Historians
believe that the earliest people who settled on the island of Panay
were tribal Negritos or Atis. Oral history, relayed as the "Legend of
Maragtas", states that in 1212, ten "datus" from Malay escaped
persecution from Sri-Vishaya, a Hindu-Malay empire in Borneo and
Sumatra. The ten datus, led by Datu Puti, sailed northward with their
families and communities, landing on Panay after departing
Borneo. Upon arrival, the Malay datus met the Ati chieftain King
Marikudo and his wife Maniwantiwan. They offered the chieftain a golden
salakot (wide-brimmed headgear) and golden necklace, among other gifts,
as a display of respect. King Marikudo responded to the datus'
generosity by moving to the mountains with his Ati tribe, allowing the
Malayans to settle in the lowlands. The legacy of this landing is
commemorated annually in Antique during the Binirayan festival
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