(Taken from one of the elders of Tugaya, Eng’r Rasol Abbas, Founder of AMTAR Tugaya International Foundation)
The native of Tugaya, who may either live in this Town, in some other Municipalities of Lanao del Sur, in other Provinces throughout the Philippines archipelago or in abrod, are descendant s of a man Datu Amtak, a tribal leader who lived in Tugaya few hundred years ago.
According to Salsila, Datu Amtak married two wives: Princess Pandango of Sawir (Ba’e sa Sawir) and Princess Ayo of Link (Ba’e sa Link), May Allah grants them Paradise, and blessed with nine (9) sons who flourished, from generations to generations, into thousands of people known today as Tugayans (i-Tugayaan).
Years after years, the descendant of this Nine (9) Clans or Maruhom formed a Royal House and arranged with them the sequence of the title of “Sultan of Tugaya” and then signed a covenant, to fulfilled this arrangement down to their descendant, or till today.
Here is the sequence of the 9 Maruhom (MARHOOM in Arabic which means blessed soul) who may hold the title “Sultan of Tugaya” (Life term) much like how today’s Malaysian Sultans take turns at being King of that country namely:
1. Maruhom Jaman;
2. Maruhom Sharief;
3. Maruhom Shabir;
4. Maruhom Siddeek;
5. Maruhom Malimala;
6. Maruhom Naba’;
7. Maruhom Rajah-moda
8. Maruhom Tauf
9. Maruhom Ama’i Banto
However, from among the above descendants they added the following to hold the positions corresponding to their clan (Also life term):
1. Apo-a-Babay-Datu-Imam (First Imam)
Including the First Bilal (Prayer caller)
2. Gurain-Imam-a-Samporna (Second Imam)
including the Second Bilal (Prayer caller)
3. Na’o-Jamla sa Tugaya & Cabugatan sa Tugaya.
The above designations are all existed till today and held by their nearest offspring.
Said to be one of the last bastions of Islamic civilization in Lanao del Sur, Tugaya also has special place in Philippine history. After all, it was there that the flag of resistance, the Pandi-a-Ranao, was planted by local hero Sheikh Saruang (Martyred), who fought against the Spanish invaders.
Tugaya Artefacts Blog 