PRIME NEWS POST

The INDONESIAN (NORTH BOLAANG MONGONDOW) — A significant moment in the preservation of the history and cultural heritage of the Bolangitang Kingdom unfolded on 30 July 2026, when Prince Iftiqar S.A. Ponto received the sacred mandate to safeguard two historic heirlooms: the Royal Staff of the Seventh King of Bolangitang, Bonji Ponto-Pontoh, and the Ceremonial Dagger of the Ruler of Bolangitang, Sinjo Ponto.

This transfer of custodianship is far more than the passing of family treasures — it symbolises the continuity of history, reverence for ancestors, and a solemn commitment to preserving the lineage of the Ponto-Pontoh Dynasty, which played a pivotal role in the story of the Bolangitang Kingdom.

I. The Royal Staff of King Bonji Ponto-Pontoh

According to accounts from the extended Bolangitang family, conveyed by Philips R. Pontoh (Epi), the Royal Staff of Bolangitang was the legacy of King Bonji Ponto-Pontoh, passed down through generations. The custodial history is as follows:

– Entrusted by the late Abo Doti (H.D.H. Pontoh bin Jogugu Hasan Ram Pontoh) to Nooruddin Ponto (1931–2017);
– Subsequently inherited by Anton S.A. Ponto (1959–2026);
– On 30 July 2026, the staff was formally handed over to Prince Iftiqar S.A. Ponto for safekeeping.

Philips R. Pontoh also confirmed that he personally witnessed the original transfer from the late Abo Doti to Nooruddin Ponto in the Bolangitang region of North Bolaang Mongondow Regency.

The Ceremonial Dagger of King Sinjo Ponto

In addition to the Royal Staff, Prince Iftiqar S.A. Ponto also accepted custodianship of the Ceremonial Dagger of King Sinjo Ponto. Family records trace its lineage:

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– Passed to S.A.S. Ponto (1902–1971), son of Sinjo Ponto;
– Inherited by Nooruddin Ponto, eldest son of S.A.S. Ponto;
– Passed to Anton S.A. Ponto, eldest son of Nooruddin Ponto;
– On 30 July 2026, the mandate was entrusted to Iftiqar S.A. Ponto, the fifth son of Nooruddin Ponto.

According to the extended family of S.A.S. Ponto, the heirloom has remained within the family line since S.A.S. Ponto pursued his education in Bogor, preserved as an integral part of the family identity and the historical legacy of the Bolangitang Kingdom.

Guardianship of Lineage and Cultural Heritage

The transfer of these heirlooms is deeply intertwined with efforts to preserve the historical identity of the Bolangitang Kingdom — previously affirmed through lineage documentation provided by Sangadi Bolangitang II, Desmon Pua. Desmon Pua confirmed that Iftiqar Simon Arnold (S.A.) Ponto is of royal Bolangitang descent, recorded as the fourth generation from King Bonji Ponto of Bolangitang.

The Bolangitang Kingdom holds a vital place in the history of North Bolaang Mongondow. Its existence is documented in numerous historical records, including references to Queen Dona Magdalena Linkakoa of Bolangitang in the year 1694. The Ponto-Pontoh Dynasty held the throne from the era of King Salomon Ponto (Salmon Muda Ponto) until 1912, before the kingdom joined the Kaidipang Besar Realm.

This affirmation of lineage has also received endorsement from Farida Malurung Pontoh, S.H. — fourth-generation descendant of King Padir Ali Ponto of Bolangitang — through the issuance of an official verification letter confirming the historical standing of the Bolangitang royal lineage.

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Upholding the Ancestral Trust

Prince Iftiqar S.A. Ponto stated that receiving custodianship of these heirlooms carries a profound moral responsibility: to honour and preserve the ancestral heritage for future generations.

“These heirlooms are not merely historical objects — they are symbols of our family’s journey, our traditions, and our civilisation that must be protected. They stand as guardians of our lineage and a perpetual reminder of the noble values bequeathed by our forebears,” he said.

Through the preservation of these treasures, the strengthening of lineage, and reverence for the Bolangitang Kingdom’s history, it is hoped that future generations will continue to uphold their cultural identity, traditions, and historical heritage — an invaluable part of the civilisational wealth of the Indonesian archipelago.

Ancestral Heirlooms — Guardians of Lineage.