Hmm… okay, I have two kids; that would make their children cousins, and their grandchildren, second cousins, and their great-grandchildren, third cousins.
I guess, one can only sustain the business of being cousins to one another for about a century, or at the most two centuries, before the generation losses track of the genealogical lines or the sense of purpose in the whole exercise.
By then, the family tree would have branched into complexity that the whole exercise of tracking one’s cousinry would be rendered less than useful; unless of course, in the event of the descendant rising great men and women.
I would not, however, underestimate the power of association. You see, people are sometimes powerful merely by being associated with someone powerful.
Powerful by association
So, when I read a Manila Times article, “Royal cousins: Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei and Sultan Fuad of Sulu“, my brain’s crap detector was all abuzz and red flags were everywhere.
The article says, Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram I (picture), whom the Malacanang Palace addressed as the Sultan of Sulu and Sabah, mind you, attended a state dinner hosted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Manila recently. Also in attendance was the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Royal cousins
The article describes the meeting as a meeting between royal cousins.
The article says, “Sultan Fuad Kiram told The Manila Times in an exclusive interview that he was pleased to meet Sultan Bolkiah especially when he shook the hand of the ruler of Brunei, and greeted him the Muslim greetings ‘Assalamu Alaykum [Peace be with you] your majesty.’ He said Sultan Bolkiah responded to him ‘Alaykum Wassalam [Peace be with you too] your majesty’.”
Peace be upon me
Of course, if someone said “hi” to me at a dinner, I should summon all my intellectual prowess to find out if the greeting could be interpreted in any other way other than it being a mere greeting.
The article concluded that “the meeting of Sultan Fuad and Sultan Bolkiah in Malacanang last week was considered as historic among royal cousins, and was indeed a sort of family reunion.”
Gee… I wouldn’t write that if I were the reporter unless if I want to put my credibility at stake.
Here is the article:
Royal cousins: Sultan Bolkiah of Brunei and Sultan Fuad of Sulu
Meeting of two Sultans makes history
By Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent
Darul Jambangan, Sulu: The historical bilateral relations of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah) and the Sultanate of Brunei where based on historical account indicating the two have blood relations would have more chances of being revived as the rulers of the two Sultanates met for the first in Malacanang Palace last week.Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram 1st, the 35th de jure reigning ruler of the Sultan of Sulu and Sultan of Sabah had personally met His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah during a state dinner in honor of the latter hosted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the First Gentleman lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo held in Malacanang recently.
Aside from the Sultan of Sulu and Sabah, senior officials of the Philippine government and Brunei also attended the state dinner. Among them were Chief Justice Reynato Puno; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; House Speaker Prospero Nograles; Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano; business tycoon Lucio Tan; Office on Muslim Affairs Executive Director Datu Ali Sangki; members of the diplomatic corps as well as members of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and cabinet members. Brunei Foreign Minister Pehin Lim Jock Seng who was also among the official entourage of the Sultan of Brunei that attended the exclusive state dinner.
Sultan Fuad Kiram told The Manila Times in an exclusive interview that he was pleased to meet Sultan Bolkiah especially when he shook the hand of the ruler of Brunei, and greeted him the Muslim greetings “Assalamu Alaykum [Peace be with you] your majesty.” He said Sultan Bolkiah responded to him “Alaykum Wassalam [Peace be with you too] your majesty.”
Based on the genealogy, the two Sultans are related by blood as one family because their common ancestor was Brunei Sultan Muhammad Hassan whose reign was from 1582 to 1598. The genealogy further stated that Sultan Muhammad Hassan had a wife who was a Brunei princess and that the past sultans of Brunei originated and finally descended down to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
On the other hand, Sultan Muhammad Hassan also had another wife who was a princess from Sulu where the past Sultans of Sulu and Sabah had also originated, and descended eventually to Sultan Fuad Kiram as the current 35th reigning Sultan of Sulu and Sabah.
The historical account also stated that Palawan and North Borneo, which is now the timber and oil rich Sabah were gifts by the Sultan of Brunei to the Sultan of Sulu in 1658 after the Sulu Sultan helped the former quell rebellion in Borneo. Thus, Palawan and Sabah became properties of the Sulu crown from 1658 up to this day.
Prior to Spain’s invasion in 1521, the place that is now the Philippines was a Muslim dominion with the Sultan of Brunei ruling Luzon, while the Sultan of Sulu ruled Visayas and Mindanao. In a joint force, the Sultans of Brunei and Sultan of Sulu fought the Spanish invasion together that lasted until 1690.
However, from 1691 up to 1898, the Sultans who ruled the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah fought the Spaniards single-handedly. Thus, the meeting of Sultan Fuad and Sultan Bolkiah in Malacanang last week was considered as historic among royal cousins, and was indeed a sort of family reunion.
As this developed, according to Prince Omar Kiram, the grand prince and prince marshal of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, the official invitation by President Arroyo to Sultan Fuad to attend the exclusive state dinner, where he was formally acknowledged as the “Sultan of Sulu and Sultan of Sabah” was an official recognition of Sultan Fuad as the legitimate ruler of the Sulu Sultanate.
Prince Omar also emphasized that the momentous event attended by Sultan Fuad should now put to rest the issue as to the rightful owner of the present and only throne as claimed by other members of the royal family in Sulu.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Thus, Palawan and Sabah became properties of the Sulu crown from 1658 up to this day. —-> WTF??
Woohoo… you certainly have a way with abbreviation
Long live His Majesty, the Sultan of Sulu
Hi!
If authority people in Sabah don’t do something, it is not possible for Filipina to take Sabah. Do you know how many of filiphina PATI in Sabah nowadays?
I don’t have the latest figure… but from the way illegal immigration proliferated in Sabah, my guess is 700,000 to 1 million. I see them everywhere in Sabah…
I’m sure the Sultan of Brunei was only giving face to him. Besides just because the Sultan of Brunei calls him “Your Majesty”, it did not mean “Your Majesty – my long lost cousin”.
This royal family need to stop dreaming about the “timber and oil rich Sabah” and get on with improving the lives of their current “subjects” in Philippines.
I think so too… giving face. Ya, the sultan of sulu should show some leadership qualities, to stand on his own feet and make change in his sulu realm. if he is successful, kita boleh salute dia! otherwise, he should strip himself of the sultanship…
That’s ridiculous! If Sultan Muhammad Fuad the Sultan of Sulu & Sabah, so possible to have Sultan of Brunei & Luzon just according to the history as stated far above? North Borneo has fought Spaniard invasion and succeeded because of unity amongst the citizen about 300 hundred years ago.
I just wondering who is on the line of the Sulu Sultanete, Sultan Esmail Kiram II or Sultan Jamulu Kiram III or Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abulla Kiram I? Few bloggs are create on the issue of the Sulu Royal Family, coronation celebration and Sabah issue?
Any latest up-date who is suppose to be the Sultan of Sulu now?
Kris, it is clearly an idea fetched from afar
Jimmy, as it is, it’s difficult to say who is the real sultan. to me, anyone who is able to show leadership in the realm of Sulu should be the one to be regarded the real sultan.
By the way, for the President Aroyyo, who will she deal with? and who is manage Sulu now? and how about Nur Masuari?
Who is in the deal with the state goverment? and Who is managed the Sulu now?
They were cousins? Seriously? I can’t believe it both of them are Royal Cousins. Ok,seriously, who administrate the Sulu and like Jimmy said, who is in the deal with the state government? Hurm.
Jimmy… well, Malacanang can choose and pick whom it wants to deal with since there are no lack of Sulu Sultan descendants to choose from. Presidents come and go, and if each would have their own preference as to which sultans they want to work with.
Mapel101, like I said, it is really a far-fetched idea to describe them “royal cousins”.
As for Misuari, I think he has served his usefulness
It may interest the public that the author of this newspaper article is also the Royal Information Minister of Fuad and was granted the titles Maharadja and Baron and received four knighthoods by Fuad. Needless to say that all these titles are worthless as the Royal status of the Sultan ceased to exist in 1962.
No other newspaper reported about this meeting and the Sultan of Brunei and the Philippine President do not confirm that this meeting was officially in any way. The article is merely a make-believe.
To see who is the current Sultan, just visit the Provincial Government of Sulu and see the official list of Sultans: http://sulu.gov.ph/history.asp?id=8&hide_id=5&tabid=2
The homepages of the Sultanat are http://www.sultanatesulu.org and http://www.sultanofsulu.org
May God bless Sultan Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram I, Sultan of Sulu and Sabah. All Filipinos should support him. He is the symbol of Filipino honor, dignity and freedom. Sabah rightfully and legally belongs the Sultan of Sulu. Long live Sultan Fuad! Long live the Philippines!
hello every one,im very doubtful with this historical matter.if the sultanate of sulu real please show us even a little power that you have.we want to supporty you your majesty
hail to the king of sulu! hail to the king of brunei!
long live the king of sulu! long live the king of brunei!
just like rene resurreccion said,i did follow what rene resurreccion said and i’m faiza alih, i use my father’s name paredes munib alih.
Long live king of sulu and king of brunei.may ALLAH bless to your and your Kingdom.Daulat Tuanpatek.Sultan H.M.Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah. ( TIDAK MELAYU HILANG DIDUNIA) Wabillah. Suffian@Luntar bin Fadzil bin Dillah bin Juragan Taha bin Nakhoda Sela bin Nakhoda Ragam bin Nakhoda Kampar. Miri.Sarawak. LAMI NUSA
huh!..what u know..whom u know..a 35th reigning Sultan of sulu and sabah…so amazing..just hear nowaday..how many years already self declare 35th sultan that u have been sleeping sultan.. where is ur de jure people,territory,government and sovereignty u stand?are those who have been caned and jailed in sabah and who have been tortured and murdered in phil..?and ur territory splitted into parts?what government that u standby?then..who will practice the sovereignty ?where r u staying nowaday?ur people waited u for a long time exposing urlf as a reigning 35th sultan? u r supposedly meet ur people in Sulu and Sabah not in Manila base peering those politicians and well known high class personalities..ur people have been experienced starvation and propping their hand while urs stomach full…u are been a quiet 35th reigning sultan for a long,long years while ur people sacrifice themselves to look their de jure government..and to choose their own HEAD…
hi..,readers and frenz,,a country must have d people to dwell territory,man d government and sovereignty and d HEAD a “sultan”.it is d will of people to follow not d slf acclaim head..and d so called people were portrait as d indigenous and wrapped with past and future historical background..and love peace and security for the whole world.im a christian but my ancestral background veiled to an islam name…so till next time..!
Claims to the crown of Sulu Sultanate must be made under the discretion and approval of the Royal Council “Rumah Bicara” within the State of Sulu Sultanate itself, in the AUTONOMOUS REGION of the Philippines…we are not taking sides here, but the Rumah Bicara should be given the voice…Sabah was leashed to Malaysia under the British Regime at about 18th century…Brunei held control over Luzon before Spain came in the 15th century and when diplomacy was rare and warfare dominant..Rightful heir to Sulu Sultanate’s crown hold the right to Sabah as it was just lent, pawned, or whatever term we may call it, but never been BOUGHT…We owe Malaysia for improving Sabah’s agricultural richness…but she had no right to take ownership of the land..it is still a rented piece of land…But it seems, Sulu lost Sabah to her, as Sulu Royal Families grope in the dark for the rightful heir or should we say disagree among themselves for the want to be the next heir…and just as the last legitimate Sultans were deprived of male issues to continue their line, and just as they lost the Sulu Sultanate State Treasury amounting to more than 400 thousand metric tons of gold to greedy hands…such is the will of Allah…He can always put an end to even the mightest empire or strip off of its wealth..He is Just, Merciful, and He may have reasons and whatever it is, is surely for the Greater Good..
i didn’t to offended anybody here, but the fact is we (the malays) are actually were ‘fooled’ by the westerner hundred of years ago. just let by gone be by gone, the people of sabah already decided their side. or the sultanate of sulu be part of malaysia instead.
politics and self interest, its never about the interest of people. sabahan had chosed their side.
Newsweek ranks Malaysia one of the best Asian countries
By SIRA HABIBU
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is ranked the 37th best country in the world and is among the top three Asian countries in the global standing, according to Newsweek magazine.
Malaysia is placed below Japan (9) and Singapore (20).
Malaysia is also listed as the eighth best in education among the upper middle-income countries.
Singapore ranks top in the economic dynamism category. Newsweek attributed it to Singapore’s “manageable” size.
The magazine also noted that although the Singapore government had control over more than half of the economy through state-run sovereign wealth funds and corporations, it is extremely pro free trade and pro business.
Singapore also ranked fourth best in the world in education.
Other Asian countries in the list of overall best countries are Thailand (58), China (59), Philippines (63), Sri Lanka (66), Indonesia (73), India (78), Vietnam (81), Bangladesh (88), and Pakistan (89).
The top three countries in the world are Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden.
sultan muhammaed e. kiram 1 should seek assists pertaining sabah from the sultans of malaysia instead of macapagal, if he did, sulu would be prosperous under malaysia
hi hi hi i love sultan yay
i love brunei beacause it is very fun
dear keke paoli, what do you mean by i love brunei beacause it is fun. Im from Brunei! please explain to bruneian, what do u mean by very fun?!!!