ang dalawang may-akda ay naglulungkot na ang gusali ng Kiram ay

nahulog sa isang kawalan ng pag-asa. ano ang maipaliwanag ang

kundisyong ito ng mansion

KIRAM MANSION: Kidapawan’s Ruined Heritage

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Vincent Carlo Cuzon
The KIRAM MANSION in Kidapawan was named after its designer and
builder – Sultan Omar Kiram II. Sultan Omar is a descendant of Rajah
Baguinda, an Arab religious missionary from Mengangkabaw, Sumatra.
Rajah Baguinda arrived in Mindanao in 1390 to preach Islam.

kiram
A photo of Sultan Omar Kiram – descendant of Rajah Baguinda and Uyaan
Sultan of Onayan Sultanate – in the Sultan Omar Kiram Museum at
Silliman University
Sultan Omar Kiram II – The Lost Sultan

Sultan Omar Kiram II is the son of Sultan Omar Kiram I – Uyaan Sultan of
Onayan Sultanate of Lanao del Sur, and Bai Saumay Ampaso Mindalano.

When the Philippine-American War broke out, Bai Saumay instructed

Prince Omar’s governess, Ishraida, to escape to Dansalan (now Marawi).
The seven-year-old prince was lost, kidnapped by Moro collaborators, on
the way to Marawi. Upon arriving in Marawi, the poor prince was sold as a
slave.
Gil Austria, an American-Ilocano soldier, bought Prince Omar for twenty-two
pesos, and named him Vicente. Vicente was raised as a Christian but he
fluently spoke Maranao.

Kiram highway final

Kiram Mansion as viewed along Quezon Boulevard
He studied Chemical Engineering and Masters in Pottery at Adamson
University. He also taught Chemistry and gave lessons in pottery at the
Silliman University. Later, Vicente married Nelly Lee Kelly who is of
Spanish-American descent. Vicente had been inspired by his adoptive
father, Sgt. Austria, a military man. Unfortunately, during the World War II,
the adoptive parents of Vicente were killed. Due to the incident, the desire
of Vicente to join the military increased. He joined the military and climbed
through the ranks. He also won awards including Bronze Star for heroic
achievement, Purple Heart for being wounded in battle and a Silver Star for
gallantry in action.

greco-roman pillars-1
The mansion was adorned with Neoclassical Architecture, which is
exemplified by Greco-Roman Pillars
After the war, President Ramon Magsaysay (then the Secretary of National
Defense) assigned Vicente as negotiator to the Moro rebels.

On April 19, 1955, an earthquake hit Lanao. The most devastated part was
the village of Uyaan. Recognizing Vicente’s fluency in the Maranao tongue,
Pres. Magsaysay sent Vicente to give relief aid.

The relief operation in the village of Uyaan would then pave the way for the
inspiring discovery of Vicente’s identity – Bunsa, the Lost Sultan.
Sultanate of Onayan – The revelation of Lost Sultan’s Ancestry

Uyaan was notoriously reclusive, especially due to the tragedy that the
royal family had faced during the wars. High restriction for entry was
imposed in the area. Vicente and his entourage, fulfilling their duties for
relief aid, almost got killed when they came to Uyaan. The execution was
postponed, owing to him as a government official.

okir 1-1
Okir – the floral art of the Maranao
Vicente bathed in the banks of Lake Lanao after one round of
disseminating relief goods. While he was bathing, Vicente noticed a
dignified woman staring at him from the banks. With respect, he inquired
for the woman’s intentions.

The woman said that she recognized Vicente’s build, and the scars on his
arms were royal birthmarks of the area. The woman then showed the face
of surprise and excitement. She asked if she could touch Vicente’s lower
back. There, she touched a birthmark that had bothered Vicente for years.

okir 2-1
The okir-embellished North entrance of the Mansion
The woman dragged Vicente to the town and began exclaiming, “Bunsa is
home! He is alive! He is home!” People began the exchanges of murmuring
among themselves.

Several men came out to witness the surprise. They were the children of
the late Sultan Omar Kiram I. The old woman, who was no other than
governess Ishraida, asked the men to take off their clothes. Astonishing as
it was, the physique of Vicente resembled that of the other men.
At that moment, the origins of Vicente – as the lost sultan – was explained
by Congressman Amir Mindalano, brother of the late sultan and acting
sultan.

The Vicente Austria who came to Uyaan to give relief aid was proclaimed
Omar Saumay Ampaso Mindalo al Kiram II, Uyaan Sultan of Onayan on
September 24, 1955.

panolong-1
Panolong – the wing-like feature of Maranao architecture
The Kiram Mansion – Lost Sultan’s Home in Kidapawan

Omar, as he was now known, did not want to raise his children with royal
pampering. Consequently, he relinquished his duties as Sultan and gave it
to his uncle who was successfully serving as Sultan for 33 years. He
continued his work in the government, supervising pubic works. It was
through such projects that Omar found his way to his new hometown –
Kidapawan.

porte cochere-1
Remnant of the Mansion’s porte-cochère
Omar and his family moved to Kidapawan in the 1950s. Emilio Guinoo, a
local land magnate and movie theaters pioneer, sold a 2.3-hectare land to
Omar.

In 1962, the Sultan and his son, Marinius, designed and built what would
be the Sultan Kiram Mansion on the land Omar bought.
In Kidapawan, Omar became a member of the YMCA and the Rotary Club
of Kidapawan Chapter, a Mason of Kidapawan Lodge 170, District 46,
Knights of Rizal in Kidapawan, and adviser to the Barrio Captains and
Leaders Association in Kidapawan. As a private person, he managed a
logging and lumber business.

Symbol-1
His wife, Nellie Lee Kelly, is also known as Bai Labi Laila Kiram. Their
union produced ten children: Vivien Lee a.k.a. Princess Emraida, Vence
Thomas a.k.a Sultan Omar Jr., Van Zandt, a.k.a. Prince Amir, Marinius,
a.k.a. Prince Mustafa Al Faisal, Vienna May, a.k.a. Princess Yasmin,
Nelven Hill, a.k.a. Prince Nasser, James William, a.k.a Prince Al Rachid,
Pinky a.k.a Prince Mohamad Ali, Evelyn Lee a.k.a. Princess Tarhata, and
Omar IV, a.k.a. Prince Karim.

On April 19, 1986, exactly 41 years after the fated earthquake of 1955 that
revealed his true identity, the Sultan died from a heart attack at the age of
71.

Kiram Mansion

north wing 2-1

North Wing of the Mansion (the only remaining part of the original building)
The Kiram Mansion is a unique fusion of Roman Architecture and Maranao
Architecture. It’s one of the amazing Torogan mansions made of concrete in
the Philippines.

The former grandeur of Kiram Mansion reflected the defensive nature of

the Maranao. The mansion stood with an impressive Roman-Torogan
Porch at the center, with complementary wing-buildings on the North and
South sides.
North Wing-1
Perspective of the Kiram Mansion’s North Wing (circa. 2014)
The porch was embellished with two perpendicular panolongs – ornate
eaves that mark Torogan architecture – on each corner. The panolongs
resemble that of other motifs of central-Asian Kingdoms of Cambodia and
Thailand, which hint a possible link between cultures.

The mansion is predominantly adorned with okir – the Maranao floral motif.
The okir is commonly seen on malongs.

Ruined Heritage

The Roman-Torogan Mansion, one of the few links of Kidapawan to its

Mindanawon roots, was destroyed in 2009 in order to give way to a
hardware franchise. The majestic central porch and the south wing of the
building were put to ground, leaving the north wing as the lone-standing
testament of Kidapawan’s Maranao adherence. It is utterly saddening but
the indifference of the people in Kidapawan about their history is far more
depressing. If you’d ask some hometown folks who owns such deteriorated
mansion, what would they say? On some accounts, they’ll probably and
hypothetically guess, “Ah si Marcos siguro,” suggesting the deceased
president’s fascination for hidden wealth. Today, it’s just a normal
deteriorated and continually-depreciating mansion in Kidapawan, owing to
the people’s indifference there.

Imagine what could be done if it was acquired by the local government, and
turned into a museum much like that of Balay Negrense of Negros
Occidental, Bahay na Bato of the Rizals in Calamba, or Museo Dabawenyo
of Davao City. The land value will increase. It’ll probably boost Kidapawan’s
tourism potential. In high hopes, Kidapawan City Tourism Office will
hopefully focus as well in promoting tourist spots inside the city proper, and
not just limit the prospects to Lake Agco or Mt. Apo itself.

In conjuction to the Kidapawan Hymn, “Natatangi ang iyong kasaysayan,”

Yes, I absolutely agree. The next line, “(natatangi) pati ang ‘yong
mamamayan,” if placed relative to the protection of their kasaysayan, I
doubt it. It’s high time that the millennials in Kidapawan try to learn from the
lessons of their predecessors.

You might also want to read: PRESERVATION OF THE KIRAM

MANSION’S HERITAGE IN KIDAPAWAN CITY

The Kiram Building

Nonfiction by Christian Cabagnot, Karlo Antonio David | March 21, 2010

(Remembering The Lost Sultan’s Mansion)

The Mansion in Kidapawan designed and built by Sultan Omar Kiram II,
locally known as the Kiram Building, was a testimony to the life and artistic
merit of a great man of history. With its distinct Roman-Torogan design, it
was arguably Kidapawan’s greatest link to its Mindanawon roots. Yet its
destruction, and the Kidapaweño’s indifference to it, painfully reveals how
unconcerned the people are for their heritage.

Located in front of the NFA Warehouse along the side of the National
Highway leading to Davao, the mansion was one of the city’s most distinct
landmarks. It was a fusion of Maranao and western architecture: a Torogan
made of cement with Roman Pillars. It was dominated by the Maranawon
floral motif called okir, more commonly seen in malongs. This motif, which
came in the form of the floral patterns in the mouldings as well as the solar
patterns adorning the walls was most highlighted in the porch. The
mansion’s porch, which faced the National Highway, was adorned with two
perpendicular panolongs, ornate eaves characteristic of the Torogan, on
each corner. The panolong is reminiscent of the naga motif of the central-
Asian kingdoms of Cambodia and Thailand, hinting at possible historical
links between these cultures and the Malay. It is a physical extension of the
okir motif that dominated the building. But while the panolong is usually
made of wood, those in the Kiram Building were made of cement.

Created in 1962, the building was the brainchild of Major Vicente Austria,
better known as Sultan Omar Kiram. He built it with his sons after he and
his family of ten children moved to the city in the early 1950s.

In late 2009, half of the building was destroyed while much of the lawn in
the southwest was converted into a hardware store. The building stood for
over 47 years.

To fully appreciate the history and significance of the building, as well as

feel the regret for having allowed it to collapse, I will discuss the illustrious
life of its designer and former inhabitant. (I was able to get a brief though
highly insightful interview from Mr. Marinius Austria, otherwise known as
Prince Faisal Kiram, son and heir of the late Sultan Omar.)

The life of the Sultan, as manong Marinius tells, is spectacularly

adventurous. It is the story of a prince torn away from his heritage but
brought back to it again by fate.

When the Philippine-American war broke out, Bai Saumay Ampaso

Mindalano, wife of Sultan Omar Kiram I, Uyaan sultan of Oyanan in Lanao
del Sur, feared for the life of her son and husband’s heir, the seven-year-old
Omar. She thus instructed the prince’s governess, Ishraida, to flee to
Dansalan (now Marawi) with the boy. But the prince was lost in the trip,
kidnapped by Moro collaborators, and was unknowingly brought to
Dansalan to be sold as a slave. An American-Ilocano soldier, Gil Austria,
bought him for twenty-two pesos and named him Vicente.

Vicente would be raised a Christian. But all the while, he could speak
Maranao fluently, and he did not know why.

He was sent to Adamson University in the U.S., where he took up two

Engineering courses and a master’s degree in Pottery. He went back to the
Philippines, where he was invited to teach Chemistry and give lectures on
pottery at the Silliman University.

When the Second World War broke out, he joined the military. His desire to
join the war increased when his adoptive parents, the Austrias, were killed
in the war. He would eventually rise to the rank of major. It was also during
this time that he married Nelly Lee Kelly, a family friend and daughter of an
Irish-American veteran soldier. The union would bear ten children.

After the war, President Magsaysay made him part of the government,
particularly as translator for negotiations with Moro rebel groups.

In April 19, 1955, an earthquake struck Lanao. The worst area hit was the
village of Uyaan. President Magsaysay, who recognized Vicente’s fluency
in the Maranao tongue, sent him to give relief aid.

Uyaan was notoriously reclusive, owing to the tragedy its royal family had
faced during the wars. Entrance into it was highly restricted. It was no
surprise then that when Vicente and his entourage came, they were nearly
killed. The execution was postponed, owing to him being a government
official.
He bathed in the banks of the Lake Lanao after one round of disseminating
relief goods. While bathing, he noticed how a dignified old woman was
staring at her from the banks. Politely, he inquired the old woman’s
purpose.

She said she recognized his build, and that the scars on his arms were
royal birthmarks of the area. Then suddenly, she wore a look of surprise
and excitement. She asked him if she could touch his lower back, to which
he consented. There she touched a birthmark that had always bothered
Vicente as a young man.

She dragged him to town and began exclaiming, “Bunsa is home! He is

alive! He is home!” and the people began murmuring among themselves.
Several men came out and looked both excited and indignant. These were
the children of the late Sultan Omar I. The old woman, who was none other
than the governess Ishraida, asked that they take off their clothes.

The similarity in physique was astonishing. At that moment, Congressman

Amir Mindalano, brother of the late sultan and acting sultan, explained to
Vicente his origins: he was none other than the lost prince.

Thus Vicente, who came to Uyaan to give relief aid to the victims of the
earthquake, was Proclaimed Omar Saumay Ampaso Mindalo al Kiram II,
Uyaan Sultan of Onayan on September 24, 1955.

But Omar, as he was now known, did not want to raise his children with
such pampered treatment. He humbly relinquished the duties of Sultan to
his uncle, who had held it successfully for 33 years. Instead, he continued
his involvement in the government, supervising such public works as the
Kidapawan-Matalam-Tacorong road. It was through this project that he and
his family arrived in Kidapawan.
Omar and his family moved to Kidapawan in the 1950s. He bought a 2.3
hectare land from Emilio Guinoo, a local land magnate and pioneer of
movie theatres. In 1962, the Sultan, with the help of his son Marinius,
designed and built what would be the Sultan Omar Kiram Building on the
piece of land.

On April 19, 1986, exactly 41 years after the fated earthquake of 1955 that
revealed his true identity, the Sultan died at the age of 71. His properties
were equally distributed to his widow and his ten children.

Care and maintenance of the family house, the Mansion, was taken up by
Manong Marinius, the fourth child and third son. Manong Marinius
happened to be the heir to his father, being closest to him when he was
alive, while most of the family, including the widowed Bai Nelly had moved
to the United States.

Manong Marinius was active in the City government, being once chairman
of the provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council and treasurer of the
regional Council. During his tenure as Kidapawan Tourism Council
Chairman, the council garnered two Kalakbay Awards in 1996 and 1997. It
was no surprise, therefore that during the term of Manny Piñol as Governor
of Cotabato, he rented the Kiram Building to the Mindanao Rural
Development Authority (MRDP).

In late 2009, one of Manong Marinius’s brothers-in-law sold a share of the

Kiram building’s lot for 2.3 Million pesos. On the part of the lot that was sold
(much of the southeastern lawn), a Citi Hardware branch was constructed.
Much to Manong Marinius’s horror, part of the building was also destroyed.
Currently, he has filed a case against his brother-in-law about the
destruction of the house.
Now, the mansion has ceased to be a mansion. It has lost its former
grandeur. The walls, constructed by the Sultan to mirror the defensive
nature of the war-like Maranao, are dilapidated in some parts. There are no
more gates. The garden in front of the building is fraught with weeds and
garbage. The Cycas plants that used to line the lane from the gate stand
dead. What remains of the building itself has been used as the quarters of
the soldiers stationed at the checkpoint in front of the building. And the
porch, the mansion’s crowning glory, has been divided crudely into half,
with one part utterly destroyed.

As a son of Kidapawan, could I be blamed for writing something about such

a tragedy?

When it still stood, the Kiram building, with its unique architecture, served
as one of Kidapawan’s few links to its Mindanawon roots. It was one of the
few reminders to the Kidapaweños that our city is part of Mindanao and
was thus involved in its colourful though bloody history.

And yet, there was very little or no reaction at all when the building was
destroyed.

Manong Marinius expressed great regret about the building’s end. He

mentioned that even Manny Piñol, the current vice governor, was deeply
saddened at the loss of such an historically significant structure. Yet despite
this, the Kidapaweño goes about his/her daily life, giving no attention to
such a great loss. He/she thinks more about that new Citi hardware branch
built on its place.

Truly, there is a lesson here somewhere. But are we willing to learn it?

—-
Both sophomores from in Kidapawan, Karlo David is currently taking up AB
Englsih while Christian Cabagnot is taking up Mass Communication in the
Ateneo de Davao University.