Datu Uto
| Datu Utto | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Sultan of Buayan | |||||
| Predecessor | Sultan Bayao | ||||
| Successor | Datu Ali Datu Djimbangan Datu Piang |
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| Died | c. 1900 | ||||
| Spouse | Rajah Putri Bai-labi | ||||
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| House | House of Buayan | ||||
| Father | Sultan Bangon Marajanun Sa Didagen | ||||
| Mother | Tuan Bai Sa Buayan | ||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||
| Full name | |
|---|---|
| Sultan Anwarud-din Uto Sultan Utto Anwaruddin Raja Marajanun Datu Utto Anwaruddin |
Datu Uto (reigned: 1875-1888), also known as Sultan Anwarud-din Uto or Sultan Utto Anwaruddin, was the 18th Sultan of Buayan, one of the minor sultanates in Mindanao. He was a leader distinguished in many battles against the Spanish.
Datu Uto was born Anwarud-din Uto to Sultan Bangon Marajanun Sa Didagen and Tuan Bai Sa Buayan. During his father's reign as sultan, Uto was made to lead a force of 500 sent as assistance to the Spanish against Talayan rebels in 1864. This included four guides which escorted the combined force headed by Colonel La Hoz, Governor of Cotabato. However, instead of helping the Spanish, he went against his father's orders and sided with the Talayan datu. Although inferior in arms and troops (the Spanish had the advantage of possessing artillery), they triumphed and chased the Spaniards as far as Taviran. It was during this battle that he lost his eye, earning him the title "one-eyed man", but he became a recognized leader in Buayan as a result. Sultan Bayao, Bangon's brother, succeeded the throne upon his father's death in 1872. Nevertheless, Uto succeeds as sultan three years later.
Uto ruled Buayan from the inland town of Zapakan. He married the daughter of Maguindanao's Sultan Qudratullah Untong, Rajah Putri Bai-labi. In 1874, he joined forces with Sultan Jamal ul-Azam, the Sultan of Sulu, in taking the offensive against the Spanish. Evidently, Sulu needed the slave shipments Uto had been able to provide. In the same year, he stated in a letter to the Governor of Mindanao (Colonel Carraga) that he has a large contingent to accompany him, which included at least 18 datus and 600 men. At the peak of his power, he had as many as 5,000 slaves. In turn, the Spanish attacked Bakat, Buayan's major stronghold (cota or kuta), and occupied it. However, Uto was able to regain the stronghold and force the Spanish to sign a peace accord in May 1875. The leaders of the Pulangi River Basin gravitated towards Uto's leadership, and this made them able to keep the Spanish at bay. Included in the areas wherein Uto's influence grew were Talayan, Buluan, and Tumbao. The Spanish saw his "ingenuity in manipulating friendships and debt relationships to suit his ends." He solidified his alliances by friendship and marriage. For instance, he had a total of 60 wives. While keeping his administration small, mainly composed of a council, it was his personality which built a coalition with the neighboring leaders. His domain extended from Lake Buluan to Sarangani Bay. However, to conceal his true rank as sultan, Sultan Tambilawan (Sultan Bayao's son and Uto's cousin) was installed as the titular "Sultan of Buayan," even though Tambilawan was Sultan of Kudarangan, a sultanate within Buayan. This made him retain the title of datu, a strategy aimed to confuse the Spaniards on who was the real ruler of Buayan.
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