On January 13, 1975, Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat (also spelled Qudarat) of Maguindanao was hailed as national hero of the Filipino people and not just of Muslim Filipinos.Following Letter of Instruction 126, which then President Ferdinand Marcos issued in September 1973, Sultan Kudarat commemorative stamps were presented to descendants of the hero to help highlight Muslim Filipinos’ contribution to Philippine struggle against 400 years of foreign domination.
The hero was a Sultan of Maguindanao and a direct descendant of Shariff Kabungsuan, a Muslim missionary who spread the Islamic faith in 14th century Mindanao.
During his reign, Sultan Kudarat successfully thwarted Spanish efforts to conquer his sultanate.
He also hindered Mindanao’s conversion into Christianity.
