Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo visits Mindanao province

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, Philippines - The influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Muhammad Pulalun, visited the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte and held talks with hundreds of followers and supporters.

Pulalun met with supporters in Sindangan and Katipunan and held talks that tackled various social issues and their support to Senator Benigno Aquino 3rd, who is leading in the presidential elections in may 10.

He also assured supporters and followers of the continuing program of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, mostly humanitarian, in the southern region.

Pulalun is active in humanitarian projects and helped tens of thousands of mostly poor Muslims and Christians alike in different areas in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

The Sultan said he will continue helping not only poor Muslims, but needy Christians and indigenous people also. "As long as I live, I will continue this long time tradition that my great, great grandfather, Sultan Mohammad Pulalun, had started. The same tradition continues and now, I also tell my son, Sharif Almunir, to continue this humble legacy," he said.

The 19-year old Sharif Almunir is the heir to the Pulalun throne. (Jung Francisco)

Sulu Sultan Congratulates New Malaysian King

Malaysian King Mizan Zainal Abidin. (Brunei Times)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Dec) – A Sultan of Sulu, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, on Tuesday congratulated Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the newly crowned King of Malaysian.

The 44-year old Sultan Abidin was crowned last week as the 13th king of Malaysia in a fitting ceremony broadcast on national television.

“The influential Sultan of Sulu Archipelago, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Muhammad Pulalun, astanah darus Sharif Parang Sulu, and his family, including the members of the Romah Bischara extend their warmest congratulation to the newly crowned King of Malaysia, his Highness Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.”

“On behalf of my people, I wish the newly crowned King of Malaysia peace, happiness and good health,” his spokesman, Samuel Tanjil, said in a statement.

Sultan Abidin, the second-youngest king ever, is to serve a five-year term in the capital Kuala Lumpur after he was sworn in at a solemn ceremony at the king's palace, according to the regional newspaper Brunei Times.

The new king was educated in Malaysia and Australia and is an equestrian and martial arts enthusiast.

Malaysia has a unique revolving monarchy, when each of nine hereditary state rulers occupies the throne for five years, it said.

The king's role in Malaysia is largely ceremonial, as power belongs to parliament and the prime minister. And so is the role of the Sultan of Sulu in the Philippines.

Tanjil said: “Sultan Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun reiterates his continued support to efforts of the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia to work for peace and stability of the region for progress and prosperity for all people of our great nations.”

All the four countries are members of the regional trade block called the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA. The four countries, along with Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam also composed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.

Brunei and Malaysia and Libya have sent truce observers in Mindanao that composed the International Monitoring Team. It has 41 officers from the Malaysian Defense Forces, the Royal Malaysia Police, and the Prime Minister's Department and is also supported by 10 military officers from Brunei Darussalam and 5 from Libya. (Mindanao Examiner)

Sulu Sultan Calls On Muslims To Support 12th ASEAN Summit

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The influential Sultan of Sulu, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, on Thursday called on Filipino Muslims to support the Philippine hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu province.

The four-day summit, beginning Dec. 10, will bring together the Economic Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the central Filipino island where they are to sign the Blueprint on the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015, five years ahead of the original target of 2020.

The ASEAN Economic Ministers will also finalize seven documents for signing during the Summit.

The blueprint -- which will focus on how ASEAN could benefit from the elimination of tariff for the ASEAN-6 by 2010 and for the new ASEAN members by 2015 -- is one of the most important documents to be signed by the leaders when they meet in Cebu.

Sultan Pulalun said the holding of the ASEAN Summit in Cebu only proves the Philippines continues to enjoy the support of the international business community and other nations and is a safe place for every body to go.

"We hope this historic event would be most remembered by many Filipinos that the Philippines is still strong and that our leaders continue to work for the country and everybody's benefit."

"I call on all Muslims in the Philippines and around the world to continue supporting the government effort for this ASEAN Summit to be successful and bring peace to all nations of the world, particularly in Asia," Sultan Pulalun, a peace advocate and active in humanitarian works, said.

The 50-year old Sultan said the Summit would further strengthen the relationship and foster unity among ASEAN member countries.

Over the years, ASEAN has seen the growth of regional networks of non-governmental organizations. One of the most active of these groups is the ASEAN Peoples’ Assembly, which is an important partner of ASEAN in moving forward its integration initiatives.

At the 12th ASEAN Summit, the Philippines will support the holding of the 5th ASEAN People’s Assembly, which coincides with the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.

President Arroyo has chosen the theme for the 12th ASEAN Summit, entitled “One Caring and Sharing Community.” The theme will reflect the initiatives to be taken by the Philippines in ASEAN community building and common people’s participation.

Last year, Malaysia hosted the 11th ASEAN Summit and discussed seven main issues -- the spread of bird flu, southern Thailand conflict, democracy in Myanmar, crude oil prices fluctuation and poverty, investment and trade and an ASEAN charter.

This year, the Summit will be hosted by the Cebu Metropolitan Area, composed of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City and Lapu-Lapu City.

The ASEAN is composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.(Sammy Tanjil)

For Reference: Sammy Tanjil, Spokesman for the Sultanate of Sulu
Contact Number: +63 62 9841974
Mobile: +63920 3503428

Sulu, North Borneo Sultan Hails Senate Bill Declaring RP's Oldest Mosque As National Shrine

The influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun.(sultanateofsulu.org)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Uly Israel / 28 Nov) - The influential Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, Sharif Ibrahim Ajibul Mohammad Pulalun, hailed Tuesday the Senate’s declaration of the Sheikh Karim al Makhdum Mosque in Tawi-Tawi Island and called it a milestone in Philippine history.

The Sheikh Karim al Makhdum mosque at Tubig Indangan village in Simunul town is the oldest mosque in the country.

The Senate has approved a proposal to declare the Philippines' oldest Islamic landmark as a national shrine in recognition to the contribution of Islam in the development of culture and civilization in the country.

Senator Edgardo Angara, its proponent, said the introduction of the Islamic faith in the Philippines "has immensely contributed to the enrichment, vibrancy and diversity" of the country's unique culture.

The mosque was constructed by an Arabian missionary, Sheikh Karim al Makhdum, in AD 1380. In 1965, the late president Ferdinand Marcos went to the site to install a historic marker giving it recognition as the first mosque in the Philippines.

The Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao through its Legislative Assembly has already passed a law declaring the inclusion of the Sheikh Makhdum centennial celebration as one of the Islamic events entitled to a special non-working holiday within the five provinces under the ARMM.

The bill, passed on third reading, "is a sign to our brother Moslems in Mindanao, that they are being accorded due and equal recognition by the national government," Angara said.

According to historical accounts, Sheikh Karim al Makhdum arrived in 1380 on Simunul Island off the province of Tawi-Tawi to propagate Islam in the country. It was also on this island that he built the first and the oldest mosque in the country. It is held in great esteem by Muslims and non-Muslims, and is considered sacred.

Sultan Pulalun appealed to Senator Edgardo Angara that the mosque in Likup village in Indanan town in Jolo Island declared also as a national shrine being the second oldest mosque in the Philippines and because events of historical importance took place at the mosque.

He said at the height of Muslim rebellion against American colonial government, Muslim rebel leaders met with General Leonard Wood at the mosque wherein historical talks and agreements were forged.

"We are overjoyed by the recognition being given to the contribution of the Islamic faith to the country's history," he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Pulalun, a descendant of Sultan Mohammad Pulalun, heads the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, now Sabah. Sultanate of Sulu obtained Sabah from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on the Borneo Island.

The Sultanate of Sulu was a Muslim state that ruled over much of the islands off the Sulu Sea. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to North Borneo, now known as Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north.

The Sultanate of Sulu was founded in 1457 and is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. (Mindanao Examiner)