The Ilonggo’s prehistory was once based primarily on the Maragtas which some scholars consider as folk history because, through the years, it has evolved into six versions and is interlaced with events and stories quite fantastic to be true (Ponteras, 1978).
It tells of the arrival in Panay of ten Malay datus and their families from Borneo in 1250. Injustice, tyranny, and cruelty drove them to flee from their country–escaping the oppressive rule of the despotic Sultan Makatunao. As the narrative goes, the Bornean Malays came into contact with the Atis or Negritos, who inhabited some parts of the shoreline of the island at that time. They then negotiated with the latter for the “pagtaba” (barter or purchase) of the coastal areas where they intended to settle down. After the agreement, the newcomers established settlements along riverbanks and seacoasts while the Atis moved and retreated into the island’s interiors. Marikudo’s territory was exchanged for one golden “saduk” and one golden necklace for her wife Maniwantiwan. The datus then spread out to different places of Madia-as, the -name they substituted for Aninipay (Panay). To Datu Sumakwel was assigned Hamtik (Antique); Datu Bangkaya, Aklan; and Datu Paiburong , Irong-Irong (Iloilo). Datu Puti returned to Borneo and fought Datu Makatunao.
“Although previously accepted by some historians, it has become obvious that the Maragtas is only the imaginary creation of Pedro A. Monteclaro, a Visayan public official and poet in Iloilo in 1907. He based it on folk customs and legends, largely transmitted by oral tradition” (Sonia Zaide, 1987). Maragtas was finally placed in its proper perspective as a book of legends rather than a historical fact in 1968 by William Henry Scott.
Reference: Museo Iloilo