In c. 1500, prior to the Spanish reaching the Philippines, the Bruneian Empire launched an attack on the Kingdom of Tondo, a significant trading city located on Luzon Island.

Given that Bolkiah supervised Brunei's rise to prominence as a powerhouse that swept over the Malay Archipelago, his reign is perhaps best remembered as the empire's golden period.

[5]Sultan Bolkiah was renowned for frequently traveling overseas in an effort to get fresh perspectives and information that would aid in the development of his nation.

Bolkiah founded the city of Selurong—later named Maynila, on the other side of the Pasig River shortly after taking over Tondo from its monarch, Lakan Gambang.

[citation needed] As a result of this victory, Brunei had control over Borneo and the civilisations around the Manila Bay,[8] it only truly begin to lose its holdings in the 1700s.