The First Written Document in the Philippines
In 1989, a piece of flat copper sheet measuring 8 by 12 inches was found by a man scavenging for vintage Chinese porcelains washed along the mouth of a river that drains into Laguna Bay. It was later known as the Laguna Copperplate Inscription after it was surrendered to the National Museum. Interestingly, the business of lending has been a part of the Philippine society ever since!
The document refers to the release of a certain "Namwaran and his descendants" from their financial obligations to Lord Minister Dewata in 822. The "proof of commutation" was written on a 8 inches by 12 inches copperplate. The language is not in ancient Tagalog or Baybayin text but rather in Kawi Script, a variety of Old Malay with numerous loanwords from Sanskrit. It serves a legal document just in case somebody tries to collect money from the debtee. The amount in today's money is equivalent to $12,000 or almost half a million pesos, which is still a big amount of money. This dude must have done a heroic act to warrant the mention of his loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief and clearance from his known debts.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Live! In the Year of Saka 822, month of Waisakha, according to the astronomer.
The fourth day of the waning moon, Monday. On this occasion, Lady Angkatan, and her relative whose name is Bukah, the children of the Honorable Namwaran, were awarded a document of complete pardon from the Commander-in-Chief of Tundun, represented by the Lord Minister of Pailah, Jayadewa.
This means that, through the Honorable Scribe, the Honourable Namwaran is totally cleared of his salary-related debts of 1 Katî and 8 Suwarna, before the Honorable Lord Minister of Puliran, Kasumuran; by the authority of the Lord Minister of Pailah, represented by Ganasakti.
The Honourable and widely-renowned Lord Minister of Binwagan, represented by Bisruta. And, with his whole family, upon orderd of the Lord Minister of Dewata, represented by the Chief of Mdang, because of his loyalty as a subject of the Commander-in-Chief.
Therefore, the living descendants of the Honorable Namwaran are cleared of all debts of the Honorable Namwaran to the Lord Minister of Dewata. This, in any case, whosoever, sometime in the future, who shall state that the debt is not yet cleared of the Honorable..-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazingly, the text refers to places which sounds familiar to some present-day localities around bays of Laguna, Manila and the mouth of Pasig River. According to Antoon Postma, the Dutch anthropologist who made a scholarly work deciphering the document. The document mentions Tondo (Tundun); Binuangan (Binwangan) and Pulilan (Puliran) parts of Bulacan. While Pailah remains to be disputed as one referring to Pila, a small coastal town in the province of Laguna or a town enclave along Angat River in Bulacan. The waterways appears to play an important factor in maritime trade among these villages. The name "Mdang" refers to the Javanese Kingdom of Medang in Indonesia which suggest that "pre-hispanic" Philippines could have been a northern extension of the kingdom.
LCI predates any known written document in the Philippines some 600 years. It also shows that ancient Filipinos has a well established maritime route south of Manila. And if the Philippines was not re-discovered by Spain in 1521. And the Hindu-leaning society was to flourish instead, then we could be seeing temples of Buddha and other Hindu gods along the countryside instead of the Catholic churches. And the Philippines will not be as it is today!
Further Readings:
http://www.bibingka.com/dahon/lci/lci.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Copperplate_Inscription
English Translation
Long Live! In the Year of Saka 822, month of Waisakha, according to the astronomer.
The fourth day of the waning moon, Monday. On this occasion, Lady Angkatan, and her relative whose name is Bukah, the children of the Honorable Namwaran, were awarded a document of complete pardon from the Commander-in-Chief of Tundun, represented by the Lord Minister of Pailah, Jayadewa.
This means that, through the Honorable Scribe, the Honourable Namwaran is totally cleared of his salary-related debts of 1 Katî and 8 Suwarna, before the Honorable Lord Minister of Puliran, Kasumuran; by the authority of the Lord Minister of Pailah, represented by Ganasakti.
The Honourable and widely-renowned Lord Minister of Binwagan, represented by Bisruta. And, with his whole family, upon orderd of the Lord Minister of Dewata, represented by the Chief of Mdang, because of his loyalty as a subject of the Commander-in-Chief.
Therefore, the living descendants of the Honorable Namwaran are cleared of all debts of the Honorable Namwaran to the Lord Minister of Dewata. This, in any case, whosoever, sometime in the future, who shall state that the debt is not yet cleared of the Honorable..-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LCI predates any known written document in the Philippines some 600 years. It also shows that ancient Filipinos has a well established maritime route south of Manila. And if the Philippines was not re-discovered by Spain in 1521. And the Hindu-leaning society was to flourish instead, then we could be seeing temples of Buddha and other Hindu gods along the countryside instead of the Catholic churches. And the Philippines will not be as it is today!
Further Readings:
http://www.bibingka.com/dahon/lci/lci.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Copperplate_Inscription
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