ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: doi.org/10.54208/1000/0006 25
particularly because her family is known worldwide
for having gifted trillions of dollars in humanitarian
aid. Fact-checkers have determined that there is no
evidence of a pre-colonial Filipino family that ruled
over the Kingdom of Maharlika (Rappler.com, 2019).
Historians have identified Maharlika as a pre-colonial
social class of lower nobility, and found no evidence
that Maharlika existed as a standalone nation (Adan,
2020). Further, the individual from whom many of
the Maharlika claims originated--Julian Tallano, who
claims to be a member of the Philippine royal family-
-had his land deeds nullified by Supreme Court of the
Philippines after those claims were deemed fraudulent
(Adan, 2020). The ideas maintained by Didulo about
the Kingdom of Maharlika appear to be untrue and
based on a hoax.
Didulo has also recounted a story during a meet-and-
greet about a “banker” who attempted to steal money
from her family. She said that she personally caught
him in the act, and that he subsequently disappeared.
Didulo speculated that he likely ended his own life.
The banker did this, in part, because he knew that
powerful people would be after him. Didulo also said
that she was “enticed” on two separate occasions by
offers of bank accounts worth billions of dollars in the
form of cash, gold bars, or silver. A third offer came
in the form of bonds that would have allowed her to
own multiple countries. Didulo says she turned down
all of those opportunities because she does not have an
ego, and has no interest in money and wealth. Didulo
does not name those people and/or groups who have
supposedly made her those generous offers. These
narratives are in line with Didulo’s strong belief that
“bankers” are thieves and money launderers who exist
as an integral element of the deep state/cabal.
B. God Complex /I AM &Claims of Special Abilities
Didulo tells stories that present her in a very important
light. She has an intense desire to be seen as powerful,
even omnipotent. One example is her adoption of the
phrase “I AM” in her Telegram channel name: “Her
Majesty I AM Queen Romana.” I AM is a reference to
God. In her first posting about I AM, she quotes God:
“God said “it is I who AM the light which above them
all. It is I who AM the all.”” She added “and so it is,”
which is a phrase she commonly uses.
This language parallels a 1930s cult known as the
“Mighty I AM.” The group, detailed in Psychic
Dictatorship in America, was led by Guy Ballard and
his wife Edna Anne, self proclaimed ascended beings.
Much like Didulo, the Ballards were focused on raising
money, promised financial freedom to their followers,
created their own decrees, and told fantastical stories
in which the Ballards claimed to be from other planets
(Bryan, 1940). Despite the similarities between
the 1930s Mighty I AM cult and Romana Didulo’s
movement, there is no evidence to suggest that there is
a connection between the two, or that Didulo is even
aware of the Ballards’ movement.
Another example of Didulo’s supernatural aspect is a
follower once asked Didulo why every time they see
a message from Didulo, they cry uncontrollably, and
“feel very peaceful and healing energies.” The follower
additionally wanted to know “why [do] I have that
reaction to your message?” Didulo answered “it is the
I AM energies that you are experiencing. That’s God’s/
Creator’s divine energies that flow through me -you are
experiencing.”
Didulo regards herself as brilliant and considers herself
the “most visible leader in the world.” Her ancient
royal bloodline also makes her “the divine ruler of this
planet.” That is consistent with Didulo’s stated belief
that she is a divine being sent to planet Earth to fulfill a
spiritual mission. She has repeatedly discussed having
gone through a “Phoenix fire” before arriving on planet
Earth. This experience, she explained, removed her
ego, her desire for money, and burned all negative
energy out of her body that had “existed since the
beginning of time.”
Didulo maintains a list of her “royal” decrees on her
website (https://www.thekingdomofcanada.ca/).
The current number, as of February 2023, is 94. It is
not clear how often the website is updated. Didulo’s
decrees are the laws that make up her “Kingdom,” and
are retroactive to July 1, 1867, the date of Canada’s
Confederation. Each decree has an associated penalty,
most of which are harsh in nature, and often include
the death penalty. Didulo encourages her followers to
read the decrees each night, to memorize them, and
discuss her decrees with family members at the dinner
table.
particularly because her family is known worldwide
for having gifted trillions of dollars in humanitarian
aid. Fact-checkers have determined that there is no
evidence of a pre-colonial Filipino family that ruled
over the Kingdom of Maharlika (Rappler.com, 2019).
Historians have identified Maharlika as a pre-colonial
social class of lower nobility, and found no evidence
that Maharlika existed as a standalone nation (Adan,
2020). Further, the individual from whom many of
the Maharlika claims originated--Julian Tallano, who
claims to be a member of the Philippine royal family-
-had his land deeds nullified by Supreme Court of the
Philippines after those claims were deemed fraudulent
(Adan, 2020). The ideas maintained by Didulo about
the Kingdom of Maharlika appear to be untrue and
based on a hoax.
Didulo has also recounted a story during a meet-and-
greet about a “banker” who attempted to steal money
from her family. She said that she personally caught
him in the act, and that he subsequently disappeared.
Didulo speculated that he likely ended his own life.
The banker did this, in part, because he knew that
powerful people would be after him. Didulo also said
that she was “enticed” on two separate occasions by
offers of bank accounts worth billions of dollars in the
form of cash, gold bars, or silver. A third offer came
in the form of bonds that would have allowed her to
own multiple countries. Didulo says she turned down
all of those opportunities because she does not have an
ego, and has no interest in money and wealth. Didulo
does not name those people and/or groups who have
supposedly made her those generous offers. These
narratives are in line with Didulo’s strong belief that
“bankers” are thieves and money launderers who exist
as an integral element of the deep state/cabal.
B. God Complex /I AM &Claims of Special Abilities
Didulo tells stories that present her in a very important
light. She has an intense desire to be seen as powerful,
even omnipotent. One example is her adoption of the
phrase “I AM” in her Telegram channel name: “Her
Majesty I AM Queen Romana.” I AM is a reference to
God. In her first posting about I AM, she quotes God:
“God said “it is I who AM the light which above them
all. It is I who AM the all.”” She added “and so it is,”
which is a phrase she commonly uses.
This language parallels a 1930s cult known as the
“Mighty I AM.” The group, detailed in Psychic
Dictatorship in America, was led by Guy Ballard and
his wife Edna Anne, self proclaimed ascended beings.
Much like Didulo, the Ballards were focused on raising
money, promised financial freedom to their followers,
created their own decrees, and told fantastical stories
in which the Ballards claimed to be from other planets
(Bryan, 1940). Despite the similarities between
the 1930s Mighty I AM cult and Romana Didulo’s
movement, there is no evidence to suggest that there is
a connection between the two, or that Didulo is even
aware of the Ballards’ movement.
Another example of Didulo’s supernatural aspect is a
follower once asked Didulo why every time they see
a message from Didulo, they cry uncontrollably, and
“feel very peaceful and healing energies.” The follower
additionally wanted to know “why [do] I have that
reaction to your message?” Didulo answered “it is the
I AM energies that you are experiencing. That’s God’s/
Creator’s divine energies that flow through me -you are
experiencing.”
Didulo regards herself as brilliant and considers herself
the “most visible leader in the world.” Her ancient
royal bloodline also makes her “the divine ruler of this
planet.” That is consistent with Didulo’s stated belief
that she is a divine being sent to planet Earth to fulfill a
spiritual mission. She has repeatedly discussed having
gone through a “Phoenix fire” before arriving on planet
Earth. This experience, she explained, removed her
ego, her desire for money, and burned all negative
energy out of her body that had “existed since the
beginning of time.”
Didulo maintains a list of her “royal” decrees on her
website (https://www.thekingdomofcanada.ca/).
The current number, as of February 2023, is 94. It is
not clear how often the website is updated. Didulo’s
decrees are the laws that make up her “Kingdom,” and
are retroactive to July 1, 1867, the date of Canada’s
Confederation. Each decree has an associated penalty,
most of which are harsh in nature, and often include
the death penalty. Didulo encourages her followers to
read the decrees each night, to memorize them, and
discuss her decrees with family members at the dinner
table.
