-history.html

{{India-related topics in Philippines

Filipino paramount rulers
Filipino Hindus
Filipino datus, rajas and sultans
Filipino paramilitary personnel
People from Cebu
People of Tamil descent