The mosque in Simunul town of Tawi-Tawi, the southernmost Philippine province, was constructed in AD 1380 by an Arabian missionary, Sheikh Karimul Makhdum, who introduced Islam to the Philippines long before the arrival of the Spaniards, who introduced Christianity.
The mosque is right in the heart of Tubig Indangan in Simunul. Sheikh Makhdum was buried in the same place and a simple marker stands on his grave.

The National Historical Institute (NHI), which is tasked to supervise the preservation of the site, has noted that the four big pillars of the mosque remain as they were originally.
Sen. Edgardo Angara, the proponent of the bill, said the introduction of the Islamic faith opened the country’s doors to civilization and has contributed to the enrichment, vibrancy and diversity of the Filipinos’ unique culture.

“This mosque, the first ever constructed on Philippine soil was laid long before the coming of Western colonizers,” said Angara, a former president of the University of the Philippines and chairman of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.
In his sponsorship of the bill last year, Angara said: “We are in need of reconciling with our