Out of Taiwan or Out of Date?

I recently had the pleasure of spending an hour on the phone with Arthur Soriano, a man who is as passionate about Filipino history as he is knowledgeable. During our conversation, Arthur detailed the evolution of his website, www.precolonialphilippines.com, and the research that has shaped his work up to today. It’s clear that his dedication to uncovering and reclaiming the Philippines’ precolonial past runs deep.
Arthur’s mission isn’t just academic—it’s personal. His work to debunk the widely accepted Out of Taiwan theory, which is still taught in many history books, is a testament to his belief that Filipinos deserve a fuller, truer understanding of their heritage. Through both his research and his creative project, Maharlikan Chronicles. Arthur is reshaping how Filipinos, both in America and the Philippines, view their history.

For decades, the Out of Taiwan theory has been the prevailing narrative in many history books, proposing that the ancestors of modern Filipinos migrated from Taiwan to the Philippines around 3000 to 1500 BCE. This theory suggests that waves of settlers brought agricultural technology and Austronesian languages to the islands, becoming the ancestors of present-day Filipinos.
However, Arthur Soriano is not convinced.
Through extensive research, Soriano challenges this idea, offering alternative perspectives that suggest a more complex origin story for Filipinos. Drawing from recent archaeological finds, genetic studies, and oral histories, Soriano argues that the precolonial Filipino peoples were not mere recipients of external influence but were part of a dynamic cultural landscape that existed well before any migrations from Taiwan.
“The Out of Taiwan theory oversimplifies Filipino history,” Soriano states in one of his online lectures. “It’s a narrative that, intentionally or not, reinforces colonial ideas by suggesting that Filipino culture was shaped by outsiders rather than acknowledging the depth of the indigenous culture already thriving here.”

Soriano points to the recent studies called “The 2021 Larena Genetic Study” a 21 gene study Igorots Best Example of an Original Austronesian that directly challenges many preconceptions of Filipinos around the world, summary of the research states on the website itself  “The nuanced demographic history of the Philippines described here does not fit exclusively with the basic models of either the out-of-Taiwan or out-of-Sundaland hypothesis. In summary, we demonstrate that the Philippines were populated by at least five major waves of ancient human migrations for the past ∼50,000 y “

In his own word’s Arthur says “ When reading many versions of general Philippine history and keeping up with recent discoveries in science, I realized that there is a much better story to tell for the history of the Philippines. In Maharlikan Chronicles you will learn about the forefathers of most Austronesian peoples, the great ancient maritime "Discoverers" who sailed the vast oceans, the "warlike people fond of human blood" who struck terror in the Chinese as they pillaged China's coastlines and the warriors who could not be matched in hand to hand combat and whose skills are used by special forces around the world today.

Academics don't consider oral traditions as history. In Maharlikan Chronicles we use the words of our ancestors and new archaeological and genetic discoveries to update and fill in the gaps that historians neglected or did not have access to.

He Currently has 4 Volumes available on his website and is at a Filipino Event in DFW promoting his new 4th Editkon of “ ‘Maharlikan Chronicles 
Arthur Soriano’s dedication to reshaping how we view Filipino history is both scholarly and creative. Through his critique of the Out of Taiwan theory, he questions long-held narratives, encouraging Filipinos to reconnect with their indigenous roots. And through Maharlikan Chronicle, he offers a dynamic, engaging way to bring those stories to life, one comic strip at a time.

As the movement to decolonize the Filipino mindset gains momentum, figures like Soriano are leading the way, reminding Filipinos that their history is far richer and more complex than many have been led to believe. Visit both www.precolonial Philippines.com and www.Maharlikanchronicle.com to learn more about Arthur and order his latest comic edition. 

Nicholas Gonzalez'

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