Adapting the ruling National Government; the Subanen Political Structure headed by Datu as the highest ruler, also in accordance to RA 8371
The Governorates
The governorates are the ancient provinces which were ruled by the ancient Datus, the following:
Subanen People's Kingdom (PSK) co-exist under the Philippine Government and recognized under the Republic Act 8371.
Governorates (Provinces)
Metropolitan and independent cities
- Metro Cagayan de Oro (- Capital of Misamis Oriental )
- Zamboanga City
- Iligan City
Component Cities and Governorates Capital
- Dapitan City
- Dipolog City (- Capital of Zamboanga del Norte )
- Ipil (Sanito) (- Capital of Zamboanga Sibugay )
- Isabela City (- Capital of Basilan Province )
- Gingoog City
- Oroquieta City (-Capital of Misamis Occidental )
- Ozamiz City
- Pagadian City (-Capital of Zamboanga del Sur and Sibugay)
- Tubod (- Capital of Lanao del Norte )
- Tangub City
Each ruler Datu would be recognized by the highest ruler his Majesty Datu Gendao after a submission of official letter of intent to rule his territory with his proof and capacity to rule based on the traditional standards of qualification for a ruler. The Process of recognition is based on the ancient practice of enthronement. See the enthronement process based on the ancient practice.
The Subanen Government Hierarchy
Subanen people practice the peaceful un-contesting monarchy system with ruler is not appointed or voted to rule but based on his willingness to rule, his wisdom, education and experiences, his leadership and capability to govern, to finance and to manage his people under his government. Datu is the highest ruler of the Subanen tribe who's role is to organize and unite the Datu's and Tim'uays in the entire territory.
Subanen society is patriarchal, with the family as the basic governmental unit but a village is headed by Tim'uay, while the bigger areas is headed by Datu that ruled several Tim'uays under is leadership and the people recognized "Datu" as the territory leader or the Supreme ruler, the center of leadership that united the people.
An elder Tim'uay who grown and trained many new young Tim'uays as new leaders and successors to rule their respective villages could level up to the rank as "Datu" through a process of enthronement done by his followers and his ruled Tim'uays. However, his rank to level up as "Datu" would depend also on his willingness to accept higher title as it would also rely on his status in life and his capability to manage the financial needs and to govern for his ruled Tim'uays and villages otherwise he could retain his ranks as the elder Tim'uay holding the authority same as the Datu and rule as the highest council of elders in his ruled villages. Young and trained Tim'uays would also become a member of the council as Gukom members.
Subanen Political hierarchy history
Datu was the highest ruler of the ancient Subanen People's Kingdom (SPK) but because of the influence of the Indian empire, the ruler name Rajah or Raja was adapted then become the highest leader that ruled the Subanen People for a certain time but still Datu is the most popular highest leader over Rajahs which later then all Rajah title were turned back to Datu. There are several Datu of the Subanen people who rose to power from different areas during pre-colonial era particularly in the following notable places:
- Gomotan Labangan, the Ruler of Zamboanga Del Sur and Sibugay
- Datu N'wang (Nawang) ruled Samboangan, now called or Zamboanga
- Datu of Mis'samis, the warrior and skilled Datu that ruled the people in the area of M'lanao, Iligan to Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog and Camiguin.
- Datu T'ngkilan(Tangkilan) of Sindangan ruled of Dip'ag now called Dipolog
- Datu Basilan the ruler of Basilan Island
In spite of having several ruling Datus in different areas of Subanen territory they do not have history of severe conflict as they believed in equality, mutual and power respect, no interference, and no contesting of power. Subanen believe that all and each and every Subanen are relatives and family that should live with equality. Subanen believe of "Commonwealth" that no one should own the land or territory but all the people within so people could roam anywhere inside the controlled land of Subanen people and farm or earn a living and establish or build their own community to rule.
With all those ruling Datus, all were ended into perished due to the invasion of the Spaniards that tried to kill the language, the culture and beliefs that forced the people to move to the middle of the Jungle to survive for many centuries though some Subanen merged and blended with the Spaniards. One of the successors from the Datu of Sindangan whom ancestors from several generations were able to blend with the Spaniards' foreign culture and continue practicing the Subanen culture discretely handling their history to generations to generations and were able to slowly re-established the untold history of the rule of the Subanen People in its land.
The descendant of the Datu in Sindangan who carried the history of their rule slowly re-established the Subanen People's Kingdom (SPK) and rose to rule from his family as Datu Gendao that aimed to re-organized, re-structure and re-unite all the people of the Subanen Territory.
Current Subanen Government Setup
Subanen is thankful of the law RA 8371, a law of the Philippine Government that recognized the existence of the lumad. Because of this law, the Subanen people's hope to reunite is possible under the Philippine government setup adn co-exist with with the other tribes.
The Structure of the Subanen government is still currently under re-organization following the ancient practice and setup.
