16th century documents named national treasures; on exhibit at UST
A historical marker containing the replicas of two 16th century land deeds of sale written in ancient baybayin alphabet, earlier declared as national cultural treasures, was unveiled yesterday at the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Miguel de Benavides Library.
National Archives of the Philippines (NAP) Executive Director Victorino Mapa Manalo, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, UST Rector Rev. Fr. Herminio Dagohoy and UST Archivist Prof. Regalado Trota Jose led ceremonial unveiling of the historical marker.
On August 22 this year, the NAP declared the UST Baybayin documents, which was preserved by the Archive of UST, as national cultural treasures. It was the first time for the NAP to declare paper documents as such.
The original documents are still under the care of the UST Archive.
Other archaeological treasures within the 400-year old university previously declared as national cultural treasures include the UST main building, Arch of the Centuries, Central Seminary building and UST's open spaces. UST is the only university in the country that hosts national cultural treasures.
UST Baybayin Documents
The two UST Baybayin documents are the only known paper documents that were completely written in baybayin, the pre-Spanish alphabet of the Filipinos.
"The UST Baybayin documents are two deeds of sale of land. The first document details the sale of tubigan (irrigated land) by Doña Catalina Baycan, a maginoo or principal of Tondo, to Don Andres Capiit of Dilao, a district in the vicinity of today's Manila City Hall.
The second document is about the sale of land in the area of Mayhaligue - most possibly the area around the Department of Health in Santa Cruz, Manila - by Doña Maria Silang, a maginoo of Tondo, to Dona Francisca Longgad, a maginoo of Dilao," said Jose.
The two documents were dated Feb. 15, 1613 and Dec. 4, 1625, respectively.
"Don Andres Capiit, who bought the land in Document A, married Doña Francisca Longgad, who bought the land in Document B. Capiit must have died between 1613 and 1625, at which time Francisca married Don Luis Castilla. In 1629 Luis Castilla sold some land to UST, which occasioned some contestation. Castilla therefore showed as proof of ownership Documents A and B. When UST acquired this land, the proper documentation passed on to form a hefty volume of 17th century papers in the UST Archives," Jose added.
National Cultural Treasures
A National Cultural Treasure is defined "as a cultural property that is a unique object found locally, possessing outstanding historical, cultural, artistic and/or scientific value which is significant and important to the country and nation." It is authorized under Republic Act No. 10066 also known as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
One of the famous national cultural treasures is the Manunggul burial jar found in the caves of Palawan. It is a neolithic secondary burial jar with a boat and two human figures on top of its cover, which are said to portray souls on their journey to afterlife.