Datu Jawa (21st Century Crisis)

Don Pablo (born in 1846 as Datu Jawa, died 1902) was a Tausūg chief leader who helped the Spanish fight Moro raiders and pirates during the Spanish-Moro Wars. He was a native royal of Jolo, who had considerable influence over the islands. He was born during the reign of his paternal uncle, Sultan Mohammad Pulalun Kiram.

Born as a Muslim prince in the island of Jolo, he was baptized as a Roman Catholic and given the name "Pablo", and was officially addressed as Don Pablo I, and became part of the Principalía. As a reward for his loyalty to Spain, he was given control of territory, comprising of the island of Jolo, as well as a modern-day Basilan and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Governer-General expected him to become the next "Sultan", and some even addressed him with the title - as the Sultan of Zamboanga. He was an influential leader of the native militia forces of Zamboanga that fought for the Spanish Army.

In 1866, after leaving his post as commander of the Zamboanga militia (which he left up to the leadership of his younger brother Gustavo), he moved to Manila. In Manila, he received high support from the Catholic church, and married a Spanish woman by the name of Isabela.

Childhood
Pablo was born as "Datu Jawa" in 1846 in Jolo Island during the reign of Sultan Mohammad Pulalun Kiram, which was his paternal uncle. He came from a political family, where the Sultan appointed his brother, Jawa's father, Datu Bijak (whose regnal name was Abdul), to command Jolo's regional forces from foreign threat. He had a younger brother by the name of Masiruddin, and same-age sister by the name of Mariam.

Ascension to the Regional throne
When he was the age of 20, his father had become too old and passed the throne on to him. Datu Jawa was disgusted by the Moro piracy against the Spanish and Christian Filipino settlers. He enacted a policy of intolerance towards acts of piracy and militancy.

Life in Zamboanga
Eventually this led his cousin, Datu Garang to wage a war against him and his family, and they fled to Zamboanga to be under the care of a Christian Filipino family. In Zamboanga, the datu reported the militancy to the Spanish Army. In return, the Governer-General ordered the datu and his family to be transported to Manila. However, he refused but he allowed his sister to be taken to Manila. There, she was converted to Roman Catholicism and married a Mestizo of Spanish and Tagalog descent.

Military commander
In Zamboanga, the Spanish army placed him in command of the militia to fight the incoming pirates from Sulu. He accepted the title of Encomendero, the Spanish also promised that he would be restored to full power in Jolo and that the Sultan would recognize him as the island's supreme leader.

In 1869, Datu Garang sent an invasion force against Zamboanga City, which Datu Jawa soundly defeated.

Life in Manila and conversion to Christianity
In 1870, the Spanish offered to build the datu a home in Jolo Island, as well as Zamboanga Peninsula in payment for his service and loyalty. In 1870, he and his brother reluctantly went to Manila, on the request of the Governer-General. They were invited to a church hall in Tondo.

In Tondo, Datu Jawa requested to be instructed in the Christian faith. He was baptized as Don Pablo I, and was fully addressed by Don Pablo de Sulu, and Don Pablo de Jolo. His brother was also baptized, as Don Gustavo de Masiruddin. On January 1, 1871, a Christian Filipino gobernadorcillo from Zamboanga reported that another pirate attack was on its way.

Return to Zamboanga and Sulu 1871
Don Pablo and Don Gustavo were sent back to the Zamboanga Peninsula, along with a fresh reinforcement of supplies, and guns from the advanced Spanish military. There, they repulsed another attack by the Moro raiders and pirates. Unfortunately, Gustavo was lethally injured in the ensuing battle after a Moro pirate thrust his sword into Gustavo's abdomen. Gustavo was immedietely taken to nearby military installation to recieve treatment for his wound.

Pablo also decided to join the Spanish incursion into the Sulu Archipelago. Pablo sent a letter to the Sultan, letting him know that the on-coming attack was a pre-emptive strike against the pirates, and not against the Sultan's people. In 1872, with aid from Spanish and Christian Visayan armies, Pablo soundly defeated Datu Garang, taking back Jolo Island.

As a reward, the Spanish gave the Christian Tausug datu territory stretching from Jolo, Basilan and the Zamboanga Peninsula. There was a common misconception that he was the Sultan of Sulu, and was mistakenly addressed as such. However, his military feat may have been regarded as gaining northern territory for the Sultanate of Sulu under the protectorate of the Spanish Crown.

Final return to Manila and marriage - 1873
In 1873, he accepted an invite by the Spanish Crown to be relocated to Manila. He placed the control of Jolo Island under the leadership of his younger brother Gustavo de Masiruddin. In Manila, he was seen as military hero and was married to a Spanish woman by the name of Isabela. He died in 1902, during the early stages of an independent Philippines.