Datu Piang

This article is about the Maguindanaon-Chinese ruler. For the municipality, see Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur.

Piang Tan (Maguindanaon pronunciation: [daːtʊ pɪjaːŋ]; 1846–1933) a Maguindanaon-Chinese ruler, popularly known as Datu Piang, is often referred to as the Grand Old Man of Cotabato.^[1] He was one of the most powerful rulers in Maguindanao from the end of Spanish rule to the arrival of American forces in late 1899.

Datu Piang Piang Tan / Tan Sim Ping دات ڤياڠ 大都皮昂
Datu Piang as member of the House of Representatives, c. 1921
Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippine Islands from Department of Mindanao and Sulu's Lone District
In office 1916–1922 Serving with Rafael Acuña Villaruz, Isidro Vamenta, Julius Schuck, Teodoro Palma Gil, Datu Benito, Datu Tampugao, and Pablo Lorenzo
Appointed by	Francis Burton Harrison
Sultan of Mindanao
Reign	6 January – December 1899
Born	1846 Kuta Watu, Sultanate of Maguindanao
Died	August 24, 1933 (aged 86–87) Cotabato, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands
Father	Tuya Tan (陳頓仔, POJ: Tân Tùiⁿ-á)
Mother	Tiko
Religion	Islam

Datu Piang in 1904

Sometimes referred to as Amai Mingka, he was recognized as the undisputed Moro leader in Central Mindanao when the United States Army occupied and administered what was then referred to as "Moroland".^[2]

History

Minister of Lands in Buayan

Datu Piang was the appointed Minister of Lands by Datu Uto of the Sultanate of Buayan. However, according to oral tradition, many of Datu Uto's followers defected him for Piang, as Datu Uto refused to open his granaries to his people during a time of famine. This apparent blunder by Datu Uto helped Piang gain a large following in the Buayan mainland, which eventually culminated into his usurpation of power.^[3][4]

Coup d'etat and the end of Spanish rule

In January 1899, Datu Piang, accompanied by a thousand warriors betrayed Datu Uto and established his headquarters on the old Buayan capital, now renamed Dulawan, as well as capturing another Buayanen capital of Bacat, forcing Datu Uto to transfer back to Sapakan. On the 6th day of the same month, Piang overthrew the Spanish garrison in Cotabato and Tamontaka and granted himself the title of 'Sultan of Mindanao'. It was after this event that the Spaniards finalized their evacuation from the entirety of Mindanao except for Zamboanga and Jolo. This left Datu Uto frustrated as Datu Piang became a rival of Buayan.^[5]

American colonial period

Datu Piang (fourth from left) with American officers, 1899.

American forces landed on Cotabato in December 1899. Piang greeted American rule and saw it as a means to maintain his power in the Cotabato region. However, in spite of this, the Moro resistance would be organized by Datu Ali of Buayan, but would be fully suppressed by American expeditionary forces in 1905. With Datu Ali gone, Piang has lost any potential local rival that could threaten his authority and would continue to collaborate with the American civil government.^[5]

Personal life

Born of a Hokkien Sangley Chinese merchant named Tuya Tan (陳名頓) from Amoy, China and a Maguindanaon woman identified as "Tiko" (Philippine Hokkien Chinese: 豬哥; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ti-ko; lit. 'Muslim').^[6][7][8] He was a Chinese mestizo due to his Maguindanaon and Hokkien Sangley Chinese admixture.^[9]

Datu Piang's son by his sixth wife, Polindao, was Datu Gumbay Piang, who led the Moro-Bolo Battalion to fight against the Japanese during their occupation of Mindanao in World War II.

See also

• History of the Philippines (1898–1946)
• United States Military Government of the Philippine Islands
• Insular Government of the Philippine Islands