Singhapala
Singhapala was an ancient fortified city or a region, the capital of the Indianized kingdom of Cebu. The location of this ancient city is what is now the modern Barangay Mabolo in the northern district of Cebu City. It was founded by Sri Lumay or Raja Muda Lumaya, a half-Tamil and half-Malay from Sumatra.
Background
Etymology
The name Singhapala comes from Sanskrit word Singama which became Singa in Old Malay which means, and Puram which become Pura in Old Malay and then Pala in Philippine languages, it's variation of the sanskritized Singa-Puram, Singapura literally means "Lion city" from Singapur, the same root name of the country of Singapore.Location
The location of ancient Singhapala was said to be in what is now the currently part of the Northern district in modern-day barangay Mabolo in Cebu City, with estimated population of 21,842 in 2010. while the modern Cebu City comprises 80 barangays. These are grouped into two congressional districts, with 46 barangays in the northern district and 34 in the southern district.As a trading center
During Rajah Humabon's reign, the region had since become an important trading center where agricultural products were bartered. From Japan, perfume and glass utensils were usually traded for native goods. Ivory products, leather, precious and semi-precious stones and śarkarā sugar mostly came from India traders and Burmese people traders. The harbors of Sugbu and the capital Singhapala became known colloquially as sinibuayng hingpit, shortened to sibu or sibo, from which the modern Castilian name "Cebú" originates. It was also during Humabon's reign that Lapu-Lapu arrived from Borneo, and was granted by Humabon the region of Mandawili, including the island known as Opong or Opon. First contact with the Spanish also occurred during Humabon's reign, resulting in the death of Ferdinand Magellan.Foundation
According to Aginid, Bayok sa atong Tawarik, a Visayan folk story, prior to the coming of the Spanish conquistadores, rajahnate was the common form of state or government of Cebu island. This kingdom was established by Sri Lumay, who was a half-Malay and half-Tamil from Sumatra who settled in Cebu with his son, Sri Alho, they ruled the south known as Sialo which included Valladolid, Carcar, up to Santander.Mention in Magellan's expedition
Antonio Pigafetta, the expedition scribe of the Magellan Expedition, enumerated the towns and dependencies in the Rajahnate of Cebu and Singhapala was even mentioned albeit mispronounced as Cingapola.However, the Nancy-Yale manuscript of Pigafetta's account contains many minor changes to the details of the account. Among these was listing Cingapola as a person rather than a place, being a datu alongside Cilaton and the others.