Socksargen royal house to enthrone new ‘Rajahmuda’

KORONADAL CITY — Hundreds of Muslims from the Socsksargen (South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) area and datus and members of Muslim clans from across Central Mindanao will converge at the Family Country Homes and Convention Center in General Santos City today for the enthronement of the sixth Rajahmuda of the century-old Sugoda Buayan Royal House (Kadatuan).

Arthur Tariman, publicist of the royal house, said Sultan Abdulaziz Guiwan Mastura Kudarat IV of the Sultanate of Maguindanao will lead in welcoming the special guest, Lt. Col. Abdul Razak Husain, leader of the international monitoring team which is helping oversee the ceasefire between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Local officials and military and police officers in the region are also expected to witness the royal enthronement.

Tariman said Datu Alimudin Hassan Al Haj, one of the respected Muslim leaders in Central Mindanao and a member of Pat-a-Palos (Royal Consultants) of the Sugoda Buayan Royal House, was selected as the sixth Rajahmuda following the death of Morsalin Ali.

Ali’s direct descendants have waived their rights to be nominated in favor of Hassan, he said.

Tariman said the Pat-a-Palos called a general assembly which, in turn, approved the creation of a nine-man committee that would recommend the new Rajahmuda.

Datu Pagadatan Jahal Addat chaired the committee, with Shieka Datu Guialil Kanda as secretary, and the following as members: Datu Amerul Abdulbayan Alangan, Datu Ulama Abdullah Akmad, Datu Manguda Canacan, Al Haj, Datu Salipada Abdulrakim Ali Vishaya, Datu Gugu Maguid Badrudin, Datu Maturajah Sahid Canapia, and Datu Imam Jimmy Ubpon.

"The committee then identified the nominees from the ascendants and descendants of the late Rajahmuda Ali. They also agreed to include as nominees the members of the Royal Consultants," Tariman said.

Based on the narration of Datu Manguda Canacan of the "tarsilla" of the "Lima-A-Lukes," the six living descendants of the first historically recorded Rajahmuda of Sugoda Buayan in 1896, starting from Rajahmuda Visayas (Asaya), are Datu Ahmad Lumanda, Datu Ibpad Sumagka, Datu Mama-sa-Lanao Mada, Datu Norodin Manibpod, Datu Mantil Ameril Kudanding, and Datu Yahya Tondog.

The other members of the Royal Consultants are Datu Majed Badrudin, Datu Mantil Kudanding, and Datu Ben Tondog.

For his part, Hassan acknowledged the royal title with deep humility and respect.

"It’s really a great honor for me to be chosen as the new Rajahmuda. My entire family and all the members of our clan appreciate it so much," Hassan told The STAR in a cellular phone interview.