World Stage

TONDO ESTATE, MANILA

April 1880

The next morning, I did a quick tour around the Tondo Estate. I found out that we own the long coastline of northern Manila while the Spanish controls the rest of Manila. We're untouchables, but the Spanish gov't chose not to waste effort and resources to forcefully embargo our huge estate. Instead, the Spanish demanded huge amount of taxes from us every 3 months.

Our huge estate has an area of 3.40 square miles. Surrounded by mid-level stone walls, a mansion where my family live at the center, a huge garden north of the mansion, a high tower in the south with soldiers barracks and armory occupying south to southwest just bordering a river whereby the Spanish are just across the river of Pasig, servants and retainers housing in the east, northeast is vacant, southeast is a wide farming place. Much of the western part of our estate are storages for our trade and our consumption, also a huge. However, in the Northwest is a secret research laboratory with a large shipbuilding yard disguised as an abandoned dock and a storage facility. Our mansion is facing the east believing that facing the rising sun gives us positive energy and brings good luck. I can see that some of our tradition and beliefs inside the estate is influenced by Chinese Ming dynasty, Japanese, Spanish, Indian, Brunei and British. That is because since the ancient times, our ancestors have a harmonious relation with some of these nations and also some are just brought by the colonial era.

Just as I was appreciating the architectural design of our estate, a uniformed personnel approached me.

"Lord, pardon my intrusion. Lakandula Suluyman your father wants to give these documents to you. He also wants to see you at the courtyard after you read these documents. Thats all, Lord. I'm leaving now." the messenger said.

"you have my thanks, you may leave." Marco replied.

I returned to my room at the mansion to read all these documents that looks like the consolidated report of the overall situation, status and statistics of our activity.

After I finished reading all the documents inside my room, I concluded that we're in good shape and whatever I plan to do will be set in motion with less worry.

Maharlikan Estate

Overall population: 5,000

Adults/male and female/able-bodied: 3,800

Children below (18) : 1,000

Elderly above (55) : 200

'Oh, I see.' we have quite a lot of people inside our wings. Let me delve further to the responsibilities and assignments of adults. Of course, gender is not an issue in our culture since the ancient times female fought alongside men and everyone is equal except for the King successorship.

Guards and soldiers: 1,800

Farm workers: 600

Construction and repair: 400

Trade/merchants personnels: 700

direct royal servants: 200

Diplomatic team: 60

Spy network local & abroad: 40

'Woah', quite a handful distribution. And in the next pages are also the biodata of each of these people, but I won't focus on that for now. Next pile, I checked the properties within our power. As of now, everything will be owned by the Royal family but we'll distribute these after the revolution and according to their merit of participation.

Estates: Luzon island (12)

Tondo, Manila (main)

Lucena, Batangas

Calamba, Laguna

Malolos, Bulacan

Iba, Zambales

Gapan, Nueva Ecija

Dagupan, Pangasinan

Baguio, Cordillera

Vigan, Ilocos

Aparri, Isabela

Naga, Camarines

Matnog, Sorsogon

In Visayan islands (4)

Cebu

Bacolod

Tacloban

Calapan

In Mindanao island (2)

Davao

Dipolog

I wonder if how we maintained those Estates through these years. As I read further, I learned that these Estates aside in Tondo, are all used for storages, farming and trade outposts. Soon, I'll make those estates the center of each regions in the archipelago.

After contemplating a lot, I went to see my father in the courtyard.

"How was it? Did you also read the industry that we are involved in? The business empire that I raised throughout my life, I hope you utilize this properly son as you will embark in a bloody and brutal path." Suluyman told his son.

"I understand the weight of responsibility that I carry now. However, I thank you father for making my life better than a little bit easier. I also felt relieve that I can still count on you after passing me the everything." Marco replied to his father.

"That is already given for a father, I will never forsake you. However, if you need help about anything, you can send a word to me in Baguio. Since I decided to spend my retirement in a cold place than here. Is there anything you want me to do before I leave?" Suluyman said.

"Yes father, its about spreading our influence." Marco said.

"Tell me son, what is it? I'll help you with everything I can. What about spreading influence? Is there a specific method that you wish I employ?" Suluyman supported his son.

"Yes father, I want you to tame the inhabitants of the Cordillera province by spreading our influence in terms of commerce or by any means you employ. So that by the time our army reaches the area, there won't be resistance." Marco asked a favor.

"Of course son, see to it that once you reach the Cordillera mountains, everyone will kneel and bow their heads to you. However, I'll be taking a bit of our funds and personnel to make this happen." Suluyman assured his son.

"Thank you father, and sorry for causing you inconvenience where you should be resting for retirement." Marco said.

"Don't worry about that, we share the common goal and blood. I'd be really happy if I see these archipelago united during my lifetime." Suluyman said.

My conversation with father concluded with that. Although I have no recollection about my mother, I didn't bother to ask him yet. That will wait before he leave for Baguio.

The next itinerary will be to meet up with Mautak and Analiyah. Mautak is our trade manager, basically he's our money making machine. He handles trade locally and abroad. He is the one negotiating when it comes to trade so that we can get better benefits. However, when it comes to purchasing or spending, everyone needs to go to Analiyah. She is basically our Auditor and responsible for giving budget for everyone but I'll be the one to approve it. In fact, I'm the one deciding for investments and purchasing of anything. I can buy ships, guns, etc.

To be honest, we do not recognize the Spanish authority here. We just stayed low profile while getting stronger so that one day, we can take back everything with interest from Spain.

"Sorry for making you wait, Mautak and Analiyah." Marco arrived in meeting.

"Nothing to worry Lord Marco, we are here to serve you." Mautak bowed with reply and Analiyah bowed.

"Thanks, lets get to point. I want you to expand our coffers more. Mautak, I want you to get a trade deal with Germany. I wish to acquire advance weaponry from them such as artillery, rifles and technologies. Acquire it. Also try to recruit engineers and scientists specialising in shipbuilding, medicine, modern machines for factories and electricity. If Germany can provide them, that would be great for our nation buildimg mission. However, most of them can be found in east Americas and Europa. You may use any means necessary to accomplish this goal. I wish to have these accomplished by 1886. Analiyah I want you to fund all of his missions." Marco instructed.

"Yes, Lord Marco. The fund will be ready as soon as Mautak submits his budget proposal." Analiyah said.

"Thank you for giving important missions to me Lord Marco, see to it that your will be done. (bow). I'll calculate the funds that I'll be needing and I will submit it to you as soon as its ready, Madame Analiyah." Mautak said in response.

"That will be all for you Mautak, you may leave now." Marco said.

Mautak bowed while stepping back to leave slowly.

As Mautak left, Analiyah and I found ourselves in an awkward position. We are both childhood friends. (she's the closest friend of the original owner of this body, Marco.) She was an orphan that my father picked up in the streets of Manila, it was said that she was 7 years old at the time when father adopted her. She was begging for food in the street, when father asked if where are her parents, she said that she don't know. She was just told by her parents to stay put but after staying for weeks, they didn't returned. When she was starving, she began begging for food to people. My father took pity on her, so she decided to take her in so that I can also have a playmate. She is 2 years older than me, so I was 5 years old when I met her. The first thing I noticed about her appearance was her very pale white skin, red hair and deep blue eyes, by then I knew that she's from a far away place. We were both innocent and carefree. We were given freedom inside the estate without anyone supervising us. We play together, we adventure together, we learn together because we have the same teacher, we also bath together.

However, when she turned 10 years old, she began shying away. I guess thats because of her puberty and years later she was sent to a University for further education. She has great potential in Finances and Audits that is why my Father made her assistant of Head Finance, then a year later promoted to Head of Finance. Thats why she is my Head of Finance now. By the way, those are just memories of the original owner of this body. All of his memories were also embedded to me.

To reduce awkwardness, I started the conversation.

"I have a special assignment to you Ms. Analiyah, you will arrange for our youth to study abroad. You will send them to Britain, America, France and Germany to study technologies. You need to send them this year." Marco instructed.

"That will be a bit difficult to send students to America and France, since they have high interest for our archipelago. They might be used as bargaining chips by them after we establish the Maharlika. But for the Britain and Germany, I don't find any possible conflict with them in the future." Analiyah stated.

"Worry not, America will never do that. And France will not have enough power and spare effort to do so. You may carry on. Dismissed." Marco quickly dismissed her.

She just bowed then maked her way out in a quick pace. While I started instructing Manalili about diplomatic negotiations with those countries, and it has been successful.

LONDON, ENGLAND

May 1880.

"Your majesty, is it really a good decision to supply the Maharlikans with weapons? Will this not spark up another war with Spain?" An adviser said to the Queen.

"Worry not Adviser, Spain has just finished a long bloody war in Cuba. They cannot afford to enter another full blown war with us. As we supply weapons with Maharlikans, we gain favor from them and if they succeeded, our rival Spain will weaken even more. Isn't this a wonderful plan? Send word to the Hongkong governor that prepare the weapons ordered by the Maharlikans, give them a bonus with hundreds of pair of military boots." the Queen ordered her advisor.

"As you wish, your Majesty." the adviser wrote the order of the Queen and passed it to the Prime Minister to do the will of the Queen.

BERLIN, GERMANY

May 1880

"Iron Chancellor, Filipinas is worth the price! As Spain weakens in Americas, we can to conquer them rather than arm them with our weapons."

A military strategic adviser.

"I know that you want to compete with Britain, but I am more concern about Solidifying our newly established German empire first. The balance of power in Europe wherein we are at the center." Bismarck, First Imperial Chancellor.

"Thats a brilliant idea Iron Chancellor! As expected of our First Imperial Chancellor!" The advisor flattered Bismarck.

"Whatever. We will support the Maharlikan cause so that we will gain a favorable deal later on. Those islands are rich in natural resources, it will be wonderful if we can get our hands on that through trade."

Bismarck said.