This theory is supported by Butuanon tourist guides that I met in
Butuan during one of the conferences that I attended in 2015. Accordingly, in
those days of relative peace in Mindanao prior to the coming of the Spaniards, Tausug royals---relatives of a Raja in Butuan---would visit the latter for a sort of reunion. They would celebrate and have their feast in an island called Masao1. One of the gifts that the Sulu royals would give were seedlings of Jati tree2. According to another tourist guide living in the Masao area3, until today, a number of Tausug individuals would visit the place, say some prayers and plant Jati tree before leaving the area. This explains why a lot of Jati trees could be seen in Masao nowadays. Interestingly, the largest living Jati tree is to be found in India.4
1 Also Mazaua, Massawa, Masiao, Masawa. Incidentally, Masawa in Tausug means
"bright or full of light". According to a Butuanon tourist, Masao island is easily noticed during night time those days since there was a lot fireflies in the area and it was one of the reasons why the group of Magellan was attracted to dock in the island. 2 A large tree (Tectona Grandis) that produces hard timbers primarily used for furniture and shipbuilding---contains essential oil that prevents the rusting of iron nail in sea water. According to one of the tourist guides, the leaves---produces redcolored extract when crushed---are also used to paint the coffins of ancient Butuanon. In Sulu, the leaves are also used to preserve food and to wrap cooked rice for travel. It enhances the taste of the cooked rice. The tree is also abundant in Sulu. 3 Due to floods and soil erosions, Masao island become part of the mainland and is now one of the barangays in Butuan. 4 It is known in India as Teak tree.