Sultan Kudarat Statue

Sultan Kudarat Statue
Sultan Kudarat Statue | @aswangproject, Sculpture by Jose M. Mendoza (1973)

Sultan Kudarat Statue

Situated at the intersection of Makati Ave. and Paseo de Roxas is the statue of Sultan Kudarat. I noticed it for the first time in 2006 when the backdrop for it was the lush trees of Ayala Triangle Park. Several years later construction began for the building seen in the photo. It feels almost strange to have my memory of this monument challenged by such a behemoth of glass, steel, and concrete…almost sad.

Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat was Sultan of Mindanao during the first half of the 17th century. Brave, wise, and benevolent. He is said to be the greatest and strongest Mindanao Sultan that ever lived. He united the Muslims of Lanao, Cotabato, Davao, Sulu, Zamboanga, and North Borneo and resisted bitterly the Spanish invasion When did Islam start to spread in the Philippines?of his domain. Unable to conquer Kudarat, the Spanish governor signed a pact with him that led to several years of peace. he was a fearless fighter and Filipino hero in defense of the Islamic faith and Philippine liberty. Kudarat died about the year 1650.

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