Before we begin tackling the topic on Moro Raids
particularly what would happen if it still existed in today's society, let us
first define what Moro means. According to Rasul (1970), the term
"Moro" is a Spanish term derived from the Latin word
"Mauros", the name given to the inhabitants of the province
Mauritania in northwest Africa who were Muslims. By so, the Spaniards used the
term Moro for every Muslim. But because of the piratical raids done by the
Moros to Christian communities, the term "Moro" became synonymous
with the words "pirates" or "raiders" (Rasul, 1970).
With this in mind, we could therefore say that the Moro
Raids were basically raids done by the Muslims and as said above, these raids
were executed mostly on Christian communities. But why do these raids occur?
Let us first look at the socio-political and economic state
of the Philippines before.
According to Domingo (1993), even before the Spaniards came
to the Philippines, it is known that the Islam already inhabited and ruled some
parts of Sulu and Maguindanao and was already starting its influence in the
neighbouring islands. With the help of the Borneans, these rulers dominated the
trade in the area. Then the Spaniards came forming permanent settlements in the
country, in which would obviously threat the not only the trade but also the
influence that the Islams have already established in the country. Therefore,
the Moros conducted raids in Spanish settlements (Domingo 1993). According to
Loyre (1985), these raids did not reach its peak until the 1750's. The Moro raids reached its peak due to the
high demand for slaves in the Dutch East Indies. It was said that sometimes,
the slaves were not sold for money but were exchanged for arms and ammunition.
In line with this, the Moro Raids were not as "revenge", not just
"an expression of anger" towards the Spaniards but for the Moros to
explicitly show their strength and power. They used their slaves for housework,
fieldwork and craftwork. Let us not forget that during ancient times, slavery
was a way of living; it was a symbol of strength and power. Thus wrote a french
writer "without slavery, the Moros cannot live for it was the base of
their wealth and happiness" (Loyre, 1985).
As for the religous side of which many writers argue, that
the Moro Raids were conducted because of the missionaries propagating their
Christian faith, some find that it is not the case. According to Loyre (1991),
the religous angle or argument relating to the Moro raids is highly unlikely
because the raids were not only conductes on Christian settlements but also on
tribal or non-Christian in Mindanao (Loyre, 1991). Therefore, it can be
concluded that the Moros conducted raids not as just a way to drive the
Christians away like we envisioned, but for them to express their strength and
their power through slavery. It was their way of reacting in the arrival of the
Spaniards and the threat they brought in the Moros' socio-political and
economic status; and because it was a part of their life and their economic
lifestyle.
https://assets.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/uploads/2018/11/maguindanao-datus.png
During the Moro raids, thousands of lives were taken while more were
taken for slavery. Villages, towns and churches were burned down. These raids
were a series of bloodshed and destruction. Today, watchtowers are scattered
all over the coasts of Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao, reminding us of
what tragedies happened in Christian communities before. Not only watchtowers
but also forts, scatter in parts of the archipelago. Consequently, many coastal
inhabitants were forced to move inland and some inland settlements came into
existence. With this, the interior continued to grow and to progress. It also
led to the establishment of Christian settlements in Mindanao. Although this
resettlement was a program that proved to be effective but also led to
continued heightening of the mistrust between the Christians and the Muslims
which created an extreme atmosphere in Mindanao. Because of this, disputes in
Mindanao continue to happen, disputes like bombing and wars which affect the
Filipinos in Mindanao greatly in which a lot of lives are lost through
bloodshed and infrastructures burn to the ground.
References:
Non, D. (1993, March). Moro Piracy During the Spanish Period and its Impact. Retrieved from https://kyoto-seas.org>pdf.
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