Sri Lumay


Sri Rajahmura Lumaya, known in his shortened name Sri Lumay, was the first Rajah and the founder of the Indianized Rajahnate of Cebu. According to the epic Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik, a Bisayan epic story, Sri Lumay was a half-Tamil and half Malay minor prince of the Chola dynasty in Sumatra. Sri Lumay was the grandfather of Rajah Humabon. He may be called a semi-legendary figure, since no other written records mentions about Sri Lumay, other than in oral traditions in the Visayan epic story of Anginid.

Legendary accounts

Sri Lumay, or Rajahmura Lumaya, established the Rajahnate of Cebu. He was a prince of the that ruled Sumatra then. Initially, he was commissioned by the Maharajah to establish a base for their army force; instead, he created his own rajahnate which he himself ruled with his son, Sri Alho and Sri Ukob; they ruled the south known as Sialo, which included Valladolid, Carcar, up to Santander.
The account of Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik is about Sri Lumay of Sumatra who settled in Sugbo with his son, Sri Alho, ruling the south known as Sialo which included Valladolid, Carcar, up to Santander. Sri Lumay established the city of Singhapala that become the capital of the rajahnate and what is now part of Mabolo in the northern district of Cebu City.

Battle campaigns

Sri Lumay fought the Magalos or destroyers of peace, this is a Muslim Moro warriors who come from Mindanao , they had been raiding the island of Cebu in search for precious item like gold or ceramics and slaves. Sri Lumay was noted for his strict policies in defending against Moro Muslim raiders and slavers from Mindanao. His use of scorched earth tactics to repel invaders gave rise to the name Kang Sri Lumayang Sugbu to the town, which was later shortened to Sugbu.
In other folk stories, the problem about the Magalos where already an issue since the time of early Malay settlers during the time of the legendary Datu Daya who build a watch towers to watch the community against the up coming raids.

Death

He died in battle, fighting with the Muslim Moro pirates known as magalos from Mindanao.

Issue