Readings in Philippine History

“Princess Urduja”
By:
Catacutan, Precious Sandara H.
Ibay, Camille Guevarra
Parungao, Ariane Pearl
Punzalan, Jhan Nicole
Balisi, Jan Chrystille
Ternenio, Garreth
Gabriel, Jemuel

Professor:
Yadao, Princess Hannah Joy. A
In old times where leaders were mostly men, there was a famous woman warrior who
became an exemption whose name was Princess Urduja. She is believed to be a
legendary warrior and said to be existed in 14th century in what is now Pangasinan,
Philippines. Urduja was the only daughter of a Rajah Talawisi or Dalisay whose sons lost
their lives in defending their kingdom’s settlement. At an early age, Urduja was exposed
in the art of war and became an expert of handling weapons such as swords, spears, and
bows. Urduja became a bold and brilliant ruler of her realm after her father passed away.
Young, beautiful, and well-educated, Princess Urduja was presumed to be a good warrior
who had personally led her soldiers to the battlefields. She led military expeditions to
protect her people from pirates and marauders. Her followers consisted of armies skilled
in arms, in riding horses with well-built and well-developed bodies, and with the bodies
of strength and muscular physique, they were known as Kinalakian, or Amazons. She
never married and ruled the kingdom alone. Urduja said that she would marry no man
that could not defeat her in battle. Many have tried thus no one has ever accomplished her
challenge.

Ibn Battuta
 Arab Scholar and Explorer ( circa 1304- 1369/1377)
 Rihlah - Written accounts of Ibn Battuta journeys. (circa 1353)
 He is considered one of the greatest travelers of all time, and is well known for the
account of his travels and excursions.

The following are the alleged evidences and claims on the existence of Princess Urduja:

Nicolas Zafra

Nicola's Zafra's essay "Rizal on the Location of the Kingdom of Princess Urduja" (1952)
the mystery about the existence of Princess Urduja will be proved if Tawalisi shall be
identified and found its original location but he doubted the claim that Princess Urduja's
kingdom was in Pangasinan. Tawalisi is not in Luzon, but in the Southeastern part of
Indochina.
Dr. Victor Torres

He states that “Hanggang ngayon makikita natin na bahagi pa rin si Urduja ng (ating)
kasaysayan. Among professional historians, she is considered not a hoax but a myth.
Such as the kingdom of Tawilisi that did not even exist here in the Philippines”

Dr. Cortes and Professor Icagasi

He was one of the professors of the University of the Philippines' Department of History.
He was credited as being the first person to fully investigate and publish a history of the
province of Pangasinan. He disproved each claim made by Del Castillo and Catanoan
during their investigation. Professor Icagasi and Dr. Cortes believed that the tale of
Princess Urduja was more myth than historical fact.

Ibn Battuta Plagiarized

It has been speculated too that Ibn Battuta may have plagiarized the whole segment of his
depiction of China from the crafts of different creators. As per Orientalist researcher, Ralf
Elger, writer of the book Ibn Battuta; Die Wunder des Morgenlandes, writes that there are
numerous indications that Ibn Battuta’s travel account is not based on his own skills and
observations.

Restituto Basa

Author of Footnotes on Pangasinan History and The Story of Dagupan believes that
Princess Urduja was not a Pangasinense but rather a Cambodian.

Basa argues that the one who should be honored as a heroine of Pangasinan is Princess
Kabontatala, daughter of the ruler of Barangay Domalandan not Princess Urduja. Even
Pangasinense history specialist, Dr. Rosario Cortes who taught at the Department of
History in the University of Pangasinan and the first to inquire about and writes a
comprehensive history of the province, together with Professor Rose Maria Icagasi,
asserts or articulated that the story Princess Urduja as more "fakelore" than history.

Conclusion

Princess Urduja is a legendary warrior princess from the 14th century, linked to the
Kingdom of Tawalisi near the Lingayen Gulf and the China Sea. Scholars debate her
existence, but she's celebrated in Pangasinense culture, with structures named after her,
like "Urduja's Palace," despite the lack of concrete evidence about her. Overall given
only the dubious evidence linking Urduja to the Philippines, and the tendency of
explorers to exaggerate their adventures, we can conclude that Urduja is merely a myth
not a historical figure.