Growing Tension in the South China Sea

Statue of the Virgin Mary in Bohol fishing waters

A recent letter from a Filipino friend concerning the growing tension in the South China Sea.


Good day Madame Alice Linsley,

Thank you for this attached article. It is sad that this territory has been left unattended by our government for so long. The government of the Philippines which was constituted as an independent republic by the USA in July 4, 1946 have failed to properly protect this territory.

Historically, in the 13th century a Chinese Admiral of the Emperor"s War Fleet, a Hui Muslim by the name of Admiral Zeng He from Yunnan China, have established diplomatic relations with Kingdom states in South East Asia. His exploits have helped to cement a treaty of friendship and alliance with the Sultanate of Malacca, and with the Kingdoms in what is now Philippines.

In 1600 the Chinese Emperor have entered into a Treaty of Friendship and Alliance with the Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Nasseruddin Qudratullah, Kudarat I, the Sultan of Maguindanao who was a descendant of the Sultan of Malacca on his mothers side.

The sultanate of Maguindanao which has its territory as Mindanao have fought against Spanish intrusion for more than 300 years without being subjugated. When Spain through its leaders in Mexico, which governs the Philippines, sell the subjugated territory in the far east to America in 1898, without ownership right by conquest or subjugation, have included Mindanao, the territory of Sultan of Maguindanao, to the USA, and in 1946 against the three documented manifestos of the Sultans of Maguindanao and Sulu against inclusion of Mindanao and Sulu to the then created republic of the PHilippines, have forcely annexed Mindanao and Sulu (territories of Sultans of Sulu and Maguindanao) to the Republic of the Philippines.These Sultans are what you have identified as of Kushite ethnicity.

The sale of Spanish territory, which is Luzon and Visayas, to USA in 1898 was facilitated by brother Masons of government of Mexico to the Brother Masons of the government of the United States of America and with Brother Masons of the Filipinas, members of Traditional Institution of Freemasonry. Free Masons in Europe have supported the Traditional Institution of Kingships, even British Masons Sir Thomas Stamfor Raffles have supported the Tradition of Kingships in subjugated territories in South East Asia, but in the the Philippines they have violated the tradition of kingship.

This violation of the right of free state of the Sultanate of Maguindanao and Sultanate of Sulu, against the Statutes of Liberty as enshrined in the US Constitution, have effectively foreclosed the historical and sovereignty rights of the Sultanate of Maguindanao to what is now West Philippines Sea, the disputed area. The fact that China Emperor, the Dutch Government, the British Government, even the United States of America have entered into treaties with the Sultan of Maguindanao and Sultan of Sulu in the past have proven that such disputed territory now is not owned by China as what they are now claiming, that they have historical right over it. It was the Kushites Sultanates of Mindanao and Sulu who has historical ownership right over the disputed area.

Even in the 10th Century our history books told that the Kingdom of Butuan in Mindanao have Treaty of Friendship and Alliance with the Emperor of China. Therefore, being kingdoms it has prior right over the seas around it.

The Republic of the Philippines which constituted by USA in 1946 only, have claimed sovereignty over this disputed territory by citing a claim of a certain Filipino by name of Mr. Cloma made in 1950's, a very late claimant.

There are pains in our heart but we pray Almighty God will correct this injustices in his time.

Thank you very much for your prayers and concerns.


Very sincerely yours,


Mr. Jose Bulang

Mr. Jose Bulang lives in Bohol where dynamite fishing is illegal because it destroys an ecosystem, and the smaller fish. Because of the fear of God, people in Bohol decided that the best way to stop dynamite fishing would be to put a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary underwater so that the fishermen will see the statue pleading with their good hearts and conscience. 

Related reading: Kushites in Mindanao; Pythons Used in Sea Navigation; From the Nile to the Philippines; Reef Madness; Swimming and Diving Among Archaic Peoples; The Superhuman Ability of the Filipino Diver