Filipino chemist's research paper introduces lost Austronesian 'kingdom' The period preceding the arrival of Magellan on the island of Homonhon in 1521 is traditionally regarded and taught as prehistoric in Philippine history. Since the Spaniards systematically destroyed all written records of the native population, information and archeological evidence are sparse, leaving little information about the economic, political, and cultural aspects of the early Filipinos. To enrich the collective understanding of the country’s early history, the National Museum of Fine Arts recently hosted a lecture by Dr.
Baldomero M. Olivera. The lecture was based on his paper titled “Reconstructing Philippine History Before 1521: The Kalaga Putuan Crescent and the Austronesian maritime trade network.
” In his paper, Dr. Olivera puts forward the existence of a lost Austronesian kingdom: the Kalaga Putuan Crescent (KPC). According to his research, this kingdom existed as a cultural and political entity for over 13 centuries, as suggested by archaeological and textual evidence, ceramic analysis, and recent genetic studies.
The purpose of Dr. Olivera’s paper is to provide a better understanding of the Philippines’ pre-colonial culture, its scope, and regional significance. This understanding is based on recent genetic studies and ceramic evidence, integrated with textual evidence and archaeological findings predating 1521.
He cited data from two recent genetic studies that support a new fr.
