We are all Filipinos!

A. Paulita Roa

NOW that the war in Marawi is officially over, it is a very encouraging for us to know that while our troops were battling the Maute group, many Christian and civic groups in partnership with the government were helping the displaced Marawi residents who were living in many evacuation centers in Iligan and other places. This has opened a door of restoring our ties with our fellow Mindanaoans in their hour of need after centuries of hostility and prejudices. Are you aware of the fact that Maynila and other areas in Luzon were Islamized long before the Spanish colonizers came to our shores in 1521?

In the book, entitled, Barangay: 16th Century Philippine Culture and Society (1994) by eminent historian the late William Henry Scott, he wrote that in 1570, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, sent a gift addressed to the King of Luzon, known as Rajah Matanda, ruler of Manila and grandson of Sultan Bulkeiah of Brunei. The Rajah was the Saripara  whom Pigafetta, Ferdinand Magellan’s chronicler met 50 years earlier. That Brunei’s folk history identified Bulkeiah as Nakhoda Ragam, the reputed conqueror of the Philippines. Tradition even named the cannon that he was said to have taken Manila as “Si Ganatar Alam” or the Earthshaking Thunderer (p.191).

Rajah Matanda or the old Rajah was also known as Ladyang Matanda or Ache. He first met the Spaniards in Brunei in 1521 where he was to command a naval task force for his grandfather, the Sultan and to marry a cousin. But he was captured by the survivors of the ill-fated Magellan expedition and was later released after paying a huge ransom.

When the Spaniards arrived in Luzon from Cebu, they discovered that  the people living in Manila, Mindoro, the Batangas coast and the Betis Valley in Pampanga were all Muslims. But the Spaniards reported that the people still ate pork. But in Balayan, Batangas, the Franciscan friars met several persons who were determined to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. However, the royal family of Manila obviously had a better understanding of their Islamic faith. Their hunters tried to reach the game before the dogs tore of the flesh because of the ritual requirement that the meat must be bled before butchering (p.195).

Agustin Legazpi, grandnephew of Rajah Lakandula and adopted son of Rajah Soliman, married the daughter of Sultan Bulkeiah’s uncle, Salalila. But he was converted to Catholicism and was baptized to the faith with the Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as the godfather. But in 1585, Agustin was deposed and jailed by the colonial government, together with his brothers and other relatives, for having given his mother a Muslim burial. The following year, he headed an abortive uprising against the Spaniards and was executed. He was the last Manila ruler to hold a royal office (p. 192-193).

I am very sure that these historical facts about Manila and other parts of Luzon surprised you the same way I did years ago. Let me add further that before the coming of the Spaniards, the Muslims peacefully co-existed with the rest of the inhabitants in our archipelago.

We, Christians here in Mindanao, have to take off our blinders and must know the real history of our Muslim brethren. This way we can understand them better and work together for peace. It is a fact that for many decades, our history books are tainted with misconceptions and biases about the Moros or Muslims. This is a product of the lingering malaise known as the colonial mentality that was birthed and carefully nurtured during the Spanish colonial period. During the American colonial era, the cultural divide between the Filipino Muslims and Christians widened considerably. By then, the differences did not only center on religion but practically everything — from physical appearance and speech to different customs and traditions.

One of the things that we must do is to review how our history was written especially with regards to the Muslims for we are used to seeing them through the prejudiced eyes of the colonialists. The Spaniards tried but failed to subjugate them. Our Muslim brethren have the distinction of not being under Spanish colonial  power. During the start of the American occupation, the Sultan of Sulu signed the Bates Agreement with the United States on Aug. 20, 1899, where he agreed to submit to American control in exchange for the continuance of his status as a local ruler and the allowance of slavery around Sulu   (David Silbey 2007).

This is just one example of the historic fact that concessions were made and given to the Muslims in Mindanao during the American period in deference to the fact that through the centuries, they consistently fought foreign domination so that they will always be free to live according to their religious faith, customs  and traditions. Because of this, they are able to keep in essence, their cultural identity as a people sans foreign influences. It’s important for us to know this part of our history because its about time that we forge a positive and strong relationship with them that is based on respect, tolerance and openness — for after all, we belong to one race and we are all Filipinos.