In Central Mindanao alone, there have been more than a dozen enthronements of datus and sultans in the past 12 months, apart from the revival of the sultanates of Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga-Sibugay.
The grandest of these enthronements was the one held in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last Dec. 10, where Moro religious and political leaders witnessed the assumption of Sultan Kudarat Gov. Pax Mangudadatu as Rajah Buayan sa Buayan, and his retinue, Cotabato Mayor Muslimin Sema, as Datu sa Buayan, and Datu Faisal Randy Karon, as Watamama Silongan.
Karon was natural resources secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao when Nur Misuari was regional governor.
The Buayan royal principality, whose realm encompasses the raya (upstream) area of what is now Maguindanao, and the surroundings of the South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos (Socsargen) area, dates back to the time of Shariff Mohammad Kabunsuan, an Arab-Malay preacher from Johore, now a region in Malaysia, who arrived at the Bucana district here in the 14th century to spread Islam.
Kabunsuan was said to be a prince from Johore, who was forced to relocate to Mindanao, then known as Mandanawi Darusallam, meaning "abode of peace in Mindanao," to escape persecution by Dutch invaders.
Members of the Buayan royalty were known for their bravery, having fought the Spaniards, the Americans and, during World War II, the Japanese.
There is, in fact, a newly created town in Maguindanao named Rajah Buayan, whose mayor, Datu Yacob Ampatuan, belongs to clans that, for centuries, have been nurturing the political realm of the Buayan sultanate.
Sema and Mangudadatu, during their assumption last Dec. 10 to the highest and second highest positions of the sultanate, both expressed optimism they could influence the Moro sectors in Central Mindanao to support the peace process.
Mangudadatu is a member of the government’s peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while Sema, secretary general of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), is involved in various peace-building projects aimed at complementing the peace talks.
The founder of the MILF, Egyptian-trained preacher Hashim Salamat, was himself a scion of the Buayan royalty.
"Our focus, in the meantime, is how to help ensure peaceful local and national elections in our respective communities in May," Sema said.
Since 90 percent of local officials in Central Mindanao belong to the Moro royalty, Sema said politicians can take advantage of the forthcoming elections to show how Muslims value the sanctity of electoral exercises as a "community enterprise," where the rich and poor are of "equal footing."
Sema is a 16th-generation descendant of the Buayan royalty.
Mangudadatu, on the other hand, is keen on using his being Rajah Buayan sa Buayan in reconciling feuding Muslim families within his political realm, in support of the Mindanao peace process.
"It’s an honor and pride to be named Rajah Buayan sa Buayan. I promise to live up to the expectations of the people who installed me to this post," he said.
Mangudadatu, now on his last term as Sultan Kudarat governor, took over from Datu Namla Dalandag Dalgan, who retired as rajah due to old age.
Mangudadatu said he is convinced that only with the "full support" of the cross-section of Mindanao, the Muslims and Christians alike, that the government-MILF talks can succeed.
Peace talks between the government and the MILF began on Jan. 7, 1997, but gained momentum only about three years ago with the help of Malaysia as "third party mediator." — John Unson