Maharlika

Year 2019

Rizal Province, Philippines

'Urgh' I just got rejected by a foreign company where I'm applying. In my country, foreigners owned almost all of the business establishments you can see. Even Political leaders are foreigners masked with their documents as naturalised citizen.

Everyone treats foreigners better, this sucked up preferential treatment. Filipinos are stuck with the thinking that Foreigners do it better, while verbally saying that "we do it better".

In this era of my country in the Southeast Asia, Chinese rule our commerce. Gokongwei, Tan, Sy, Cacktiong, etc. I have no hatred towards them but this is the reality that Chinese rule our country. Even the past and current president boasts their Chinese ancestry. And right now, even if no one talks about this, the reality is "no one wants to be a Filipino".

Everyone is so shy about their native ancestry, always claiming that they have that little foreign blood such as Japanese, Chinese, American, Spanish, etc. Because Filipinos believed that foreigners are physically and intellectually superior.

However, if you are going to ask about their patriotism they always claim to be "Proud Filipino/Pinoy", hypocrites! While if you are going to observe deeper, most of them wants to marry foreigners, fantasizing about leaving this country for a greener pasture like the United States, Canada, Australia and so on. No one wants to stay in this messed up country. Everyone are also embarrassed to dress traditional whether at work, in school, parties, everywhere! They all want to look western while the reality is we are still brown skinned and short stature. Everyone wants to play what foreigners play, over obsession to Japanese, Korean, American, etc. but little to no interest for our own culture. Yet, no matter what people do, they are still Filipino. And Philippines is suffering as a whole because of this.

Now I wonder, aside from our Colonial mentality, what was it that we lack that others have? That's right, Nationalism. Not enough Patriotism for our homeland. I pray that I'll be able to change every Filipino mentality to genuinely love their country and ethnicity.

In this current time, China is actively invading our Islands and Territorial Sea in the West Philippines. China owns about 9.6 million Square Kilometers, yet they still want more? Is there land now enough to house their Billion population? Philippines is just around 300 thousand square kilometers and everything else is just sea. Although the Philippines owns 7,000+ islands, we cannot give up any of it.

In these turbulent times, no matter what the President do, it is just futile to resist Chinese aggressions. Even more so, our current President doesn't even asked for Uncle Sam (US) for help because we have the Mutual Defense Treaty with them after World war 2. The President in turn, licked the asses of Chinese and killing small time criminals. The congress and the judiciary even support the preferential treatment of the President to the Chinese, which makes me want to protect our sovereign islands myself.

Our people are poor and Chinese are getting richer here because of preferential treatment. People slaves to the foreigners and if people migrates or go abroad, still a slave.

I don't believe that we are born inferior to other race. In fact, I believe that all men are created equal. We all have the chance to rise up, but when will be the turn of my beloved country? As I observe more and more, what Filipinos need is more of national unity. A country where people work for the betterment of the country. The Filipinos need a symbol for that unity, a benevolent monarch I suppose. Free people under a monarch, just like in Japan and UK. We need a symbol for our national identity. A more credible national hero might also be a viable way to pave our National identity, however, it is now too late.

As I was waiting for the next train, I began fantasize about what if our country was directed by a benevolent monarch? The old train is about to arrive, yet I'm still day dreaming. Unfortunately, a person on a rush bumped unto me that was when it timely resulted to my fall off the Train platform and the train run over my body until I was left in to pieces. What a quick death.

Will I ever have the chance to live fighting for a purpose? The answer was 'yes', a supernatural being directly sent me in to a warp. Along the way, I can see a lot of equations and technological concepts that I don't understand.

I woke up in a Spanish style room, it looks classic. I then got up and looked myself on the mirror. I can see myself as the me, a 5 foot 7 inch person with a light brown complexion, curly hair with a semi-slanted eyes and a lean body. As I proceed to get out of the room, I saw the design of the house as a Philippine Spanish colonial Era. No one is here so I went out of the house and surprised of what I saw, I am in the Spanish Colonial Era in Manila! Everyone speaks spanish tagalog, however, beggars only speak pure native language Tagalog. I see the busy road of Escolta bustling with merchants both Filipinos and foreigners, horse drawn carriages known as Kalesa, and illustrados shopping.

"Found ya! Young master, where have you been?! We were so worried about you. Come, your father wants to see you." a servant said.

"Oh I'm sorry, please lead the way." I replied.

Tondo Estate, Manila.

"Marco, you are now 18, you are already an adult. You will soon succeed me. I think it is time for you to know the truth. Come, follow me inside."

"This room contains the history of our lineage, this is a top secret. No one is allowed to enter here except for the family head."

"The current year is 1880, I am Suluyman the 98th Lakandula, 53 years old, and too old for the mission. To tell you the truth, son, we are a direct descendant of the royalty of Tondo. We are also the rightful ruler of Manila and the surrounding lands because of your great great grand mother is the only daughter of King of Tondo, Princess Kandarapa. She married Juan de Salcedo, the Mexican grand son of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi the conquistador from Spain. Our ancestral dream is to unite all of Maharlikan territories into a single state. I don't think that I'm able to accomplish that, but I did amassed wealth for our family that you can use for achieving this dream. We own 15 trade galleons which trades in Japan, Acapulco, Brunei, Indochina, Formosa and China. We also own this huge estate which covers almost all of Tondo district and several hectares of crop plantation and rice paddies in different provinces of Luzon where we get our products to trade in other places. We are known throughout the world as a merchant family. I hope that with these wealth, you can claim our righteous throne as monarch and unite this archipelago." Suluyman

"I understand Father, please guide me in my early years." Marco said.

"Then by the power vested on me by our great ancestors, spirits of Lakans as our witnesses, I transfer to you Marco, the title and authority of the Lakandula, the royalty of Tondo." Suluyman orated.

"I humbly accept the responsibility and to carry oncthe dreams of our great ancestors." Marco replied.

'wew!' what was that? Isn't it too shocking? I woke up in 1880s and as a royalty descendant with amassed wealth! Who would've really thought that God would grant a reincarnation for his believers? So I am now the family head of Lakan royal family of Tondo? And it means I have the means and claim to unite all of Philippines under my rule as monarch. Wow. Really. What should I do first, this feel surreal.

After the ceremony of succession inside the secret room, I was give a load of papers written in Spanish which contains the Trade for the last 5 years and the contract agreement that we are currently involve. There are also papers involving the situation of the east and southeast Asia in terms of trade, recent military movements, political situations and of course our current status in the colony of Spain.

Right after reading all of the papers, I went to meet my father again. I asked him about people whom I can trust, he gave me a list of people he trust and list of our household retainers and servants.

The next morning, I called on a meeting. I meet all of the retainers and servants of our household. I learned that their ancestors are all part of our household since the ancient times and they too feel the sense to serve the royal family until death. All the retainers and servants together with their families lived inside our large estate in Tondo. They feel indebted to our family because of our continuous benevolence and because they also believe in our dream to unite the Maharlikan archipelago. I can now rest assured that they won't betray us and I can also see their unwavering conviction to lay down their lives for the royal family, just like the samurai's of Japan. Yeah. Cool.

I inquired about their responsibilities and situation of work in their respective fields.

First is Tumarong, he is the head of security for the royalty, royalty's subjects (people), properties and wealth.

"Nothing unusual." Tumarong reported.

"Tumarong, meet me tomorrow morning at the courtyard. I have orders." Marco said.

"Understood, Lord Marco." Tumarong said.

'I see.' A King is not a King without ceremonial coronation. Lord is still fine since I own the estate and I'm the head of the royal household now because Father wants to retire early on. Such a lazy old man.

Second is Magtibay, he is responsible for construction and repairs in all of the royal fam properties. He is the one I can ask to build something for me later on.

"We are currently constructing a strawberry farm in Baguio and a pig farm in Bulacan, Lord Marco." Magtibay reported.

Third is Analiyah, she is our head of finance. She manages all of our spending and income, then she send a financial report to us every 2 weeks.

"Our coffers are more than enough to maintain our expense, which means you have money to spend Lord Marco." Analiyah reported while handing a documented report.

Fourth is Binene, she is responsible for all of our agricultural products and farms. She also handles our food and water supply, or simply Logistics.

"We have abundance supply of rice supply, cow and goat Dairy, pork and chicken meat, eggs variety of fruits. It is also possible for us to export these products because of over supply." Binene reported.

Fifth is Mautak, he is responsible for our overall Trade. He is a natural born businessman, he conducts trade within the archipelago and outside in east and southeast Asia.

"High profit but we have emerging competitors, but competition is natural and healthy. Thats all, Lord Marco." Mautak reported while handing a thick paper documents.

Sixth and last is Manalili, she is responsible for diplomatic relations and negotiations excluding trade.

"The British governor of Hongkong agreed and supported our cause, we have also paid our partial payment. The rifle, revolvers, grenades and ammunitions are expected to be ready for pick-up by January next year. Japan also struck a deal with us, they sell Murata rifles for a lower price than the British and no limit to how many we want to buy. I put the negotiation on hold to await your decision. Thats all, Lord Marco." Manalili reported with pile of documents given to Marco.

"I see, then put the negotiation back on table now with Japan. Tell them we'll accept, but we need them to express their support for our cause in the international community and we also want better Trade deals. If they accept, then even if they raise the price of rifles would not matter. Thats all." Marco instructed Manalili.

"As you will, Lord Marco." Manalili said.

"That concludes our meeting, I want Analiyah and Mautak to remain. Everyone else, dismissed." Marco said.