History and Contemporary Struggles of the Bangsamoro People

Edited by Bobby M. Tuazon
Preface by Prof. Oscar Evangelista

Published by CenPEG Books
Policy Study Publication and Advocacy (PSPA)
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
3/F CSWCD Bldg. University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon City
Telefax: +632-9299526

in partnership with
Light a Candle Movement for Social Change

Philippine Copyright@2008 by CenPEG
www.cenpeg.org

Preface
By Oscar Evangelista

Philippine History has not been very kind in telling the story of the Filipino Muslims. For too long, stereotyped impressions have been preserved: Muslims have been treated as pirates, barbarians, juramentados who kill Christians, etc. Glossed over is the fact that Islam built the first higher type of civilization in what would become the Philippines. Islam brought with it a whole range of politico-socio religious practices, generally put into place without erasing preexisting ethnic cultures and beliefs.

The arrival of the Spaniards and the introduction of the Catholic religion sharply divided what was once a people united in pre-colonial beliefs and practices. Thus were born the animosities between Christian and Muslim Filipinos, exacerbated by the writings of the Spaniards who considered the Muslims enemies. The stereotyped impressions of the Muslims were perpetuated by early textbooks which followed the Hispanic colonial perspective. A case in point was the so called “Moro Wars” pointing to Moro attacks on Christian territories pillaging and kidnapping “slaves” with nary an explanation of the war from the Moro side, from whence it must have looked much like a war against colonial aggression.

The cry for a better presentation of Filipino Muslims and their plight as a minority group did get a response from nationalist historians.

To bring Moro history into mainstream Philippine History, the role of the Muslims in the Filipino struggles against colonialism has been emphasized by pointing to the Muslims’ continued fight against the Spaniards. The exploits of Sultan Kudarat as a freedom fighter have long placed him on the roll of Filipino heroes. The charge that Muslims were not part of the revolutionary struggle of the Christians was refuted by Cesar Majul, noted scholar on the Muslims in the Philippines, who theorized that while the Muslims did not directly contribute to the rise of Philippine nationalism, theirs was a parallel movement stressing the anti-colonial aspect of Philippine nationalism. Historian Samuel Tan, whose scholarly research and writing has focused on the struggles of the Muslims, has more recently followed this perspective in his book, The Filipino-American War, 1899-1913, contrary to mainstream history that the Filipino-American War ended with the establishment of civil government in 1901.

While there were occasional Muslim revolts against the Americans and later against the Philippine Republic, generally for legitimate causes, the sense of separateness of the Muslims was strengthened with the birth of Bangsa Moro in the 1960’s.

This new CenPEG book, The Moro Reader: History and Contemporary Struggle of the Bangsamoro People, thus serves as a valuable resource documenting the struggles of the Moro people from their early beginnings (Abreu’s article) to contemporary developments: the negotiations of the MNLF and the MILF with the Philippine Government; the economic issues and neo-globalism, etc. With a progressive viewpoint, the scholarly articles of Kenneth Bauzon, Julkipli Wadi, and Temario Rivera, among others, present the Moro perspective and their desire for self-determination. The issues of American presence in Mindanao and its connection to the anti-terrorist campaigns, and “development programs” are highlighted for what they really are.

There are, likewise, socio-cultural articles like the study of the Muslim women of Palawan (Maria Carinnes P. Alejandria) and that of Muslim songs of resistance (Alexander Martin Remollino).

The Moro Reader: History and Contemporary Struggle of the Bangsamoro People is a welcome resource for all who are interested in understanding the Moro view of their own history and culture.

OSCAR L. EVANGELISTA
Professor of History (Retired)
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City;
Consultant, Palawan State University

CONTENTS