What has happed to Freedomland?

FREEDOMLAND. Long, long before the current controversy over the Spratly Islands, there was a Pinoy, said to be Bol-anon, who developed a part of the islands chain into what he called Freedomland and flew the Philippine flag over it. He was ahead of the Chinese and other Spratly claimants in putting up structures in the area.

ADMIRAL. That Pinoy was Tomas Cloma, an admiral in the Navy. A reader who reminded The Ear about Admiral Cloma and his hostoric Freedomland called up to ask: “Where is Sir Tomas Cloma now and what has happened to Freedomland?”