If anyone is interested the British Empire also has some interesting history with the Philippines, and at one point could easily have taken full control of the country from Spain.

Additionally and more recently (March 2013) there was a good deal of trouble in Malaysia with the so called Royal Army of Sulu.
Anyone remember that?
Seems they claimed to be clan members of the Sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines, which ruled parts of northern Borneo for centuries, and then demanded that the Malaysian government pay even more money to lease their land.
Anyway as an historical interest the British Empire (and British Companies) also has a finger in that pie too.

For anyone interested well worth doing the research.

BTW as always, all about politics, power and money.