When much of the world was preoccupied with the pandemic, a French arbitration court ruled to compensate almost US$15 billion dollars to the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu, a sui generis “subnational monarchy” in the southern Philippines. Almost immediately, this pushed into the global limelight the “Tausug”, the indigenous people of Sulu who have lived in this archipelago for more than six centuries. Though the heirs technically won the case, the real victory was for their people who have been struggling to keep their lands, customs, and traditions for more than a hundred years.
Founded in the early 15th century by an Arab explorer who married a local princess, the once theocratic state blossomed into the Sultanate of Sulu, a thalassocracy that predates the foundation of the Philippines. Together with their royal cousins from the Sultanate of Brunei, they ruled over substantial land of what is now part of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The Sultanate of Sulu was a respected military power that was never conquered by colonizers. This was a fact until the turn of the 20th century where legal trickery applied by the foreigners got the best of the Sultan at the time leaving a legacy that many of his heirs and people still fight for today. The Tausug have always been a proud, strong, and brave people who fought their enemies to their deaths, but it is hard to defeat pen and paper when all you can do is carry a sword.
After the Second World War when the Philippines finally became free from the shackles of a foreign power, the late Sultan Mohammed Esmail Enang Kiram reigned as the resurgent Sultan of Sulu in modern times. He was enthroned in 1936 but only officially began his tenure after the war. Though he neither had the riches nor the power that his ancestors once had, he had the utmost respect and recognition of several Philippine Presidents and the global community until his demise in 1974.
Upon Sultan Esmail’s death, his eldest son, the late Sultan Mohammad Mahakuttah Abdulla Kiram ascended the throne in a grand ceremony fit for a king. Like his predecessors, the then President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr. “recognized the Sultanate of Sulu as the legitimate claimant to the historical territories of the Republic of the Philippines” as stated on his official Memorandum Order No. 427 issued on 10 May 1974 which formalized this accession. It was at this same coronation that Sultan Mahakuttah’s eldest son and heir apparent, the current Sultan Muedzul-Lail Kiram, was also crowned as the “Rajah Muda” or crown prince of Sulu.
That unforgettable day in May of 1974 has been instilled in the memory of Sultan Muedzul-Lail, who bares striking resemblance to many of his forebears. He recalls the many travels his family made from Jolo, Sulu to Malacañang Palace in Manila to accompany his father in his meetings with President Marcos Sr. He was too young to remember what those meetings were about, but he vividly recalls his playmate Bongbong whom he shared toys with. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who is the current President of the Philippines has been a supporter of the Sultanate of Sulu even before he became President.
Sultan Mahakuttah Kiram died in 1986 during a major political movement in the country. Unfortunately, Sultan Muedzul-Lail was not yet of customary age to ascend the throne, so relatives took advantage of the situation and disregarded all the hard work the previous Sultans did. It has taken several decades for Sultan Muedzul-Lail to assert his birthright.
Southeast Asia will not be the same without the inherent heritage and influence of the Sultanate of Sulu. For one, the oldest mosque in the region, established in 1360, is in the Sulu Archipelago. The Sultanate facilitated trade between Southeast Asia, China, India, and the Middle East. It had control over important sea passages and traded in commodities such as pearls, sea cucumbers, and other goods. From the Ming Dynasty in China to the Malacca Sultanate and even the Spanish Empire, the Sultanate of Sulu enjoyed diplomatic relations with other kingdoms and empires. These relationships would impact the political dynamics of the region and shape alliances and conflicts in modern Southeast Asia.
Half a century has passed since that momentous day in 1974 and Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram and his people continue to fight for what is rightfully theirs. Despite not receiving a single cent from the US$15 billion-dollar arbitration award, he enjoys recognition from the Philippine Government, other governments, royal families, international organizations, and foreign supporters from across the globe as the 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo and sovereign head of the Tausug people. This alone is enough to merit a golden jubilation. Happy 50th Coronation Anniversary Your Royal Majesty!
