Chinese Sulu heirs get chance to see RP


After 588 years, the Chinese descendants of the Sultan of Sulu will finally see their ancestral land.

An Jin Tian, An Yan Chun and Wen Hai Jun, direct descendants of Sultan Paduka Batara, who died in Dezhou and Shandong province in China in the 15th century, were scheduled to arrive in Manila aboard a China Southern flight Monday night on invitation of the Chinese Filipino nongovernment organization, Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Associations of the Philippines.

Their trip is part of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China.

Accompanied by Kaisa officials, the trio will visit Jolo Saturday for the historic reunion with their long-lost relatives. They are also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Arroyo June 8.

In 1417, Batara, with a retinue of 340, traveled to the Chinese Imperial Court in Beijing to pay tribute to the Ming emperor, Yong Lee.

On his way back to Sulu, Batara fell ill and died in Shandong in eastern China. He was accorded an imperial burial.

Batara’s eldest son, Dumahan, returned to Sulu to take over his father’s reign. The Sultan’s younger sons, Wenhala and Andulu, stayed behind to observe the three-year mourning period. Later, they decided to make China their home.

An Jin Tian, 17th generation, An Yan Chun and Wen Hai Jun, both 18th generation, are direct descendants of Wenhala and Andulu.

None of the Sultan’s descendants, who are now farmers in Shandong, have visited the Philippines, but they remember their origins.

none of them are muslim i bet.

I just wanna see what the Sulu's family looks like. For some reason I don't think they look like your average Pinoy.

I thought Mr. Sulu was Japanese?

Obviously not

well there are alot of Muslims in china, but I'm thinking that after all these years, it'd be most likely they haven't been for years, especially being in shandong.

woah.. they know their origins 17 generations back? i bet i could trace my lineage only up to 6 generations.. 2 people are too pre-occupied to trace too far unless the only occupation you have is being part of a royal family who has nothing to do but claim..

yeah. i mean prestige is nice, but the sultanate have no real "official and legal powers" left.

at least the honor of being part of an old relic kingdom is nice..

Nice to hear that news!

I think it is also part of the Philippine- Chinese friendship day celebrations

^i think it's part of the whole Chinese vye for Philippine support in general along with the Hu Jintao visits, the money aide etc. it's not invisible...

No comment!

Happy 107th independence day to all !

happy independence day!! even though there's really no significant improvement since the day we acquired it 107 years ago... we still are living shl+ty lives. kayod lang ng kayod mga bro..