More Information about the ancient Philippines

Philippine Disputed names

Maniolas. According to Fr. Francisco Colin in 1663, a Jesuit friar and an early historian of the Philippines, Maniolas was the name used by Claudius Ptolemy to refer to the group of islands south of China.[24][29] Colin quoted Ptolemy's writings speaking about the Maniolas islands, which is probably Manila. This theory was further supported by José Rizal and Pedro A. Paterno. Rizal also said that the country was recorded to Ptolemy's maps when a sailor named Hippalus told him the existence of "beautiful islands" in southeastern Far East.[12][30] However, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera rejected this notion on his 1910 book, Notas para una cartografia de Filipinas (Notes for the Philippine Cartography).[31]

Ophir (Hebrew: אוֹפִיר) is a region of islands mentioned in the Bible, most famous for its wealth. Accounts mention that King Solomon received the riches of the region every three years. At the emergence of the hydrography of Spanish colonies in Asia in the early 17th century, Dominican Gregorio García wrote that Ophir was indeed located in the Moluccas and the Philippines.[32] In 1609, Juan de Pineda wrote a diverse collection of literature relating Biblical accounts of Solomon, Ophir and the islands.[32] Former Prime Minister Pedro A. Paterno said in one of his works on conjectural anthropology that Ophir is the Philippines because the scented wood Solomon received from Ophir also exists in the Islands.[33] This notion was however, later dismissed by modern historians as merely alluding and comparing the Philippines' position to the Spanish economy with that of Ophir to Solomon's kingdom—the sudden discovery and colonisation of the Islands bringing wealth and prosperity to the realm.[34]

Tawalisi, was an ancient kingdom in Southeast Asia that was reached by the explorer, Ibn Battuta. He reached the kingdom when he was leaving Sumatra, and heading towards China. according to the historical accounts of the explorer. He met Urduja, a legendary warrior princess from Pangasinan. But according to William Henry Scott, Tawilisi and its warrior-princess Urduja are fabulous, fairy-tale, fiction.[35]

Filipino Jewish Roots

It was believed that in the ancient times one of the Semitic tribes settled in the Philippine archipelago.During the assimilation period of The Ten Lost Tribes, one of the tribe of the son of Israel reached the island and settled there. Having travelled for decades evading persecution from one place to another they reached Kaifeng and Shanghai in southern China, finally they ventured to niegbhouring islands where they reached the Philippines before the Spaniards came. When the Spaniards discovered the Philippines they were amazed of the circumcision practised by the natives, these were probably the remnants of the ten lost tribes. Thus, they still imposed the power of inquisition in every new land they were colonize to ensure that no other religion will be preached in thier colony. The result of these persecution did by the ruling power in the old world was the fear for the lives of Israel's remnant and the Marranos who in turn for centuries of persecution became unfamilliar of the Jewish tradition. 

For many centuries, the Crypto-Jews, Conversos, the Marranos or the so-called New Christians had lived and assimilated into the christian world. After the expulsion of Jews and Moslems from Spain in the 1600, these new christians found refuge to the new colonies under the kingdom of pre-dominantly Catholic Spainand Portugal. Only to find out later that the power of Inquisition still present in these new found lands and the threats still there. Out of fear for their lives and the lives of their childrens, these new christians who secretly observed Judaism finally abandoned their faith and even warned their childrens not to mention it again. As the years pass by and thru inter-marriages, they totally forgot their ways and the traditions of Judaism. Today, their remnants, not knowing of their heritage many have become faithful Catholics, Protestants, and even Moslems and only few of them finally discover their Jewish roots and fortunately return to Judaism.