The Confederation

Panay was the seat of the ancient Confederation of Madja-as - the first pre-Hispanic Philippine state within the Visayas islands region, and the second Srivijayan colony in the Philippine Archipelago, next to the Sulu Archipelago. Established by nine datus connected with the court of Brunei, who were forced to leave that country on account of enmity of the Rajah at that time ruling the land. The datus, together with their family, as well as few faithful servants and followers were secretly escorted out of the country by Datu Puti, Rajah's Chief Minister. The local folklore says that the name of the Bornean Rajah was Makatunao. They embarked on sailing rafts of the type used by the Visayans (the term used in the Malay settlements, what is now Borneo and Philippines, to refer to Srivijayans) in Sumatra and Borneo. According to tradition, which survive in the local culture of Western Visayas, this seafaring vessel is called Balangay, from which Barangay - the smallest social unit in the present-day Philippines - came from.