tinlaurel on Family Tree Circles

Three years of genealogical research have enabled the LAUREL'S to trace their ancestry to a scion of the SULTANATE OF BRUNEI in the 15th century bfore the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines.

This Sultan's son was a first born but, though the eldest and heir had refused, because of some resentment to inherit his father's throne. His name was GAT MASUNGIT, the PRINCE, a name that bespeaks a touchy temper.

And instead of accepting his father's throne he had decamped from Brunei with his partisans and they had sailed off the islands that would later be known as the Phillipines.

First they landed in PANAY where Gat Masungit founded the town of BATAN. (the people of BATAN today still celebrate that foundation with a ritual frolic and dance known as ATI-ATIHAN)

Then he crossed over to Luzon, where they settled in southern realm they called BATANG-AN, and which we know today as BATANGAS, inheritor of GAT MUSINGIT'S terrible temper.

such was the origin of the chief fame of Batangas.

In Batangas, GAT MASUNGIT begot his first son, GAT LEYNES. Of course this clan folk were Muslims-until the coming of the Spaniards when the eldest son of GAT LEYNES was baptized with a Christian name of MIGUEL DELA CRUZ.
MIGUEL grew up to be a fierce foe of the Spanish invaders . People lookd up to him as a leader, the champion of their rights against the greed of their oppressors. Old age came upon him and a desire to retire from war and strife. But how could he retire when his people still clung to his leadership??
He go to a priest to expound his problem. Here he was willing to lay down his arms, but oppositors to Spanish conquest still insisted on invoking the name of MIGUEL DELA CRUZ. The priest suggested to change his name. ?Why not a LAUREL?? suggested the priest.

"It means honor..and henceforth you must live with honor".. Thus did MIGUEL DELA CRUZ became the first LAUREL in the Philippines..