| Datu Piang Piang Tan /Tan Sim Ping دات ڤياڠ 大都皮昂 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Datu Piang as member of the House of Representatives,c. 1921 | |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives of the Philippine Islands fromDepartment of Mindanao and Sulu'sLone District | |
| In office 1916–1922 Serving with Rafael Acuña Villaruz,Isidro Vamenta, Julius Schuck, Teodoro Palma Gil, Datu Benito,Datu Tampugao, and Pablo Lorenzo | |
| Appointed by | Francis Burton Harrison |
| Sultan of Mindanao | |
| Reign | 6 January – December 1899 |
| Born | 1846 Kuta Watu,Sultanate of Maguindanao |
| Died | August 24, 1933 (aged 86–87) Cotabato,Insular Government of the Philippine Islands |
| Father | Tuya Tan (陳頓仔,POJ: Tân Tùiⁿ-á) |
| Mother | Tiko |
| Religion | Islam |
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Piang Tan (Maguindanaon pronunciation:[daːtʊpɪjaːŋ]; 1846–1933) aMaguindanaon-Chinese ruler, popularly known asDatu Piang, is often referred to as theGrand Old Man ofCotabato.[1] He was one of the most powerful rulers in Maguindanao from the end of Spanish rule to the arrival of American forces in late 1899.
Sometimes referred to asAmai Mingka, he was recognized as the undisputedMoro leader inCentral Mindanao when theUnited States Army occupied and administered what was then referred to as "Moroland".[2]
Datu Piang was the appointed Minister of Lands by Datu Uto of theSultanate of Buayan. However, according to oral tradition, many of Datu Uto's followers defected him for Piang, as Datu Uto refused to open his granaries to his people during a time of famine. This apparent blunder by Datu Uto helped Piang gain a large following in the Buayan mainland, which eventually culminated into his usurpation of power.[3][4]
In January 1899, Datu Piang, accompanied by a thousand warriors betrayed Datu Uto and established his headquarters on the old Buayan capital, now renamed Dulawan, as well as capturing another Buayanen capital of Bacat, forcing Datu Uto to transfer back to Sapakan. On the 6th day of the same month, Piang overthrew the Spanish garrison in Cotabato and Tamontaka and granted himself the title of 'Sultan of Mindanao'. It was after this event that the Spaniards finalized their evacuation from the entirety of Mindanao except for Zamboanga and Jolo. This left Datu Uto frustrated as Datu Piang became a rival of Buayan.[5]
American forces landed on Cotabato in December 1899. Piang greeted American rule and saw it as a means to maintain his power in the Cotabato region. However, in spite of this, the Moro resistance would be organized by Datu Ali of Buayan, but would be fully suppressed by American expeditionary forces in 1905. With Datu Ali gone, Piang has lost any potential local rival that could threaten his authority and would continue to collaborate with theAmerican civil government.[5]
Born of aHokkienSangleyChinese merchant named Tuya Tan (陳名頓) fromAmoy, China and aMaguindanaon woman identified as "Tiko" (Philippine HokkienChinese:豬哥;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:ti-ko;lit. 'Muslim').[6][7][8] He was a Mix Chinese - Maguindanaon due to hisMaguindanaon andHokkienSangleyChinese admixture.[9]
Datu Piang's son by his sixth wife, Polindao, was DatuGumbay Piang, who led the Moro-Bolo Battalion to fight against the Japanese during their occupation of Mindanao in World War II.