Tomas Cloma
Encyclopedia
Tomás Cloma was a Filipino
lawyer and businessman from the province
of Bohol
. Cloma was born in Panglao
to Ciriaco Cloma, a Spanish
settler, and Irena Arbolente, a native of Bohol.
In 1947, Cloma, a Filipino adventurer and a fishing magnate, found several uninhabited and unoccupied groups of islands/islets in the South China Sea
. This is the principal basis for justification of Spratly islands
territorial claims by the Philippines
, along with basis from 1982 UNCLOS archipelagic doctrine. Cloma, owner of a fishing fleet and a private maritime training institute, the PMI Colleges
(formerly known as Philippine Maritime Institute), aspired to open a cannery and develop guano
deposits in the Spratlys. It was principally for economic reasons, therefore, that he "discovered" and claimed islands in the Spratlys. The Philippines
justifies its Spratly Islands
claims principally on Cloma's claim of the discovery.
On May 11, 1956, together with 40 men, Tomas and his brother Filemon took formal possession of the islands, lying some 380 miles west of the southern end of Palawan and named it Freedomland. Four days later, on May 15, 1956, Cloma issued and posted copies of his "Notice to the Whole World" on each of the islands as a decisive manifestation of unwavering claim over the territory. On May 31, 1956, Cloma declared the establishment of the "Free Territory of Freedomland", ten days after he sent his second representation to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, informing the latter that the territory claimed was named Freedomland. On July 6, 1956, Cloma declared to the whole world his claim and the establishment of a separate government for the Free Territory of Freedomland with its capital on Flat Island (Patag Island). Cloma introduced a distinction between his Freedomland and the Spratlys further west. This distinction later became part of the Philippines foreign policy. This distinction was never fully clarified. It seems that "Freedomland" encompasses most of what others call the Spratly Islands, but not Spratly Island itself and the banks and reefs lying to the west of it.
Cloma's declaration was met with hostile reactions from several neighboring countries, especially the Republic of China
. On September 24, 1956 the ROC reoccupied nearby Itu Aba Island (also known as Taiping Island), which it had abandoned in 1950, and intercepted Cloma’s men and vessels found within its immediate waters. The People's republic of China
also restated its own claim.
In the 1970s, after being jailed by Ferdinand Marcos
for being popularly called "Admiral," Cloma "ceded" his claim to the Philippine government for one peso.
According to a website set up by the "Kingdom of Colonis St John", Freedomland apparently became known as The Kingdom of Colonia St John under "His Majesty John I King of Colonia St John" and "Prince of Mariveles and Amboyna" to whom the succession passed from Admiral Tomas Cloma.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
lawyer and businessman from the province
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
of Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
. Cloma was born in Panglao
Panglao, Bohol
Panglao is a fourth class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. It is one of two municipalities that make up Panglao Island, the other being Dauis. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 25,558 people....
to Ciriaco Cloma, a Spanish
Peninsulares
In the colonial caste system of Spanish America, a peninsular was a Spanish-born Spaniard or mainland Spaniard residing in the New World, as opposed to a person of full Spanish descent born in the Americas or Philippines...
settler, and Irena Arbolente, a native of Bohol.
In 1947, Cloma, a Filipino adventurer and a fishing magnate, found several uninhabited and unoccupied groups of islands/islets in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. This is the principal basis for justification of Spratly islands
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
territorial claims by the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, along with basis from 1982 UNCLOS archipelagic doctrine. Cloma, owner of a fishing fleet and a private maritime training institute, the PMI Colleges
PMI Colleges
PMI Colleges, formerly known as Philippine Maritime Institute, is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational higher education institution established on September 18, 1948 in Sta...
(formerly known as Philippine Maritime Institute), aspired to open a cannery and develop guano
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
deposits in the Spratlys. It was principally for economic reasons, therefore, that he "discovered" and claimed islands in the Spratlys. The Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
justifies its Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
claims principally on Cloma's claim of the discovery.
On May 11, 1956, together with 40 men, Tomas and his brother Filemon took formal possession of the islands, lying some 380 miles west of the southern end of Palawan and named it Freedomland. Four days later, on May 15, 1956, Cloma issued and posted copies of his "Notice to the Whole World" on each of the islands as a decisive manifestation of unwavering claim over the territory. On May 31, 1956, Cloma declared the establishment of the "Free Territory of Freedomland", ten days after he sent his second representation to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, informing the latter that the territory claimed was named Freedomland. On July 6, 1956, Cloma declared to the whole world his claim and the establishment of a separate government for the Free Territory of Freedomland with its capital on Flat Island (Patag Island). Cloma introduced a distinction between his Freedomland and the Spratlys further west. This distinction later became part of the Philippines foreign policy. This distinction was never fully clarified. It seems that "Freedomland" encompasses most of what others call the Spratly Islands, but not Spratly Island itself and the banks and reefs lying to the west of it.
Cloma's declaration was met with hostile reactions from several neighboring countries, especially the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. On September 24, 1956 the ROC reoccupied nearby Itu Aba Island (also known as Taiping Island), which it had abandoned in 1950, and intercepted Cloma’s men and vessels found within its immediate waters. The People's republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
also restated its own claim.
In the 1970s, after being jailed by Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
for being popularly called "Admiral," Cloma "ceded" his claim to the Philippine government for one peso.
According to a website set up by the "Kingdom of Colonis St John", Freedomland apparently became known as The Kingdom of Colonia St John under "His Majesty John I King of Colonia St John" and "Prince of Mariveles and Amboyna" to whom the succession passed from Admiral Tomas Cloma.