The KIRAM MANSION in Kidapawan was named after its designer and builder Sultan Omar Kiram II.

Sultan Omar is a descendant of Rajah Baguinda, an Arab religious missionary from Mengangkabaw,
Sumatra. Rajah Baguinda arrived in Mindanao in 1390 to preach Islam.

A photo of Sultan Omar Kiram descendant of Rajah Baguinda

and Uyaan Sultan of Onayan Sultanate in the Sultan Omar Kiram Museum at Silliman University

Sultan Omar Kiram II The Lost Sultan

Sultan Omar Kiram II is the son of Sultan Omar Kiram I Uyaan Sultan of Onayan Sultanate of Lanao del
Sur, and Bai Saumay Ampaso Mindalano.

When the Philippine-American War broke out, Bai Saumay instructed Prince Omars governess, Ishraida,
to escape to Dansalan (now Marawi). The seven-year-old prince was lost, kidnapped by Moro
collaborators, on the way to Marawi. Upon arriving in Marawi, the poor prince was sold as a slave.

Gil Austria, an American-Ilocano soldier, bought Prince Omar for twenty-two pesos, and named him
Vicente. Vicente was raised as a Christian but he fluently spoke Maranao.

Kiram Mansion as viewed along Quezon Boulevard

He studied Chemical Engineering and Masters in Pottery at Adamson University. He also taught
Chemistry and gave lessons in pottery at the Silliman University. Later, Vicente married Nelly Lee Kelly
who is of Spanish-American descent. Vicente had been inspired by his adoptive father, Sgt. Austria, a
military man. Unfortunately, during the World War II, the adoptive parents of Vicente were killed. Due
to the incident, the desire of Vicente to join the military increased. He joined the military and climbed
through the ranks. He also won awards including Bronze Star for heroic achievement, Purple Heart for
being wounded in battle and a Silver Star for gallantry in action.

The mansion was adorned with Neoclassical Architecture, which is

exemplified by Greco-Roman Pillars

After the war, President Ramon Magsaysay (then the Secretary of National Defense) assigned Vicente as
negotiator to the Moro rebels.

On April 19, 1955, an earthquake hit Lanao. The most devastated part was the village of Uyaan.
Recognizing Vicentes fluency in the Maranao tongue, Pres. Magsaysay sent Vicente to give relief aid.

The relief operation in the village of Uyaan would then pave the way for the inspiring discovery of
Vicentes identity Bunsa, the Lost Sultan.

Sultanate of Onayan The revelation of Lost Sultans Ancestry

Uyaan was notoriously reclusive, especially due to the tragedy that the royal family had faced during the
wars. High restriction for entry was imposed in the area. Vicente and his entourage, fulfilling their duties
for relief aid, almost got killed when they came to Uyaan. The execution was postponed, owing to him as
a government official.
 Okir the floral art of the Maranao

Vicente bathed in the banks of Lake Lanao after one round of disseminating relief goods. While he was
bathing, Vicente noticed a dignified woman staring at him from the banks. With respect, he inquired for
the womans intentions.

The woman said that she recognized Vicentes build, and the scars on his arms were royal birthmarks of
the area. The woman then showed the face of surprise and excitement. She asked if she could
touch Vicentes lower back. There, she touched a birthmark that had bothered Vicente for years.

The okir-embellished North entrance of the Mansion

The woman dragged Vicente to the town and began exclaiming, Bunsa is home! He is alive! He is
home! People began the exchanges of murmuring among themselves.

Several men came out to witness the surprise. They were the children of the late Sultan Omar Kiram I.
The old woman, who was no other than governess Ishraida, asked the men to take off their clothes.
Astonishing as it was, the physique of Vicente resembled that of the other men.

At that moment, the origins of Vicente as the lost sultan was explained by Congressman Amir
Mindalano, brother of the late sultan and acting sultan.
The Vicente Austria who came to Uyaan to give relief aid was proclaimed Omar Saumay Ampaso
Mindalo al Kiram II, Uyaan Sultan of Onayan on September 24, 1955.

Panolong the wing-like feature of Maranao

architecture

The Kiram Mansion Lost Sultans Home in Kidapawan

Omar, as he was now known, did not want to raise his children with royal pampering. Consequently, he
relinquished his duties as Sultan and gave it to his uncle who was successfully serving as Sultan for 33
years. He continued his work in the government, supervising pubic works. It was through such projects
that Omar found his way to his new hometown Kidapawan.

Remnant of the Mansions porte-cochre

Omar and his family moved to Kidapawan in the 1950s. Emilio Guinoo, a local land magnate and movie
theaters pioneer, sold a 2.3-hectare land to Omar.

In 1962, the Sultan and his son, Marinius, designed and built what would be the Sultan Kiram Mansion
on the land Omar bought.
In Kidapawan, Omar became a member of the YMCA and the Rotary Club of Kidapawan Chapter, a
Mason of Kidapawan Lodge 170, District 46, Knights of Rizal in Kidapawan, and adviser to the Barrio
Captains and Leaders Association in Kidapawan. As a private person, he managed a logging and lumber
business.

His wife, Nellie Lee Kelly, is also known as Bai Labi Laila Kiram. Their union produced ten children: Vivien
Lee a.k.a. Princess Emraida, Vence Thomas a.k.a Sultan Omar Jr., Van Zandt, a.k.a. Prince Amir, Marinius,
a.k.a. Prince Mustafa Al Faisal, Vienna May, a.k.a. Princess Yasmin, Nelven Hill, a.k.a. Prince Nasser,
James William, a.k.a Prince Al Rachid, Pinky a.k.a Prince Mohamad Ali, Evelyn Lee a.k.a. Princess Tarhata,
and Omar IV, a.k.a. Prince Karim.

On April 19, 1986, exactly 41 years after the fated earthquake of 1955 that revealed his true identity, the
Sultan died from a heart attack at the age of 71.

Kiram Mansion

North Wing of the Mansion (the only remaining part

of the original building)

The Kiram Mansion is a unique fusion of Roman Architecture and Maranao Architecture. Its one of the
amazing Torogan mansions made of concrete in the Philippines.
The former grandeur of Kiram Mansion reflected the defensive nature of the Maranao. The mansion
stood with an impressive Roman-Torogan Porch at the center, with complementary wing-buildings on
the North and South sides.

Perspective of the Kiram Mansions North Wing (circa.

2014)

The porch was embellished with two perpendicular panolongs ornate eaves that mark Torogan
architecture on each corner. The panolongs resemble that of other motifs of central-Asian Kingdoms
of Cambodia and Thailand, which hint a possible link between cultures.

The mansion is predominantly adorned with okir the Maranao floral motif. The okir is commonly seen
on malongs.

Ruined Heritage

The Roman-Torogan Mansion, one of the few links of Kidapawan to its Mindanawon roots,
was destroyed in 2009 in order to give way to a hardware franchise. The majestic central porch and the
south wing of the building were put to ground, leaving the north wing as the lone-standing testament of
Kidapawans Maranao adherence. It is utterly saddening but the indifference of the people in Kidapawan
about their history is far more depressing. If youd ask some hometown folks who owns such
deteriorated mansion, what would they say? On some accounts, theyll probably and hypothetically
guess, Ah si Marcos siguro, suggesting the deceased presidents fascination for hidden wealth. Today,
its just a normal deteriorated and continually-depreciating mansion in Kidapawan, owing to the
peoples indifference there.

Imagine what could be done if it was acquired by the local government, and turned into a museum
much like that of Balay Negrense of Negros Occidental, Bahay na Bato of the Rizals in Calamba,
or Museo Dabawenyo of Davao City. The land value will increase. Itll probably boost Kidapawans
tourism potential. In high hopes, Kidapawan City Tourism Office will hopefully focus as well in
promoting tourist spots inside the city proper, and not just limit the prospects to Lake Agco or Mt. Apo
itself.
In conjuction to the Kidapawan Hymn, Natatangi ang iyong kasaysayan, Yes, I absolutely agree. The
next line, (natatangi) pati ang yong mamamayan, if placed relative to the protection of
their kasaysayan, I doubt it. Its high time that the millennials in Kidapawan try to learn from the
lessons of their predecessors.

You might also want to read: PRESERVATION OF THE KIRAM MANSIONS HERITAGE IN KIDAPAWAN CITY

Article References:
1. Tayrus-Jereza, C. (2002). A Biography of Sultan Omar Kiram a.k.a. Vicente Austria (1914 to
1986). Retrieved November 19, 2014, from Silliman University website: http://su.edu.ph/page/47-
Sultan-Omar-Kiram
2. Cabagnot, C. & David, K.A. (2010, March 21). The Kiram Building. Retrieved November 19, 2014, from
Dagmay-Literary Journal of Davao Writers Guild: http://dagmay.kom.ph/2010/03/21/the-kiram-
building/
3. Lopez Museum and Library. [ca. 2013]. In Facebook [community page]. Retrieved on November 19,
2014,
from https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151470407414824.1073741826.90180039823&t
ype=3

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