Sunday, December 21, 2008

Sultan of Masiu, Bacolod and Baloi


HISTORY OF ROYAL HOUSES OF LANAO

Sharif Bangkaya begot two children from her 3rd wife Bae sa Matampay namely, Dakunuq of Malabang and Sharif Laut Buisan. Sharif Laut Buisan was installed as 6th Sultan of Maguindanao in 1597, and was married to the sister of Sultan Batara Shah Tengah of Sulu. Shariff Laut Buisan begot Gayang and Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat. Gayang was married to the grandson of Dimasangcay Adel- Sharif Matonding whose children reigned as the Sultans and Bai Labi of Lanao while his brother Sharif Muhammad Kudarat was installed as 7th Sultan of Maguindanao in 1619. In 1656 he declared a jihad against the Spanish colonialist. His Sultanate was felt as far as Ternate in Indonesia and Borneo and in fact its power reached the shores of Bohol, Cebu, Panay, Mindoro and Manila in north.

Spanish conquest of Lanao

In 1637 Sebastean Hurtado-de Curcuera decided to send an expedition to subdue the Datus and the people of Lake Lanao. As early as September 1637 he had promised the lake area to the Jesuits, who would get the same the moment it was conquered.

The conquest of the Maranaos was entrusted to Captain Francesco Atienza, the Alcalde Mayor of Caraga. With fifty Spaniards and give hundred Caragans, the captain landed in Bayug, then proceeded to the Maranao territory, reaching the lake on 4 April 1639. There were about 2,000 families or 800 inhabitants. The Spaniards brought with them six collapsible boats that they fitted out in the lake.

The Datus of Lanao initially offered allegiance to the Spaniards. They promised tribute and accepted the missionaries, what appeared ominous to the Spaniards was the movement of inhabitants into the interior at the same time. The Maranaos could easily muster 6,000 warriors from among the four confederation of Lanao. Lack of firearms though was their disadvantage. Governor Al Monte dispatched Major Pedro Fernandez del Rio with seventy Spaniards and 500 Visayans to join with the forces of Atienza. The expedition had to pass through the area of Butig where Sharif Matonding an Iranon Datu married to Gayang, a sister of Sultan Kudarat, engaged the colonizers. After a most difficult passage made by the fierce resistance of Sharif Matonding, Pedro del Rio made it to the shores of the lake where he join the forces of Atienza. In the middle of April Atienza and part of his troops left for Bayug and fortified it with a stockade and sailed for Caraga.

In October of the same year, an additional force of fifty Spaniards and five hundred Boholanos arrived under the command of Captain Pedro Bermudez de Castro who had orders to build a fort in Marawi to establish Spanish sovereignty.

Sultan Kudarat visited his son in laws in Lanao- Balindong Bzar and Dianaton of Butig. He gathered the Datus of Lanao and delivered a speech in this form:


"What have you done? Do you realize what subjection would reduce you to? A toilsome slavery under the Spaniards! Turn your eyes to the subject nations and look at the misery to which such glorious nation had been reduced to, look at the Tagalog and Visayan: Are you better than they? Do you think that the Spaniards consider you of better stuff? Have you not seen the Spaniards trample them under their feet? Do you not see everyday how they are obliged to work at the oars and the factories with all their rigor? Can you tolerate anyone with little Spanish blood to best you up and grasp the fruits of your labor? Allow your selves to be subjects (today) and tomorrow you will be at the oars? I, at least will be a pilot, the biggest favor they will allow a chief. Do not let their sweet words deceive you; their promises facilities their deceits, which little by little, enable them to control everything. Reflect on how even minor promises as to the chief of other nations were not honored until they become master of them all. See now what is being done to these chief and how they are being led by rod."

The Maranaos took up arms against the newly built fort. They used indigenous means to get at the fort and set it on fire. Three of the Spanish boats, brought form Bayug were captured. Atienza formed a relief expedition and saved the Spaniards. The Maranao warriors after 29 days of siegeleft their position. Afraid to experience once more the horrors of siege, they proceeded to burn their their own fort and made a retreat back to Iligan. In 1640 Atienza tried once more to conquer the Maranaos. For the second time, the Spaniards burned the fields and retired to the coast, but not without losing some men on the way due to ambushes. The second attempt to colonize and Christianize the Maranaos had utterly failed. In payment for their freedom however, the Maranaos lost their harvest.


Birth of the Sultanates in Lanao

In Lanao, the Maranaos started to be acquainted with the sultanate system in the 15th century thru the influence of Sharif Kabungsuan, who was enthroned as first Sultan of Maguindanao in 1520, In 1640 Balindong Bzar of Masiu became the first Maranao Chieftain enthroned as Sultan, with specific title as Sultan as Sultan Diagaborolah. He was charged to enforce the teaching of Islam and the law and order in Lanao. On the same year Sultan Diagaborolah consulted the seven Maranao Datus on how to govern Lanao. They were Dianton Naib of Butig. Datu Burus of Pagayawan, Datu Ottawa of Ditsaan, Datu Acari of Ramain, Onbaor of Bansaya, Engki-Okoda of Minitupad, Alanake of Baloi. The eight wise man (including Balindong) agreed to create the four confederation of Lanao (Pat a Pangampong a Ranao) composed of the State of Masiu, Butig, Bayabao and Baloi, and on the second level, the 15 Royal houses (Panoroganan) and the 28 legislative body (Pyakambaya ko Taritif). The socio-political system was based on the Taritib, laws, Ijma, customary laws, and adapted practices of the Maranaos. The Pangampong state was further divided into smaller socio-political units. Within the four state is a total 43 Ingud communities classified into 15 Royal Houses (Panoroganans), and 28 supporting Ingud or Legislative Houses called Piyacambaya ko Taritib (Decider of Laws).

The Taritib, an ancient order or law bound together the four states or principality of Lanao into an alliance or confederation and defined their relationships. There is no central, all powerful authority but every state or principality respected the traditional alliance termed Kangiginawai.

One problem that beset the Sultanate of the four confederation of Lanao was the identification of ancestral land area (Kawali) of each State (Pangampong). They were consequently defined by Datu Pascan of Unayan, Datu Popawan of Bayabao, Amiyanon Simban of Masiu and Datu Dilion of Baloi. The agreement known as "Kiatathamana-an" declineated the areas as: Dalama, located in the municipality of Molondo, the boundary between Bayabao and East Masiu; Sawenn Masiu municipality the boundary between East Masiu municipality and East Unayan T Madamba municipality, the boundary between West Unayan and West Masiu; and Bacayawan in Marantao municipality, the boundary between west Masiu and Bayabao. Suprisingly, there is no identified boundary between Bayabao and Baloi but the reason is that both Pangampong lineage come from the same family tree. Under the Kiangginawai (friendship) their boundary need not be established.

In 1754, the maranos kept on increasing their maritime strength and accelerated their attacks on the Spaniards. Leyte and Calamianes bore part of the brunt of their attacks. About nine hundred Maranaos once landed in Albay and captured more than a hundred inhabitants. In Balayan, they looted everything they could lay their hands on. The Maranaos were thus greatly responsible for the abandonment of many settlements in the Visayas and the dislocation of the economic life of thousands of people. The Maranao made these attacks since most of the native troops used against them were Visayans. The events prompted the Spaniards to devise a more elaborate and effective naval system of defense. In 1557, the Iranuns and Maranaos accelerated their attacks on the Spaniards. There were frequent naval encounters between them and the Spaniards. In some of them, according to reports, thousands have perished.

In a span of four years, the Maranao raids on Visayas reduced the number of tributes to the Spanish government by at least 100,000. For example, figures showed that the district of Panay, it paid 1,500 tributes in 1750. By the year 1757 there only 500 tributes paid. In Romblon, the number of tributes went down from 1370 to 995, while in Kalibu (Capiz) it decreased from 1,164 to 549. Many coastal towns were totally destroyed and the visayan population was reduced considerably. In 1759 Datu Aber Palawan and his men attacked the Spanish squadron in the northern part of Mindanao. He was martyred and buried in Radapan, Lanao (now Tarapan, Linamon, Lanao del norte).

Gen. Valeriano Weyler, the Spanish Gov. General decided to deal with the Maranaos in 1889. He ordered his troops to land in Malabang to conquer the unconquered Maranaos. He had 1,242 soldiers in two columns. The first column started from Malabang while the second column started from Higan. (This two-pronged attack on Maranao territory from the northern and western parts of Mindanao was a reminiscent of of the 1639 campaign against Maranaos). After a few bloody clashes, Marawi was occupied on August 19, but not without encountering strong resistance from the Maranaos led by Datu Amai Pakpak. In September 1891, Weyler finally terminated his campaign without actually conquered the Maranaos. In May 15, 1892, Pablo Pastel drafted the blue print for the temporal and spiritual conquest of the Sultanates in Philippines for the gradual reduction of the political and other powers of the Sultans, Datus, Sharif and Pamlitas in such a way that they would all eventually become powerless. The Spaniards considered them as the primary obstacle impeding the rapid progress of the degraded race in its march to civilization. On June 5, the Datus of Lanao cooperated in the fortification of the section around Agus River for their mutual defense. In February 1895, systematic Maranao attacks on the Spanish forst began. As a result, the Spanish invaders launched another Spanish expedition on March 10 of the same year to attack and capture Marawi, once and for all. The march to Marawi commenced. The Spaniards found themselves faced by strong cotta under the command of the same Amai Pakpak. The Maranao warriors fought with equal bravery but lost the war with the martyrdom of Datu Akader Amai Papak, his son, 23 datus and 150 Maranao warriors. The Spaniards lost 194 men. Abot 3,000 Spanish troops, and countless volunteer from Zamboaga, Mizamis and Sibugay were involved. This did not stop the Maranaos to continue fighting. The Spanish garrison in Marawi was in state of siege. Sporadic attacks on the garrison and ambushes become the order of the day. The Maranaos around the lake continued their resistance against the Spaniards even after gunboats were brought to Lake Lanao to launch a campaign against the communities around it. The Spaniards had to withdraw after their defeat in Manila Bay on May 1, 1896.


The American Regime and the Commonwealth

In 1899, the Sultans themselves led their people in fighting both the Spaniards and later, Americans. They all ended as martyrs along with their families and warriors. In 1889, the Americans landed in Malabang and occupied the Spanish camp without much fanfare and named it camp Concuera. Two years later, the Americans proceeded to the lake area but was met by Maranao warriors in Upper Bayang, Amai Barang, Mamarinta, Pitilan Sultan of Bayang and 300 warriors clashed with the Americans in a fierce battle. The Sultan and his men were crushed. The sultan perished but Capt. Vicar also died. (Their camp in Upper Bayang was named after him). In Tugaya Datu Saruang and many others also died fighting against the American forces coming to their place.

During the Commonwealth regime, Amai Manabilang of Marawi challenged the authority of Justice Cayetano Arellano in enforcing the government laws to the Maranaos. He led a campaign that Mindanao should be separated from the Philippines. The policy of attraction of the Americans in Lanao under under General Pershing offered empty promises to the Maranaos who felt that the government deprived them with the continued exercise of their traditional and cultural practices and interference to their religion, customs and traditions.

On March 18, 1935, one hundred twenty Datus of Lanao, with thirty Sultans signed a strongly worded letter, popularly known as "Dansalan Declaration" to U.S President Franklin Roosevelt and the U.S congress asking them that the Filipinos should be granted Independence and the Moro province should also be given their own independence or better left under American rule until such time that they were prepared to grant their independence to be known as Bangsamoro.


The Present Sultanates

The Sultanates in the Philippines at present have legally been disenfranchised and practically reduced to non-entities by a provision in the Philippines constitution prohibiting the grant of a title of nobility to a Filipino citizen. Interestingly, the same constitution provides respect for the local culture, traditions and practices. Many non-Muslims do not realize that the Sultans are not only temporal but also spiritual leaders. They are the symbols not only of their communities but also considered vicegerent followers of Allah in this world. It was the responsibility of the Sultans not only to defend their people and communities but also their religion – Islam. Among the Muslims, there is no way one can separate the Sultanate from their culture, tradition and religious practices. Once the Sultanate is destroyed everything goes along with it. A Muslim is a Muslim because he has his own identity in the Sultanate of which he is part and parcel. Without the Sultanate, he becomes a non-entity, a person with out identity or an anchor much like a rudderless boat being blown away any which way by every passing wind.

This in essence is the heart of the Mindanao problem and why it continues to fester like a wound that has turned cancerous. The government looks at the Mindanao problem as one of economics, peace and order, progress, education, and perhaps implicitly, religion. This may be partly true but the primary factor is the recognition of the rights of the Muslims for self-determination and respect for their own identity as a people with a unique culture and tradition and, for as long as the real solution to this Mindanao problem is not address, the situation will continue to widen. This is where the Royal Sultanate could play a very important role especially because by accepted tradition, his constituents respect and value his authority. For example, in the Preservation of Social Order.

Ø When there is no source of power except the Sultan, the community is stable. The Sultan has influence and command to impose and execute the highly respected Taritib and Ijma.

Ø When a dispute happens and the Sultan is not personally available to settle it, he can simply send his Tobao (scarf Headdress) through his emissary and it would be enough to make the parties stay "in suspended the animation" and wait until he arrives to settle their dispute.

Ø The Sultan has the power to ask anyone within his territory to come for questioning, for punishment if he committed an offense or for anything that is for the interest of his people. He only needs to beat his gong and it is enough for the people to come him.

Ø When a buffalo is stolen by a person from another area, it becomes his duty to recover and restore it to the owner.

Ø When conflicts between Sultanates occur, it was the duty of another Sultan to come and talk to them for peaceful settlement. The common practice used by the Sultan in settling Ridos even until now is tracing the family lineage of the conflicting parties with the ultimate end that both parties will realize that they are relatives either by affinity or by consanguinity. Kambabatabata-a (blood relations) Kapamagongowa (friendship) Kapamagadata (respect), and other relationships of the forefathers are being recalled. In most cases, disputes are resolved with tears flowing from the persons witnessing or present in the scene.


The 16 Ruling Royal Sultanates in Lanao

The original number of the ruling Royal Sultands of Lanao was only fifteen (15). It is now increased to sixteen (16) with the creation of Sultan sa Domalondong sa Butig in Pangampong a Unayan. Hence, it was recently renamed as 16 "Panoroganans of Lanao". A "Pangampong" is a principality where the head is addressed as his Royal Highness (HRH). Since the title of a Sultan becomes now a "common commodity" in Lanao, the 16 Royal Sultans agreed to call themselves as "Panoroganan" instead of "His Royal Highness" in order to be fitting to the Maranao dialect and make them different from the other Sultans in Lanao.

The Panoroganans are the ones entitled to approve or disapprove the Taritib, Ijmas and Adats in their respective Pangampong. This gave them the title as Royal Highness or now localized as "Panoroganans". They also created the 28 "Piakambaya ko Taritib" (ruled by a Sultan but not Royal Sultan) that is seemingly similar to a legislative council or body that formulates the Taritib and Ijma which are distributed by pangampong.

The places under each of the "Pat a Pangmpong a Ranao" are:

  1. Pangampong a Masiu covers the municipalities of Molondo, Taraka, Tamparan, Masiu, Wato Balindong, Tugaya, Bacolod Kalawi, Madalum n Madamba.

  1. Pangampong a Unayan covers the south of lake Lanao strictly from the Buldon, Barira, Matanog, Parang of Sharif Kabunsuan province and the long coastal area parallel to Illana Bay going to northern up to Zamboaga, Lanao border. In Lanao del Sur, it include Butiq, Domalondong, Lumayanague, Lumbatan, Bayang, Tubaran, Binidayan, Marogong, Ganassi, Pualas, Madamba, Calanogas, Kapatangan, Balabagan and Malabang. In Lanao del Norte, it includes Kormatan, Lala and Tubod.

  1. Pangampong Bayabao is presently composed of the Municipalities of Ditsaan Ramain, Bubong, Buadipusa-Buntong, Kapai, Marantao, Saguiran, Maguing, Bumbaran, Wao, Lumba-Bayabao, Poona-Bayabao, Piagapo in Lanao del Sur and the city of Marawi.

  1. Pangampong a Baloi consists of the municipalities of Pantar, Tangoloan I, Kapai, Baloi, Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo, Tangkal, Magsaysay, Kauswagan, Linamon, Bacolod, Maigo and Kolambogan in Lanao del Norte and Iligan City.

THE SIXTEEN ROYAL HOUSES OF LANAO

MASIU

  • The Royal House of Masiu
  • The Royal House of Datu a Cabugatan

ONAYAN

  • The Royal House of Butig
  • The Royal House of Pagayawan
  • The Royal House of Bayang
  • The Royal House of Dumalondong

POONA-BAYABAO

  • The Royal House of Bansayan
  • The Royal House of Rogan
  • The Royal House of Taporog

LUMBA-BAYABAO

  • The Royal House of Minitupad
  • The Royal House of Borocot
  • The Royal House of Bacolod
  • The Royal House of Maribo

MALA-BAYABAO

  • The Royal House of Ramain
  • The Royal House of Ditsaan

BALOI

  • The Royal House of Baloi

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Procession 26-11-2008(Rote/Papua/Bali.Surakarta/Sambas)




Top picture:


Left:the royal couple of Badung-Denpasar is greeting the Imperial coupleof Surakarta at their arrival.The royal on the left is from the island of Rote(west of Timor).The royalon the right is one of the 9 rulers of the western part of the main islandof Papua(Fak Fak area and a bit an area to the east).



Bottom picture:


Extreme right:the minor-Sultan of Sambas(West-Kalimantan);HRH Pangeran RatuMuhammad Tarhan Winata Kusuma.


Donald Tick,
Pusat Dokumentasi Kerajaan-kerajaan Indonesia "Pusaka"
Edit by fabiami

LIST OF ROYAL AND PRINCELY GUESTS OF PRESIDENT SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO 29-11-2008

From Bali:

1)The Royal couple of Badung-Denpasar

2)The Raja of Jembrana

3)Anak Agung Ugrasena;chief representative of the dynasty of Buleleng with(probably)his wife

Tjokorda Istri Suardani

4)Representatives of the rajadynasty of GianyarFrom Java:

5)A member of one of the 2 branches of the susuhunandynasty of Surakarta From Madura:

6)The candidate-Panembahan of SumenepFrom Sumbawa:

7)A representative of the Sultan's dynasty of DompuFrom Lombok:

8)H. Lalu Jumardi of the datudynasty of Kuripan

9)Lalu Mahdurain of the raja dynasty of Pejanggik

10)H. Lalu Putria and Husnul Hotimah of the datudynasty of Siladendeng

11)Lau Ahmad Sutawan and Hj. BQ Risma Biduri of the datydynasty of Praya

12)Lalu Aminuddin of the Selaparang area

13)Komang Paramita and Mrs. Rosmini of the datudynasty of LangkoFrom Sumatra:14)The

Sultan of Serdang

15)The representative of the Sultan of Deli

16)The representative of the Sultan of Langkat

17)The Sultan of Asahan

18)The dynastychief of Indragiri

19)H. Tengku Muhamad Muchtar Anum R.;the chief of the dynasticcouncil of Siak

20)Tengku Fuad and Tengku Husin Saleh of the 2 parts of the dynastic network of Riau- Lingga

21)The Royal Couple of Palembang

22)A member of the dynasty of Minangkabauw

23)The Sutan of Tulang BawangFrom Timor:

24)The Royal couple of Kupang

25)The Royal couple of AmanubanFrom Kalimantan:

26)The representative of the Panembahan of Landak

27)The candidate-Tuhan Besar of Kubu

28)The Royal couple of Sintang

29)The candidate-Panembahan of Tayan

30)The representative of the panembahandynasty chief of Sanggau

31)The Royal couple of Simpang

32)The representative of the Sultan of Bulungan

33)The represennative of the candidate-Sultan of Gunung Tabur

34)The representative of the candidate-Sultan of SambaliungFrom New-Guinea:

35)The Regent-Ratu of Sekar

36)The Raja of Wertuar

37)The dynastychief of the Kaimana Commision areaFrom Sulawesi:

38)A member of the sultan's dynasty of Gowa

39)The representative of the arumpone dynasty of Bone

40)The representative of the datudynasty of Soppeng

41)The representative of the sub-raja dynasty of Letta

42)The Raja of Tallo with (probably)his wife Hj. Siti Nurlia Tate

43)The representative of the adatuandynasty of Sidenreng

44)The Raja of Banggai with(probably) his wife H. Zulvaina Djibran

45)The Maradia of Mamuju with(probably)his wife Hj. Andi Sumpu Rusia

46)The representative of the maradiadynasty of Binuang

47)The representative of the Maradia of Balanipa

48)The representative of the maradiadynasty of Pambauang

49)The representative of the maradiadynasty of CenranaFrom Singapore:

50)A representative of the Sultan of SingaporeFrom the Philippines:

51)The representative of the Sultan of Buayan

52)The representative of the Sultan of Kabuntalan



Further there were chiefs,or representatives of noblefamilies from different parts of Indonesia like Ir. Abdullah Malawat;the Laupati of Mamala;an area on Ambon.He is also chief of the area chiefs of the S-Moluccans.Many kings and dynastychiefs were already not on the Royal Festival anymore at this time.Their names will follow later.



Donald Tick,
Pusat Dokumentasi Kerajaan-kerajaan Indonesia "Pusaka"

Edit by fabiami

Monday, December 8, 2008

Raja Tonggo Tua Sinambela of Bakkara (Raja Sisingamangaraja XV)


















Left:
This Raja Ir. Tonggo Tua Sinambela is living in Medan, but actually is the Raja of an area called Bakkara; near the Lake Toba.
He is the 15th raja of a dynasty, who emerged in middle Sumatra in the middle of the 16th century as a sort of chiefs of the Batak religious culture;of all the Batak peoples.Sometimes they were called the "pope" of the Batak world.
The last ruling Sisingamangaraja was Raja Sisingamangaraja XII (Raja Ompu Pulo Patuan Bosar Sinambela), who ruled 1870-1907 as Raja of Bakkara,but because absolutely not showing any feelings of trying to understand, that the Dutch east-Indish Government also had several good intentions in his area, he was made to flee to Pea Radja in the Dairi area from 1889.
On the 17th of june 1907 he was killed near Pulubatu because of a language misunderstanding.Raja Sisingamangaraja XII then wanted to surrender to a trfoup of Dutch East-Indish soldiers and said in his language, that he erally had the intention to do so and wanted to give his long dagger to the soldiers, but one of then taught, that he wanted to take his weapon to kill them.
Before the leading officer Captain Christoffel could prevent that,t he bad thing already had happened and the Raja was death.
In a honourfull way the body of the raja was then brought to another place.
Later his family became interested in the Christian belief and remained as such.
Traditional Batak people asked the Dutch East-Indish Government later to let install his 3rd son Raja Karel Bontal as Raja Sisingamangaradja XIII,which wasn't approved. Traditional Batak people saw him however as Raja Sisingamangaraja XIII.
Raja Ir. Tonggo Tua Sinambela is een by traditional Batak people as Raja Sisingamangaraja XV. Espacially since the official rememberering of the 100 years of the death of his greatgrandfather Raja Sisingamangaraja an Indonesian National Hero, he more comes into the open.
He must be a kind and humble nobleman,who really likes to explain,that the "Boss of the world" is in Heaven and that he as a wordly raja and a bit religious traditional symbol, is only his representative.

Donald Tick,
Pusat Dokumentasi Kerajaan-kerajaan Indonesia "Pusaka"
Edit by festivi

Opening Museum of Kapuas Raya of Sintang (W-Kalimantan)


















Introducing around The Opening Museum of Kapuas Raya (West-Kalimantan).

Friday, December 5, 2008

Kings and Sultans in South-East Asia attending The Festival
































Delegate from Philiphines and other Kings and Sultans In South-East Asia attending The Festival.

Around The Festival



















Extreme left: The Wife of Pangeran Gunarso Kusumodingrat (Secretary-General of the Forum Silaturahmi Keraton se Nusantara(FSKN).
in the middle : Pangeran Gunarso Kusumodiningrat.
Right to him in yellow: Sultan Basharsyah II of Serdang (N-Sumatra).
Extreme right: Raden Th. Lalu Putra of Siladendeng (a Sasak principality on Lombok).



















President Yudhoyono received The Entrant of FSKN.
Royal of Dompo.



















Traditional Dance of the Imperial Court of Surakarta.



















Left : Amaka'u Kahrul Zaman; Prince of Dompo (Sumbawa) and Representative of his Sultan with his Wife.
Right:Lalu Madhurain; Dynastychief of Selaparang (Sasak-principality on Lombok), with his wife.
White Man : Dutch Nobleman; Mr. Baron De Smith.



















Speech of Ida Tjokorda Ngurah Jambe Pemecutan of Badung-Denpasar (president of FSKN) at the opening of the main activities of the 1st South-East Asia Culture Royal Festival and Expo (Festival dan Expo Budaya Keraton Asia Tenggara) in Denpasar/Bali. The Festival was the opened by the minister of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia; as representative of the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,who had suddenly very urgent meetings elsewhere. On the right is Pan geran Gunarso Kusumodingrat.






















Left:Mister Azwar Anas: Member of the imperial family of Minangkabauw area (W-Sumatra).
Right : Anak Agung Gde Agung; the Raja of Jembrana (Bali) and chief of the council of the rajas and dynastychiefs if Bali (with his wife).
Behind the 2 royals is sitting the Sultan of Sintang (in green clothes).


.

















Royal dinner in the palace of the Tjokorda of Badung-Denpasar.
In blue: Calon-Raja Haji Andi Rauf Maro Karaeng Rewa of Tallo; the brother principality of Gowa (SW-Sulawesi).


Please Click Picture to Enlarge
(All Picture from H.H. Anak Agung Eka Putra of Eka Cipta Photo in Denpasar/Bali)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Royals to do 'good' for Yudhoyono

Desy Nurhayati , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 12/01/2008 10:36 AM | National

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has denied a a gathering held with royals and palace representatives at the State Palace on Saturday had any political motives.

The event, held for the National Royal Palace Forum (Forum Keraton Nusantara), was attended by kings and representatives from 17 palaces nationwide.

"This (gathering) is not a political forum. This is a forum for culture, heritage and civilization that shows the greatness of our nation. We should not relate this to politics," Yudhoyono said in his speech.

Forum head Ida Tjokorda Ngurah Jambe Pamecutan of Bali thanked Yudhoyono's administration for supporting the forum's establishment two years ago.

He said the country's palace community had started to become marginalized because of great improvements in the political system and democracy.

"But Bapak President has done many things for us, and we will do 'good deeds' in return," he said, without going into detail.

Support from the community will mean a lot for Yudhoyono, who will run for another term as president in the election next year.

Forum member Azwar Anas of West Sumatra denied claims that the community's "good deeds" for Yudhoyono would include voting for him in the 2009 election.

"No, it's not about politics. What we were referring to as good deeds is about participating in the development and not becoming troublemakers in this country," he added.

He said it was only during Yudhoyono's term that a ministerial decree was issued as a legal basis to establish the forum, which now has 118 members nationwide.

Anas said he personally supported Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in their bid for a second term.

"I think if Yudhoyono and Kalla once again won the election, Indonesia would become an advanced country. They should be given a second chance for the next five years to complete their programs," he said.

The President said palaces were part of the country's diverse heritage and should be preserved.

"Palaces are part of our civilization. If we can preserve our civilization, we will be able to improve our self-reliance and competitiveness to be a developed country in the 21st century," he said.

Yudhoyono told the forum that palace communities should participate in the country's development by maintaining their culture, with support from the government.

"If the palace community can play its role, it would be a great contribution for this nation."

Among those attending the event were Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Home Minister Mardiyanto and Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi.

King of the Yogyakarta Palace Sultan Hamengkubuwono X did not attend. The sultan -- the governor of Yogyakarta and a member of the country's largest political party, Golkar -- has announced he will run for president next year, thus becoming one of Yudhoyono's political rivals.