In the quiet confines of his office in Malacañang Palace, King Alfonso found himself alone with his thoughts. The weight of the decisions made during the grand conference lingered, and the topics discussed replayed in his mind like a script awaiting the next act.
With the integration of occupied territories, the total military personnel of the Philippines had swelled to close to 1.5 million. The formidable force was a testament to the expanding influence and reach of the Kingdom. The vision of a united Southeast Asia, under the banner of the Philippines, loomed on the horizon.
