Succession of Palawan Masikampu (Sang’gup1)

Based On What Transpired After The Death of Kursud

The following are the manner of succession of the Masikampu. These reveal that all members of the
original council of elders must be exhausted first before a new council is convened.

Genealogies show that sons commonly succeed to the titles of their fathers. This latter tendency is
modified, however, by the relative age of the eligible successors. Tagbanuwa society as has been seen,
is generationally structured; authority and respect are equated with seniority. If titles were always to
pass from a father to a son or from an uncle to a nephew, regardless of the age of the son or nephew,
there would be a contradiction of this basic principle. A case in point is the succession of the title of
Masikampu, the highest ranking Tagbanuwa title. The present Masikampu Clemente Bulunan, is the
thirteenth one. His father however, was the eight Masikampu, and his mother’s father the seventh, (his
father married his paralled cousin). The ninth through the twelfth Masikampu were collateral relatives
of Clemente and his father. The eleventh Masikampu was actually a nephew of Clemente, but all of
these men were much older than Clemente and thus succeeded to the title before him.2

Kursud became the 10th Masikampu after Maning Patula passed having no children.

The following are the council of elders3 who convened after the death of Kursud:

Arngaw4
Dadung5
Emilio
Calip
Clemente6
Ampun7- Son of Pila8

1 Every member of Council of Elders must be asked whether they will accept the position or not. Age is always a
requirement; Seniority is always equated with utmost priority. Leadership and capacity must always be considered in
the selection;

2 Limited by the above tendencies which influence succession, titles pass to the male relative who have shown the
greatest interest in and knowledge of jural procedures. Men who are elligible to a title and interested in law participate
continually in the surugidin or councils, learning all the nuances of argumentations and decision making. (Fox,
Tagbanua Religion and Society)
3 All the members of the council were descendants of a Masikampu;

4 Acted as the Maradja presiding officer who convened the sons of the Masikampu. He was an assemblyman to the
Batasang Pambansa;

5 Eldest son of Kursud;

6 Clemented was only two years old when his father died;

7 Ampun has been a teacher and a Mayor of Aborlan; he was described as an intelligent and prominent Tagbanua by Dr.
Fox.

8 The eldest child of Kursud;

Dadung became the 11th Masikampu who succeeded Kursud after being asked if he is willing to accept
the responsibility. Dadung died while his children were still very young and still unacquainted of the
customary laws, practices, and duties of the Masikampu.

The following are the council of elders who convened after the death of Dadung:

Arngaw
Emilio
Calip9
Clemente
Ampun

Arngaw was the 12th Masikampu who succeeded Dadung as Masikampu. Having no children when he
died.

The following are the council of elders who convened after the death of Arngaw:

Emilio
Calip
Clemente
Ampun

Clemente Bulunan10 was the 13th Masikampu after Arngaw; Clemente resigned from his responsibility.

The following are the council of elders who convened after the resignation of Clemente:

Calip11
Ampun

Ampun was the last remaining member of the original council of elders and was confirmed as the 14 th
Masikampu by Clemente Bulunan;

Letecio became the 15th Masikampu after Ampun. There was no need to convene a new council of
elders since Ampun had qualified sons to succeed. Only when all the sons refused to accept the
responsibility before the council of elders convenes.

Due to political presure initiated by Ortega, Letecio resigned from his obligation and vacated the
position;

The following are the council of elders who convened after the resignation of Letecio:

Ruben Joya12
9 Refused the responsibility;
10 As can be noted, Clemente’s Father was the 8th Masikampu. Like Maning who was the 9th Masikampu and his father
Limas being the 7th. This proves the fact that bloodline is not the only requirement in the selection of a Masikampu.

11 He is already dying during this time. The only remaining member who is Ampun Joya must succeed.

12 Maradja et Masikampu acts as the presiding officer;

Fausto Bulunan
Ansang Cursod13
Sergio Cursod14
Letecio Joya

Ansang Cursod accepted the position and became the 16th Masikampu.
There was no need to convene the council of elders since Ansang had a qualified son to succeed. Only
when all the son refused to accept the responsibility before the council of elders convenes.

Orlando Cursod became the 17th Masikampu after Ansang. His son was still very young when he died.

The following are the council of elders who convened after the death of Orlando:

Letecio Joya
Jim Doa Kutat
Robert “Bobby” Cursod15
Maximo Paalan
Ronulfo Cursod
Florida Liska
Delia Jardinero
Virgilio Bulunan

Ruben Joya was the 18th Masikampu after Orlando. The act of the members of the council of elders is
merely a ministerial confirmation of his assumption since he is the only remaining qualified member of
the original council from the time of Ansang; Letecio having once resigned.

Only when the 18th Masikampu passed without any qualified heir before the original council of elders
can once again, convene to find a new Masikampu.

This practice is exclusive only to the family of the Masikampu. A council must be convened
representing all the children of Kursud and Bulunan. Non-family members must not intervene in
whatever manner of selection of the Masikampu.

13 Ansang was the son of Kursud by his 2nd wife Bayoyong;

14 Eldest son of Dadung. He was still young when Dadung died.

15 Bobby Cursod cannot be a successor since it was his brother, Sergio Cursod who participated as member of the original
council of elders.